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Front garden ideas

warwick_gormanwarwick_gorman Posts: 5
in Garden design
We have a bungalow on a corner plot, which has a large wrap round garden. the estate deeds does not allow us to put up fences, grow high hedges or build walls to close in the front garden. I am looking for ideas to edge the garden to stop people walking across the lawn. The perimeter measures approx 50 linear metres. Can anyone recommend a low growing shrub which would make a soft informal border and would not cost a fortune. 
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  • zugeniezugenie Posts: 831
    I used lavender for this at my last house:


    If you post some info like soil type, sun level, aspect etc I’m sure people will have loads of suggestions!
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    warwick_gorman said:
    We have a bungalow on a corner plot, which has a large wrap round garden.... The perimeter measures approx 50 linear metres. ...
    Pics please?
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • warwick_gormanwarwick_gorman Posts: 5

  • warwick_gormanwarwick_gorman Posts: 5
    As you can see needs a lot of work been neglected by previous residents. The front of the house faces East and the side South. 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Very often those types of restrictions aren't enforceable any more but it rather depends on whether it's a private estate or Council owned. If it's a private estate and the houses were built a long time ago, the developers may not exist and therefore cannot enforce such a restriction. In any event they may not wish to incur the expense either.
    It looks like your neighbour has gone ahead and planted shrubs on his corner so I'd be inclined to go ahead and plant around the perimeter.

    I'm struggling to think what you could plant that is cheap to buy these days and easy to maintain.  Rather than plant right round the edge, what about a couple of bigger shrubs on a diagonal line from the house to the corner which might give a visual warning to people not to cross?  

    Hopefully other posters will have ideas for you.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    warwick_gorman said:
    ... the estate deeds does not allow us to put up fences, grow high hedges or build walls to close in the front garden....
    Those rules usually apply to the first 10 years after the build - how old is your house?
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    edited March 2023
    warwick_gorman said:
    As you can see needs a lot of work been neglected by previous residents. The front of the house faces East and the side South. 

    Doesn't look neglected to me  :# it's a maintained lawn with some moss which you can revive at low cost.
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • warwick_gormanwarwick_gorman Posts: 5
    It was built in the 80's so maybe rules no longer apply. Feels like a mammoth task, i really have no idea what I am doing.  I would like more curb appeal, something to soften the house. A pretty, low maintenance front garden. 
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    edited March 2023
    warwick_gorman said:
    It was built in the 80's so maybe rules no longer apply. Feels like a mammoth task, i really have no idea what I am doing.  I would like more curb appeal, something to soften the house. A pretty, low maintenance front garden.

    Personally I like to garden in privacy. It's a precious time for me and I do not enjoy front gardens purely due to the lack of privacy. I would fence off most of the lawned areas to incorporate them/join them with the back garden, leaving small bit of grass to the either side of the front pathway to your bungalow for kerb appeal. Go for a modern horizontal build type of fence and "charred" the wood for a naturally dark finish.

    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Maybe I've misunderstood your suggestion but that sounds like a prison fence. Adding interesting plants and shrubs is one thing but sticking up a fence is another thing entirely.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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