Small Backyard Spaces

I’m always inspired by the potential of a small landscape space. Let’s take a look at how using simple ideas and techniques transforms a small backyard. I love this raised landscape bed, from the pavers to the plant selections. New Gold lantana, an original Mississippi Medallion selection in 1996, with its sprawling growth and golden yellow flowers anchors the end. This bed is a pollinator magnet starting with the red and orange tropical butterflyweed. The Mystic Spires salvia is impressive with the bright blue flower spikes. Candy Corn cuphea has upright red stems covered with yellow and red tubular flowers that resemble the tasty kernels of the sugary candy it’s named after. Yellow Shrimp plant, a 2000 Mississippi Medallion winner, completes this raised bed. On the other side of the yard, the red shrimp plant complements its yellow cousin. I love the hanging baskets on the fence that are overflowing with red-orange purslane and bright red geranium. Colorful containers are featured on the back porch. Dipladenia is a great choice for color in a full sun container. The full, bushy growth with colorful funnel-shaped flowers are gorgeous. Other container grown selections include the magenta variegated Sunpatiens, yellow flowered calibrachoa and more geraniums. A couple of focal points for me are the woven trunk tropical hibiscus and the big tomato plant. This backyard is a great example that a small space can have big landscape impact. I’m horticulturist Gary Bachman and I’ll see you next time on Southern Gardening.