Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/119920
Raise Your Standards What to do with a typical 33-foot by 122-foot Vancouver city lot TEXT AMY MAIR Lavender Euphorbia Let's face it, most people who own a piece of property in Vancouver have serious constraints when it comes to space. The typical city lot is a narrow rectangle situated close to a neighbour. And don't forget the overarching chestnut or cedar trees that can block out light and make planting a challenge. Here is one landscape designer's take on a typical Vancouver property and a few hot tips that you can steal if you don't have the luxury of a professional garden plan. Privacy, please Landscape designer Mia Harth of Swordfern Design says her clients' No. 1 request is for privacy. "People max out the size of their home and then they don't want to see the house next to them," says Mia. "It can create a challenge." Mia suggests incorporating a trellis, screen or arbour into your overall garden design. This provides privacy while also establishing a focal point that draws the eye away from your neighbour's property. Narrow trees, such as certain varieties of cherry and beech trees, give screening while still providing punch without compromising space. These trees all have varieties that range between three and five feet in diameter. The second order of business is tackling the boxy shape of the property. A rectangular shape can give your garden a modern edge. However, in this plan, the homeowners opted for gently curved beds to give the garden a cottage feel. If you want to create curved beds yourself, use a garden hose or flexible irrigation tubing held down with fabric staples. You can then outline the border with non-permanent marking 46 | BC HOME & garden April 2013 p46-49_StandardLot.indd 46 13-03-14 11:29 AM Peo pain add on edg ers in h Us sp Wh wit and she up but spa tree tree com ros out ing den the gar ten cial of p are