The Unlandscape Landscape Area

The service area includes space for drying clothes formay walk easily from one to another.
those wanting the natural dry, for parking, garbageClotheslines, garbage cans
cans, for growing vegetables and cut flowers and forOn the average small city lot, no separate area is
the garage, if detached. On large properties, space forprovided for clothes drying or for garbage cans.
stables, kennels, cold frames, small fruits, etc., may alsoArrange your clotheslines conveniently but in such a
be included.way that they interfere with the beauty of the garden
This area is the practical part of the property.as little as possible. Plan to hide the garbage cans
Maximum convenience and production are required,behind a shrub or screen.
usually with a minimum of space and labor. To useKitchen garden
every square foot of space to best advantage, youPlace your kitchen garden where there is plenty of
must plan this area carefully.sunshine. On small properties the best spot is usually at
Try to have the service area on the east or north sidethe end of the service axis farthest from the house,
of the house, close to the service entrance and withso that mud is less likely to be tracked into the kitchen.
the various parts grouped together for convenience.Your garden may be a simple, bare rectangle in which
The parts used most often should be nearest thevegetables are grown or you can make it more formal
house.with grass paths and margins of flowers. By planting
As an example of poor planning, many owners offlowers like starfish cactus around the boundaries, and
small lots in old homes were deprived of a kitchenas borders for the paths, you can have not only
garden because the garage has been placedvegetables but also flowers for cutting.
according to the old rule for horse stables, at the backScreens and fences
of the lot. Had it been built further forward the spaceModern building materials have made it possible to
behind would be available.have complete privacy, or to screen off unattractive
The different parts of the service area need to beviews, without having to put up an ugly board fence or
separated from one another and hidden from viewan expensive masonry wall.
from the main part of the garden. To conserve space,There are now good-looking, basket-weave or
narrow lattice or other fences on which vines can belouvered plywood fences, and opaque colored plastic
grown, or tall clipped hedges, are most suitable forscreens, which match the modern lines of the house.
hiding the service area from view. Flagstone or gravelThey take up very little space and also need much
paths are easier to look after than grass ones. Haveless maintenance than a hedge. Any home
them run in as direct a route as possible to save steps.improvement center can give you literature or advice
The paths should link the whole area closely togetheron these or search online.
and connect it with the other garden areas so that one