Front garden planting
Front gardens are a great way to help increase local biodiversity. Although many have been paved over in recent years, you can find creative ways to add plants to the smallest of spaces.
Why plant in front gardens?
Planting can help to:
- Support pollinators, birds, hedgehogs and other wildlife, giving them food, shelter and nesting opportunities
- Keep streets cooler in summer and help reduce noise and dust
- Reduce surface water runoff, flood risk and pressure on drains by allowing rainwater to soak into the ground
Water that runs off via drains picks up pollutants, causing pollution of local watercourses.
Where parking or paths are needed, consider permeable materials such as gravel, aggregate, permeable paving or reinforced grass systems, which allow rainwater to be filtered through the soil.
Pots and planters
If your front garden is already paved or hard surfacing is needed for accessibility, pots, planters and hanging baskets are a great option. Containers dry out more quickly than soil, so they may need more frequent watering.
Planting underneath cars
If the driveway must be used for parking but the car is moved relatively regularly, you might consider planting some hardy low-growing plants underneath, which can tolerate being run over now and then. See the RHS Front Gardens booklet for more information.
Planning permission
You do not need planning permission to plant trees, shrubs and flowers in your front garden.
New driveways and paths are also usually permitted if they use permeable materials or allow rainwater to drain naturally into planted areas.
Impermeable surfaces of five metres squared or more will require planning permission, as will new vehicle accesses, dropped kerbs, and some walls and fences. Before starting work, check Planning Portal guidance on paving front gardens.
Further guidance
We have collated useful links to give information and inspiration: