Exteriors: Give your garden a boost before Good for spring - Your front garden may well be the most underutilized space you have. Unless you are lucky there is quite possibly a ribbon of space with little room beyond a wheelie bin and a couple of flower pots. And even if it is larger, it can easily be overlooked in favor of your garden.
However, while you might not actually sit in a beautiful garden in front, but tiny, offers more than just attractive. It is a source of pride that shows that you care about your home, and an ad for your general style. It will make you feel that little bit happier you turn the key in the door (and remember that the paving over it to create a parking space is bad for the environment, increasing the risk of flooding). So brighten up your front garden for spring and lift your spirits in the process.
However, while you might not actually sit in a beautiful garden in front, but tiny, offers more than just attractive. It is a source of pride that shows that you care about your home, and an ad for your general style. It will make you feel that little bit happier you turn the key in the door (and remember that the paving over it to create a parking space is bad for the environment, increasing the risk of flooding). So brighten up your front garden for spring and lift your spirits in the process.
Mark Hazeldine Photography
Planning a garden cottage
If you like the wild look English country garden, try copying this sweet cottage display. A dense mix of tulips, daisies, wild flowers and vines crammed in the front windows is timeless and beautiful without effort. Even a small space can work this look. To the cottage real lumberjack style, just add a pile of newspapers on the porch.
If you like the wild look English country garden, try copying this sweet cottage display. A dense mix of tulips, daisies, wild flowers and vines crammed in the front windows is timeless and beautiful without effort. Even a small space can work this look. To the cottage real lumberjack style, just add a pile of newspapers on the porch.
Mac Devereux Harborough Decorators
Lay lavender
lavender is your friend when it comes to front gardens - it is fragrant, attractive, robust enough and not too difficult or expensive to find. If you have a front garden like this, or just a tiny area large enough for a few pots, distinctive purple flowers clouds bring bees and encourage your soul.
Lavender generally grows well in soil chalky or alkaline, 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 is fragrant, attractive, robust enough and not too difficult or expensive to find. If you have a front garden like this, or just a tiny area large enough for a few pots, distinctive purple flowers clouds bring bees and encourage your soul.
Lavender generally grows well in soil chalky or alkaline, and is best planted in April or May
Read expert advice on what to do in the garden in April
Mark Hazeldine Photography
Plante each side of a channel
in this magnificent period before garden, the flowers are concentrated on each side of the way for a greater impact. The result is a sumptuous effect wandering-through-a-meadow as you approach the front door. Two important shrubs on either side of the door add to the warm welcome.
in this magnificent period before garden, the flowers are concentrated on each side of the way for a greater impact. The result is a sumptuous effect wandering-through-a-meadow as you approach the front door. Two important shrubs on either side of the door add to the warm welcome.
Trewin Design Architects
Keep it minimal
A mini Kew Gardens in front of the hotel is not for everyone, especially if you are not Monty Don. However, you can still keep an elegant paved area with a green tint. Binoculars balls box in symmetrical pots add a pinch of topiary in this front yard and work with a modern facade of the property.
Take a look at the fun, very inventive topiary
A mini Kew Gardens in front of the hotel is not for everyone, especially if you are not Monty Don. However, you can still keep an elegant paved area with a green tint. Binoculars balls box in symmetrical pots add a pinch of topiary in this front yard and work with a modern facade of the property.
Take a look at the fun, very inventive topiary
Pot Incorporated
dress your windows
Don 't have a garden before talking about? As long as you have a place to balance it, a window box is an easy alternative. Whether you choose to fill it with the dripping green greenery and structural plants, as here, or colorful annuals like petunias, geraniums or thoughts, it will instantly raise the appearance of your exterior. This chic gray number and full exterior painting, too.
Don 't have a garden before talking about? As long as you have a place to balance it, a window box is an easy alternative. Whether you choose to fill it with the dripping green greenery and structural plants, as here, or colorful annuals like petunias, geraniums or thoughts, it will instantly raise the appearance of your exterior. This chic gray number and full exterior painting, too.
The garden builders
Try a formal layout
Who says you can not have a front lawn? This small but perfectly formed garden of London has it all - a formal provision, grass, lavender, mini hedges and trees of the bay. Using gravel and slate tiles on the border, it adds a neat orderly structure that complements the encaustic tiles on the way. It should not be too high maintenance either.
Who says you can not have a front lawn? This small but perfectly formed garden of London has it all - a formal provision, grass, lavender, mini hedges and trees of the bay. Using gravel and slate tiles on the border, it adds a neat orderly structure that complements the encaustic tiles on the way. It should not be too high maintenance either.
Dawn Perkins Garden Design
Move your beds
in this period shady front garden, the owners divided aged red brick character with a stepped litter area planted with shrubs. The overall effect is still super-leaves, but keeping half of the paved area reduces the amount of time necessary gardening. Stepping beds also adds more visual interest than a square or rectangle would.
One final note :. Wisteria is a classic planted by the front doors and creates a beautiful natural arbor
in this period shady front garden, the owners divided aged red brick character with a stepped litter area planted with shrubs. The overall effect is still super-leaves, but keeping half of the paved area reduces the amount of time necessary gardening. Stepping beds also adds more visual interest than a square or rectangle would.
One final note :. Wisteria is a classic planted by the front doors and creates a beautiful natural arbor
Katherine Roper Landscape & Garden design
Step it up
is your gateway to the top of the stone steps? Get inspired by this garden on several levels: the beds, narrow wood frame planted with greenery look stylish dotted with gravel and paving. Keep the uniform and simple planting means it will not be too overwhelmed by the fall, too.
To build similar beds, look for railway sleepers recovered at specialty garden suppliers or online source.
is your gateway to the top of the stone steps? Get inspired by this garden on several levels: the beds, narrow wood frame planted with greenery look stylish dotted with gravel and paving. Keep the uniform and simple planting means it will not be too overwhelmed by the fall, too.
To build similar beds, look for railway sleepers recovered at specialty garden suppliers or online source.
Rebecca Smith Garden Design
Go to the potluck
If you do not have the time, money or inclination to install or flowerbeds to unearth those that already exist, try to cheat by organizing plenty of pots, this homeowner has. The effect can be as pretty, but make sure you stay on top of watering rights, especially during dry summer months.
If you do not have the time, money or inclination to install or flowerbeds to unearth those that already exist, try to cheat by organizing plenty of pots, this homeowner has. The effect can be as pretty, but make sure you stay on top of watering rights, especially during dry summer months.
Nicolas Tye Architects
Follow your architecture
Think laterally and experience: this beautiful eco-friendly house has a minimum consistent front garden with its eye-catching modern style. Gravel sand hued is as much a feature low vegetation (and more than a bit like the famous shingle garden Derek Jarman at Dungeness). Although this space is as large as some back gardens, it is an idea that you can easily copy on a smaller scale.
Tell us ...
What is in your front yard? Share your photos and tips in the comments below.
Think laterally and experience: this beautiful eco-friendly house has a minimum consistent front garden with its eye-catching modern style. Gravel sand hued is as much a feature low vegetation (and more than a bit like the famous shingle garden Derek Jarman at Dungeness). Although this space is as large as some back gardens, it is an idea that you can easily copy on a smaller scale.
Tell us ...
What is in your front yard? Share your photos and tips in the comments below.