Most people living around me have small front gardens. For
this reason it’s always a pleasure walking to the local shops or to nearby
friends and relations. I’d say most of
the gardens are no more than 25-50 square metres a piece but it’s amazing just
how much variation there is in each garden. I’m always hanging my nose over
fences to have a look at the attention to detail, so much so that progress can
be very slow getting anywhere. If you think about it, front gardens are the
only gardens you go into when the weather is bad and differ greatly from the
rear gardens which are made for (in the most part) rest and relaxation. When we
head out to the car or go out of the house it’s usually the front garden we
move though. For this reason it’s a good idea to pay a bit of attention to the
finer details.
Five Suggestions
I’ve thought of five suggestions to get the most out of the
front gardens.
Complement the street
scene. Most roads have a look and if you work with the surroundings this
can give the garden a feeling of greater space. Low key and formal would work
well for easy care.
Symmetry and
Structure. Well defined flower beds, straight lines and solid planting
could work and would be easier on the eye than attempting a wildflower meadow.
Structure. Keep
well defined paths and edges and when the winter comes these could be the main
feature, or the ‘bones ‘of the area. You wouldn’t want dead soggy plants on the
pathways. Work with the house planting low shrubs under the windows and taller
ones next to the wall areas. Work with the flow of the house not against it.
Layout. Show the
way to your front door. A clean path up to some large planters besides the door
would be good. You’ll find a wavy indirect path will only cause people
(including yourself) to take a short cut.
Kerb Appeal. This
is only an issue if you are thinking of selling the house, or using a room as
an Airbnb.
Plants to Add
Steady, practical and low maintenance is the order of the
day when it comes to plants for the front garden.
Evergreens. Shrubs
which stay green and have a good bulk all year round - are key to front
gardens.
Climbers. Say no
to ivy and climbing hydrangeas which have suckers and will find their way into
the guttering, the mortar and, eventually, the windows. The climbers that are
less likely to damage your house are ones which need support to grow up, so
wisteria, clematis and roses would suit. A good tip is to grow them up sturdy
trellis which is just hooked on to the wall. The trellis (and the climber with
it) can be removed for cleaning or painting the walls.
Trees. Remember
they grow big! I always shiver when I see a monkey puzzle tree planted six feet
from the front door. They grow over 100 feet eventually. Other trees can
undermine the house foundations too.
Seasonal Changes
As you see the garden everyday planning the seasons will be
fun.
Front gardens are perfect for pots. Some of my neighbours
especially like putting out ornaments .
Keeping it low
maintenance
I chose chamomile for my front garden this year as cutting
the grass was a bit of an inconvenience. Maintaining the chamomile takes longer
to do but it’s generally just hand weeding. You could try gravel or paving for an
even lower maintenance option, generally the more hard landscaping you have the
lower the maintenance will be. The easiest solution to look after is paving -
bricks, slabs, driveway pavers - but it can prove to be expensive to put these
over the whole of the front, even if your garden is small. So gravel is a
decent halfway house.
A Few No-No’s
The place for expressing yourself in your garden is in the
back garden. Keep the front garden simple. Don't make life more difficult that
it needs be. If you need access to your windows make sure there's a path there
and the plants aren't too big. Remember the straight paths too. Path materials
and walls are pretty safe but maybe choose lower cost pots, plants and
containers just in case they decide to go walkies.
