Eyes front!
Front garden a scrappy mess? Here’s how to transform it into a plot to be proud of...
BACK in 2005, when I was deputy editor of a glossy gardening magazine, I was tasked with finding two front gardens on the same street for a photoshoot. One had to be achingly beautiful and the other the kind of eyesore that most people would never admit to owning.
In the feature that eventually appeared was a picture of my old front garden and that of a neighbour’s, with the caption: The Good And The Bad: Two Gardens On The Same Street. Alas, mine wasn’t the manicured plot full of flowers, but the one described as a ‘dumping ground for rubbish and bins’.
It really was in a shocking state at that time. The magazine photo showed a small plot with a hard standing of red concrete slabs covered in moss, lots of weeds, a crumbling front wall and a path of cracked or missing tiles. Bags of old newspapers, cardboard boxes and paint tins cluttered the ground.
Of course, a front garden like this is not unique. There are countless run-down spaces across Britain, along with those that are overgrown or just downright bland. In my opinion, a major factor for us ignoring the front is that we simply focus all of our time, effort and money on our back gardens. Yet the front garden doesn’t have to be the poor relation. Unless it’s been neglected for years, it’s easy to improve its appearance. All that most require is a spring clean, some judicious pruning and a freshening up of displays. A few cosmetic touch-ups to weathered exterior paintwork won’t hurt either.
Of course, some gardens are beyond hope, and are best given a complete overhaul. This might mean rebuilding paths, walls and other hard landscaping features, along with redefining the structural bones of the space. As a rule, always use materials that are in keeping with the age or style of your home.
In my opinion, a simple, unfussy design that fits in with the style of gardens on the rest of the street works best for small gardens in towns and cities. Those with larger plots, whether in the suburbs or countryside, could go for something more elaborate, like a traditional cottage garden full of flowers.
Fortunately, most front gardens can be enhanced within a few hours. Tidying up clutter, cleaning paving with a pressure-washer and trimming hedges to give them a crisp appearance will make a big difference. Finish by weeding any beds and borders, and pruning plants, if necessary.
A quick way of adding interest is to introduce containers. Window boxes of seasonal bedding will perk up sills, while a pair of topiary lollipops, balls or spirals either side of the front door will provide a sophisticated touch. Use the odd hanging basket to break up the monotony of walls or disguise ugly pebbledash.
Another option is to frame a doorway with climbing plants, such as roses, honeysuckle or clematis. These can be grown in large pots or planted into a bed on one side of the entrance, and then guided straight up and then around the door, using mesh or training wires.
Put the finishing touches to the front garden by freshening up tired paintwork. Rub down rusty patches on metal railings and gates before applying a fresh coat of metal paint – go for black or grey, rather than anything too bright. Repaint window ledges and consider painting the door a different colour for a brand new look.
MINEWAS A DISGRACE ...FULL OF WEEDS, CLUTTER AND RUBBISH