Free Landscaping Ideas for Townhomes

Screens and Umbrellas

• One of the key issues facing any garden-loving townhome owner is privacy. Yes, it's wonderful to be out in the garden, but when that garden faces other gardens there is a lack of privacy. Many construction sites have old pieces of lattice that you can get free. Place one in the ground or in a large pot and plant beans, peas, sweet peas, honeysuckles, and other climbing plants. Put a chair behind the screen, and you have a garden privacy screen.

  If you have an existing patio umbrella and furniture, position the table and the umbrella so that you get as much shade and privacy as possible.

Container Gardens

• Creating a container garden is a quick and inexpensive way to add beauty to your townhome's landscape. In the springtime, many neighbors and friends in larger houses get rid of their pots as they move plants in and out of the garden. Garden centers often have a pile of old used pots as well. Use a pot or a cluster of pots one to two feet wide to create a container garden that incorporates vegetables or flowers.

  Vegetables that thrive in container gardens include beans, tomatoes, and most leafy varieties like lettuce and spinach. To create a garden purely to enhance the look of your townhome, ask friends for their extra perennial flowers and small plants. Perennials like hostas always need to be divided, and friends will be happy to give you these hardy, shade-loving plants.

Seating Solutions

• Space is at a premium in small gardens. If you want to sit in your garden you need a chair or a bench, but these items can take up a lot of space. Use an existing hope chest and paint it with exterior paint. Place garden tools into the chest and use the chest itself as a bench.

  If you decide to use chairs, use garden chairs that fold up. You can either store these inside in the winter time or add a hook to the fence or exterior of the building where you can store the chairs when they are not in use. This allows you to create a seating area when necessary and enjoy working in the garden without bumping into chairs.