How do you plan for a garden when you can't see the yard you own?

**MomToTwoBoys** · 04-03-2011, 04:57 PM

We still have LOTS of snow in the yard. I doubt we'll see the yard until May. I'm not kidding, either...

It's been extremely warm this past week and only a fraction of the snow melted. I'd say there's still two feet worth in the backyard where it was flat and in the front yard, we have about 5 to 6 feet at the borders of the yard on the east and north side. The snow's melted pretty well on the west side (which is where our fence is) and the south side (because the house protects that part of the yard except for when the snow blows in from the north).

I've been able to get outside to where most of the snow has melted and done some surveying. The west side of the house is in DIRE need of regrading. There's a ton of negative grading on that side because the neighbors to our west have a downhill backyard. We plan on rototilling the dirt out of that section and removing it. Once we do that, we'll put in a layer of pea gravel and replaced the dirt on top of that. Once it's at level grade, we will also add in some larger stone to help with promoting positive grading. The eavestrough drains down into the ground (either into the main drain or the weeping tile -- we're not sure of which it is yet), but we plan on putting in a slider with a downward drain to drain into a rain barrel. Once that's done, we're obtaining a couple of rain barrels and daisy-chaining them for the future garden.

The backyard is the large unknown in our plans. We have spruce trees and a couple of what I call "helicopter" trees that are planted next to the shed. We absolutely do not want to get rid of that tree, but we do want to part with the spruce trees. They're planted three on the back fence and one outside of DS7's window. We'd like to move the shed, but that shed is so large and probably extremely heavy. The spruce trees shade about half of the backyard in the spring and from what DH tells me, they won't shade anything in the summer time. What we're left with is deciding what to do to promote privacy in the backyard (because we basically live in a cul-de-sac) while having adequate sunlight for a garden throughout. DH wants to half the backyard and have the back half be a garden, while the front half is for the kids to play in. He wants to put a hedge from the west to east fence and have an arbor in the middle, in which case a stone pathway would lead through the garden to the back fence gate and it would also split and run from east to west on the north side of the garden.

We do plan on getting a composter and placing it next to the deck where there's a dog house now. We have no plans for animals of any kind, so it would be the most conceivable place to put it.

I've come to realize that this year is not a gardening year. I don't even know what's under the snow. But once I do know, it'll be easier to figure out. We just wanted to start planning now on how to fix up the back yard, but I wish we just could see what we have there first.

**frugalfranny** · 04-03-2011, 05:31 PM

Most readings will say to not do anything to a yard the first year as you don't even REALLY know what is there............or how the light hits it.

I would plant veggies in moveable (think pots) things. But I would---for sure---have some veggies........while I watched the rest of it to see what pleasant surprises you might have.

One main reason that I have ALWAYS said I would either sell or take with me, all my tree peonies when/if I moved. The next person would just come in and jerk them out...........either from not liking them or not knowing what they are........

**goldeneyez** · 04-03-2011, 05:47 PM

your location says you live in Edmonton, if so, you can get rain barrels from the city if you get in fast enough. We were able to get 2 for $50 each last year and the charge went on our water bill. We built raised gardens for our backyard the year before last. Our yard isn't very big and it allows us to plant more than if it were in the ground. I am doing square foot gardening again. I plant tomatoes in containers so I can move them to where the sun is best for them. I also have some strawberries in containers as well. We built one small raised bed for my 7 yr old and he planted sunflowers in there last year. He hasn't decided what he wants this year yet. I'm hoping to be able to build another set of raised beds in the back part of our yard. In those because they'll be able to be taller than the other will probably plant some potatoes and peas. I plant lettuce, cukes, zucchinis, and what ever the family decides looks good. It's taking us a bit to get into the gardening spirit when there is still so much snow on the ground. Grow as much as you can in containers this year until you find what will grow given the sun locations in your back yard. That way you can move them should you need to where the sun is best for the plants. There are a few websites you can find through google that will show you what will grow better in our climate and in the containers.

Hope you find what will work for you and your family and you can grow to your heart's content

Stacy

**craftypam** · 04-03-2011, 05:52 PM

Stacy;

I'm going to try sq ft gardening this year for the first time. Any pros and cons you can pass on.

Thanks

Pam

**IndigoMom** · 04-03-2011, 06:22 PM

I agree with FF. Check into container gardening to start. You can actually grow quite a bit in them.
It takes time to get to know the space you have to work with. If you have long winters, maybe some cold frames. You could even get some started for Fall, and they'll be ready for next Spring too.

**mommy4ever** · 07-23-2011, 02:42 AM

Originally Posted by goldeneyez

your location says you live in Edmonton, if so, you can get rain barrels from the city if you get in fast enough. We were able to get 2 for $50 each last year and the charge went on our water bill.

Stacy, I didn't know the city did water barrels! Have I been missing out. Do you know where I could find the info for it?