Brownstone Garden Ideas

Brownstone homes often located in cities such as New York, Boston and Chicago were a popular style of housing built primarily in the 1800s. Also known as row houses, brownstones were built as long rows of residences connected to one another. With no front yard to speak of, the only outdoor space available for gardening is the long, skinny yard in the back of the home. In spite of the limited space, it's possible to have a flourishing garden even in the midst of the city.

Flower Garden

Even in a yard that is considerably longer than it is wide, there is still room for flowers. Dig beds along the edges of your fence line, on one or both sides, and plant a variety of colorful blooms. If you find that the soil is less than desirable as it often is in the city create raised beds, and import high-quality soil to give your flowers the boost that they need. Choose varieties of flowers such as day lilies, pansies and geraniums that require low to partial sun as the backyard may be shaded by the height of the brownstone building and nearby trees. Built a fence around your flower garden to keep your plans safe.

Vegetable Garden

Just because you dwell in the city doesn't mean you can't enjoy farming your own vegetables during the summer months. To avoid taking up valuable outdoor entertaining space in a narrow area, situate your vegetable at the end of the yard furthest from your house. Use a rototiller to thoroughly turn the soil to a depth that is hospitable for planting vegetables. Select varieties of vegetables that thrive even in less-than-optimal soil such as potatoes, radishes, carrots and lettuce.

Rock Garden

If you'd rather not toil in the soil like Cain, why not create a rock garden in your backyard space? Use a variety of rocks to pave the ground and create an outdoor patio area. Combine a variety of gray, tan and brown stones that blend well with the exterior stonework of the row house. Alternatively, import a plethora of pebbles to create a Japanese rock garden out back. Invest in a rake, and spend relaxing time creating patterns in the sea of small stones.

Butterfly Garden

When you want to interject a touch of whimsy and lightheartedness into your hustle-and-bustle life in the city, create a butterfly garden behind your brownstone. By planting the right types of foliage, you can attract a multitude of these delicate creatures and enjoy their gentle flight during your downtime. Plant flowers such as black-eyed Susan, New England asters, wild columbine and goldenrod in pots or beds. All are known to attract butterflies and will add a touch of color to your outdoor space.