Before & After: Charlie Albone's front garden makeover on a budget

First impressions count, so turn heads and start conversations with these simple weekend tasks that will turn your dull front yard into something that will razzle dazzle your neighbours.

Take out a lazy lawn and put in a lovely bed of flowering plants, replace a poor excuse for a hedge with one that grows lush under any conditions, plant a feature tree and then tidy up. All simple tasks that won’t cost the earth.

Front garden before makeover — Before: Basic and bare *(Credit: Sue Ferris)*

After makeover — After: Lush and lovely *(Credit: Sue Ferris)*

Project 1: Replace lawn with a garden bed

Gather your supplies:

Plants
Compost
Mulch

You’ll also need:

Grass marking paint
Square-edged spade
Metal rake
Garden fork
Post-hole digger
Buckets

Here’s how

Step 1

Mark out where lawn is to be removed with grass marking spray paint. Remove turf and all roots by digging squares with square-edged spade, then lifting it up – but keep as much soil as you can.

Step 2

Rake soil to ensure all roots are moved.

Step 3

Turn over soil with fork to aerate it, add compost and rake it in.

Step 4

Set out plants where you want them to go, ensuring that those that grow tall are at the back of the bed.

Step 5

Charlie Albone planting plant — *(Credit: Sue Ferris)*

Dig holes with a post-hole digger as deep as pots and twice as wide. Pour water in holes. Soak plants in buckets of water. When water has drained, add plants and backfill holes.

Step 6

Spread mulch over soil of the garden bed.

Project 2: Replace a struggling hedge

Gather your supplies

Hedging plants
Compost
Mulch

You’ll also need

Square-edged spade
Garden fork
Metal rake
Tape measure
Post-hole digger
Buckets

Here’s how

Step 1

Charlie Albone in garden — *(Credit: Sue Ferris)*

Dig out old hedge.

Step 2

Charlie Albone digging in garden — *(Credit: Sue Ferris)*

Dig out and lift squares of turf with spade.

Step 3

Turn soil over with fork to aerate it.

Step 4

Charlie Albone raking soil — *(Credit: Sue Ferris)*

Add compost to soil and rake in.

Step 5

Set out new hedge plants 50cm-80cm apart.

Step 6

Dig holes as deep as pots and twice as wide, pour water in holes. Soak plants in buckets of water. When water has drained, add plants and backfill holes.

Step 7

Spread mulch.

Finishing touches

1. Paint your porch

The porch is your entrance and bare concrete is a dull grey. Brighten it up with a coat of paint in a deeper, richer grey.

2. Pressure clean your driveway

Pressure cleaning driveway — *(Credit: Sue Ferris)*

A gleaming driveway vastly improves the look of your home and costs you nothing more than the hire of a pressure washer.

3. Replace letterbox

A letterbox is essential for any home, but it need not be just a box. It can be architectural and smart too, but not cost a bomb.

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How to create a native verge garden with Charlie Albone

How to create an affordable green wall with Charlie Albone

A sneak peek inside Charlie Albone’s garden

Charlie Albone Better Homes and Gardens Presenter

Charlie has worked internationally and in Australia for the past 17 years, designing and building gardens that are timeless, inspiring and enjoyable to spend time in. In 2015 and 2016, he was awarded two Silver gilt medals for his own gardens at the world’s most prestigious flower show The Chelsea Flower Show.