I’m slightly scared of my front garden.
There, I’ve said it. And it’s slightly shameful too. I mean, come on, it’s just a space. But it’s a bit of a “blank page” space and I don’t think I have the expertise to do something amazing. Plus, I’ve had a letter from the parish council about it so time’s ticking on.
Of course, I may be aiming too high. Maybe I should be looking at creating a garden that’s just neat and tidy with two borders next to the house and two triangles of grass and …oh look, I’ve nodded off.
So I know what I don’t want, which is a start. I also know that I want this space to allow me to do some “proper” gardening – propagating, dividing, moving and tinkering with trees, flowers and shrubs rather than just vegetables. Yep, I’m ready to step up my game. I also want a garden that will inspire people to say “wow, I love it”.
But what trees, flowers and shrubs? It is here, I fear, that my anxiety takes hold. There are, let’s face it, so many to choose from. Our garden faces south east and while the space is looming large in my mind it is not that big but probably bigger than most.
There are, thankfully, bare bones that I have to work with, or round, like the new Indian sandstone path complete with fossils, the cherry tree that is, quite frankly, in the way, a fence down one side to grow things up and an area under the living room window that will house a seat.
The garden’s not symmetrical either; there’s more one side of the path than the other and it is this larger area that is causing me angst. The smaller, but still jolly big, side is going to be a huge, blowsy, flowery place with some grasses. I think.
But the other side? I did think a potager but that’s very neat and I’m not. I’m also thinking that both sides have to match. Don’t they? Plus, it’s too big to be even a very large border.
So this afternoon I’m going to get out my old gardening magazines, some glue, paper and scissors to make an inspirational mood board. If you have an ideas about what front gardens, or what your’s is like I’d be very grateful if you shared them.
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Image a day
susan
Maybe a pond on larger side? I could be quite lovely & yet wildlife friendly at the same time.
susan
Emm, IT could be quite lovely & wildlife friendly. I suppose I could, too, if I did my hair & make-up and stood outside patiently until robins and other small songbirds learned to eat sunflower seeds from my hands.
Sheona B
ooh the possibilities! I don’t see why you can’t use that big side as a really big border! Have you ever been to Wisley and seen how deep their main borders go? You could grow some enormous big clumps of flowers, which always look better than itty bitty
Deb
Oooh, Susan, do you know a pond had never crossed my mind. I guess because we’ve always had small children but now they’re getting bigger….hmmm. Thank you. And, yes, I guess you could be quite lovely and wildlife friendly too, if you stood still long enough!
Sheona – ah, maybe that’s what I need to do. Stop looking at everyone’s gardens locally and think big and visit big! Thank you!
Helen/patientgardener
Been mulling over your front garden. It seems to me that the problem is a conflict between looking neat and tidy for the interfering neighbours benefit and being a bit messy as you like it. Also I dont know how big the garden is etc but I wondered if it was worth considering a box type parterre. This would give an air of neatness but then you could have whatever in the gaps so you could experiment with all sorts of things – herbs, annuals, cutting garden, perennials whatever. You could also change it from year to year. Just an idea!
Janet/Plantaliscious
The pond idea is great, but if you have fussy neighbours you might want to bear in mind the time it takes to keep on top of blanket weed and/or duckweed. A natural pond could look beautiful though, and the bigger the better for balance and clear water. The bench sounds like it is crying out for fragrant plants around it, and for the rest, how about a gravel garden with prairie-style planting? That way it can still look neat in the winter, you can start with quite sparse planting, and then propagate more to fill gaps, plus allow self seeding. It would also help with the large border, as you could leave a path through to help maintenance and give a different way to get to the front door? Sounds like a fun project though. Good luck!
Deb
Oh Helen I like your idea. That is fab. Like the neatness combined with messiness and being able to change it and well, everything!
Hmm. Ever considered a career as a garden designer?
I think the parish council would just like it finished ie. no building materials in the front. I’m sure they’d love it if I had a boring lawn and two small, narrow borders.
Deb
Thank you Janet for your encouragement. As projects go it is fun, I’m just paralysed by “not wanting to get it wrong!”. I have, though, lots to think about (and my inspiration board to still do).
Maggie
A pond could be lovely, or perhaps some kind of water feature / mini bird sanctury type of affair. Don’t worry about getting it wrong though, in a way it is impossible to – a garden is constantly growing, changing and developing.
mimismam
Just go for it!