Unlike back gardens, front gardens are open to public inspection and judgement, and give a first impression to visitors. Beginning with a brief history of the front garden, this book examines how they differ from back gardens, their different purposes, and their different design specifications. It looks at the suburban semi, and how a more adventurous and exciting look can be created from a wide range of possibilities. A chapter on Victorian front gardens looks at the design principles of that era, and how they worked with Victorian architecture. A chapter on the country cottage garden shows how to make one, with examples of those that work and those that don't. Other sections of the book discuss new town houses where fences and hedges are not allowed, and making front gardens in unpromising situations such as council-flat balconies.