How to Landscape City Yards

Assess your front yard, and note how you want to use the space. If you live on a busy street, consider placing a small bench for chatting with your neighbors or for people watching.

Add symmetry to your front yard for a formal look or an asymmetrical arrangement for a relaxed, casual look. Line the walkway with a mix of perennials and evergreens to soften the straight lines of your building and frame the front door.

Measure your backyard and create a basic scale drawing of the space. Include any trees, concrete and fencing that already exist. In cities, most front and backyards are completely divided by buildings, so you don't need to landscape with visual continuity in mind. Consider your backyard as its own room, and note the colors, fragrances and other features you want to incorporate.

Identify the best location for a seating area. If possible, build a patio away from the back door so there's more of a journey from the interior space to outdoor sitting area. Moving through the yard to get from one place to another also encourages guests to notice details in your landscaping, such as small gardens and birdbaths.

Furnish a patio with comfortable chairs and tables. Add bright yellow or orange fabric cushions and a sturdy patio umbrella for shade. If the concrete is cracked or unsightly, you can paint it. Edge your sitting area with colorful flowers such as geraniums, or place a small container garden in one corner.

Choose native trees, shrubs and flowers to attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Make sure the plants and trees, when mature, will not outgrow your yard or interfere with any power lines or underground utility pipes. Large shrubs and trees add privacy to your yard and provide shelter and food for birds.

Plant flowering vines such as clematis or climbing hydrangea along your fence. Vines provide privacy and a colorful backdrop during the growing season.