Private front garden?

[Chasingpandas]

Sorry I know I’ve posted about this house before, but we love the house. The problem is the garden is small and east facing so would lose all sun by mid afternoon. So no late afternoon bbq parties etc. The front garden is huge and currently has a hedge down one side. We are thinking if we put a hedge/fence down the other side and made it into a private front garden it would solve the problem as this would get afternoon sun. But would you go to someone’s house and sit out the front in a private garden? Is this a stupid idea? What would you do?

Surely if you are a guest you sit wherever you are asked to? Certainly the sunny garden sounds nicer. It also depends on whether it is on a busy road or if it is overlooked. The hedging would sort out overlooking in time but a busy road would always be less nice.

But you love this house and probably spend a handful of days a year hosting bbqs so buy the house and make it work.

I never understood the British aversion to using their front garden.
Are you on a busy road? How close are your neighbours? How big is the front garden?

I think if it was completely private and big enough and not near a road it would be fine.

I always notice the unused wasted space that some houses have out front and always imagine how I would maximize the space and use it. Yes, if the front garden was private and closed off, I'd have no issues

It’s on a quiet residential toad. Semi detached house with large hedge between the two houses. There’s another row of houses the other side but all have huge front gardens so not too overlooked. The size of it is around 5 car lengths and around 10m wide. We thought to make the half by the house private (so connecting with the side gate garden entrance) then the road end a proper driveway.

*road not toad!

@IheartJKR

I never understood the British aversion to using their front garden. Are you on a busy road? How close are your neighbours? How big is the front garden?

It’s generally because it lacks privacy and is only euphemistically called a front garden Ie a little patch of grass or something. A huge front garden is rarer, particularly one that is fully enclosed.

Our near neighbours sit out in their front garden all the time and it is open, no planting or fence. They are lovely and people often stop for a chat or join them for a cup of tea, including us.

Growing up our house was sideways onto a main road and we had no back garden at all. It really wasn't an issue we just used the garden normally. I never get the issue of privacy in a garden you never worry if you are in a park or anything.

Is the side you’re proposing to put a hedge in your responsibility or your neighbours? You might not be able to “just” put a hedge in and also will you really want to maintain it?

The house where I grew up had a tiny and overlooked back garden, but a larger, much more private, front garden screened by hedges.

We always sunbathed and played in the front. Surely you just use whichever suits you?
My current house has an open plan type front garden, and I planted tall shrubs to give the house some privacy. Thankfully, the back garden is fully enclosed.

We have started using our front garden more this year. It already has good sized hedges. Just seemed easier to have guests in front garden rather than back.

@Rainbowshine

Is the side you’re proposing to put a hedge in your responsibility or your neighbours? You might not be able to “just” put a hedge in and also will you really want to maintain it?

It would either be hedge or fence. We would put it in our side of the border so hopefully that would be allowed?

Is it secure? Would you be happy leaving young children playing there without being supervised?

Most houses on my street sit in the front garden because of where the sun hits, we have much smaller gardens then you too! During lockdown we had friends in the front garden regularly.

We lose sun on the main part of our garden about 3/4pm so quite often move out the front, why wouldn't you?
Id be careful with the fence/hedge though, you may upset your neighbours, we have no fence between my neighbours, still sit out there.

We use our front garden all the time because all the houses are on the side of a very steep hill and the back gardens are not usable but the front are plateaued.

@Rainbowshine

Is the side you’re proposing to put a hedge in your responsibility or your neighbours? You might not be able to “just” put a hedge in and also will you really want to maintain it?

This doesn’t mKe sense, as long as she puts it on her land it’s clearly fine.

@Bluntness100

Thanks for replying.. but my post was me thinking out loud really.
I am British, but I’ve lived all over the world and especially in Europe they used the front gardens....despite size or proximity to the road. When we lived in Groningen people would take their kitchen tables out into the pavement. We would spend our evening walks weaving in and out of candle laden dinner parties on the pavement!!
It really changed my perspective.
It’s a yes from me 😁

This sounds ideal. The front garden is massive. A hedge would screen it or you could put up a sturdy fence/trellis and grow climbers up it for quicker height - we have star jasmine and evergreen honeysuckle for that in our SW facing garden and it’s provided an amazing instant screen.

You may find in summer heatwaves you appreciate having a shady garden in the hot afternoons too!

Your idea of driveway and fencing off the bit closest to the house sounds good, I'd have 6 ft high fencing so its definitely private.

@lidoshuffle

Is it secure? Would you be happy leaving young children playing there without being supervised?

Not my young child but there is still the back garden for playing unsupervised. I was more thinking this front garden would be for entertaining friends or sitting reading a book in the late afternoon summer sun

We’re growing our front hedges up a bit for the same reason. You might be better with a hedge than a fence for aesthetic and planning permission reasons. Sometimes front garden fences can only be a max of a certain height.
We previously had a house with a bigger front than back garden and used it all the time. It was fine.

Of course you should.

Partitioning off the part of the garden closest to the house with hedging or bamboo can be hugely effective.

Breaking down the difference issues involved is helpful.

Access to the garden.
Decide the best spot for creating a private area.
Would you consider putting a set of french doors to the area for ease of access.
Privacy is huge.
So creating a private cosy area will increase your usage.
View it as you would creating a new room.
Decking can mean the space is used very easily all year round.
A pergola or electric awning can give you coverage from the sun.

Taking the time to google outside rooms, and making a mood board of your favourite ideas, will help you to make a plan.

There is absolutely nothing nicer than the quiet enjoyment in the evening, of a private sunny garden IMO.
Hugely life enhancing.

Take your time and make a plan.
First establish what you actually like in a garden.
Drawing out a plan of the garden can be very helpful.

Deciding which area you feel is best is your first step.
Access to the kitchen can be useful.
Establishing privacy is next.
The more privacy you have, the more you will feel comfortable and relaxed in the area and the more use it will get.

Best of luck.

Oh and fencing can be very effective, low maintenance, and aesthetically pleasing if if covered with faux hedging or willow covering.

Privacy I believe is key.

I’d also use hedging but be aware it’s very expensive to buy mature plants Ie about four foot tall. For about 30 foot you’re likely looking at about 3 grand for anything decent.

Fencing is cheaper, but I would speak to a neighbour before I fenced it. As you will need to go about six foot high, and of course it will not look anywhere near as good as hedging it to match in with the rest.