Need ideas for front yard landscaping

tulle

  

I’m wanting to do some landscaping in my

front yard. I currently have a besser block retaining wall in the middle of the front yard. It’s in good condition with no cracking. I’m looking for ideas on whether it’s worth keeping it or ways I can improve access to my house from the road and street appeal. 

JacobZ

Hi @tulle,

Thank you for sending through the photos of your front yard. From what I can see, the besser block retaining wall is in good structural condition, and the slope behind it is relatively gentle. The grass looks stable, which tells me the soil holds well and shouldn't erode.

Because of this, removing the wall is a reasonable option if you want to open the space, improve access, and enhance street appeal. Removing the wall would allow the lawn to flow naturally from the house toward the street and make the front yard feel larger and more inviting.

If you feel more comfortable keeping some structure in place, you could replace the single wall with two or three smaller retaining tiers spaced evenly down the slope. This creates a stepped landscape that is both stable and visually appealing. Timber sleepers work well for this and can double as borders for garden beds filled with hardy shrubs or feature plants.

A new pathway would also make a big difference, especially on the right side of the yard where you naturally walk toward the stairs. You could create a simple and effective path using garden edging, pavers and decorative stones. If you want guidance on this, How To Lay A Stepping Stone Pathway, is a great place to start.

You could also look at creating a feature planting zone near the footpath. That area around the tree has a lot of potential and could become a focal point rather than just an open lawn. You might experiment with a shaped garden bed, maybe curved or maybe something more structured, and fill it with plants that give texture and movement like lomandra, liriope or westringia. 

Another direction to think about is the front entry. Right now, the stairs are functional but do not really create a sense of arrival from the street. It could be worth imagining how lighting, a clearer path line or even a modern house number might shape the look. Soft lighting along the path or near the base of the stairs would make the entry feel warmer and more welcoming at night. A couple of simple planters or a refreshed balustrade might tie the whole area together. None of these need to be big changes, but together they can lift the overall street appeal in a subtle, modern way.

You might like to check out our Top 10 most popular front yard projects for some ideas and inspiration.

Allow me to tag our helpful members @Noelle, @Dave-1, @Nailbag and @R4addZ to see if they have any ideas for your front yard.

Jacob