It’s fair to say many of us spend far more time in our back garden than we do in the front. The rear of our home is more private and somewhere we can escape to for peace and quiet. We spend time, effort, and money making the back garden a little private paradise; planting, landscaping, paving, and building summerhouses.

We spend far less time in the front. Yes, most of us will keep it tidy but, especially for those with a small space on a busy street, it’s not the most private of places and we don’t spend much time there. Aside from entering or leaving the house.

But we really shouldn’t neglect the front garden. Especially when you consider kerb appeal. A good-looking front garden can cheer us up when we return after a long day but that’s not the only reason you may want to turn your attention to it.

Why improve the kerb appeal of your garden?

There are a few reasons why this is a good idea. The obvious one of course is the pride it instals in us about our homes. And it’s always nice to come back from work or a day out to a well-tended and attractive front garden.

For many the front garden is simply a place to park the car so will quickly be concreted over. Others make a token effort at trimming a hedge or cutting a lawn while they spend hours upon hours creating a nirvana in the back garden.

But taking the time to work in the front garden and thinking about kerb appeal will set your home apart from others.

Apart from what we’ve already talked about, a massive reason for improving the kerb appeal of your garden is that it will increase the value of your home. It will also improve the chances of a quick sale. A survey by the HomeOwners Alliance found that 68% of buyers based their judgement of a property for sale on how well that home was presented.

And, improving the kerb appeal of your garden may inspire the neighbours to do the same which will increase property values in the area as a whole. A well-looked after garden can add as much as 20% to a property’s value.

So, whether you want to add kerb appeal for financial or aesthetic reasons there are plenty of ways you can do this. We’ve come up with a list of the six best garden appeal ideas. Some take more effort than others and some are simple but surprisingly effective - and not all require green fingers.

Best garden kerb appeal ideas

1 Plant an ornamental tree

The best and most sure-fire way of improving the exterior of your home and improving garden kerb appeal is by planting a tree. Simples.

Of course, which tree you plant will make a difference and you must take time to ensure it’s kept trimmed and tidy. But a colourful tree will have such an impact and add so much interest to the front of your property.

Even a single tree planted in a grassed or gravelled area will be attractive. You should opt for something colourful and striking. A magnolia or flowering cherry tree always look fantastic and you can’t go wrong with a Japanese maple.

For more inspiration see our range of ornamental trees which you can plant to increase your garden’s kerb appeal.

2 Frame the front door

Any garden can be instantly transformed by framing the door with a couple of tall plants or trees in low maintenance ornamental pots. If the pots match the colour of the door so much the better. The plants you choose should of course be attractive themselves and you consider evergreens for that all year-round appeal.

Plant you could try include boxwood topiary, flamingo willow or, my personal favourite, olive trees. But of course, you will probably already have your favourites or you can experiment with colour.

Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive offers and discounts

Don’t forget of course that if you prefer seasonal plants to evergreens you can always swap out the pots as the season changes.

It may seem a small change but framing the front door with attractive plants really makes a difference. And speaking of the front door.

3 Paint the front door

Framing the door with attractive plants leads the eyes to it and…. If the door is in disrepair or has flaking paint that lovely first impression you’ve created with your plants will soon be crushed. If it needs it, give the door a lick of paint. After all, the front door is one of the first things that visitors (or buyers) get up close and personal with.

4 Make or improve a path

A pathway leading to the front door will automatically attract the eyes. And a nicely laid out path makes a big difference. If you have pavers a regular jet wash will ensure they look their best. Repair or replace any cracked pavers.

But any path can be enhanced by borders of plants running alongside. Evergreen shrubs are a wonderful way to line a path or, if you can’t plant into the ground, a row of decorative plants in uniform and attractive containers is just as good.

Needless to say, any plants should be kept tidy so it may be worthwhile thinking about low maintenance shrubs for the front garden.

5 Ensure fencing and gates are in good repair

Done well fencing can greatly add to the aesthetic and your garden kerb appeal. Conversely there is nothing as off-putting as badly maintained fencing with broken panels, poor paintwork, and rotting posts.

Whether your fencing is wooden or metal make sure to repaint once a year where necessary. If you have a long run of fencing consider planting against it to make it more attractive. If you have the space, shrubs and plants running in front of a road facing fence will improve its aesthetic tenfold.

6 Add some lighting

Lighting brings a front garden to life, especially in autumn and winter. Spotlighting feature plants or trees will add greatly to the effect you are striving to achieve, and reproduction old style lamp posts always look great.

Outdoor lighting is also an essential security feature of course but it can also help deliver more kerb appeal on a dark evening.