About Front Gardens
A front garden can enhance the beauty of your yard greatly, increasing curb appeal and drawing attention to your home's unique features. Front gardens can be elaborate, but they don't have to be. A green thumb is certainly a plus, but it isn't a requirement to create a stunning garden. Learning about front gardens is the first step to planting an attractive display that pleases both the eye and the budget.
Cottage Front Gardens
Cottage-style front gardens make the most of the space in your front yard. A cottage front garden typically incorporates a fence of some sort (often a white picket fence). The lush foliage is allowed to grow in and around the fencing, creating a cozy look while making the most out of the space you have.
Be sure to keep in mind your area's climate when deciding what to plant in a front garden. Talk to local gardeners (and nursery experts) to learn what kinds of plants grow well in your particular zone. Once you have an idea of what works, pick what you like and run with it!
Container Front Gardens
Front gardens don't have to be elaborate. In fact, you can create a gorgeous front garden display without ever touching a shovel. Consider using decorative containers of varying sizes to show off some colorful flowers.
Begin by concentrating near your doorway, as this is the area people will notice the most when they visit. Plant fragrant container flowers here, so guests (and you) can enjoy the scents when coming and going.
Don't be afraid to mix things up. Mixing vibrant, colorful flowers with spiky foliage is perfectly acceptable for a front container garden. In fact, mixing up a container garden can be ideal. Plant the taller flowers in the center and include some trailing plants along the sides.
Raised Bed Front Gardens
If your home has a front wall, you can use it to create a raised bed front garden. This type of garden will require some construction, as you'll need to build walls. Raised bed gardens can be constructed of brick, wood or some other type of material. Be sure to measure carefully so you'll know how much construction material to buy. A raised bed front garden may be more expensive than some of the other options.
You can plant virtually anything you want in your raised bed front garden. A mix of shrubs and perennials makes for an attractive display. Another advantage: With a raised bed garden, you'll be able to pick the exact type of soil you'll need for your flowers or foliage.