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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I would 1) not be embarrassed and 2) go all in on making the townhouse work for you.  So identify the bike storage solution that really works well (cool covered shed? streamlined hanging system?) even if it costs more than you would normally spend and really make your backyard space a haven.  I lived in city apartments/townhouses with tiny backyards and I loved to make them really gorgeous and do all the tricks to create a deeper sense of space and retreat (there's so many on-line inspiring resources for this) with a great seating area.  In fact when we moved to our first SFH I kind of missed all the cool things you can do with a more contained smaller backyard.  It's way too expensive to do that kind of dense, lush landscaping in a traditional suburban yard.

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Thanks. OP here, I do spend time on Pinterest and Reddit looking into stuff like this - there are some great small space things, and since grass won't even grow in the shadier third of our yard, we need to do some landscaping. But the two issues are time- we need to do stuff like remove a crumbling sidewalk, which takes equipment and someone else to watch the kids - and trying to find a plan that would not be totally incompatible with small kids playing in said yard. I don't want to constantly be saying stuff like "don't step on the plants!" And "don't kick the ball over there!" It's so small they barely play in it as is. [b]Very open to ideas[/b]!

I planted some hostas and an azalea in an existing bed, and got a couple planters for greenery on the sidewalk out front, so that's my gardening accomplishment for this season. Focusing on container gardening is more manageable right now. Doing little things to improve it does help. [/quote]

Ok-I love landscaping ideas!
Your initial efforts sound great!  Containers and raised beds are  key to a lovely small backyard since creating different heights  creates a deeper sense of space. Put containers and beds around the sitting area (if you have one!--if not, find a way to make one even if it's just a couple chairs on the lawn) in layers (lower in the front, taller behind).  Then just plant along the sides of your fence in a very thin bed and put tall grasses of different heights/shades of green that don't mind being kicked or trampled or narrow containers (e.g. a plant box with a lattice with vining flowers).  In the shady back third, some taller shade loving evergreen bushes in alternating layers  might create a sense of depth/privacy--and put some mulch paths around those for the kids to play on instead of lawn in that part--my kids loved hidden spots so bushes and mulch were more inviting than lawn but your kids may be different.  You can often get free mulch from tree-cutting companies.  In our city yard we just had mulch and pea gravel and pavers and a children's garden (e.g. small raised bed that the kids planted veg and flowers in)--no lawn.  That way we didn't have to mow.  The kids played ball in the mulch and gravel and I didn't fuss if it got spread around a bit--it looked fine.  But I've also seen adorable small yards with a small patch of lawn  and it's just so charming too.  Our plants that couldn't be trampled were in containers or raised beds so kids had free rein of the yard.  There are plastic containers that look like ceramic so you could put those where kids are more likely to play if you're worried about them--they make sense for the bigger "back layer" containers anyway because they are otherwise too heavy to easily carry and very expensive if you bought ceramic.
 We also just planted herbs in containers outside and would tell the kids to go grab herbs for cooking or cut flowers for the table regularly--that got them outside more just because they regularly had to notice which herbs were which or which flowers to cut plus their own garden.  The key thing is to have a hose that you can easily reach and water any containers.
Also, I found mini water feature like a tiny pond or container kit water fountains add way more value than you would ever expect.  The water noise is calming and it's just sort of hypnotic and draws your eyes in.  They are pretty inexpensive and there are a million diys for them on line.  I'm not mechanically inclined at all and I was able to follow the kit and make it.

No need to do it all at once, just kind of have a general plan that you let evolve and chip away at and soon you'll love your place so much!  It's actually nice to do it slowly over time because it will organically work better and you keep getting that reward of it looking a little better.  The crumbling sidewalk though--I would just bite the bullet and hire someone to get rid of it if you can.  It may cost less than you think and it will be done.  Put your sweat equity in the more lovely, fun aspects so it's rewarding (we're a gov/academic family too so not rolling in it either so I get the impulse to just do it all yourself). Nice outdoor landscaping sells townhouses too--so it will pay off if you do end up moving in the long run so you can think of some of this as an investment rather than just an expense.

Okay--that was fun to play with some imaginary landscape where I don't have to do the work! Good luck!

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Thanks PP - lots of good advice and food for thought here! Our yard is REALLY tiny so we're limited in space for paths etc but the points about different heights and things to hide behind are worth thinking about. [b]We do have a small paver patio and I'm trying to figure out how to hang string lights. [/b]

I appreciate the responses in this thread. While I'd love to figure out how to double my income and move, the "make it nice" responses were the pep talk I needed right now.[/quote]

We had some wooden raised box containers in the corners of our patio and just put a thin (1x2) post at the back of the box with hook on it and strung lights that way.  Creates a sense of closed in space. [/quote]

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