The
front
garden
ideas that you put in place directly contribute to the first
impression that your home makes and while a tasteful, stylish house
façade is essential, your garden has a distinctive role to play as well. So, what should you be
thinking about when you start settling on an aesthetic and in what
order should you start doing things?
Start
by thinking about how much space you actually have to play with.
Sketch out a plan, with accurate dimensions included, so you can be
sure that your garden ideas will actually fit.
Move
any garden furniture to the rear garden, as this will free up
valuable front space and keep your socialising a little more
private. The best backyard ideas always include furniture anyway, so
you will be killing two birds with one stone.
Prioritise
hardscaping first, so that you will have the paths, steps and edging
that you need, to maintain easy access to your home.
Prepare
your soil properly, in accordance with the plants you are going to
use. Different varieties will need various soil conditions to
thrive, so always combine these two elements together.
Start
planting front the front of your house, under low windows and beside
porches. Gardeners will explain that this allows you to control
plant heights so that they won’t encroach on your interior light
flow.
If
you are planning to plant trees or shrubs, always make sure that you
know what the maximum size they can reach is. You don’t want to
get overrun.
pondAdd
some finishing touches, such as hanging baskets, planters,
garden
ornaments
or even a little .
This is when you can let your creativity run a little wild, to
garner a unique and beautiful space.
You
might assume that any plant can work in a front garden,
but don’t forget that this is a space that will be exposed to
extreme elements, potentially, more traffic and even extra pollution,
if you live on a busy street. With that in mind, you need to think
about hardy plants that will still fit into your chosen colour scheme
and aesthetic. Some fantastic options to consider include:
Trees.
Small to medium varieties work well and offer just enough shade
without overshadowing your home.
Shrubs.
Anything that can be sculpted will work exceptionally well, while
offering great ground coverage.
Annuals.
These are pretty blooms that need to be replanted every year but
offer huge doses of vibrant colour. Marigolds work exceptionally
well.
Perennials.
These plants offer exceptionally pretty aesthetics alongside low
maintenance care. Consider heavily scented varieties, such as
lavender, for a sensory overload.
Grasses.
Tall, fluffy grasses can make for a wonderful front garden design,
as they fill available space quickly, garner a lot of attention and
even add a touch of exoticism. As landscaping ideas go, this one
covers most bases.
One
of the best benefits of having a front garden is that it could offer
you the potential to enjoy off-road parking, but you don’t have to
choose between a parking space and seriously stylish landscaping, but
the two don’t have to be mutually exclusive. If you want the best
of both worlds, follow these tips:
landscape architectCreate
clear zones, using pretty hardscaping. You need a level, easy to
clean surface to park your car on and self-contained beds for your
plants. A professional will make light work of this for you.
Consider
adding some differently coloured stone, to add a little more
excitement.
Keep
everything really simple.
Don’t
forget to think about adding some security, such as a gate.
When it comes to front garden landscaping ideas, it can be easy to forget about pathways, but let’s remember that you’ll need to be able to get to your front door, easily. As a general rule, brick, stone or paving slabs paths are best and you will want to create a simple flow from the street to your door. You can get creative and edge your walkways with various materials, but always think about ease of use, simple maintenance and how they will look from the street.
You
might think that just because you don’t have a huge front garden,
you can’t do a lot with your space, but that simply isn’t true.
Try one of these stylish ideas, to make the most of your garden:
Lay
a stepping stone path.
Plant
large numbers of brightly coloured flowers, in hanging baskets.
Create
a small front patio with high quality materials.
Put
planters to great use.
Mix
and match the materials that you use, but keep them natural.