Smart Ways to Use Tight Spots in Your Landscape

Create a welcoming front yard without giving up privacy. Here, a rustic arbor and split-rail fence offer an inviting scene.

• Use combinations such as black bamboo, Japanese maples, and weeping spruce to close off the view and add privacy.
• Select plants that have seasonal interest: Black bamboo canes look good spring to fall; Japanese maples offer oranges, reds, and golds in autumn; and evergreen spruces offers winter color and interest.
• Choose accessories that match your landscaping style.

Get a comfy seating area, even if your yard is too small for a permanent patio. Here, a crafty homeowner leveled the ground and put down a layer of pea gravel in the corner of the yard. It's the perfect nook for a couple of Adirondack chairs.

• Use big trees and shrubs around an area make it feel more intimate without being crowded.
• Look for seasonal interest: Japanese maples and burning bush turn fiery shades in fall while white astilbe and yellow ligularia offer early-summer color.
• Add an easy-maintenance ground cover for a great look all year.