Front Yard Gardening Without a Front Yard

You know that expansive flower garden we found yesterday, the one that's shared between neighboring front yards? Well, we came across another, quite opposite, form of front yard gardening not far from there. It's a front yard garden without a front yard...

This couldn't be more different from yesterday's overflowing garden, yet it is still beautiful in its own right. This house has no front yard to speak of - the building facade sits right at the sidewalk. Yet its owner still found a way to include plantings in a non-existent front yard: potted plants line the sidewalk at the base of the building.

We know we're guilty of giving up too easily when we feel we don't have enough outdoor space to get our hands in the dirt. This just goes to show that no matter how meager your outdoor space, there is always room to introduce a little green into the picture.

Comments (8)

I have the same exact house setup... what keeps people from wandering off with your beautiful plants? Unfortunately thats how mine went missing... Any tips?

i would go with planter boxes, or if your building allows it (don't know if you own or rent) maybe trellises.

This is very cute. Great to see people taking advantage of even a small amount of outdoor space.
As far as plants being carried off, can you make the pots as cheap and as obnoxious to carry off as possible? I have a couple old 5 gallon buckets that I spray painted bright colors and turned into plant holders, they are heavy and I got the bulbs in them for free. If anyone walked off with them it wouldn't really upset me, I'd try to be glad that someone else was getting some greenery in their life, and I'd only be out the 3$ the spray paint cost.

nice, rolen!
also, one could get a planter box and start an espaliered tree if the landlord allows. the green gets anchored on the wall by u-hooks.

I live in Philadelphia, and this happens a LOT.

I recently put a HUGE planter out in front of my house. It's a huge aluminum one I got for $10.00 @ IKEA in as-is. I drilled a bunch of holes in it for drainage, and then brought it out front and assembled it.

I placed it up on bricks so excess drainage wouldn't pool underneath and corrode the metal. Then I put in old cinderblocks, bricks, and stuff to weight down the bottom, then about two huge bags of earth, and the arborvitae tree that was in my backyard/patio but not in a good sunlight spot.

The thing is HEAVY; I'd hear it if someone tried to swipe it. It looks great - I got a running commentary from neighbors while I was assembling it. And now my neighbors across the street have copied me. Terracotta pot and an old christmas tree, but it's an improvement.

I love windowboxes, but they're expensive and difficult to install correctly without professional help.

I think this looks sorta sad. Cute but sad. Window boxes would be cheerier.

Great unique building. I agree with installing window boxes for color.