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Enjoying your garden

A lovely garden makes living even more enjoyable. For you, your neighbours and the wider community. A well-maintained and green garden creates a pleasant atmosphere, helps absorb rainwater during heavy showers and provides cooling on warm days. Green spaces also attract birds, bees and butterflies. With a few simple changes, you can make your garden greener, more attractive and better prepared for a changing climate.

Simple ways to add more greenery to your garden

Meer groen in uw tuin

  • Replace paving stones

    Replace paving stones

    Where possible, replace paving stones with plants, flowers or shrubs. This will make your garden greener, cooler and more attractive. Every square metre makes a difference. Did you know that many local councils offer a free paving stone collection service? They collect unwanted paving stones at no cost. Visit the website of your local council to see whether this service is available in your area.
  • Choose plants that attract wildlife

    Choose plants that attract wildlife

    Select plants that attract bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. This helps support biodiversity and creates a lively garden environment.
  • Preserve existing trees

    Preserve existing trees

    Trees provide shade, cooling and valuable habitats for wildlife. If you already have trees in your garden, try to keep them wherever possible.
  • Use permeable materials

    Use permeable materials

    When creating paths or seating areas, choose water-permeable materials where possible. This helps rainwater drain naturally into the ground and reduces the risk of waterlogging.
  • Plant climbers

    Plant climbers

    Climbing plants can quickly add greenery to fences and walls and help create a more natural garden setting. This helps support biodiversity and creates a lively garden environment.
  • Install a birdhouse or insect hotel

    Install a birdhouse or insect hotel

    A birdhouse, nesting box or insect hotel provides shelter for wildlife and makes your garden even more attractive to birds and insects.

Meer groen in uw tuin

Replace paving stones

Where possible, replace paving stones with plants, flowers or shrubs. This will make your garden greener, cooler and more attractive. Every square metre makes a difference. Did you know that many local councils offer a free paving stone collection service? They collect unwanted paving stones at no cost. Visit the website of your local council to see whether this service is available in your area.

Choose plants that attract wildlife

Select plants that attract bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. This helps support biodiversity and creates a lively garden environment.

Preserve existing trees

Trees provide shade, cooling and valuable habitats for wildlife. If you already have trees in your garden, try to keep them wherever possible.

Use permeable materials

When creating paths or seating areas, choose water-permeable materials where possible. This helps rainwater drain naturally into the ground and reduces the risk of waterlogging.

Plant climbers

Climbing plants can quickly add greenery to fences and walls and help create a more natural garden setting. This helps support biodiversity and creates a lively garden environment.

Install a birdhouse or insect hotel

A birdhouse, nesting box or insect hotel provides shelter for wildlife and makes your garden even more attractive to birds and insects.

Looking for inspiration?

Every garden is different. That is why we have worked with professional landscapers to create three inspiring garden designs:a modern garden, a natural garden and a  family-friendly garden.

All designs are bird-friendly and help gardens cope better with warmer summers and heavier rainfall.

Check our inspiring garden designs (only in Dutch)

What do we ask of you?

Maintain trees and shrubs

Prune trees, hedges and shrubs regularly. Ensure that plants do not extend beyond the property boundary or come into contact with buildings and gutters.

Mow the lawn and remove weeds

Mow lawns regularly and keep weeds under control. This keeps your garden tidy and helps prevent weeds from spreading to neighbouring gardens.

Maintain a healthy balance

A green garden benefits people, wildlife and the climate. We therefore ask tenants to minimise hard landscaping where possible.

As a guideline, no more than one-third of the garden should consist of paving or other hard surfaces.

If you would like to remove paving stones, many local councils offer a free collection service.

Prevent pests

Keep your garden clean and tidy. Do not leave waste or bulky rubbish in the garden. This helps prevent pests and contributes to a pleasant living environment.

Need help?

Sometimes garden maintenance becomes difficult. If you notice that a neighbour is struggling to maintain their garden, a friendly conversation or helping hand can make a significant difference.

Together we can keep our neighbourhood pleasant, attractive and well maintained.

Share your green succes 

Are you planning improvements to your garden? Whether you replace a few paving stones or choose a complete green makeover, every step helps.

Together we can make our neighbourhood greener, more attractive and better prepared for a changing climate.

Do you have a great before-and-after photo? We would love to see it. Please send it to feedback@vesteda.com.

Tips for minimising waterlogging in your front garden

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can shrubs and hedges be in a garden?

Hedges, shrubs and bushes must be planted at least half a metre from the property boundary. They may be no more than 1.50 metres tall.

Can I pave my entire garden?

In most cases, yes. Always check the supplementary provisions in your tenancy agreement first to see if there is anything mentioned about this.
However, Vesteda recommends paving no more than a third of the garden. The more greenery in your garden, the more space there is for biodiversity. Therefore, give plants as much space as possible and limit paving to no more than a third of the garden. This allows rainwater to soak into the ground more effectively and reduces the risk of flooding.

What’s more, a green garden provides more shade on hot days. Do you still want to pave your garden? If so, ensure that the path or patio slopes properly. For example, create a strip of greenery or a border on both sides to channel rainwater. This will prevent your neighbours’ gardens from becoming waterlogged during heavy rain.

 

Can I put up a fence?

In most cases, yes. Always check the supplementary provisions in your tenancy agreement first to see if there is anything mentioned about this. Is your fence in need of replacement? Request permission in writing via Mijn Vesteda and consider a green boundary or letting climbing plants grow up a mesh screen. The boundary around your back garden may be no more than 2 metres high.

In the front garden, the maximum height is 1 metre. The boundary must be made of suitable material. In most cases, you and your neighbours are jointly responsible for the maintenance and replacement of the boundary.

Can I install a rainwater butt (or have one installed)?

Would you like to install a rainwater butt? Please submit a request via My Vesteda. It is important that you provide Vesteda with details of the plan, the materials and the installation. In principle, alterations and additions to the exterior of the property are not permitted, unless you have obtained Vesteda’s prior written consent.

Can I plant trees in my garden?

Yes, but please plant trees at least two metres from the boundary. Do not let them grow taller than the gutter and prune them regularly. Vesteda may at any time ask you to prune trees or shrubs back to the height of the gutter. You must fell any trees that are leaning dangerously or are rotten, or arrange for them to be felled. If a felling permit is required, you must apply for this yourself from the local council and inform Vesteda.