Your front garden is one of the most important places in your home – after all – it’s a space you see every day.
How can you enhance your space to create a great front garden that boosts your home's kerb appeal and provides a welcoming entrance?
Here's a few tips from my recent work,
1. Frame the Entrance with Symmetrical Planting: Place matching shrubs, trees, or planters on either side of the front door or pathway to create a balanced and welcoming entrance.
Using vertical plants around the doorway will draw attention to the entrance, making it a focal point.
2. Highlight the Good features (and obscure the not-so-good)
Use plants that mirror or complement the lines and shapes of your house; for example, use tall, narrow plants near vertical windows or round bushes near curved architectural elements.
Soften the edges of your house by planting shrubs or small trees at the corners, which help the structure blend more naturally into the landscape, and, Use evergreen shrubs along the foundation of your house to create a neat, green base that anchors your home to the landscape
Tip: Try to choose plants that are in proportion to your house, and create balanced look by grouping (repeating) plants in odd numbers (3, 5, 7) if you want to create a natural look or even numbers if you want a more formal look.
3. Lush planting suggests a Well-cared for and Generous Home
Use a mix of tall, medium, and low-growing plants to create a layered effect, which adds depth to your garden and prevents it from looking flat.
Plant for all-year-round interest: Choose plants that offer interest in different seasons, for example, evergreens for year-round greenery, some trees whichhave interesting bark in winter, while spring bulbs and summer perennials can add seasonal colour. I like to use a mixture of smaller, structural evergreen shrubs, bulbs for winter and spring colour, followed by summer and autumn perennials. Depending on the style, tall grasses can add drama but also a softness through the winter months, glowing in the low-light.
Adding seasonal bulbs or annuals for a tactical pop of colour when you need it most can really help. With some colours, a little can go a very long way. Think about using these ‘pops’ to guide your eye through to the entrance, or other features.
4. Low-Maintenance options make it Easier to keep it Looking Good: Opt for plants that are suited to your climate and soil, and that don’t require excessive care. Native plants are often a great choice, and, using a low evergreen hedge/ border can keep the plants behind it looking smart, whatever state they are in. Great options include, Rosmary, Hebe green-globe, Yew (Taxus) and Euonymus ‘Jean Hughes’.
Keep it simple, with a small number of different types of plant, so maintenance is simple.
Adding bark mulch to your beds will help to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and give the garden a clean, finished appearance.
5. Integrate Pathways and Borders
Use low-growing plants or decorative borders along pathways and driveways to define spaces and guide visitors to the front door.
A gently curved pathway can soften the approach to your house and provide opportunities for creative planting along the way – creating a sense of anticipation.
Planters and pots can be a quick and versatile way to add height and colour to pathways and entrances. Using a shade also found on the house (or a complementary colour) can really accentuate the building. Place them on steps, near doorways or along pathways to draw attention.
Images courtesy of Kayte Ashton
6. Consider trees to add Privacy and Frame the house. Make sure they’re placed far enough from the house to avoid roots or branches causing damage. If space allows, plant a tree near the street to create a sense of depth and welcome visitors into your garden.
7. Encourage wildlife in with pollinator-supporting plants: there is nothing more magical than walking through a space that is full-of-life, (think disney-esque butterflies, and the gentle hum of bees). It’s like a seal of approval and really adds those feel-good vibes to your day.
I hope you have found these useful. If you would like some professional design help transforming your garden to help your home achieve it's full potential, get in touch: info@vickylincolngardendesign.com
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