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
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!
