Every time I see a front garden being ripped out and replaced by hard surfacing my heart sinks. It seems to be an ever increasing trend, in my area anyhow. The worst in my mind is imprinted concrete - absolutely ugly and environmentally unsound. Gravel or suchlike, the lesser of the evils. Also those that cover every single inch to each corner.
I think some councils try to educate people into why it's not a good idea to completely pave over front areas, but nowhere near enough is being done in my opinion.
I wondered if landscapers that carry out these jobs try to persuade clients to leave at least a corner somewhere or small border? Do you try to steer them to the least environmentally unfriendly option?
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We always design plant beds in to every front drive come garden it softens the edges and stops it looking to hard. You also can add lighting within the planting.
I do a lot of driveways and tbh I do what they ask. In this day houses are getting smaller and more households have more multiple cars and I am one of many that would rather they were on their drives than parked on the road. I do encourage the use of ornamental pots or hanging baskets but I have found the green fingered amongst us are growing less and less.
There's quite a few permeable options instead of concrete now, which helps with the drainage issues that paved drives can cause. Wanting a drive is understandable with parking restrictions, permits and dodgy drivers about! :)
Sure the bees love a flower in an ornamental pot as much as in a flower bed. Saw an article a while back about how bees work around what's available - e.g. in london there are fewer flowers but there aren't less bees, they are just in more concentrated groups where the flowers/planters are!
Ultimately you can only advise. the customer will make there decision and if you want the work you will agree. I always try to add borders in what would effectively be a dead area however its not always agreed too.
However as Rory states more and more people need more and more places to park the multiple cars outside there house.
I find this too - Its generally due to the fact alot of people (in leeds anyway) seem to be getting kids coming home from uni, and not moving out, so sudently the house goes from 2 adults to 4 adults, all needing to get to different jobs in different places - so many small housese need upto 4 cars.... And often that comes before all else -
I personally live on a horrifically crowded street - small front gardens barly big enought to fit 2 cars on, and a road which its often impossible to get my van down due to people parking close on opposite sides, so Driveways do make sense in many circumstances.
Couldn't agree more with Bridget, especially when it comes to full concrete parking. We have a blog post that details the environmental impact of concrete here: The environmental impact of concrete
Aesthetics aside concrete has an immediate impact on surface water run off, CO2 emission and even local weather! The blog gives CO2 emission figures for a standard concrete driveway that may help you to persuade a customer to try a different approach!
Hope this helps.
I appreciate that households have more cars etc and streets are getting very crowded, however I really think that guidelines need to be set by higher powers about ways to do it.
Imagine if every household 'paves over' - the estate agent speak would be 'lovely semi - front laid to concrete, park your cars directly under front window, let all your neighbours see in. Puddles nicely in the rain and harbours oil stains, dust and debris in the summer.'
Lots people don't even attempt anything in a pot as a nod to wildlife, maybe a dusty old phormium struggling on.
You talk as if concrete is the only option for a front garden, solid concrete yes looks horrible and I'm not a fan of the printed stuff either but there are many other options. Block paving doesn't look awful if the works carried out by a competent person, gravel drives as well, look nice if used the correct way and I'm sure the ecogrid guys have a way of achieving a flawless finish ;) At the end of the day not every household can fit 2 cars on and retain a garden, some would rather their cars were outside their house hopefully away from the idiots who scratch cars and kick off wing mirrors. If a house can fit 2/3 cars and keep a border or a lawn then they should unless theres a lot of people living there.