Give Your Front Garden a Happy Boost for Spring
Ramp up your kerb appeal and lift your mood with these out-front landscaping ideas
Your front garden might just be the most underused space you possess. Unless you’re lucky, it’s quite possibly a sliver of space with scant room for much beyond a wheelie bin and a couple of plant pots. And even if it is larger, it can easily be neglected in favour of your back garden.
However, while you might not actually sit in it, a lovely front garden, however teeny, offers more than mere kerb appeal. It’s a source of pride that shows you care about your home, and an advert for your overall style. It will make you feel that bit happier as you turn your key in the door (and don’t forget that paving it over to create a parking space is bad environmentally, increasing the risk of flooding). So cheer up your front garden for spring and lift your spirits in the process.
However, while you might not actually sit in it, a lovely front garden, however teeny, offers more than mere kerb appeal. It’s a source of pride that shows you care about your home, and an advert for your overall style. It will make you feel that bit happier as you turn your key in the door (and don’t forget that paving it over to create a parking space is bad environmentally, increasing the risk of flooding). So cheer up your front garden for spring and lift your spirits in the process.
Lay on the lavender
Lavender is your friend when it comes to front gardens – it’s fragrant, attractive, reasonably hardy and not too difficult or expensive to come by. Whether you have a sizeable front garden like this one, or a tiny area just big enough for a few pots, the clouds of distinctive purple flowers will bring the bees and cheer your soul.
Lavender generally grows well in chalky or alkaline soil, and is best planted in April or May.
Read expert advice on what to do in the garden in April
Lavender is your friend when it comes to front gardens – it’s fragrant, attractive, reasonably hardy and not too difficult or expensive to come by. Whether you have a sizeable front garden like this one, or a tiny area just big enough for a few pots, the clouds of distinctive purple flowers will bring the bees and cheer your soul.
Lavender generally grows well in chalky or alkaline soil, and is best planted in April or May.
Read expert advice on what to do in the garden in April
Plant either side of a pathway
In this gorgeous period front garden, the flowers are concentrated either side of the path for greater impact. The result is a lavish, wandering-through-a-meadow effect as you approach the front door. Two sizeable shrubs either side of the door add to the warm welcome.
In this gorgeous period front garden, the flowers are concentrated either side of the path for greater impact. The result is a lavish, wandering-through-a-meadow effect as you approach the front door. Two sizeable shrubs either side of the door add to the warm welcome.
Keep it minimal
A mini Kew Gardens out front isn’t for everyone, especially if you’re no Monty Don. However, you can still keep a paved area stylish with a tinge of greenery. Twin box balls in symmetrical pots add a dash of topiary to this front yard and work with the property’s modern facade.
Take a look at some fun, very inventive topiary
A mini Kew Gardens out front isn’t for everyone, especially if you’re no Monty Don. However, you can still keep a paved area stylish with a tinge of greenery. Twin box balls in symmetrical pots add a dash of topiary to this front yard and work with the property’s modern facade.
Take a look at some fun, very inventive topiary
Dress your windows
Don’t have a front garden to speak of? As long as you have somewhere to balance it, a window box is an easy alternative. Whether you choose to fill it with verdant dripping greenery and structural plants, as here, or colourful annuals, such as petunias, geraniums or pansies, it will instantly lift the look of your exterior. This chic grey number complements the exterior paintwork, too.
Don’t have a front garden to speak of? As long as you have somewhere to balance it, a window box is an easy alternative. Whether you choose to fill it with verdant dripping greenery and structural plants, as here, or colourful annuals, such as petunias, geraniums or pansies, it will instantly lift the look of your exterior. This chic grey number complements the exterior paintwork, too.
Try a formal layout
Who says you can’t have a lawn out front? This small but perfectly formed London garden has it all – a formal layout, grass, lavender, mini hedges and bay trees. Using gravel and slate tiles to border it adds a neat, ordered structure that complements the encaustic tiles on the path. It shouldn’t be too high-maintenance, either.
Who says you can’t have a lawn out front? This small but perfectly formed London garden has it all – a formal layout, grass, lavender, mini hedges and bay trees. Using gravel and slate tiles to border it adds a neat, ordered structure that complements the encaustic tiles on the path. It shouldn’t be too high-maintenance, either.
Stagger your beds
In this shady period front garden, the owners have divided up characterful aged red bricks with a stepped bedding area planted with shrubs. The overall effect is still super-leafy, but keeping half the area paved reduces the amount of gardening time required. Stepping the beds also adds more visual interest than a square or rectangle would.
A final note: wisteria is a classic planted by front doors and creates a lovely natural arbour.
In this shady period front garden, the owners have divided up characterful aged red bricks with a stepped bedding area planted with shrubs. The overall effect is still super-leafy, but keeping half the area paved reduces the amount of gardening time required. Stepping the beds also adds more visual interest than a square or rectangle would.
A final note: wisteria is a classic planted by front doors and creates a lovely natural arbour.
Step it up
Is your front door at the top of stone steps? Take inspiration from this multi-level garden: the narrow, wooden-framed beds planted with greenery look stylish interspersed with gravel and paving. Keeping planting uniform and simple means it won’t be too overgrown by autumn, too.
To build similar beds, seek out reclaimed railway sleepers at specialist garden suppliers or source them online.
Is your front door at the top of stone steps? Take inspiration from this multi-level garden: the narrow, wooden-framed beds planted with greenery look stylish interspersed with gravel and paving. Keeping planting uniform and simple means it won’t be too overgrown by autumn, too.
To build similar beds, seek out reclaimed railway sleepers at specialist garden suppliers or source them online.
Go for pot luck
If you don’t have the time, money or inclination to install flowerbeds or dig up existing ones, try cheating by arranging plenty of pots, as this home owner has done. The effect can be just as pretty, but make sure you stay on top of watering duties, especially through the dry summer months.
If you don’t have the time, money or inclination to install flowerbeds or dig up existing ones, try cheating by arranging plenty of pots, as this home owner has done. The effect can be just as pretty, but make sure you stay on top of watering duties, especially through the dry summer months.
Follow your architecture
Think laterally and experiment: this beautiful, ecofriendly home has a minimal front garden in keeping with its eye-catching modern style. The sandy-hued gravel is as much a feature as the low vegetation (and more than a little reminiscent of Derek Jarman’s famous shingle garden at Dungeness). While this space is as big as some back gardens, it’s an idea you could easily copy on a smaller scale.
TELL US…
What’s in your front garden? Share your photos and tips in the Comments below.
Think laterally and experiment: this beautiful, ecofriendly home has a minimal front garden in keeping with its eye-catching modern style. The sandy-hued gravel is as much a feature as the low vegetation (and more than a little reminiscent of Derek Jarman’s famous shingle garden at Dungeness). While this space is as big as some back gardens, it’s an idea you could easily copy on a smaller scale.
TELL US…
What’s in your front garden? Share your photos and tips in the Comments below.
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If you love the wild English country garden look, try copying this sweet cottage display. A dense mix of tulips, daisies, wildflowers and creepers crowded together under front windows is timeless and effortlessly pretty. And even a small space can work this look. For true woodcutter’s cottage style, simply add a pile of logs in the porch.