Whilst forest fires blaze on one side of the globe and pandemic status is issued on another, you may feel guilty about being so concerned with the top garden design trends of 2020. However, everything is valid on different scales. Creating a haven within your own space offers you sanctuary from the world outside and you have every right to enjoy it.
Garden design, just like architecture or fashion, follows trends and often comes full circle to repeat itself. This year will be no exception. Colours and styles from interiors and fashion often influence the garden design world. In interiors this year bold colours, texture, and a step away from minimalism (maximalism) will be extremely prevalent.
Let’s take a look at how that will impact our gardens.
Bold colours
Grey has been over used slightly for the last few years and it is time to add some excitement outside. There’s no need to go crazy and mix primary colours everywhere, but a wall, furniture or a sculpture in a stronger colour can then become a statement piece of the garden. Use this colour as accents throughout planting, the interior or smaller items to tie everything together.
Texture
Dry stone walling at The Newt, Somerset
This can be used with planting but also through patterns and material choices. Smooth modern materials have been dominating gardens for a while now and it is time for natural materials to make a comeback. Gravels, setts and natural stone offer a deeper level of detail to a garden than the expanses of porcelain we are getting used to. Using features such as; reclaimed cobble pathways or slate on edge gives a strong sense of craftsmanship and attention to detail.
If you want to add depth to the garden with texture, then planting’s the way to do it. Utilising plants that provide year round interest is extremely important; for example a Phlomis russeliana provides evergreen heart shaped leaves, with dusky yellow flowers in Summer and then the spent seed heads can be left through the winter, adding height and drama, especially when covered in frost. Combining plants like this with fluffy seed heads of Pennisetum will make for a reliable, textural display.
Maximalism
This concept works in interiors by making the space more homely, showing off beautiful smaller pieces of interest. The same idea applies outside, for example groups of clay pots or salvaged lanterns add a new level of detail to the garden rather than one expanse of paving.
Seemingly small additions to the garden can have a much larger impact to the overall image.
Ecological Planting
We are becoming far more aware each year of the pressure we are putting on the natural world. Making beautiful gardens is one thing, but making them ecologically diverse takes them to the next level and you can rest easy knowing that you’ve done your part.
By creating varied habitats with diverse plantings, you can encourage more wildlife into your garden – benefitting both you and the local wildlife. Try creating layers of planting from ground cover to canopy trees and everything in between. This will give you a layered plant community that is more species rich per square metre than a block planting of evergreen shrubs!
For planting inspiration go and check out the Broadstone Garden that we completed last year. It’s teeming with wildlife!
People often have awkward spaces like this (before pic at the end) that they don’t know how to deal with. My lovely clients in Bradford on Avon wanted somewhere to catch the morning sun, surrounded by plants, all within a tiny corner of a courtyard.
The Bath stone walls make a beautiful backdrop for the garden. I used reclaimed pennant flagstones underfoot, 300mm steel edging to make a bed and deal with levels and a bespoke larch corner bench. We also used pebbles in mortar to make a threshold between the reclaimed pennant and existing cobbles.
There is even planting under the bench to maximise planting space, and a Star Jasmine on the wall. An Acer palmatum adds height and makes the garden feel more snug.
The combo of white Salvia and Geranium ‘Anne Folkard’ is a real triumph!
People often have awkward spaces like this (before pic at the end) that they don’t know how to deal with. My lovely clients in Bradford on Avon wanted somewhere to catch the morning sun, surrounded by plants, all within a tiny corner of a courtyard.
The Bath stone walls make a beautiful backdrop for the garden. I used reclaimed pennant flagstones underfoot, 300mm steel edging to make a bed and deal with levels and a bespoke larch corner bench. We also used pebbles in mortar to make a threshold between the reclaimed pennant and existing cobbles.
There is even planting under the bench to maximise planting space, and a Star Jasmine on the wall. An Acer palmatum adds height and makes the garden feel more snug.
The combo of white Salvia and Geranium ‘Anne Folkard’ is a real triumph!
Now this was a quirky garden rescue brief! A garden to show off all of the large animal sculptures that the client had collected.
Sculptures are very subjective and whilst one might not be your cup of tea, they can mean a lot to someone else. Joe absolutely adored his sculptures but they needed to be immersed in the garden so the whole family could enjoy them.
Using strong lines and vistas, the sculptures became focal points around the garden, immersed in planting. When it all grows out over the years this will be an absolutely cracking garden!
‘Luigi’ the Ligustrum topiary stag, modelled by myself and @jac_broccoli , was an extra special feature in the garden. It’s amazing what you can do with some very skilled hands, some steel wire and some privet plants! This was bespoke made by @agrumitopiary
And it was @ameliabouquetgardendesign Garden Rescue debut! I think she smashed it, can’t wait to see one of her designs built too 👌
Legendary build team too @benjaminrichardpope and co 💪
Now this was a quirky garden rescue brief! A garden to show off all of the large animal sculptures that the client had collected.
Sculptures are very subjective and whilst one might not be your cup of tea, they can mean a lot to someone else. Joe absolutely adored his sculptures but they needed to be immersed in the garden so the whole family could enjoy them.
Using strong lines and vistas, the sculptures became focal points around the garden, immersed in planting. When it all grows out over the years this will be an absolutely cracking garden!
‘Luigi’ the Ligustrum topiary stag, modelled by myself and @jac_broccoli , was an extra special feature in the garden. It’s amazing what you can do with some very skilled hands, some steel wire and some privet plants! This was bespoke made by @agrumitopiary
And it was @ameliabouquetgardendesign Garden Rescue debut! I think she smashed it, can’t wait to see one of her designs built too 👌
Legendary build team too @benjaminrichardpope and co 💪
What an awesome brief for this Garden Rescue. I love designing exotic style contemporary gardens and this one really had it all!
Putting in the water feature that you can actually walk over really made this garden feel like you were in a luxury exotic resort. Combining that with some big feature plants, bespoke chairs, and Charlie’s bar area, this ticked all the boxes.
Small gardens don’t have to be boring!
Thanks to the team as always for pulling out all the stops to make this garden.
What an awesome brief for this Garden Rescue. I love designing exotic style contemporary gardens and this one really had it all!
Putting in the water feature that you can actually walk over really made this garden feel like you were in a luxury exotic resort. Combining that with some big feature plants, bespoke chairs, and Charlie’s bar area, this ticked all the boxes.
Small gardens don’t have to be boring!
Thanks to the team as always for pulling out all the stops to make this garden.
Terraces or stepped planting gives you the opportunity to see planting from different heights and play with perspective and layering.
We have only recently planted this, but as it grows up there will be a haze of tall grasses and flowering perennials in front of these amazing stone walls.
I have repeated perennials A-symmetrically across each terrace, to draw the eye up the levels.
You can see the evergreen structure clearly at the moment, which will keep the scheme looking strong even through winter.
It definitely helps when you’ve got views as amazing as these 👀!
Terraces or stepped planting gives you the opportunity to see planting from different heights and play with perspective and layering.
We have only recently planted this, but as it grows up there will be a haze of tall grasses and flowering perennials in front of these amazing stone walls.
I have repeated perennials A-symmetrically across each terrace, to draw the eye up the levels.
You can see the evergreen structure clearly at the moment, which will keep the scheme looking strong even through winter.
It definitely helps when you’ve got views as amazing as these 👀!
The secret to making a tiny garden is actually to add MORE to it!
It seems counter intuitive, but if there are large features and every inch of the space is packed with detail, it takes you longer to see all of the garden. Whilst your brain is absorbing all of the detail it then makes seem bigger!
This was the Pocket Garden Makeover that I did with @bbctheoneshow and @the_rhs 🙌.
Let me know what your favourite bits of this garden are and if you have any challenging small spaces yourself 🪴
The secret to making a tiny garden is actually to add MORE to it!
It seems counter intuitive, but if there are large features and every inch of the space is packed with detail, it takes you longer to see all of the garden. Whilst your brain is absorbing all of the detail it then makes seem bigger!
This was the Pocket Garden Makeover that I did with @bbctheoneshow and @the_rhs 🙌.
Let me know what your favourite bits of this garden are and if you have any challenging small spaces yourself 🪴
EVENT ALERT 🪴 - I’ve got the pleasure of being a special guest at @beardygardener Garden Gathering.
I will be on stage in conversation with @beardygardener about all things gardening, design, and mental health.
It’s mental health awareness week this week, so whilst that’s fresh in your mind please go and buy tickets for the event. It all goes to support @andovermind and there is a jam packed schedule of amazing speakers and great garden activities!
EVENT ALERT 🪴 - I’ve got the pleasure of being a special guest at @beardygardener Garden Gathering.
I will be on stage in conversation with @beardygardener about all things gardening, design, and mental health.
It’s mental health awareness week this week, so whilst that’s fresh in your mind please go and buy tickets for the event. It all goes to support @andovermind and there is a jam packed schedule of amazing speakers and great garden activities!
You won’t believe me that this pocket garden is only 1.38 x 4.9m! Swipe to the end for a before shot.
It was a pleasure to do the @bbctheoneshow and @the_rhs Pocket Garden Makeover again this year.
Everyone should have access to outdoor green space, no matter how big or small. It is so important to bring a sense of calm into people’s lives and to keep you connected to nature.
I loved turning an unloved patch of gravel, into a full and beautiful garden for Lisa and George, complete with mature coastal planting, seating and even a water feature!
You could see how much it meant to them and that’s the best part of my job.
Thanks to Joe and @gardenrescuegruff for the help, I couldn’t have done it without you! Thanks to the filming and production teams too 🤘.
You won’t believe me that this pocket garden is only 1.38 x 4.9m! Swipe to the end for a before shot.
It was a pleasure to do the @bbctheoneshow and @the_rhs Pocket Garden Makeover again this year.
Everyone should have access to outdoor green space, no matter how big or small. It is so important to bring a sense of calm into people’s lives and to keep you connected to nature.
I loved turning an unloved patch of gravel, into a full and beautiful garden for Lisa and George, complete with mature coastal planting, seating and even a water feature!
You could see how much it meant to them and that’s the best part of my job.
Thanks to Joe and @gardenrescuegruff for the help, I couldn’t have done it without you! Thanks to the filming and production teams too 🤘.
I’m not a photographer and have no idea what I’m doing with a camera really, but I do enjoy taking photos. I definitely end up in some weird positions trying to get the right shot though 😂.
We only completed this garden a week ago and already looks great, so I can’t wait to come back and snap it properly when it fills out… Or get my professional mate @jacobgibbinsphoto to take some better pics!
I’m not a photographer and have no idea what I’m doing with a camera really, but I do enjoy taking photos. I definitely end up in some weird positions trying to get the right shot though 😂.
We only completed this garden a week ago and already looks great, so I can’t wait to come back and snap it properly when it fills out… Or get my professional mate @jacobgibbinsphoto to take some better pics!
