Front gardens can often be neglected in favour of larger rear garden spaces that can be used for both entertaining and relaxing.
But by spending some time creating a beautiful front garden, you’ll not only boost your property’s appearance, but you could add value to your home, too.
‘’A modern front garden with a nice design is a great way of making a good impression to buyers and potentially adding value to your home,” advises Rob Smith, Managing Director of Whitegates.
“There is a real trend for wild gardening and sustainable gardening, creating a space that can improve the wellbeing of wildlife and the planet.
“If you are stuck for space, vertical planting up your house or planting a flower bed border are great ways to liven up driveways.”
In this guide, we reveal some of the current trends that could give your front garden a lift…
How much value can a front garden add?
Research suggests a properly designed and well-kept garden can add as much as 20% to the value of your house – and that includes your front space.
How can I make my front garden look nice?
There are a whole host of ways you can dress your front garden and make a real statement from the kerbside.
Many of these can also be done on a small budget…
1. Frame your front door with trees in pots
One of the best ways to add symmetry to your front garden is by framing your front door with potted trees on either side.
If you’re looking for some more colour, consider adding hanging baskets with trailing plants on each side of your front door.
Alternatively, if you prefer a less symmetrical look, add groups of pots in varying sizes around your front entrance, creating a textured feel.
2. Add shrubs to the front of your house
Evergreen shrubs look good all year round and are generally low maintenance – making them perfect for front gardens of all sizes.
But all shrubs can add character and texture to a front garden and with a little work and some tender loving care, you’ll get the very best from them year after year.
The best shrubs for the front of your house include:
Lavender
Lavender is perfect for smaller front gardens as it only grows to around a foot in height.
It’s a great shrub for attracting wildlife, such as bees, and has a wonderful fragrance that offers a warm welcome for anyone visiting your home.
Shrub roses
If you’re after an impressive block of colour to make a big first impression in your front garden, shrub roses are a great option.
Plant several close together to create one dense shrub along your front garden borders, but don’t forget to prune them in spring once they’re well established.
Winter gem boxwood
Evergreen and low maintenance, winter gem boxwood is a dense shrub that can provide greenery all year round.
It’s also low growing, so won’t take over small front gardens where space is at a premium.
3. Add colourful front garden borders
Adding flowers to your front garden can give it an immediate lift.
But the secret to any great garden border is in planning and unifying your planting scheme.
If you have borders on either side of a pathway, for example, plan one and then repeat the scheme on the other side to create symmetry.
Use plants with a dominating appearance sparingly and try to create layers with your planting, with the largest plants at the rear and smallest at the front.
And don’t forget to use climbing plants to dress brick walls or fences offering little visual interest
4. Consider these great front path ideas
Paths and driveways are another part of your property’s front-facing exterior that can have a big impression on buyers.
An ageing driveway full of cracks is likely to be seen as a large expense by a buyer, while a DIY pathway with weeds growing intensely and slabs sticking up above others will also be off-putting.
Resin driveways aren’t the cheapest option, but they look fantastic and offer a low-maintenance, hard-wearing option that will stand the test of time.
The pathway to your front door, meanwhile, is a great opportunity to make a real statement.
And if you live in a period property, there are few better ways to do that than with sheeted ceramic tiles.
5. A functional, private front garden
Adding clear, crisp lines to your front garden can help to establish it as a usable, attractive space.
And the best way to add those clear lines is through clever use of fencing and hedging.
Box hedging is a great way to create a decorative pathway to your front door and have a clear separation between your front lawn and pathway.
By installing fencing, too, you can show that you take privacy seriously and this is certain to appeal to buyers.
How do I make my garden look good on a budget?
1. Take care of your lawn
While a neatly mowed and lush front lawn can really make your property look loved and cared-for, one of the fastest growing trends in gardening is allowing lawns to grow wild.
This can attract pollinating wildlife and mean you’re using fewer chemicals commonly associated with weed-free, lush green lawns.
Whether you’re happy to let your lawn grow freely, or you prefer a neat patch of grass, taking good care of it is key.
For wild lawns, try adding some additional plants such as:
- Common knapweed
- Red clover
- Viper’s bugloss
- Oxeye daisy
For neat lawns, mow regularly during the spring and summer and water at least twice a week with captured rainwater if the weather remains dry.
2. Remove path and driveway weeds
Weeds growing through paths and driveways can have a big impact on how the front of your property looks.
While various weed killing products are available, there are also some more natural approaches you can take to remove weeds from driveways and paths:
- Use a mixture of white vinegar and soap in a spray bottle and cover weeds in the mixture before removing them from the root once dry
- Pour boiling water directly on weeds growing between gaps in slabs or paving
- Jet wash and sweep pathways regularly to remove seeds that can settle between slabs
3. Jet wash your pathway
Front garden pathways can become green and dirty during the colder months.
So, each spring spend some time jet washing your pathways to keep them looking pristine throughout spring and summer.
Sweep away any excess water and use a patio cleaning product if the grime proves tough to shift.
4. Paint your fence
A lick of paint and wood treatments can help keep your front garden fences looking great all year round.
Specialist fencing treatments are available from most DIY stores and will ensure your fence panels are protected from the elements.
Stains and paints are also available to keep your fence looking natural, with spring the best time of year to apply them.
5. Add some lighting
Lighting can help to lift even the dullest of front gardens.
Consider adding lights either side of your path, which will not only creating symmetry, but will also help welcome any visitors to your home.
Lights around focal point plants or trees can also create a warming glow, while up-lighting can help a small front garden to feel more spacious.
