Making an entrance

Your front garden is the first thing visitors to your home see, so it’s important to make a good first impression. Whether you have ample space for ornamental box hedges and decorative features or a small patio area for a couple of potted plants, there is lots you can do to emphasise the entrance to your home. 

Think about replacing tired fencing or ugly brick walls with natural borders, such as Boxwood hedging, which will add visual interest and is also easy to prune throughout the year. Climbing plants, wall flowers and window boxes will add a pop of colour to the front of your house or if you prefer a cottage garden appearance then why not train climbing plants to create natural arch ways around your front door, porch or gate. Raised flower beds are also a clever way to add some natural foliage to your front garden areas. If you fill them with evergreen shrubs then they are an easy to look after and low maintenance option that will look good all year round.

 

Paving options

Whether you have a driveway, pathway or patio in your front garden, you can be creative with the materials you use. It’s important to choose hard landscaping materials to complement the exterior of your home. Concrete block paving is one of the most popular solutions for driveways and paths but rather than choosing a basic rectangle paving slab, experiment with special-shaped blocks to create your own unique shape or pattern. Natural stone sets can be used to create a ‘cobbled street’ traditional style of finish to your drive or pathway which is both versatile and durable. On the other hand decorative aggregates and gravels that include materials such as chipped stones, granite, limestone, quartz and marble can be used to create truly beautiful entrances. Gravels vary considerably in size and composition and for the best results, it’s important to choose a chipping which is suitable for the project you have planned.

 

Finishing Touches

Finally, think about how your front garden looks at night. Fairy and decorative lights aren’t just for Christmas and can be used all year round wrapped around tree trunks, structural plants or hedges to add a magical glow to the front of your home. Lanterns or solar light stakes can be strategically placed around flower beds or on steps and pathways to create visual interest. Stunning silhouettes can be achieved with ground-level lighting along driveways and pathways or under large trees, just make sure no lighting is angled directly towards yours or your neighbours' windows or doorways. For a simple, more understated look, hang wall lights or sconces near your front door or garage to provide the right amount of light for these areas for access at night. 

 

To receive expert advice on how to maximise your front garden, talk to our local in-branch experts