Key takeaways
- Keep a clear walking route a little wider than your wheelie bin
- Put storage along one wall and planting on the other
- Grow up the walls with troughs, trellis and climbers to save floor space
- Pick shade plants such as ferns, Fatsia, ivy and Sarcococca
- Fix standing water with a channel drain before you pave or plant
- Use outdoor-rated lights, and have an electrician fit mains ones
A side return works best as a tidy, green route rather than a dumping ground. Keep a clear path, line one wall with slim storage, plant up the other wall and sort out any drainage first.
This narrow passage beside a terraced house is usually shady, damp and only about a metre wide. It’s where the bins, bikes and recycling end up. With a little planning it can hold all of that and still look good every time you walk through. For the main back garden behind it, our guide to terraced house garden design covers zoning, privacy and making a narrow plot feel wider.
How much space does a side return really give you?
Less than you think, so measure first. Check the width at the narrowest point, which is often by a drainpipe, meter box or step.
Measure at the narrowest point, often by a drainpipe or meter box, before you buy any storage.
Then take off the walking route. You need room to walk and to wheel a bin past, so measure your wheelie bin and keep a path a little wider than it. Whatever is left is your space for storage and plants, usually a strip along one or both walls.
That’s why the walls matter so much. Floor space is tight, but you have metres of brick to grow up and hang things on.
Where should bins and bikes go?
Keep all the storage along one wall and the planting along the other. It keeps the route clear and looks far tidier.
Storage on one wall, plants on the other, and a clear path down the middle. The cat approves.
- Bins: a slim bin store lines wheelie bins up against the wall. Put it near the end you wheel them out from on collection day.
- Bikes: a wall-mounted rack holds a bike upright, close to the brick. A lockable bike locker gives more security.
- Tools and recycling: a tall, shallow cupboard or wall hooks use height instead of floor space.
Before you buy, check each unit’s depth against your narrowest point. A standard shed or deep storage box will block the whole passage.
How do you plant a narrow, shady side return?
Grow upwards. Wall troughs, hanging pots, trellis and climbers give you planting without stealing the path.
Fix troughs and trellis firmly to sound brickwork with fixings rated for the weight, remembering that wet compost is heavy. Put the heaviest planters lowest. If the wall is your neighbour’s, or shared, ask before drilling.
For climbers, climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris) and Euonymus fortunei both cope with a shady wall. Ivy is the toughest of all. Keep an eye on it, though, as it can push into soft or crumbling mortar. Our guide to evergreen climbers has more choices for year-round cover.
Troughs, pots and trellis turn a bare brick wall into a green one, and the path stays clear.
Which plants survive deep shade?
Choose woodland plants that are happy with little or no direct sun. Evergreens keep the passage green all year.
Glossy evergreens like Fatsia and hart’s tongue fern stay green and lush in the darkest passage.
| Plant | Type | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Hart’s tongue fern | Evergreen fern | Glossy strap leaves, loves damp shade |
| Fatsia japonica | Evergreen shrub | Big glossy leaves for a lush look |
| Sarcococca | Evergreen shrub | Small, scented winter flowers by the door |
| Geranium macrorrhizum | Semi-evergreen ground cover | Tough, scented leaves, pink flowers |
| Epimedium | Ground cover | Copes with dry shade under walls |
| Heuchera | Perennial | Coloured leaves brighten dark corners |
| Ivy | Evergreen climber | Grows almost anywhere |
Skip sun-lovers such as lavender, rosemary and most herbs. They’ll sulk and fail in a dark passage. Our guide to hardy ferns is a good next read if you’d like to make ferns the star. For a wider list, see the best plants for shade.
Not sure how much light your passage gets? Our guide to reading your garden’s aspect helps you work out where the sun falls.
How do you stop water pooling in a side return?
Fit a channel drain along the lowest edge of the path, linked to an existing gully or a soakaway. Water from roofs and walls collects in a narrow passage, and the shade keeps it wet for hours.
A channel drain and a gentle fall carry rainwater away, so the passage stays puddle-free.
Make sure the path falls gently away from the house, so water runs into the drain and not towards the wall. If you’re not confident about levels or connections, ask a builder or landscaper. It’s a small job for them and saves years of puddles.
Warning: Don’t lay solid concrete with no fall or drain. It turns the passage into a long puddle and pushes water against the house wall, which can lead to damp inside.
Which path surface is best for a narrow passage?
Gravel is the cheapest and drains freely. Paving is cleaner underfoot. Both work if they’re laid well.
Gravel: lay it over a weed membrane on a firm base, with edging to hold it in place. It drains well but can be harder to wheel bins across. Choose small angular gravel, which locks together better than rounded pea shingle.
Paving: porcelain or block paving gives a smooth, tidy route. Pick a textured, anti-slip finish. Smooth slabs grow algae in the shade and get slippery when wet.
Whatever you choose, keep a clear route to any gas meter, drain cover or rear gate that needs access. Our guide to garden path ideas has more on materials and edging.
How do you light and brighten a dark side return?
Lights make the passage safe at night and far nicer to use. Low-level wall lights light the path, while festoon lights along one wall add a softer glow.
Choose fittings made for outdoor use. Solar lights struggle in deep shade, so mains or battery lights work better here. Always have a qualified electrician fit new mains lighting outdoors.
You can brighten it in daylight too. Paint the walls a pale colour, or hang an outdoor mirror at the far end to bounce light back. Light-coloured gravel or paving also helps. The guide to garden lighting ideas has more ideas.
A string of warm lights along one wall turns a dark side passage into a welcoming way in at night.
Side return jobs through the year
A side return needs little work, but a few seasonal jobs keep it tidy.
| Season | Jobs |
|---|---|
| Spring | Cut back old fern fronds. Top up pots with fresh compost. Check troughs are still firmly fixed |
| Summer | Water wall pots and troughs often, as walls keep rain off them. Trim climbers clear of the path |
| Autumn | Clear fallen leaves from the channel drain and gully. Plant new shade plants |
| Winter | Sweep algae and moss off the path. Check the drain runs freely after heavy rain |
Common side return mistakes
Concrete with no drainage. It’s the worst choice for a passage that already stays damp. Always build in a fall and a drain.
Ground beds instead of wall planting. A narrow strip of soil along the bottom of a wall grows little and narrows the path. Go up instead.
Storage that’s too deep. A standard storage box or shed unit can block the passage completely. Measure the narrowest point before buying.
Sun-loving plants. Lavender and herbs fail in a dark passage. Pick plants for the light you have.
Forgetting watering. Pots against a wall get very little rain. Check them often, even in wet weather.
Frequently asked questions
How wide is a typical side return?
Many are only about a metre wide, though some are wider. Older Victorian terraces tend to be at the narrow end. Keep a clear route a little wider than your wheelie bin, and use the walls rather than the floor for planting.
What plants grow in a shaded side return?
Ferns, ivy, Fatsia japonica and Sarcococca all cope with deep shade. Hart’s tongue fern, Geranium macrorrhizum and Euonymus fortunei are good too. Choose mostly evergreens so the passage stays green all winter.
How do I stop a side return flooding?
Fit a channel drain along the lowest edge of the path. Link it to an existing gully or a soakaway, so water has somewhere to go. A builder can check the fall and the connection. Avoid laying solid concrete with no drainage at all.
Can I store bikes and bins in a side return?
Yes, if you choose slim units and keep them along one wall. A wall-mounted bike rack holds a bike upright and close to the brick. A slim bin store lines the bins up neatly. Measure the narrowest point first, then buy.
What is the best surface for a narrow side passage?
Gravel is cheapest and drains well, while paving is cleaner underfoot. Lay gravel over a membrane with edging so it stays put. If you choose paving, pick a textured, anti-slip finish, as smooth slabs turn green and slippery in shade.
Do I need planning permission for a side return?
Plants, pots and storage don’t usually need permission. Building over the passage as an extension is different, so check with your council first. If a wall belongs to your neighbour, ask before fixing anything to it. Keep access to meters and drains clear.
How do I light a dark side return?
Low-level wall lights or outdoor festoon lights work well. Choose fittings made for outdoor use. Solar lights struggle in deep shade, so mains or battery lights are more reliable. Have a qualified electrician fit any new mains lighting.
Once the passage is sorted, turn to the garden behind it with our guide to designing a long thin garden. Or browse more garden design ideas.
Our team produces practical UK gardening guidance from source research, contributor records and established horticultural practice. Editorial standards are overseen by Matt W.
