

Your outdoor space
Even those of us without front gardens can add some greenery to our exteriors. Planning a few plants for the street together with neighbours is a brilliant way to create a feeling of community that lasts beyond the occasional summer barbecue. The best planting scheme for the front of your house consists of some seasonal plants in the red-gold colours of an Indian summer, plus attractive outside lights. Add a seat or two, so that you and your neighbours can sit and exchange news at the end of the day.
Plant parade
There's a lot more space at the front of our houses than we think. Fill tubs and planters with popular autumn shrubs, and create height differences by alternating large plants with small, or placing them on stools or supports. For example, you can double your outdoor space with a large wooden bench if you place pots both on top and underneath.