I hate showing in-the-rough before pictures without having some pretty after (or at least during!) shots for you, so I’ve been hesitant to share any photos of the brownstone. Those bachelors have not been so tidy! I could really use your help though. (and to make it clear – this is not our stuff. We haven’t moved in yet)
I would love to be a really good gardener, but honestly, I have no idea where to even start. When we were first married, we lived in Arizona and our yard was mostly gravel and just a small lawn – totally minimal. Since then we’ve lived in places with no outdoor space. I haven’t had the chance to learn about plants and yard care/design. I’m SO excited to finally start now.
We have an upper and a lower deck, both are about 5′ deep and 20′ wide – not super huge, but just big enough for a small grill, a table and four chairs on the upper deck (which connects to the living room). I’ll probably put a small seating area on the bottom deck too (which connects to my office), but I think mostly that area will be for outdoor toy storage. I haven’t figured that all out yet.
As I look through Pinterest and my inspiration folders at brownstone yards, it seems like a lot of them have stone or brick pavers. When we first walked through the house, I thought those flagstone pavers should go out immediately in favor for just grass (right after that astroturf gets pulled up off the deck! yeesh!)
But now I’m worrying about mud. Maybe putting down (prettier) pavers is the best idea?
Okay, all you yard experts – help! What would you do with this space? Ideas I’m bouncing around – a tallish hedge along the back wall for added privacy, some flowers and/or vegetables planted along the sides (I want to take out all those low bushy trees to the left). Raised garden beds? Maybe a teeny tiny playhouse or a covered sandbox? The yard itself is 20′ wide x 40′ deep (this is a shot from the upstairs landing).
Any thoughts?
I like pavers, but I think some curves would be nice in that space as well to add dimension. Our yard was paved over when we moved in, and while its a different space, I think some of the elements that worked for us could work in your yard. Check it out if you're interested.
I am not proud of how jealous I am right now! I've lived in Brooklyn for about 6 years now and have always dreamed of having an outdoor space like that(or any outdoor space really!) I agree that getting rid of the pavers in favor of all grass could lead to a muddy situation. I am actually a fan of that type of flagstone paver – they lend a really nice element of disorder. If they're in really bad shape then it definitely makes sense to replace them but maybe wait and see how you use the space most and made a decision from there. Enjoy your new space and let me know if you every need and extra person to test out cocktails in that lovely backyard
:)
I think you will want a combination of hard surface and soft, so some pavers as you step down, maybe for more dining, and then some grass for the kids. I've notices it doesn't take much grass, but my little ones like to do yoga on the grass, hit a t-ball, kick a soccer ball, just basic kid-stuff. The playhouse can go on either grass or pavers, but might get more use on pavers since, if it doesn't have a floor, it coul still be used when it's a bit wet outside.
We lived in a tiny bungalow for 4 years, with a concrete backyard, awful, and now have a nice deck for dining, grilling, a raised patio bed for plants etc. and a small all-grass backyard for the above mentioned kid-stuff:)
Jessica
stayathomeista.com
Im no expert, but for some quick first steps, I would tear off that fake green grass carpet on the walk out balcony! Move the white bench that appears to be in the middle of the lawn, back a few feet, onto the grass (so it doesnt split the lawn). Dig up the right hand side … turn that soil around and around. IF its a sunny side, plant a couple tomatoes and beans (they are hardy but need something to cling to and climb) Plant a hosta or two as well, for greenery. Hmm Maybe turn that white bench around so the back is against the new garden…and you are looking at the grown in garden. Perhaps a bird bath in the far corner, something to look at.
Looks like someone had a design in mind for a setting place surrounded by a garden. I think you have already the makings of a beautiful garden area. I would save the pavers you have and use them. Take them up re-arrange them into paths that lead to garden features or special sitting areas. Since you already have sitting areas by your home. If you'd like a seasonal garden you could even mix flowering plants with vegetables placed throughout the beds along side them. GardenGuides.com is a great place to seek advice to gardening & landscaping. I've been getting great advice there for over 6 years. Good Luck!
Hi Jenny, long-time reader and first-time commenter. You have a great treat in store for you – what a fab space. One person who could be super helpful to you is Marie from the blog 66 Square Feet. Marie is a Brooklyn-based gardener, forager, and small space expert. She's coming out with a book and is a delightful person. Maybe you could arrange some kind of swap – interior design for garden design?
Some friends of mine who have a backyard on the upper westside have put down slightly elevated wooden planks…I'm not sure what you call them, but they're pieced together before you put them down. They have patio furniture on the wooden part, and then grass/plants on the side. Something to cover up the fence would be good too…
You may have already tested the soil, but I suspect that Brooklyn Heights yards have soil with high lead content. (I live in neighboring Cobble Hill, where the soil is extremely leaded thanks to Red Hook and Dumbo's industrial past.) If it is high in lead, you'll need to use raised beds or hydroponic systems to grow veggies.
The only other practical consideration I can think of from our brooklyn brownstone experience is drainage. In the turn-of-the-century buildings, some gradation issues have crept in over time which can lead to severe flooding when it rains. When you browse Brooklyn backyards, you tend to see a lot of gravel for that reason! But I'm sure there are alternatives that are softer underfoot for kids playing barefoot. Might be worth checking into what plants will help with drainage and what plans could potentially exacerbate flooding.
I'm really liking the 2nd pic from the bottom – the one with the dog in the grass. It seems so clean – pavers and grass. Very family friendly. Good luck! Looks like a big project ;)
Keep the pavers! They look organic – and keep the bushy trees at least until you have the rest of the space organized. Otherwise the backyard will look shorn.
Maybe add some steppables in between the pavers – plants that grow soft and short and are okay for walking on… I would start with pots or a raised bed on the right, and lower shade loving plants on the left…. use the fact that you have both sun and shade to your advantage.
I think the pavers you have are fine, they were just laid down horribly. You can pull them up and make a proper patio with them or hire a landscaper to do that labor. You can put sand underneath them and little pea gravel pebbels to fill in inbetween, I think it will look nice and not cost a forture. I feel the same way about gardening, I'm a total novice but the good part is, gardens are very forgiving! I love going to public gardens for inspiration for what looks good in the shade/sun and what to put next to what. When I first started gardening, I would just buy tons of different plants that I thought were pretty, and it looked so haphazard together. I've learned that you need to bunch several of the same kind of plant together to make things look cohesive. Patience is key for gardening because you can save a ton of money by splitting plants, but it takes time and planning. You'll be great at it. Have fun!
What a great little space! Your family will enjoy it so much. I think the picture that shows a mix of brick and concrete is the best with landscaping around that outside edge for privacy and beauty. This would give you so much fun space for patio furniture, riding bikes, sidewalk chalk, pushing doll strollers, etc. A grass-less yard may not seem like the prettiest option but pavement would provide so much fun play space when you don't have a typical driveway and side walks to use. I know whatever you do it will be beautiful! :)
I think the pavers are fine…maybe not so many of them and maybe when removing some make a shape that makes more sense? Pull the weeds around them and grow moss (google it, it's easy) between them. Lawn area to the back and side. If there is a tree for a swing, do that. If there is not, maybe a little wooden playhouse.
Looks like lilacs along the side? I'd want tall stuff along the back and low and pretty stuff along the side for maximum sense of space. Clematis growing up the fence maybe, or a forsythia bush for early color in the corner. If you are not a gardener, do not do anything fussy, plant things that come back each year and do not require too much care.
I would hold off on tearing out anything until you've lived in the space for a while. You might find that those shrubs block harsh sunlight during the day or serve some benefit. I'd echo that the pavers are definitely reusable.
Your yard should have rooms or corners where you want to spend time. You might create a path using those pavers to a raised platform where you eat dinner. Veggie beds want lots of sun, so the center of your yard is best, if that doesn't bother you. This space has so much potential!
I agree with those saying to keep the flagstones. If you wanted to, you could pull them up and reposition them in a better arrangement… There was a great article in the March or April Sunset Magazine about flagstones and good plants to fill in between them. If you don't get that magazine check out a library maybe?
First, figure out exactly what plants you have in your backyard already (find a comprehensive guide such as one published by Better Homes & Gardens or ask seasoned gardeners)! Even if you don't like where they are right now, you can probably move them. It takes a long time for plants to grow in (unless they're annuals), so don't pull them out until you know for sure you don't want them. Even then, you can post the bushes on Craigslist for someone else to come over and dig them out for free! I see several hosta plants along the back fence. They are the best! Hard to kill, lovely foliage (size, texture and color) easy to transplant, easy to divide, and best of all, work really well in a shady spot like I assume you have there. Another tip is to track the sun in your backyard because you need to plant things in the right light. Figure out your sunniest spots and your shadiest spots. Look at what is growing well (even weeds! And also what looks sickly) in your yard already for clues about what kind of light/soil conditions you already have. Start a small compost bin–there are many tasteful designs out there and it makes for great/cheap fertilizer. Good luck!
you have so much potential with that space!!! I wonder how succulents would do in NYC- they require little to no attention or watering! You can check my urban deck makeover here:
http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/05/yard-advice-please.html
I think it's the arrangement of the pavers rather than the pavers themselves that are the issue. If they made a curving path through grass to a playhouse rather than blobbed together as they are now, they could be lovely. You'd probably end up using 50% of them. Andy Goldsworthy would be good inspiration for how to fit them together in a new pattern.
Sounds like a lot of effort to put into long-term improvements considering you're only renting!
The first thing to do for gardening is figure out how much sun you're going to get, and what areas of the yard get how much. One consideration is that grass has got to be cut, and depending on how fast it grows, it can be a pain to keep up with. If you pull up the pavers for grass or other pavers, make sure you check the grade of the yard so that rain and water runoff doesn't flood the house or cause big pools in the middle of the yard. I learned that one the hard way.
An easy way to get into gardening is by doing container gardening. Ikea has some decent looking larger planters for $40–a steal, in my opinion (and I have been looking–most large planters cost $80 and up). I live in the deep south, so I have no idea what might grow well in Brooklyn! Make sure the container has holes in the bottom for drainage. I have had really good results using Miraclegrow moisture control potting soil. If you guys get rain fairly frequently in the summer, it may not be necessary, but we get long dry spells, and it's worked great (but if you over water with this stuff, your plants will get root rot).
The good thing about containers is that you can move them around once you've planted them and see if you get better results with particular plants in other areas of your yard. Much harder to do when you stick a plant in the ground. Then, when you find what plants work where, you're much more likely to be successful putting the plants in the ground.
I think Southern Living is one of the best places for garden inspiration. The plants may not work for you, but the spaces they feature are always great!
Gardening is a lot of trial and error. There are so many variables–sun, water, soil type/quality, etc. But, it's so fun and rewarding! Good luck!
Very pretty space! How exciting for you! I agree that the pavers are fine and I would probably wait a year (all seasons) before you make any decisions about removing any pavers. It may save you some money and headache. Also, I would find a local arboretum (there is probably a college arboretum website) where you can find species of plants that will do well in your area; again saving you time, money and work. Third, I would make a layout (like your designs) of the yard with info on sun exposure.
When we landscaped (Northern California) I wanted plants that have the best chance for success, given my black thumb. I created a list of plants using the sources on the UC Davis arboretum website. I would say that my garden turned out modern but not edgy with a color pallet of grey, green and red; I'm happy and the yard takes care of itself pretty much. Did you see the articles about Julliane Moore's garden (AT, AD and I think special edition Cottage Living), her garden is very nice, it may be something you like.
You guys are right – it's not the pavers that bother me – it's the execution for sure. I have no sense of how much pavers cost, so maybe it would definitely be worth it to reuse these. I like the organic shape of the flagstone, but probably slightly prefer something a little more geometric (like Jenna Lyons backyard, the one with the blossoms). But if I'd be saving several hundred, I'm all for reusing these!
And thanks SO much for the tips on plants! I think the yard will look so much better with just a little sprucing up. Moving some of the existing plants around, trimming things back and moving the pavers. Since we're not moving in til August 1, I'm thinking that's all we'll have time for this year. I'm planning for this to be a smart, slow, economical process. Maybe we'll try to get some of those plant beds in this year too though. I wonder what the best timing there would be.
Also, Edmundo, we're planning on staying here for a couple years, but I'm a big believer in making your home beautiful and functional no matter if you rent or own. The landlord has offered to help pay for these improvements so we're doing a little more than maybe we would otherwise. Plus, I get to blog about these projects that I do, so it all works out! :)
j
Definitely a play structure for the girls – a swing, at least.
A garden, a berry bush, flowering shrubs.
A playhouse, a BB hoop, a sandbox.
A pet!
Oh my word, you are going to transform this space into one lovely spot! I would love a path with flagstone or bluestone from the stairs and the area on the left beautifully planted. I am going to draw what I envision and send it to you!
The deck will be lovely with potted herbs. A sundial in the garden and perhaps a little house for the girls to play.
pve
Speaking of Pinterest, I love this idea, with pavers spaced with thyme. You could re-use some of the existing pavers, but obviously their configuration has to go. I'm so happy for you and your gorgeous back yard, whatever you decide to do with it.
http://pinterest.com/pin/162411130282157911/
xox
i would hold off for the time being-
nothing wrong with the flagstone-
some may need to be settled in a bit-
there are all kinds of ground covers that can fill in the cracks-
get moved in and settled inside this summer-
then attack the yard in the fall- i will send you some black eyed susans !
john in nc
I am on the Keep the Paver team! I think slightly re-arranging them, a serious weeding and cleaning will make the space much improved. Tear up the grass and try moss roses – they are great filler for crevices/paver areas and so gorgeous. Best of all – they are perrenials so you don't have to re plant every year!
I'd string up lights across the balcony (but not the awful Christmas lights that are hanging up now). The strands with large round bulbs are great looking.
love the pavers! all grass is boring and not very practical. I can't wait to PUT DOWN pavers instead of grass :)
Hi Jenny,
Its great to see you have another project ahead of you, I'm sure you will enjoy it.
First of all, decide what kind of space you want – chill out, veggie/fruit garden, play area, wildlife, just a pretty space? a combination of everything?
The important thing to remember – as in much of your interior design work I'm sure – is try to use what you already have. The shrubs/trees on the left hand side of the garden actually look quite nice (and they are flowering in the picture – already a bonus). If you try to find out what they are you may have some assets there, although they might need some pruning.
You can put a big pot with a climber such as Jasmine at the bottom of the stairs and let it climb up the bannister. You'll get great flowers and amazing scent.
I wouldn't bother with a hedge, you'll get looked at with or without it due to the size of the surrounding buildings. Again, if you place a climber on the back wall you can get a really nice contrast.
A fun thing to do for the kids is to dedicate a bit of the garden not only for a play house but for some plants of their own that are easy to sow and grow (sunflowers, marigolds' etc).
As regards to the turf – so long as you put it down straight after lifting the pavers you shouldn't have problem with mud – however, try to remember that if you use one path a lot the lawn gets run down, so just a few pavers to walk on towards the bottom of the garden would be a good idea. just make them lower then the turf for easy mowing.
Sorry about the speech, I love gardening and since having my little baby recently I have been making plans for different things I can try to put in the garden to encourage him to get out when he's older ;)
Have fun!
You have the beginnings of a great yard … it will only take a few tweaks for you to achieve it. I don't see any need to throw the baby out with the proverbial bath water by getting rid of your existing pavers at this point … as long as they are relatively level. Take a few of the ones farthest away from the house and use them to fill in the area closest to the lower patio area to provide more access to the yard. Then kill off all the greenery between the pavers and fill the spaces with constrasting crushed stone or decomposed granite.
The narrow bed on the right could use some color and some height. Columnar shrubs and colorful annuals would do the trick.
Planting shrubs to add privacy to the back wall will infringe on your usable yard space. With a 40' yard, this is a real concern. Can you extend the height of the wall with framework and lattice to interrupt the view of your neighbors and keep as much usable yard space as possible. Move the white bench to the back of the yard to provide a destination. Think about using a couple of columnar shrubs here, too.
Soft play space can be on the left side of the yard. This is where you can plant grass, if there's enough sun to support it.
Connie
Installing pavers properly is really important for drainage reasons. Our back patio is all flagstone but the people who installed it did not propertly grade it so there are places where the pavers are uneven and water collects. A mason quoted me $6000 to regrade and repave (and that's reusing our pavers). You can do it yourself but it requires a fair amout of digging and we just don;t have that kind of time! All this to say that I would leave the pavers and plant a better garden.
I'm no yard expert, but I can tell that this space has a LOT of potential. I won't be able to renovate the entire space in my mind, nor will I even try, but I am really into vines, rustic lattice, moss, and good stone work — and I think this space would do great with some of each. A good, shady tree would be perfect as well. In my opinion, at least. Can't wait to see what you come up with! By the way, I adore that first magazine picture. Complete bliss right there.
I agree with moving the pavers/having them relaid properly. :) I also really like how grass keeps the temperature of the backyard a lot cooler and would be a nice little play area for the kids. We live in a townhouse and have a backyard just about the same size as yours. We installed a pergola over the concrete pad and picnic table), planted an apple tree, have a chicken coop, and two square foot gardens. I think square foot gardening is AWESOME!!! You might be able to get a little bit of privacy in the dining area on your balcony with some lattice or a curtain or ?? A playhouse with space to play under it (does that make sense) will give your kids a little more privacy and shade. :) Can't wait to see what you do!
Hey Jenny, you should check out our blog, Liza re-modeled her very small backyard into an oasis. We were even featured on Apartment Therapy, I am just saying this chica is amazing and knows how to plan a yard layout. http://melandliza.blogspot.com/2012/04/backyard-redo.html
What a beautiful space to re-do! I have been helping my father-in-law re-design their backyard, and I have turned to a website called houzz.com for countless inspiration images. If you aren't familiar with it, I recommend checking it out! Good Luck!
What a great space! I have something similar, but I am also at loss as to what to do with it. So I might take some of these comments as advice too, haha.
I have several in my pinterest garden file, including Charlotte Moss's and Julianne Moore's very pretty townhouse gardens. I am personally partial to a grid pavers with greenery between, short cut grass trimmed with a weed whacker like many houses in Palm Beach sport.
I think those stones are great-they just need to be reorganized and straightened out. Fill the spaces in between with creeping plants-many smell amazing, like the vast varieties of Thyme. then you don't have to bother with grass.
-Kate @ plantingmylife.blogspot.com
Having 4 kids I think you may want to consider keeping some grass. Kids do love the softer surface, and the green adds so much to the yard. I think a good pruning job on the shrubs will do wonders. Keep in mind that plants take years to establish and grow, so tearing out too much might be a mistake. You are one of the most talented people I follow so I know you'll style your outdoor space just as good as you do interiors!
I definitely think starting with a clean slate (I.e. Removing trees, shrubs, and pavers) would kick start your creativity. It's no different than designing the inside, really :)
I'm sort of envious of your stylish city living :) but then again, I couldnt live without the stars, trees, grass and my garden.
Xx
Jessica
Don't get rid of the pavers! They are lovely because they are a little disoriented, and will actually look winsome once the rest of the yard is under control with a neat hedge here, flowers there, a sandbox, and furniture. I'd let grass grow between the pavers and plan for at least a small plot of grass for your children.
I would immediately plant tall evergreen upright plants to screen out the back and side views. Blue columnar junipers come to mind. Landscaping can be expensive. Is the only access to the yard through the house? Reusing the current flagstone with moss in-between will look just fine, and for a short-timer could get done before this winter. Good luck…every Friday,I do a garden post.
You should get in touch with Jon Eklund at Ecostruct in Park Slope. Here is their site: http://ecostruct.com/
And a very similar backyard project they are working on in Fort Greene with pavers:
http://blog.thesweeten.com/2012/05/29/site-visit-w-ecostruct-2/
They do great work and are reasonable.
Good luck! I lived in Brooklyn Heights for four years and loved it!!
One idea would be to make your play house elevated and put the sand box under it. It will also offer some privacy screening.
Wow, also jealous of outdoor space in BK…congrats!
If this were my space, I would put 2 lounge chairs on the top deck, and a table & chairs on the ground deck level. It's difficult to see what the ground looks like under the grill that's there now, but you may want to extend that patio out a bit from under the top level.
I would remove the pavers from the open lawn area, and would just have grass. And if you'd like a veggie or flower garden, I'd position it on the short wall opposite the house. Good luck!
There is nothing like having fresh veggies from your own garden! I totally recommend raised beds in there wherever you have the most sunshine using the square foot gardening method. How about some lovely espalier fruit trees?
i'd reuse those pavers (theyre nice and big AND real stone), but square up the perimeter and plant it all with creeping thyme so you dont have to mow. it'll look tidier.
before planting veg figure out which areas are sun and which are shade. vegs need sun. i like a raised bed for veg, too, because it creates geometry to what could be a chaotic-looking area.
for flower beds in a confined space, i like having a very defined color palette such as white and chartreuse, or blues and purples: it keeps it cohesive. and then look for plants that fit into your shade/sun criteria.
you need some outdoor dining furniture!
Keep the flagstone! It's not inexpensive and would be beautiful if laid properly. I think there are two issues with the current layout – the stone is laid in a haphazardly rectangular pattern – it would look so much better if it was an organic shape! And they should be planted with a creeper in between, not grass. Creeping thyme or even moss would look way better and be easier to maintain.
Find a neighbor with similar exposure and see what he/she grows successfully, and start there. You can throw away years on plants that someone else has already found won't work. And while containers are beautiful, you'll be watering more often than if you find things that work well in the ground. Since you're not used to maintaining a garden, start with something easy!
Have fun. I love working in my yard and I think the sunshine and dirt-digging is great for kids.
The expensive fake lawns are AWESOME! No need to mow, or water, but all the pleasure of walking and playing in the grass.