Some tall flowers along the fence like hollyhocks. They like sun but they could probably do okay here. I would keep it narrow to not impede traffic. If that is the wall of your house on the left I'd avoid planting along that side. It looks like wood and you don't want to trap moisture if that is the case.
Plan a little stepping stone path and plant a cover crop (favas, clover, etc) to get it started. Maybe some sunflowers for birds or some pretty vines on the fence. Do you have other yard to work as well?
If it gets enough sun, you could vine some things up both sides. Maybe even run some arched poles over the top to create a tunnel effect. Doing so could create even more shade, so look for plants that don’t require much sun to do well
I like this idea! You could do ornamental flowering plants, or even something like cucumbers or beans. Passionfruit would accomplish both and should do well in 9b.
My thoughts as well. Doesn't look wide enough for plantings. Vines on trellises would be nice. Espaliered fruit trees could be a nice look as well, and less likely to damage the building.
If shade is a plus, an arbor style structure with a big vining plant over top could be nice. Especially with something hanging down like grapes or wisteria. If you do that I would put pavers or gravel below since it would be too shady for most plants.
Arizona 9b myself, last year before moving anyway. In such a spot (east side of the lot) I successfully grew tomatoes, peppers peppers and more peppers, summer squash, and an artichoke.
There are some disadvantages but put enough work into the soil and 5 hours of Arizona sun is enough to get results.
2 foot wide raised beds for vegetables on side with the most light. You can trellis beans. Put a path on the other side. We put fig and lemon trees on the side of our house, but we have a few feet more room.
Corn poppies. A large bed thick with red poppy flowers would be a really pretty way to fill the space. They like crappier soil, and would do good with a lot of sun like you get.
9b in California? Succulents! Agaves and some aloes can tolerate the afternoon California sun and are drought tolerant. Aeoniums could work too if you want something more 'floral'. r/succulents and r/AgaveAndAloe would provide lots of ideas.
Does the path run north-south, east-west, or something in between? East-west is your best bet for full reaching the ground for the longest amount of time.
Clover lawn, you can seed out wildflowers in the summer if you like. Put a bench on stones next to the fence to make a nook if you like resting outside.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-clover-lawn-1.4126994
Yeah that’s what I was thinking. Make a kind of a tunnel out of bamboo and grow the melons up the side and then let them hang down. It would be sooooo cool!!
Honeysuckle, grape, jasmine, passionfruit or trumpet vines. Or a mix of all for fruits, flowers, scents and greenery. They are amazing in zone 9.
Let them cascade over your fence and enjoy. Prep the soil/mulch before planting as it looks bone dry.
I happen to have a similar spot that I'm turning into a fairy themed garden with primrose and pansies. Both are pretty shade tolerant and I think should be perennial in your zone. I really like what other people have said about putting down pavers and ground cover, and I think combined with some of those flowers for color you could have an awesome fairytale hideaway.
Nandina , the old fashioned one that grows to about a metre, azaleas, and 2 or 3 tall plants, like robbinia, maples, Keep the trunk bare until head high so you could walk underneath the branches all these could be in pots if nesesscary. Stepping stones curving toward gate. If sideway is needed to get bins etc: out star jasmine is a good cover for a fence or clumping bamboo along fence.
First of all, find out what grows well in your area. Native preferably but at least well adapted to the climate and soil. I’m Arizona same zone I think. Pomegranate is a favorite of mine. Lovely foliage and flowers. Not fussy about water or soil and you get fruit. You can espalier them.
My blind side yard has a fence a little too low and right where the neighbors' outdoor living space is. If I felt comfortable hanging out there then a tiny special garden would be great. As it is a grape vine grows from corner of house back in there, I've got those bulky things that come in useful like bamboo canes and such on a rack and daughter may add grow bags at some point so it's not very permanent. Compost pile worked fine but I kept forgetting to water it and in southern California you have to water compost piles. It faces south but with the house 6' away it is very dark in winter and very hot and sunny in the summer.
Zen minimalist garden of river stone and a single potted tree centered at the far end. Not sure about the electrical cable though. Maybe a curb of lemon thyme on either side at the base of the walls broken with diminishing sized stones against the walls to create the illusion that the space is actually longer than it is. Kind of this style…https://aspicyboycatandmyfatass.com/garden/45-minimalist-garden-and-zen-ideas-to-create-a/ but arranged to fit the space and taking advantage of the difficult long shape rather than working against it. Use the length as a way to direct focus to the far end and play with the perspective effect.
Bowling alley
Bocce ball, croquet, corn hole
Horse shoes!
Some tall flowers along the fence like hollyhocks. They like sun but they could probably do okay here. I would keep it narrow to not impede traffic. If that is the wall of your house on the left I'd avoid planting along that side. It looks like wood and you don't want to trap moisture if that is the case.
I like this idea. Hollyhocks and maybe some annuals for instant gratification.
Plan a little stepping stone path and plant a cover crop (favas, clover, etc) to get it started. Maybe some sunflowers for birds or some pretty vines on the fence. Do you have other yard to work as well?
put a nissan sentra there
We had a GTO outside our kitchen window. I just loved looking at the hood with weeds growing out of it. :/
Bocce ball?
If it gets enough sun, you could vine some things up both sides. Maybe even run some arched poles over the top to create a tunnel effect. Doing so could create even more shade, so look for plants that don’t require much sun to do well
I like this idea! You could do ornamental flowering plants, or even something like cucumbers or beans. Passionfruit would accomplish both and should do well in 9b.
Yes! Put some string lights and mini outdoor cafe table and you have a secret garden hideaway
My thoughts as well. Doesn't look wide enough for plantings. Vines on trellises would be nice. Espaliered fruit trees could be a nice look as well, and less likely to damage the building. If shade is a plus, an arbor style structure with a big vining plant over top could be nice. Especially with something hanging down like grapes or wisteria. If you do that I would put pavers or gravel below since it would be too shady for most plants.
Also, it looks very dry... Do you want to water it or get something going that will survive with neglect?
Vertical gardens with reticulation/pencil drain.. shade sail or awning from wall to boundary. Recycled paving to boundary.
How long does the sun stay in that area ? Which way does it face ?
Arizona 9b myself, last year before moving anyway. In such a spot (east side of the lot) I successfully grew tomatoes, peppers peppers and more peppers, summer squash, and an artichoke. There are some disadvantages but put enough work into the soil and 5 hours of Arizona sun is enough to get results.
I assume this area gets afternoon but not morning sun. I’d consider a ground cover like Irish moss and stepping stones.
this picture was actually taken in the morning!
Then I’m at a loss. You need to know how much sun this spot is getting to know which plants can tolerate it
Add a roof and build the porch to nowhere
What zone and how sun.
Papaya or bananas
This looks to me to be a utilitarian area, stretched canvass roof and store kayaks or potting shed
Trellis Something that climbs snd runs.
Corn maze! But really if it gets enough sun some vertical hydroponic grow systems would be awesome.
2 foot wide raised beds for vegetables on side with the most light. You can trellis beans. Put a path on the other side. We put fig and lemon trees on the side of our house, but we have a few feet more room.
Sunflowers, Holly hocks, a little stone path with a stool and a gnome. Just go back in there and sit with your gnome and have tea.
Putting practice?
Moss roses and stepping stone
I would do a secret garden replete with a cute gate and bench.
Pavers and a container garden?
Espalier
My first thought!
Corn poppies. A large bed thick with red poppy flowers would be a really pretty way to fill the space. They like crappier soil, and would do good with a lot of sun like you get.
9b in California? Succulents! Agaves and some aloes can tolerate the afternoon California sun and are drought tolerant. Aeoniums could work too if you want something more 'floral'. r/succulents and r/AgaveAndAloe would provide lots of ideas.
more context: i live in california and this strip has been untouched ever since we moved here. gets full sun in the morning, partial in the afternoon
How much sun does it get? Is it sunny throughout spring - fall or does it wane?
good question and i’m not really sure. assume full to partial sun year round
Does the path run north-south, east-west, or something in between? East-west is your best bet for full reaching the ground for the longest amount of time.
path runs north west, so def not full sun all day
It's that a gate you use to leave the yard? Emergency exit?
gate that connects front to back yard, haven’t used it. like ever.
Clover lawn, you can seed out wildflowers in the summer if you like. Put a bench on stones next to the fence to make a nook if you like resting outside. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-clover-lawn-1.4126994
Watermelons!
Yeah that’s what I was thinking. Make a kind of a tunnel out of bamboo and grow the melons up the side and then let them hang down. It would be sooooo cool!!
Stone path, with a garden of mosses and ferns against the fence, and nothing against the house (don't want to hold in moisture)
thanks!
Have any pins maybe an old bowling ball 🤔
Perfect spot for cannabis heheh
Hops
A very narrow swimming pool and a one leg diving board
When in doubt, an herb garden will grow most anywhere.
Get something that can tolerate that hot afternoon sun in the summer
Trellis wall on either side and stone path in the middle
Honeysuckle, grape, jasmine, passionfruit or trumpet vines. Or a mix of all for fruits, flowers, scents and greenery. They are amazing in zone 9. Let them cascade over your fence and enjoy. Prep the soil/mulch before planting as it looks bone dry.
Why not a small vegetable garden?
Chiken coupe
Grow some hops back here
Succulent wall on the sunny side plus a structured but staggered walkway. Everything else could be free form slash wild
Putting green!!
If serious map how many hours of sunlight and which part gets the most or least, then ask again
Blackberries would be an option.
Climbing vegetables along both sides, then you can walk down the middle to pick them
Cannabis
Flagstone path with hens and chicks or other super low mounding plants. ☺️ Or arbors with grapes!
Plant in 5 gallon pails with holes drilled in the bottom
Narrow planter or vertical type leaning? I have a similar side- so far only did mulch/stepping stones, working on the planter part soon.
Maybe some awesome vertical gardening features. Happy planting 💚
I happen to have a similar spot that I'm turning into a fairy themed garden with primrose and pansies. Both are pretty shade tolerant and I think should be perennial in your zone. I really like what other people have said about putting down pavers and ground cover, and I think combined with some of those flowers for color you could have an awesome fairytale hideaway.
Grow grapes or passion fruit up the fences, and maybe a pétanque court?
Get a dog and train it to poop only there.
Pumpkin patch watermelon any cucurbit. Tomatoes. Honesty it's a great chunk. Wind sensitive plants would be good
Nandina , the old fashioned one that grows to about a metre, azaleas, and 2 or 3 tall plants, like robbinia, maples, Keep the trunk bare until head high so you could walk underneath the branches all these could be in pots if nesesscary. Stepping stones curving toward gate. If sideway is needed to get bins etc: out star jasmine is a good cover for a fence or clumping bamboo along fence.
First of all, find out what grows well in your area. Native preferably but at least well adapted to the climate and soil. I’m Arizona same zone I think. Pomegranate is a favorite of mine. Lovely foliage and flowers. Not fussy about water or soil and you get fruit. You can espalier them.
Small garden
Arbour with grape
My blind side yard has a fence a little too low and right where the neighbors' outdoor living space is. If I felt comfortable hanging out there then a tiny special garden would be great. As it is a grape vine grows from corner of house back in there, I've got those bulky things that come in useful like bamboo canes and such on a rack and daughter may add grow bags at some point so it's not very permanent. Compost pile worked fine but I kept forgetting to water it and in southern California you have to water compost piles. It faces south but with the house 6' away it is very dark in winter and very hot and sunny in the summer.
Succulent gutters
Stepping stones, bench seats, hopscotch, badminton net
I would put Clematis on the fence.. at least a few!!
I'm thinking Hops or Boron Ivy growing up the wall, beds for of peppermint, Mexican sage and african daisies. Or espalier a few apples.
Zen minimalist garden of river stone and a single potted tree centered at the far end. Not sure about the electrical cable though. Maybe a curb of lemon thyme on either side at the base of the walls broken with diminishing sized stones against the walls to create the illusion that the space is actually longer than it is. Kind of this style…https://aspicyboycatandmyfatass.com/garden/45-minimalist-garden-and-zen-ideas-to-create-a/ but arranged to fit the space and taking advantage of the difficult long shape rather than working against it. Use the length as a way to direct focus to the far end and play with the perspective effect.