Spruce up your gardens

Create a landscape you love with a garden makeover, do the ground work now and come summer you’ll be able to sit back, relax and enjoy your handiwork

Spring is just around the corner and although it seems to be rather slowly creeping in there is the promise of warmer days and fairer weather to come, which all means one thing… 

It’s time to get out in the garden. 

If you have been looking at yours lamentably over the last couple of months as the veil of winter covers your lawn and beds then now’s the time to lift the ‘duvet’ and get out there and give it a new lease of life. 

But where to start, if you’re looking for inspiration then a visit to a Royal Horticultural Society garden – or at this time of year, the website – will help ideas blossom and while you can’t go full on Chelsea Flower Show, you’ll pick up a barrow full of ideas. 

Some of the key themes emerging are sustainability once again, gardens for wellbeing and in the spotlight this year, dog-friendly gardens. Chelsea, May 20th-24th, will feature a Monty Don-designed garden for our canine companions, celebrating “our deep love of dogs and gardens we share with them”. The RHS is joining with BBC Radio 2 for this to inspire the nation of dog lovers to create green havens for them and their pets. 

The garden will focus on dog-friendly plants, natural fencing and features to get tails wagging. Pet-safe water features and shady spots for summer lounging will be popular additions to gardens. If your furry friend is a digger you may want to consider swapping delicate lawns for more resilient grass mixes and how about stabilised gravel paths to stop it being scattered everywhere by paws. 

Developing the sustainability theme which has flourished in recent years will continue with the RHS predicting gardeners will swap traditional planting choices for those more akin to a greener future. 

Clare Matterson, Director General of the RHS, said: “The UK’s 30 million gardeners hardly conform to type. You just have to look at the wide variety of gardening styles on display at our shows and down our streets to see that inspiration can be taken from anywhere, something the RHS will be celebrating in 2025. But issues of sustainability increasingly unite this difference with plants chosen not only for the emotional response they illicit but their broader environmental benefits.”  

Edible landscaping will grow in 2025 so you can expect to see more fruit trees and bushes, herb borders, stylish veggie patches and plants to encourage pollination. 

Guy Barter, Chief Horticulturist at the RHS, said: “Gardens never stand still and 2025 is likely to see not only new, exciting planting choices but new ways of designing, growing and maintaining spaces.” 

Hand in hand with the environmental benefits of gardening go the benefits to us and our wellbeing, another key trend for Chelsea this year with small space gardens focusing on this in particular with gardens taking inspiration from colour therapy and connecting to water to evoke tranquillity. Each garden in the category is celebrating ways in which we can take care of ourselves through gardening. 

Relaxation and mindfulness will be at the forefront allowing you to nurture body and mind, think soothing water features, soft lighting and seating areas to chill in. Plants known for their calming properties will be popular with lavender, jasmine and chamomile all adding to the sense of tranquillity as does the colour green itself which you can expect to see at Chelsea in various hues.  

Small space gardens will also benefit from vertical planting with climbing plants and shrubs against fences and other garden structures adding height, colour and texture. 

Garden design is constantly evolving and offering gardeners more possibilities and there’s plenty of inspiration out there at your local garden centre and from landscapers, including those below:

Surrey

The centrepiece of many gardens is the lawn and GreenThumb Guildford couldn’t agree more. They are passionate about giving you a lawn you can truly enjoy – from tired and weed infested to a beautiful, green carpet for your outdoor space. Three year-round lawn treatment programmes ensure your lawn is looking vibrant and healthy all year long. These include seasonal fertilisers, weed control, aeration, scarification and pest and disease treatments. Each GreenThumb lawn treatment is bespoke to the needs of your lawn; carried out by lawn specialists, and using only the best products, to help your lawn thrive.

Everyone deserves an outdoor space they love. Whatever your budget or vision, Kebur Garden Materials will help transform your garden with quality landscaping supplies. The one-stop shop stocks over 2,500 products, from paving and decking to fencing and aggregates, all with free local delivery. No matter the size of your project, the friendly team will guide you from product selection to delivery and aftercare. They also offer an award-winning installation service. Visit the displays or call six days a week – they’re there to help!

Verdis Horticultural specialise in bespoke garden design and planting projects that bring beauty and tranquility to any space. From lush, vibrant landscapes to elegant, low-maintenance gardens, the expert team will both design and install your project. Whether you seek a modern retreat or a classic English garden, Verdis Horticultural turn dreams into reality. Contact them today at hello@verdisuk.com or 01483 275920 and let nature inspire your home. 

Oxfordshire

If your garden project involves wood, then head to independent timber merchant Adhectic in Abingdon. Their bespoke machining and joinery service makes them stand out as does the expert advice they have been offering since the business started in 1959. The in-house joinery workshop can manufacture whatever you may need for your garden and with a range of products including timber and composite decking, fence posts, sleepers and feather edge board you can be sure your garden will soon be the envy of all.Give them a call on 01235 520738 to find out more.