I have a yard in Queens that is a very similar size and layout, so I'm interested in ideas. My husband and I did square foot gardening this year and had great success. It's cheap too! Google square foot gardening and you'll get more than enough info. Good luck!

What - why is there grass cover??? Will grass not grow in this spot?

Gah... I'd love to be able to help you, but I can't get a good look at your photo because AT CAN'T GET THEIR BORDER ADS TO BEHAVE!!! Please guys...

But yeah. Fake grass rug must go. Check at your local ReStore-- I've seen grass seed for sale cheap at ours. I know it can get expensive (and why?) at the hardware store/garden center.
It looks like you have a nice planting bed outlined already along the left side of the photo.
What do you like, plant-wise? What kind of light do you get? Do you want all garden, or patio/pet airing space?
Whatever the answers to these questions are, though, I think we can all agree-- The AstroTurf Must Go.
Good luck!
<shakes fist at border ads one last time>

Do you have any idea what's under the AstroTurf? Dirt? More paving stones?

And is that a clothesline pole at the very back of the yard?

Some suggestions:

1. First, really figure out how much sun you get - an easy way to do this is with a free time-lapse software like Framethief (well, free to demo anyway, which is all you need it for) and a computer with a built in web cam that you can leave home while you work. On a sunny day, face the webcam at your yard and set the time lapse program to take a picture every 30 minutes - at the end of the day, you'll have a pretty accurate movie of how much sun you get and where it goes, so you can plant accordingly.

2. Do try to get rid of the astro-turf - yucky. If there's a lot of concrete/stone underneath and you're backyard is very dark and shady, consider growing a moss lawn instead of a grass lawn (you can find moss recipes different places online).

3. Consider planting a tree! Quaking aspen is a beautiful, fast-growing tree with white bark - it stays relatively skinny and has sparse leaf cover, so it will get big fast and won't shade you too much or take up too much room.

4. At the end of the yard, construct a small arbor and grow climbers (like concord grapes - they're native to North America and LOVE the NY climate), wisteria, or clematis.

5. Lastly to get inspired ... check out Plunket Gardens on this BBC show 'Love Your Garden' - created in a classic back-forty space, this is probably the most impressive design for a small city garden that I've ever seen - PERIOD! Love how she used hedges and shrubs to create the effect of rooms.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L264bra3SCc

I just planted grass in the backyard at my rental this spring, and it has come up really well. Grass seed is best planted in the early spring or early fall, when it's not too hot out.

I pulled up all the weeds, hoed the soil, and added about 10 bags of new black earth. Then I generously sprinkled grass seed - a sun/shade mix. I watered the seeds every morning and evening - just with a watering can. Within two weeks it had sprouted and now I have real grass back there. It's great! You can also buy a cheap reel mower online for about $50 to maintain it.

I don't think there is any way to cover up the turf...I think you have to remove it. If you get enough light then you could plant grass. If you ever travel to more suburban areas you could check freecycle for extra sod - sometimes someone doing a big yard has a few extra rolls that they either sell or give away. I'm sure that's not the case as much in Brooklyn. Maybe check with your local garden center to see if they have slashed prices on sod since it's a little late to plant? That would be the quickest way to get ground cover. Good luck! You have a great space to work with!

My recommendation would be to go to a local nursery and get some advice from them - if you have a car, I'd recommend Chelsea Garden Center in Red Hook - very friendly and helpful people (though their prices are on the high side). At this point late in the season you may just want to be planning for what you're going to do in the fall, since growing grass right now is probably not an option. Some varieties of seedum might do well in the shade and I think that could be planted now. If you plant something and it grows well, then in a couple of months you'll be able to carve out some sections, put some pavers down, or do a little better landscaping.

Even though it's a rental, I think it's worth investing some money in this yard. Assume you'll be there a couple of years, and outdoor space is such a great luxury in Brooklyn that it's worth making it comfortable and nice. A good table and chair set (used off craigslist) would be a good investment, and can always be sold if you move someplace without outdoor space.

Oh a couple more things; I would make that area to the left a priority - carve it out, put some ferns or hostas in there, and mulch along the curve. That will add some drama and distract from the rest of the area. Whatever you do, don't plant ivy - it's invasive and apparently the rodents love it for its cover. Oh, and get a grill!

I can't really advise without knowing what is under that fake grass. It's horrible, it HAS TO GO.

Assuming you have soil underneath, one option would be to plant some native grasses and sedges. They would be low-maintenance and eco-friendly, and look great!

Also, make yourself a little veggie patch. The BEST tomatoes are the ones you grow yourself.

As mentionned it's not the time of year to plant grass seed succesfully. Sod maybe. Is your landlord willing to pay for the sod if you do the work? It would be an improvement to her property after all.

Im thinking pea gravel instead of the astro turf. Its pretty cheap, and looks nice and groomed. Then I would load the beds with greenery. Big luscious hostas and some purple leaves!!!! A couple nice chairs, and a table, maybe some great light strands, and BOOM!

It looks like there are some good plants and gravel/stone/brick going already, it's just that heinous astro turf that is wrecking the whole thing. I like the idea of replacing it with sod (ask your landlord if they will pay for it, but really, it isn't that expensive). Put in sod and get 4 brightly colored chairs. Then you can use some found objects for side tables, and a few pots with flowers to enhance the garden feeling. Pretty soon, you'll be ready to buy yourself a BBQ.

Actually your yard is not bad I would just clean it up and add some potted plants maybe some candles and fix the fence on the end and hang a large mirror on the back fence. Table, chairs and a table umbrella. Done

CLYNNEC is correct in that the very FIRST thing you need to do is figure out where there is sun at different times of day.
But, since you're on a budget, save yourself the cost and just check it at a few times a day. At least check it at 9 am, noon, 3 pm, and 6 pm. Make a rudimentary drawing of your yard and update it for each time. Then you'll know exactly how the sun rolls across.
I'll never forget the year I tried to plant potatoes, only to find out the space I chose got a LOT less sun than I originally thought since there's always a little more shade from the south than from the north.

Find some used deck wood on Craig's list and build a small deck after disposing of the astroturf. Just nail the wood to some 4x4's, you don't even have to dig. You can make it as large as you want. Then you might look into container gardening. You could even grow some food as well as flowers and other plants attractively in well placed decorative pots.

What is that pole for? What is size of your back yard?

With this suggestion, you/Landlord would only spend money on sod/gravel, hedge plants, a few pots, and outdoor furniture. Best of luck.

Here's what I would do:
* Get rid of the green cover.
* Get rid of the rolls of bamboo along the back fence.
* Remove but save the gravel + brick pavers.
* Depending on what's underneath (it looks bulky) and the drainage issue; if it's soil, prep it and put down sod or gravel.
* I would plant a hedge between the back fence and low brick wall to hide the unruly planting behind there but also heighten the greenery.
* If there are any plantings in the yard, prune them. If they didn't suit my new garden plan I'd re-plant them in another area or re-pot them. Failing that, remove them altogether.
* Then I'd use the saved bricks to build a small BBQ.
* Lastly, add table + chairs, good company and party.

DEFINITELY remove the fake grass, I have personally found craigslist/kijiji great resources for free stuff like top soil, patio pavers, pea gravel, etc... I redid my back patio entirely for free. Seems like people are always ripping this stuff up and hoping for someone to take it away (if you have access to a vehicle of course). Wait a few more weeks and every plant you could ever want will be on sale for half price.

Gah... I'd love to be able to help you, but I can't get a good look at your photo because AT CAN'T GET THEIR BORDER ADS TO BEHAVE!!! Please guys...

Ditto. It's an issue on all of the Good Questions posts.

If there's not a lot of sun, I second the moss rec. I walked through a small mossy forested area over the weekend and it feels so soft and delightful.

Depending on what you want (pet space, play space, entertainment/patio space) you could cheaply go either grass from seed, or pea gravel. I second the Craigslist suggestion... in our area there is frequently free fill dirt and landscaping materials available.

For an instant fix-up, you can get potted plants to set on top of the beds. Then post on craigslist that you're looking for splits of perennials and see what response you get. Around here (WI) there are always people looking to dump hosta, daylilies, various bulb plants, black-eyed susans, etc. As you find things, start adding to the beds and moving the potted plants to accent the patio or far wall of the lot.

And of course, get some seating, a BBQ, and some christmas lights and you'll have an instant hangout.

Take a look at Benita's blog, Chez Larsson, she has done wonders with her new front + back gardens in just a year. Inspiration right there.

http://chezlarsson.com/myblog/gardening/

Do not do grass seed or even sod that main area unless you want to spend every weekend pushing a mower around. Especially in an urban garden the way to go is to do pea gravel with larger pavers interspersed. Check out "Eden Makers" blog and her lawnless front yard. Attractive and low maintenance. The other thing that is great about pea gravel yards is that if you decide you want a vegetable garden all you have to do is plop a raised bed or two on top and you are all set. Or a few large potted planters with lavender or catmint for color.
Keep the existing beds on the right and left. Looks like you have some pretty good shade on the right, so plant a selection of different Hostas and you will be all set. On the right I am not sure how much sun that area gets but 4 or 5 hydrangeas will do well in part sun or part shade. The Endless Summer variety are easy but the traditional Annabelle are spectacular though take a little more time to come to maturity. Hydrangeas will look great against the hedge on the left and are super low maintenance too.
I second that the bamboo screens have to go.
Good luck! It is a great space and the landlord should be thrilled with you!

Definitely get rid of the fake turf - I think everyone is in agreement on that. And I think I'd at least get rid of the bed on the left side of the photo, maybe the others as well. Everything else depends on how much sun you have and what's under the fake turf. Actual lawn takes some care, so I would be inclined to put down concrete pavers - check Craigs list and freecyle etc. to find them for as little as possible - and plant either moss or thyme between them. That way you get green, but very low maintenance. Then, plant flowers in every possible container and put them around the outside of the garden, or make beds and get some kind of seed mixture suitable to your light/climate conditions for the beds.

I think just getting rid of the fake turf, the broken bamboo at the back, and the odd shaped bed on the left would go a long way to making it more appealing.

I'm going to guess that that fake turf covers concrete or something else unplantable. If so, I agree with pea gravel. (Or, maybe, if you can score a deal, some of those rubber tiles meant to cover decks... )

So, get rid of the turf, cover with pea gravel, and get some pretty big colorful planters for actual plants. (Fill the bottoms with styrofoam peanuts -- not the cornstarch kind that dissolve! -- so they aren't as heavy when you add planting soil.) (I'd get an odd number, and several different sizes.)

Some yard furniture and you should be in good shape.

Yeah, I have to say I'm getting the badly behaved border ads, too. What's up with that? Frustrating :-(

Chez Larsson does have some good ideas. Look on your freecycle to see who has plants they are dividing. I've gotten a lot of things that way. Also, keep in mind some common garden plants are prolific (ivies, bishops weed, and mints) and it takes a lot of time to get rid of them once they take hold!

It's also hard to advise without a little more info (your time, your wish of use -like do you want to bbq/entertaining, kids--actual budget, vehicle for transporting, etc). But anyway, I'm thinking some colorful patio furniture (no cushions, I'm talking basic colorful metal or resin-if you have the budget, an umbrella with the table), some blocks or wood to define an area for seating/patio. Some plants that are fail-safe & cheap like hosta or a few border hedges. Container veggies like tomatoes & herbs & some seed grass, perhaps? Also some decorative grasses are inexpensive.

Do you have an outside spigot for watering or would you have to run a hose from inside?

Don't plant grass unless you own a lawnmower or can get one cheaply. If there is dirt under the carpet plant an evergreen ground cover like ajuga. If you have friends that garden you might be able to get it free. Plant bulbs in the early Fall at the same time watch out for perennials on sale at nurseries when they don't want to carry them through the winter.
If it is concrete underneath you can build raised beds with some kind of cheap lumber. Because it isn't yours you don't need to worry about it not lasting. In my first apartment I built them out of 2x4s on concrete and made them long and wide rather than tall (not enough skill to do more). For five years they were good enough to grow lettuce, spinach, chives, parsley plus annuals and small bulbs. If you can get some free or cheap pavers you can fill in between the beds. For other plants use old pots at first and if things do well in that location you have the option of planting into the ground. I scrounged discarded pots and spray painted them all the same colour.
For design ideas go to the Library and take out some English gardening books. Flip through and choose the ones about small city gardens. There are dozens of them. Even if the plants won't grow in your area you will get some layout ideas.

To thatkris - I thought the ad thing was an issue with MY computer - happy to know it is not!

About the garden - scour Craigslist or a similar posting site in your area - look under FREE - you'll be surprised by how many people give away garden pavers, plants, pebbles... look wide and far and you'll be all set... maybe for the cost of a truck rental to go get it and quite a bit of elbow dirt. I think, since you are in a rental, you want to keep the budget down. Concentrate on an outdoor living space rather than a garden. Candles, comfy outdoor sofas and chairs... if the landlord wants permanent plants - she should pay.

1. Astroturf, Be Gone!

No grass--too much work, but the perimeter might be nice with a bit of creeping thyme or moss or other easy care groundcover that likes shadier spots.

2. Be Neighborly: When we lived in BK, our elderly neighbors were a wonderful source of gardening help. Not only did they share gardening tips appropriate for the climate, etc., but their grandson often brought his granny "as-is" plants from the nearby garden center where he worked, and his sweet granny often shared plants with us. The upshot? Talk to your neighbors. Seriously.

3. Simple is good. You want to spend most of your time enjoying the space, not maintaining it. Think of the center of the garden as your outdoor room, and build an easy patio, either using Ikea's wooden slatted patio squares, or brick. Easy tutorial for sand-based patio here: http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/outdoor/patios/how-to-build-a-sand-based-patio/

4. Small is beautiful: Decorate your outdoor room by focusing mostly on container gardening. You can even plant black bamboo in containers (though never, ever in the ground--too invasive, as are mint and ivy). If you put taller growing plants in containers in a row, they'll create a screen for privacy; plus bamboo sounds lovely in the wind, and will soften the street noise in your little oasis. You can plant a mini herb garden in one container, cutting flowers in another, even certain vegetables. Then, if one plant doesn't thrive, you can either replace or move it to a sunnier/shadier spot, etc. When they're in the ground, this is a wee bit harder to do. Since you're a novice and on a tight budget, decorate with lanterns, and during the summer, find a pretty, inexpensive bedspread or other textile, tie the corners to bamboo poles and push into the ground as a canopy. Look for sturdy furniture you can spray paint the same color to coordinate, etc. (Rustoleum even makes paint that will adhere to plastic--so even if your chairs are mismatched shapes, it will look nice). Look on stoops and sidewalks late Sunday afternoon for stoop sale leftovers--all kinds of things can work in the garden. If you drill drainage holes into just about any container, you can plant in it.

5. Throw a party (a container planting party): Ask friends to bring one small plant (make suggestions--herbs and succulents are great, and you can find small pots even in bodegas or at Trader Joe's for under $5). You supply the pizza and beer and everyone comes over to help plant. Then you all hang out and enjoy your new space.

6. Don't worry about the results too much. Gardening is all about trying new things. Some work and others, not so much.

7. Have fun and good luck!

Pull up the artificial turf yourself and if you have to put down some soil Then, get a pro to hydromulch the backyard. This will limit the type of grass you can seed, but it takes root very quickly and is much less expensive than buying and laying down sod yourself. Also, get rid of all the rocks in the beds and put in a two or three level system of plants. Bushes nearest the house. I love bulbs in the backyard -- irises and tulips for color -- and they come back year after year. Good luck

I grew grass from seed last year, starting in mid-July. It was a lot of work but looked amazing. You have to go over it a few times so you need a lot more seed than the bags say. You also have to water it quite a bit.

I lost my lawn due to construction so this time I used sod. I just laid it today. It looks ok, but honestly I think my from-seed lawn is better.

Check Craigslist. I just gave away the 50 sq ft I over ordered. You'll have more luck in the afternoon when people are done with their project. The guys who took my sod are laying it as soon as they get home, as long as it's well watered it will be ok.

Everyone has good thoughts - I will add a few and reiterate. I would not recommend lawn, it isn't realistic unless you are very very very dedicated to it. Any other 'growy' isn't either if you walk on it much. Gravel is a great idea but pea gravel is round and difficult to walk on. Get 1/4" crushed for cheap or decomposed granite for a more polished (but still reasonably priced) look. 1'x1' pavers from a big box store or Craigslist would be great too, filled in with gravel. Or do something funky with that astroturf like use rustoleum to paint it tourquoise. Then paint the raised blocks in the back fuscia. In general paint is your friend. Put a damask stencil or funky geometric stencil on the fence and paint it. Sting cafe lights. Fun colored furniture and pots. Put a fire pit in the middle. The rest of the planting could be a native plant seed mix that would be low water use, tough, attractive most of the year, and low maintenance. Most of all, enjoy!

Do a couple raised beds.

As for the astroturf, leave it. Make it a mini-golf course, change the holes around every so often. Invite friends. Have fun.

But that's me, and I'm crazy.