Saturday morning. 8.59am. Garages are opened. Lawnmowers have been fuelled up. Whipper snipper cords have been replaced. The suburban dads are lined up – eyes forward behind their safety glasses, Bunnings hat atop their heads… trigger fingers twitching…waiting until the acceptable time. That’s right. Garden maintenance time.
The competitive nature of the suburban dad means front gardens have become places of worship. How does your front yard compare?
Perhaps you need to up your landscaping game?
How to beat the neighbours in the front yard landscaping game
There are a few ways to ensure you plan the best front yard in the street. Start with a scale drawing of your front yard space, then get the colours out. It’s time to plan.
Think about hardscaping first. When planning your front yard, you first though should think about pathways, throughways and retaining walls. How will you get to the front door? How will you get through the side gate? Do you need to bring big bulky things through to the backyard? What is the drainage like in your front yard? Do you find water pooling? What are your driveway needs?
The answers to these questions will help you draw up the outline of your yard plan. Place solid pathways if you need access. Perhaps pavers with grass separating if you only need a walkthrough.
Figure out which trees can stay or where you need to add shade and draw those in. How many cars need to park in your driveway? I have three teens at my house who all (apparently) need their own car which makes parking a nightmare!
Think about the drainage of your yard – you don’t want the water to pool on your driveway so ensure there is a slight slope to allow for water to get away. The gradient and width of your driveway will be determined by your Council. Contact them for specific rules and regulations.
Consider the materials you will use for your hard landscaping. They should compliment the building style of your home and be low maintenance. Driveways should be durable and non-slip. Consider oil marks and other stains you may have to deal with and choose a driveway finish that is forgiving of mess (particularly if someone in your house likes to fiddle with engines and may make a mess while they’re playing)
Do you need retaining walls to deal with a slope or drainage? Think about the material it will be used from and the drainage needs of the walls.
Next choose your plantings. Get the big trees and bushes sorted first. Pop them into the plan. Remember to find out how big things will grow as cute little hedges can become overgrown cumbersome plants quicker than you think.
Trees will cast shade and some plants will suck up more water from the ground that others. Make sure the plants you are planting are in the correct spot. Try and plant those with similar watering needs close together to make watering easier.
Now it’s time for the final touches. It’s helpful to consider what plants will do throughout the seasons. For example your roses will flower spectacularly in the summer but in the winter, they’ll just look like some sticks in the ground. Do you like that bare look or should you consider underplanting with a winter flowering plant such as cyclamen our hellebores? This gives your garden life no matter what the season. Check out what to do during Summer in your garden.
No matter what you plan for your garden, it will need some maintenance. Even full cement will need a quick blow and brush every now and again!
If you are an enthusiastic gardener – go all out and fill your yard with plants, but if a bit of sunshine and some light exercise is all you want on a Saturday morning – then pull back on the plantings and stick to easy gardens with more hardscaping and trees.
Your front yard is the introduction to your home so it should reflect the personality and style of the people living inside. Have fun with it and erect some sculptures and indulge in some fun topiary if that’s what tickles you!
And next time you take your position on the front lawn with the other proud homeowners, you can beam with pride…and maybe a little smug side eye knowing your front your is the best in the street.
Share this with your weekend warrior! Good things ought to be shared.
Thanks for reading,
Jen
