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A bare bones outdoor space can be exciting – so many possibilities! So much potential! But a blank canvas can also be overwhelming for homeowners, turning a “Can’t wait to dive in!” into a “Where do I even start?” Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind if you’re looking to turn a empty yard into an outdoor oasis.

Using the Space

First things first, how do you want to use the space? Is entertaining your main priority or is it vital to have a cozy space for lounging and reading? Do areas for gardening take precedent over areas for seating? Are you interested in having a garden for strolling and gazing at specimen plants rather than more active use? All of these questions can help you begin to divide your space into manageable sections fit to purpose, making sure to tie in your overall aesthetic into each space.

Site Challenges

So you know how you want to use your space, but is there anything getting in the way of your plans? Say for example, you’d like a space that feels intimate, but currently the neighbors look right into your yard. Maybe a fence or a hedge is in order to solve that particular problem. Or perhaps you have a sun-blasted backyard, great for the late fall and early spring when the weather is cool, but unbearable and unusable in the summer. A shade solution then is in the cards. Small space but you’d like to use it for many activities? Multifunctional or movable features and furniture can help you make that a reality. Take time to identify your site’s challenges so that you can address them and actually use your dream space.

Sun and Shade

No outdoor space is complete without a few plants, whether it’s a coterie of potted plants in your seating nook or a bevy of shade lovers along the perimeter of your yard. To ensure your space is not only usable but that the plants look good too, take note of how much sun you get overall, which objects in your environment cast shade, and where and when you have sun and shade. Right plant right place is a tried and true maxim for a reason. It may seem obvious but be sure to pick shade tolerant plants for shady spots and sun loving plants for full sun areas.

Budget

And last but certainly not least, budget. New hardscape, like pavers or pea gravel; new plants and plant beds; and the labor needed to install them both can add up fast. If you can, consider taking on some of the labor to cut down on cost, and be sure to compare materials to see which is cheaper but still achieves the look you want.

So how does this all work out on a real project? Read on for how Loam applied these principles to a bare bones concrete backyard in Bed-Stuy. 

Adding Dimension and Shade to a Flat, Concrete Backyard

When Loam was called in for this Bed-Stuy project the owner knew they wanted a backyard that felt lush and had space for intimate seating as well as dinner parties. However, the current space had no dimension, was covered in concrete, and had zero shade, essentially making it unusable even in cooler weather.

The concrete was in great shape, so we decided that rather than excavate it, we would lay porcelain pavers supported by pedestals right on top – cutting down on potential labor and excavation costs. The owner was also able to lay the pavers themselves, further cutting down on labor costs. To create a lush space with shade, we hired a carpenter to build a pergola, raised beds, and a built-in bench. The pergola would provide shade, the raised beds were different heights to add dimension, and the bench could double as seating for small groups or work well alongside a dining table for larger parties. A cherry blossom tree would, as it grew, also provide shade for the yard.

Finally, we picked a mix of native and nonnative plants that could withstand the sun: Calamintha nepeta ‘Walkers Low,’ native white heath aster, native grasses (Panicum virgatum and Eragrostis spectabilis), and Phlox subulata ‘Snowflake’ to name a few. The end result, a wonderful backyard oasis. Click here to see more of this project.

Curious how Loam can help transform your outdoor space? Check out our services here or email us at hello@loambrooklyn.com.

Winter sowing seeds is a great way to start seeds early if you don’t have enough space or light inside to do so. It also gives me a nice gardening fix in the winter months and helps to break dormancy on seeds that require a period of cold moist stratification. Read on to learn more about winter sowing, or watch a quick video on how to winter sow seeds here. You can also find this video at the end of the blog post.

Winter sowing seeds comes with one more benefit to those listed above: winter-sown seedlings aren’t affected by the indoor fungus that causes dampening off (that’s when your seedlings wither and begin to flop over) and they don’t need to be hardened off outside. (Hardening off is when you take seedlings started indoors and put them outside during the day to get them acclimated to the outdoor conditions.)

This method of winter sowing uses items you likely have around the house: transparent, recycled containers, such as salad greens containers, which act as miniature greenhouses.

Good plants to winter sow are plants that would normally survive winter either as perennials or as reseeding annuals. If you’re not sure a seed is a good candidate, just look for terms like “sow outdoors in early spring,” “sow in the fall,” “hardy,” “withstands frost,” “cold, moist stratification,” “direct sow early,” or “self-seeding annual.”

You can begin winter sowing any time after the first day of winter and as long as the nights are still chilly.

To start, gather your materials. You’ll need: a transparent, container with a clear lid; good quality potting soil – I prefer FoxFarm Ocean Forest, McEnroe Organic Potting Soil, or potting soil from the Lower East Side Ecology Center; a watering can; a trowel; and a sharp tool to create drainage and air holes in your container. And of course, don’t forget your seeds!

Once you’ve gathered your materials the rest is easy:

1. Clean the recycled containers with soap and water
2. Create drainage holes on the bottom and air holes in the lid of your recycled containers
3. Fill with potting soil, leaving some room between the top of the soil line and the lid for the seedlings to start growing
4. Moisten the soil before sowing so you don’t displace your seeds
5. Then sow your seeds according to packet directions
6. Cover your seeds with potting soil and put outdoors in a spot with full light
7. Leave and just make sure it doesn’t dry out

Fluctuations in outdoor temperature, and the action of freezing and thawing, help to loosen the seed coat. The seeds know when to germinate – it’s in their DNA. Just keep an eye on them and wait for your seedlings to appear. Once they do, uncover your containers. Transplant your seedlings to their permanent locations once they have several true leaves.

It’s as easy that! So if you’re looking to get a head start on your season, give it a try. Feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions, and good luck!

People often ask me how I got started in landscape design. It was truly a matter of space – and that common New York City challenge of never having enough of it.

I come from a family of gardeners. My great-great-grandmother was an herbalist in Trinidad, and my grandfather gardened as a way to ensure food security for my dad and his siblings. Beyond the functional needs and uses of gardens, there’s also just a love of the physical outdoor space and the action of nurturing plants that is a defining characteristic of my family. It wasn’t until I arrived in New York did I realize that. I also quickly realized that there would be no amount of balcony, rooftop or backyard space that I could call my own that would allow me to grow and experiment with all the plants that caught my eye. To quote “Mean Girls,” the limit does not exist.

I feel very lucky that my clients trust me to create beautiful spaces that extend the use and aesthetic of their homes into the outdoors. And it doesn’t hurt that I get to introduce them to some beautiful plants along the way.