Ideas please (this random fence...)

I bought my first house... and I'm a little over excited about possibilities for the yard. I've been growing veggies on my apartment balcony for years, though I have little experience with a garden that is ornamental vs edible. And I'm looking for some ideas and tips on what to plant... as well as some specific advice on dealing with this random fence that goes nowhere.

I'm in zone 5/6 (Great Lakes) and the front of the house faces south.

A few things. There is a scraggly "tree" on the west side of the house (shown in one of the pictures) that is going to go and I can't wait to rip it out. That side garden is mostly bare - and I have no idea what will pop up (if anything). The shrubbery around the front of the house is mostly mulched with wood chips. The small bed back by the garage (with the shrub in it) will be re-purposed into an herb garden since it's out the kitchen door. For some reason, there's also a giant rock in there. There is a street sign and fire hydrant in the SW corner, just to the right of where the side view picture was taken.

That fence though is driving me bonkers. Should I repurpose it? This is a corner lot, and I believe it's mostly there to deter people from cutting through the yard (I don't remember that portion ever being completely fenced in). My original thought was to pull it out and use a portion of it in the corner of the lot people would cut through, adding a flower bed in the process - maybe a hydrangea and a couple annuals. The thing is, there's a fire hydrant there that would necessitate it going father back into the yard than the one on the other front corner of the lot (not visible in the pictures). I'd really appreciate people's thoughts on that stupid fence. Is there a way I could make it less annoying to mow along? Something I could plant alongside it perhaps? Or just tear it out and call it a day?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.

Well, you could use the fence or a replacement (similar concept) to grow climbing things like
Edible: Peas, beans, scarlet runner beans (showy and edible)
Ornamental: Sweet peas, black eyed susan vines, climbing nasturtiums and similar
and as a background for taller annuals like Cosmos and many others.
Deliberately divide the yard, remove the lawn on both sides of the fence (hard to mow the fence, anyway).

Other ideas: If the goal is to discourage foot traffic you could remove the fence and do a couple of planted mounds, with boulders, sort of yin-yang layout so if someone wants to 'cut through' the actual path is a lot longer a zig-zag. Does not have to be circular mounds- irregular is fine, just so the total effect is to block the easy path.

Keep the center open (remove the fence) but plant the edges along the street and driveway so people cannot get through. Could add a rustic fence (split rail, picket), or just make a really dense 'cottage garden' effect on mounded soil. An occasional boulder where the most obvious path(s) might be.

Any of these planted areas could be a combination of edibles and ornamental plants.

There's no rules saying everything in landscaping has to be symetrical, i.e. both corners matching. I don't think anyway. But you wouldn't want to lose too much of your lot because of the hydrant, nor would you want to decorate too close to the hydrant that if they had to use it, or test it, they would be walking all over your plants or fence.

I didn't see if you have a sidewalk, entry way, to a front door or you might be able to do something with the fence and that together. Possibly move the fence closer to the road at the end of the walkway. If there is a walkway.

You bought a cute house. The fence should be painted white tho to go with the house if you are going to keep it. The fence, not the house. >smile<

By scraggly tree are you talking about the one between the two windows? I can't tell what kind of tree it is. Can you do more with that area? You don't sound like you want to. It also appears that you get a lot of sun in your yard. If you decide to maybe put in a flower or vegetable garden in that area, you don't want to put in any shade trees I don't think. Also, don't cringe when I say garden in that area. I didn't mean the whole thing.

Good luck, and enjoy your new home. Jen

I agree with Jen, I love the fence, just dont like the colour, I love gardens that are sectioned off, they form rooms where you come across surprises as you travel around the plot,
I would dig a border out from the grass growing front and back side of fence, then plant up as Diana has suggested either edible or ornamental. OR a mixture of both. you can grow some veg and salad plants in the borders too as they are short season plants and will be used up in summer.

As regards the fire hydrants and other obstacles you MUST leave free for inspections and emergency use, there are ways around that, By placing large flat stepping stone, in front, allowing any feet to be placed close to the hydrants, for the majority of the time, a large plant pot filled with a climber, on supported garden canes etc, or largish shrub etc will help take the eye away from the offending obstacle, it can also be rolled or lifted aside when required.

I love your house and know it could have a section for cottage garden planted borders, against the house, make these borders around 5-6 feet deep, add as much manure / humus as you can get to the soil for planting as this will help retain some moisture for longer in summer AND will act kind of like an insulator in your cold winters.

You will have to bring a lot of the cottage plants inside for winter storage, if you grow Lilies, Dahlias, etc, some other just require a thick mulch, more humus laid on top to offer protection BUT, there should be a garden club or person to get in touch with for that type of help.
I have family in Thunder Bay and my sister- in- law has her garden open to public each year so I know with the right care, you can grow most things, she lifts her tender plants and wraps them up to store in basement where she has a boiler.
Anyway, regarding Veg, you have a short season I think but again, with care and attention, you can grow loads of veg types and fruit, you have to start the seeds of indoors, transplant outside when temp is right and grow on, be prepared to freeze, store fruit etc depending on what you grow.

have a look around the neighbours and what they grow, I'm sure any local gardeners would be more than happy to offer you hints and tips for your area.
Hope this helps you out and your able to take your time to plan, enjoy your new gardening hobby and over time you have the garden you dream of having.
Lastly, dont try to be over ambitious regarding the beds you dig out, every bit of bare soil you create, it need constant attention, no point making veg beds AND flowering borders all in one season, you really have to grow WITH your garden IF you are a beginner, make a short border to tend and a small veg plot to plant, then the next year as funds become available you extend the borders and veg beds, that way you learn from any mistakes, and problems the plants will most likely show up,
Go to local library to look for books on veg / flowers for beginners in your area, there is also a load of info available from seed catalogues, flower growers catalogues etc so send of for any you think will help you choose what you want, these are great winter time reading too. local book store is another place for searching out books with pictures and plants listed within the pic's,
Dont be shy to ask any questions, we all had to start the same way as you are. Just take your time,
Best regards.
WeeNel.

I think WeeNel's last paragraph is the most important thing either of us have said. Also when WeeNel said "take your time, you have a lot of time just starting out". Don't try to do it all in one season. Reading books from the library, etc. will give you tons of ideas. Get a note book and make notes. Put ideas down and where you got the info from. Don't be afraid. Things can be done over. But don't hurry. Good luck and have fun working on your first house.

Jen

When I lived near the Great Lakes, I decided to put in a water feature and rock garden, and in another area, a "found objects garden." I used perennials hardy for the area. Day lilies do very well, are showy and very reliable. Many hostas do well in northern climates--there are species for sunny areas and others which do well in shade.

Now, I am focusing much of my interest on attracting butterflies, and creating safe habitat for birds.

But my garden areas reflect my interests.

Your landscape ideally will reflect your interests, whatever you chose. You might want an area for conversation, an ornamental garden...whatever. As others have said, it helps to think of parts of the yard as "rooms" for separate activities. Children and dogs--and sometimes adults--may need areas for play--for adults, a croquet game, or bocce ball court, badminton court--most of which can be stored when not in use.

Raised beds for gardening--growing vegetables--has been growing in popularity. In northern climates, the increased sunlight available makes up for the shorter growing season in many instances. Many people like a deck or area of some sort for outdoor cooking, which can be done even though the use of it, in your area, will be seasonal.

I agree about removing at least part of the fence closest to the house--it seems odd to me, but as a shorter fence, could be the definition for different uses, or become a focal point for vines and a bed of flowers.

I also think it is best to draw the house and yard on a grid paper, to scale, then make an over-all plan; you can tackle it in stages, as you have the time and funds. My sister-in-law made an area with a brick landscape, and put her plants in pots. This really works well for controlling weeds, yet allows for variety and interesting plantings, especially worth considering if you don't have the time or inclination for intensive care of your yard. There is a lot to be said for container gardening.

If something you try doesn't work, take it out! I tried a small pond in my back yard in Duluth, and after messing around with it for a year or so, declared it a failed experiment, filled it in, and moved on to other ideas.

Landscaping is a metaphor for life--it is what you are doing today that matters, not the end result. You have a fresh canvas, with unlimited possibilities. Have fun with it!

Well kai55, you have had great advice from all different gardeners, all advice is excellent, all you have to do now is draw up a plan of the garden and do that by starting with a picture of the house, have it blown up, then place on a board and cover with tracing paper, add sizes / measurements.
Next draw side-walks, footpaths, Hydrants, fences, ANY other things that you need to keep, including power lines, drains and anything that could be dangerous IF you dig / work beside those.it all sounds a bit daunting BUT it also becomes very enjoyable as you see your plan come into form.when making beds on plan, make shapes that you feel are enhancing the whole area as they may be on show from inside windows etc.
If you want water features allow for this where you can have an overflow just encase. don't forget you can use plants that need structures to grow up and maybe walk through an arch etc, say for instance, a climbing arch at the opening /gate of the fence, as this
Once you reach and decide a basic plan, make a list of plants you want to include for what beds / borders, this is where BOOKS / CATALOGUES come in handy as they give pictures of laid out borders or beds.
When you have your plan, you then have a choice of where to start making your beds /borders dont try do several tasks at one time and any new hard landscaping you need removed, replaced or extended, you do all that first including any electrical work or drainage, no point making a lovely border just to have it dug up to make a pathway or lay drains through it.
Always remember, the more bare ground you leave open to the elements, the more weeding you need to do, weeds spread at the rate of light so any beds you uncover, place black plastic sheeting or something that keeps light out and the weeds wil be less.
Give it a go kai55, everyone will be rooting for you, and you know you can get back to the thread IF you need further help.
Good luck and kind regards.
WeeNel.

Walk around the neighborhood, too. See what is successful, and chat with the neighbors to see how much work a certain plant might be.

You can make the fence easier to mow along by cutting out a strip of turf on either side of it, about a foot wide, using a manual, step-on turf cutter or a square-end shovel. Then just fill the depression with bark mulch to the approximate former soil level. This will create an edge that can be easily mown, and will take away the chore of having to use a string trimmer to cut the grass right along the fence. This will also provide a good start towards removing more grass to make flower beds, if you decide to do that. If not, you'll just have to freshen up the edge every couple of years or maybe yearly to control the grass runners - they will be easy to pull out of the loose mulch... much less effort than string trimming every single time the lawn is mowed.

Thank you everyone for all the amazing advice and ideas - you've certainly given me a lot to think about!

Also, thanks for the comments on the house overall! I think its cute too - unfortunately the inside still needs some work! (Fortunately, I'm looking forward to that part almost as much as the gardens)

I had decided to wait on choosing a spot for a veggie garden: I absolutely want one, I just don't know where to put it yet. I'm leaning towards the area north of the garage since it's a rather deep lot (there's a nice 20ishx50ft chunk of land back there with nothing in it... I just want to see how much summer sun the area gets with the neighbour's gigantic backyard tree before I start digging.)

I really like the idea of using the fence as a trellis! I'm partial to roses - I plan on 'stealing' a bunch of cuttings from my Gran's plants after they bloom - and as of my original post those roses and some dahlias are all I really had in mind. Maybe I'll pull out the end of the fence by the house, extend the side beds towards the fence with stepping stones as a walkway, buy a couple climbing rose bushes, add some dahlias and see what's left over. I'll also squeeze some peas in somewhere, because fresh peas are delicious. Orrrr I'll just wait and see.

So far on my "absolutely" list is... removing the odd tree on the side of the house (yes, it's the one between two windows), fixing the edging around the side - it's pretty overgrown with grass, and at a minimum making mowing around the fence easier to manage. I'd like to take out some of the smaller shrubs in the front to make way for the rose cuttings and some sort of temporary annual.

Again, thank you so much everyone for all the advice and ideas :D

Don't know about Canada, but here, they tell you to "call before you dig". To have them, utility companies send someone out so they can tell you where things like electrical wires, pipes, etc are so you don't break anything, or wires to cut. Best to check it out.

What kind of work are you going to do inside. Now that we have landscaped your yard, maybe we can remodel your house. LOL, just kidding. That will be fun for you also. Doing the work inside. Is it things you can do yourself, or do you have to find contractors?

Have fun. Just don't try to do it all the first year. Take your time and enjoy it. Jen

One more idea, if you need help with something, remember there is always Youtube to have someone show you how to do something. I think that is one of the better things about the internet.

I have to say, I always get a kick out of speculations about what things might be like "in Canada". ;-) No offense intended. :-) Yes, it appplies to anywhere with underground utilities.

That is an excellent suggestion for any new homeowner (or for anyone who hasn't done it or needs a refresher) who is contemplating breaking new ground... not just for removing sod along a fenceline. Good call, Jnette!

Just thought of it since it could cause a huge headache if you put that shovel down in the wrong place.

Regarding planting a garden, there are two veggies I recommend starting as soon as possible, if they are favorites of yours: asparagus and rhubarb.

They take time to mature, but once they are established, will come back bigger and more abundantly year after year, as long as properly cared for.

While I'm on the subject of home gardening, my parents both were raised on Iowa farms. There a fruit called "ground cherries" almost grows wild, but was carefully cultivated by both my mother's and father's families for its delicious flavor as preserves.

I've never found ground cherries sold commercially--probably because they require a great deal of care in harvesting.

I had good luck growing the plant from seed, right in the plant beds, as far north as Eveleth, MN, on the Mesabi Iron Range, about 60 miles north of Duluth, so it is also something you could grow. The seeds can be ordered by mail, which is how I got started with them. As the fruit grows, it is a little smaller than a cherry tomato, and encased in a paper-thin see-through protective covering, like a paper lantern. These ground cherries, as the name implies, grow close to the ground, and should not be picked until they are a golden color. If frost threatens, often some have to be picked before their prime, but if not picked TOO early, can be brought inside and set on a screen to mature, which can take another week or more. Once the paper covering is removed, they will stop maturing.

If I sound fanatical about ground cherries, it's because I am! I grew only enough to make one jar of preserves, but I was thrilled none-the-less to have it to serve for a traditional family Thanksgiving dinner, as my parents did, and my grandparents before them! Anyone fortunate enough to be in the rather wide latitude in which they can be grown should at least know about them! They have a delicate, sweet flavor all their own. I sure miss them!