Welcome Home

Our front gardens are our public face, the first impression we show the world. We want the best from them, and award-winning garden designer Lynn Hill reveals how to create a sense of arrival that greets us and our visitors alike.

or a front garden to be at its best, we must balance the multiple demands placed upon them. Not only should they look beautiful, they must also function well. Car parking is often a necessity, along with a journey to the front door that is comfortable and practical. This relates to the world of ergonomics and the design principles of scale and proportion. Getting this right is the backbone from which everything else shall come.

I love to see the inclusion of planting in front gardens as it softens the hard landscaping and brings the garden to life. There is nothing like a journey through a beautifully planted garden, as it changes with the seasons and delights upon every visit. It is all about balance and ensuring the ‘right plant for the right place’. There is something for every space, however large or small.

Choose plants that will not outgrow their welcome. Such as Rosa ‘Kew Gardens’. With its long flowering season, this thornless shrub rose remains compact, ensuring a well-behaved plant to welcome your guests are they arrive. It can handle the sandy East Lothian soil and even thrive in some shade, making it very adaptable.

Scent heightens the experience of joy that gardens bring us. Be that the delectable aroma of lavender as you brush past it on your journey or the scent of a nearby lilac. It ensures a treat for the senses.

Our front gardens can even play a part in solving climate issues. Soil is like a sponge holding a phenomenal amount of water and actively capturing and storing CO2 (Carbon Sequestration). Ensuring that hard landscaping is designed to keep soil healthy and avoids rain running off onto road surfaces and into drainage systems will make a significant contribution. In turn, it also ensures that homeowners don’t fall fowl to permitted development regulation that governs front garden projects.

A successful front garden brings together hard and soft landscaping to work in harmony. Creating a space in which you can feel proud will inspire all who pass by. What would you like your garden to say about you?

Until next time