Our interior design partners J&D design share their tips for updating your garden: a perfect project to undertake while we’re all spending more time at home.
Recent years have seen gardening rise in popularity: from reaping the extolled holistic benefits of being around nature to extending the family home with an outdoor room, gardens are on the up. Historically an activity mostly undertaken by elderly people or retirees, allotments are also on trend and planting greenery has now become a big hit with younger generations.
For those keen to spruce up their garden this spring, The Royal Horticultural Society has reviewed its gardens and retail centres to offer ideas and creative inspiration as to what will be the next big thing in gardening.
‘As we enter a new decade, gardening takes on an ever more important role in helping us to create healthy and happy places to live,’ said Guy Barter, chief horticulturist at the RHS. ‘While many gardeners will celebrate the return of some old favourites, there is much to be excited about in the way that we’ll all be growing in 2020.’
From 80s floral inspiration to giant plants, here are seven themes anticipated to blossom in 2020.
Supersized plants
Plants are set to take centre stage in the home in 2020. Forget modest spider pants and small cacti, this year it’s time to think big. Bring on show-stopping greenery with giant leaves and contrasting stems such as Alocasia and Monstera, which both feature dark green patterned foliage. Smaller plants will still remain popular though, so include smaller leaf shapes for structural contrast.
‘Staying Alive’: back to the 80s
Bedding plants and shrubs popular in the 80s are enjoying a resurgence. If you are looking for a garden revamp consider adding a new plant variety, such as Nemesia or Diascias, to your garden palette. The sweet scents from the flowers will also attract bees and butterflies.
Create a natural looking garden
As more people become aware of diminishing wildlife populations in our cities and countryside, creating gardens with plants and shrubs which support the eco system is becoming ever more popular as well as necessary. Select plants that leave seedheads for insects, and choose species that provide a wider selection of greenery.
Encourage children to be wildlife friendly in the garden. Check out bee hotels, wildlife ponds, log piles, plants for pollinators and compost heaps: all good habitats for encouraging biodiversity and plant friendly creepy crawlies.
Bringing the inside outside
One of the biggest changes in gardens has been the transformation from regimented formal schemes to more relaxed spaces for entertaining family and friends. Many gardens now function as outdoor rooms, including everything from a corner sofa to an outdoor rug to a functioning kitchen. Even the humble garden shed has been elevated to everything from a home office to a gym. Garden heating and lighting systems have also advanced so much that we can now enjoy being outdoors later into the evening, and longer into the year.
Healthy soil
According to RHS, new findings have revealed that a soil bacteria known as mycobacterium vaccea is good for our immune systems. The use of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials such as wood fibre and green waste compost are encouraged and can help with soil quality. Embracing the ‘no dig’ philosophy could also help limit damage to soil structure and wildlife.
Growing your own food
With sustainable living at the forefront of people’s minds, growing your own fruit and vegetables is becoming increasingly popular. Allotments are seeing a surge in interest, and many having waiting lists. Sourcing organic food, reducing plastic use and gardening in communal areas is becoming evermore commonplace, as people look towards more eco-friendly ways of living.
Popular homegrown foods include chilli, which is still number one on the list of favoured spices. Other staples in vegetable gardens include beans, peas, pumpkins, broccoli, courgettes, carrots and other legumes, as well as seasonal favourites such as strawberries and blackberries.
If you would like any garden design advice, please contact us at [email protected].
f you’d like to read more from J&D design, they’ve written plenty more for the Marsh & Parsons blog, from eco-friendly design tips to using colour psychology to decorate your child’s bedroom.
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