Front yard

On a residential block of land a front yard (United States, Canada, Australia) or front garden (United Kingdom, Europe) or front lawn is the portion of grassy land between the street and the front of the house, a type of yard.

While the front yard's counterpart, the backyard, is often dominated by utilitarian features like vegetable gardens, tool sheds, and clothes lines, the front yard is often a combination decorative feature and recreation area. It is more commonly landscaped for display and is the usual place for display elements such as garden gnomes,plastic flamingos, and yard shrines such as "bathtub Madonnas". An article on London suburbs describes a "model" front garden in Kenton: "The grass ... is neatly mown. There is a flowering cherry and a privet hedge, behind which lurks a plaster gnome."

Depending on climate, local planning regulations or size, a front yard may feature a lawn or grassed area, a driveway or footpath or both and gardens or a vegetable patch or potted plants.

The history of the Australian front yard is said to have begun with a regulation enacted in New South Wales in 1829 mandating that new houses be built at least 14 feet from the street to ensure adequate space in front of each house for a garden.

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