Let’s be honest — the side of the house is usually where garden dreams go to die. It’s the land of bins, hose reels, half a broken fence and that one plant pot that’s been empty since 2019. But if you’ve got even a little bit of space along the side path or fence, you can turn it into something genuinely beautiful. Not just “tidied up” — but magical in a way that makes you actually want to walk around that way again.
These “secret garden” ideas are designed for narrow family side yards and in-between spots that are often forgotten. They’re soft, charming, easy to put together with a weekend and some leftovers from the shed. No concrete mixers, no garden designers — just texture, layers, and a few flowers that make it feel like you discovered something special on the way to the compost bin.
Whether you’ve got kids, pets, or just a side gate that hasn’t opened in months, these ideas will bring life and charm back to that forgotten space. Let’s make it feel like a garden again.
add a layered fence bed with soft colour and texture
Start with the fence — even if it’s not in great shape. You can soften it completely with a layered flower bed running the full length, edged with brick, wood, or stone. Add height at the back with hollyhocks, foxgloves, or even tall grasses, and work your way forward with mid-size plants like salvias, heuchera, or flowering sage. Use smaller low growers like alyssum or creeping thyme near the path.
The trick is to plant in natural drifts — not rows — so it feels like it grew that way on its own. If there’s a gate or arch nearby, even better. You’ve got an entrance to your “secret” garden space. And if you’ve only got gravel or concrete, you can still do this with raised beds or long planters.
It’s peaceful, slightly messy in a good way, and full of colour — even in late autumn if you choose well. Throw in a bird bath or old watering can and it’s cottagecore without trying too hard.
place a weathered bench with low potted herbs and flowers
Nothing says “there’s something special here” like a bench, even if no one ever sits on it. A small weathered wood or metal bench tucked against the side of the house creates an anchor point for the space. Surround it with mismatched pots — some terracotta, some glazed, some painted by your kids — filled with herbs, trailing lobelia, pansies, or miniature roses.
Even a bench just a metre long adds something soft and intentional to the side yard. You can place a few solar lanterns or string up a short row of fairy lights to make it glow in the evening. This setup feels quiet and personal, like your own little pause between the front and back garden.
Plus, herbs right outside the kitchen window = instant dinner upgrade. And if you do sit there occasionally with a cuppa, it’s a bonus.
train a climbing rose or clematis along the wall or fence
This is the move that takes your side yard from “functional” to “storybook.” Pick one climbing plant — a pale pink rose, a deep purple clematis, even jasmine if you’re in a milder spot — and train it gently along the wall or fence using wire or a trellis. You don’t need full coverage. Just a few trailing vines and blooms will soften the entire path.
If the fence is too new-looking or boring, hang an old window frame, mirror, or painted wooden panel as a backdrop for the plant to grow around. It breaks up the space and makes it feel curated without being fussy.
Underneath, plant a bed of low-growing flowers or silvery lamb’s ear for that fairytale finish. Even in winter, the structure will still look nice, and by spring, it’ll start climbing again — like a quiet little secret waiting to bloom.
build a curving stone path with small stepping plants
If the side of your house is wide enough for a path, go for something with a little curve or unevenness — it makes the space feel more natural and a bit hidden, like a trail through the woods. Use flat stones or bricks, and leave small gaps between them to plant creeping thyme, moss, or chamomile. These fill in beautifully, and they smell good when stepped on.
This is especially lovely for kids or pets, who seem to love tiny pathways more than anyone. Frame the sides with soft edging plants — nothing too tall — so it doesn’t feel overgrown. You want it to feel tucked away, not forgotten.
A few solar lights or glow stones along the edge make it magical at dusk, and it’s one of those things people will notice and say, “Oh wow, I didn’t expect that there.”
tuck in a birdhouse, mirror, or hidden garden ornament
Sometimes the charm of a secret garden comes down to the tiny unexpected things — a little mirror hung on a fence panel, an old birdhouse half-covered in moss, or a frog statue half-hidden under ferns. Choose just one or two pieces and let them peek out from behind plants or perch near the end of the path.
You don’t need gnomes (unless you want them). Just something quiet that adds a bit of personality and discovery. A small sign with a quote, an antique-looking hook, or even a thrifted lantern hung on a nail — it all adds to that layered, slightly mysterious feel.
It’s a great way to reuse things that don’t have a place elsewhere. And it’s lovely when you spot them on your way out the side gate, like a little wink from the garden.