The neglected side yard

Ugh. That’s the feeling that washed over me when I took a look at our side yard today.

I pass by there all the time, but I usually ignore the weedy, dry strip of grass and concrete that transports me from our front yard to our back. Today I had that something-needs-to-be-done-here attitude.

But where do you begin?

From what I can gather online, one of the most impactful changes you can make is to replace straight concrete pathways with meandering stone or brick ones.

Take a look at how landscape designer Shirley Bovshow used stepping stones and lush planting to improve this side yard (see photos above, too).

Here’s another side yard transformation , this time by landscape designer Rochelle Greayer.

Sunset magazine is always good for some gardening eye candy, like this colorful, curvy side yard and this side-yard sanctuary .

Why not make your side yard work for you? A blog called Local Ecologist spotted this driveway-turned-veggie-garden on a garden tour.

I don’t plan to tear out our concrete pathway anytime soon, but I do hope to make some improvements to our side yard. I’ll post pictures when that happens. Until then, how does your side yard look? Any tips on beautifying that often-neglected strip?