Kerb APPEAL

Smarten up your front garden in no time with clever planting and design tricks

- NICOLA STOCKEN

It’s a tricky business, designing a front garden, with little room for manoeuvre in a battle for space where wheelie bins and parked cars can leave trees and plants as something of an afterthought. With practical issues coming first, many a frontage becomes a lifeless transit and storage area, abandoned by wildlife.

The smaller the space, the more ingenuity and imagination it takes to find a middle way – a layout that incorporates plants, encourages wildlife and accommodates the paraphernalia of everyday life while also providing an attractive setting for the house. The first step is to literally take a few steps into neighbouring streets, looking for good solutions in other residents’ gardens. In some cases it will be an exercise in learning from others’ mistakes, but every now and then you will alight on an idea that has potential.

Many gardens now have to provide both a driveway and additional car parking, stealing space from lawns and flower beds, and making it more challenging to safeguard planting as part of any new design. There is only so much that can be shaved off hard landscaping because driveways and paths need to be wide enough for the vehicles, residents and visitors – some of whom may be struggling with toddlers or shopping – especially if it is the only route to the front door. There is also the storage of wheelie bins and bicycles to factor in.