Gardening
Garden trends What’s hot and what’s not Caroline Knight: Gardendesignideas.co.uk
Passion for gardens has probably never been greater. Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions that we were all obliged to follow, outside spaces have taken on a whole new vibe. The trend for utilising even the tiniest of outdoor areas is probably here to stay – at least for the next few years. Many of us have created garden ‘rooms’, where the inside flows into an outdoor kitchen and dining area. The lines between indoors and out have blurred. It is no longer unusual for people to install outdoor fridges, cookers, storage, food-preparation surfaces and, of course, seating. The latter will probably include a dining table with chairs but also an outdoor lounge with comfortable furniture. Sometimes this can take up most of the garden, but hopefully there will be some attractive planting to provide screening, perhaps a soothing water feature and definitely a firepit so that everyone can stay outside during the evening. Gardens need life But is this impressive display of luxury any good for gardens? Paving over lawns and restricting planting to very limited zones isn’t great for biodiversity. Beware of creating a desolate, cheerless space with little life to be found. Most people love the softness that plants bring to hard landscaping, therefore every opportunity should be taken for prioritising plants over paving. Ideally, we should aspire to create a garden that can perform many functions. A seating place amongst the planting enables us to enjoy it to the full. Above all else we should make provision for wonderful plants that will attract pollinators, provide structure, movement, scent, colour and soak up the excesses that the sky deposits. Plants absorb pollution, they
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clean the air and produce oxygen. Just relax by some lush planting and see how it makes you feel – plants really are good for us. What’s been trending in gardens over the last two years? • Al fresco dining, often with built-in appliances and heating and even a retractable canopy. • The concept of extending interior decor into the garden, decorating gardens with lanterns, ornaments, colourful accessories, rugs and cushions. Some even sacrifice kitchen dressers, sofas and throws in a bid to make a bold outdoor statement that creates a cosy space. • Grow-your-own. At least fourteen per cent of adults in the UK are following a meat-free diet. Almost half the population now grows fruit and vegetables at home. Not only is it fun and rewarding, but it can be completely chemical-free too. • Dry stone walling, gabion walls using wire baskets filled with stones, rocks and boulders are all increasing in popularity. These contemporary features combine style with function and they provide wonderful nooks and crannies that are valuable for wildlife. • Porcelain garden paving is the surface of choice for a growing number of householders. Porcelain can look like stone but is less porous, therefore it doesn’t turn green quite so easily. It’s long-lasting, tough, slipresistant and contemporary. • Sowing seeds and planting for wildlife. There has been a record demand for wildflower and other seeds over the last eighteen months, with sales increasing more than 600 per cent.
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