Landscaping for Urban Designs

Assess your options to determine what kind of outdoor space is available to you. Depending on whether you have a patio, balcony, courtyard or even just a stoop, there are different routes and strategies you can pursue to landscape your urban setting.

Decide whether you want to cover some of your available ground with patio stones or bricks to set up a level sitting and/or dining area. If you have a small space, buy these stones or bricks at your local home improvement store, and lay them in the ground yourself.

Create a lush, green backdrop where you and your family can escape; think plants, flowers and trees. If you have a courtyard or patio, create a border around the space with bushes, flowers, a trellis with climbing vines and perhaps even plant some saplings to provide even more privacy and shade.

Add potted plants and flowers to a patio or balcony to heighten the urban oasis feel. If you only have the sidewalk tree in front of your building, plant some flowers around.

Add landscaping details; with limited space, the little things are key. Incorporate lighting, such as weatherproof outdoor lighting fixtures and lanterns, pops of color (flower beds, painted wooden planters, etc.) and structures (trellises and archways) into your landscaping plans.