Garden trends to try now

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Gardens to enhance connectivity

Create spaces in your garden to connect with others. Says garden designer Fiona Lamb: “By surrounding your seating or eating areas in greenery you can create inviting, relaxing and immersive areas. You can do this with lush, layered planting, planting trees or maybe adding a pergola over which you could grow amazing scented plants to enhance the sensory experience.”

A mindful space

Increasingly, we are looking to our gardens for wellbeing. Bring in textures in your planting with soft tactile grasses. Look at incorporating water features whether that is a Japanese style minimalist water table or a stunning swimming pond. Says Fiona: “Even a small, simple water feature can help create a relaxing, peaceful, meditative atmosphere. The soothing sound of flowing water is an instant stress reliever.”

Fiona Lamb / Bridgman / Marlene Lento

Charred cladding

Cladding continues in popularity as part of the garden design. Says designer Marlene Lento: “With most new builds, extensions and outbuilding featuring some kind of cladding, there are ever more creative and sustainable cladding products that are being adopted for the garden to clad walls, bespoke bar fronts and planters. While the softer Mediterranean hues are still popular, designs are getting bolder with the charred timber effect used on multiple surfaces.”

Marlene Lento

Corten sculptures

The rich patina and velvety texture of corten steel is being used throughout the garden. Says Marlene: “What was once the prerogative of edging or the odd planter is now a firm favourite in the garden and is now available for retaining walls, steps, fire bowls, and especially sculpture. As it’s relatively affordable, there are great craftsmen who offer an increasing range of ready made designs or will create bespoke pieces that can really lift a garden as a focal point.”

Play with a modern-formal design

Topiary is back in a big way but to make it look more contemporary, Katy Terry, founder of Good Grounding Garden Design and designer of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show ’The ADHD Foundation Garden‘, advises on striking a balance between structure and naturalistic styles. “I love unusual topiary set against soft, informal planting to create a garden that feels both refined and relaxed. This approach will gently influence the senses and offer a space that feels calming, yet full of life.”

Fiona Lamb / Cox & Cox

Go local

Gardens inspired by our local eco systems are increasingly popular. When it comes to landscaping, “think local wood, local stone, and really trying to keep things of the place,” notes garden designer Zoe Claymore. “If I’m buying locally sourced materials, I’m also contributing back to the local economy,” she says.

Add depth

Rather than relying on a limited palette of colours or species, mix a variety of uniquely shaped plants and trees to create a richly textured landscape. Says Katy: “This layered approach adds depth and intrigue, making your garden feel immersive as well as better food sources and habitats for small animals and pollinators.”

Good Grounding Garden Design by Katy Terry photo Ginger Horticulture / photo Julie Skelton

Incredible edibles 

Forget your usual tomatoes and strawberries… unusual fruits and vegetables are coming to the fore. The blueberry found favour last year – it’s easy to grow, has nice flowers and offers autumn colour but the RHS says that honeyberries require even less attention. ‘Edimental’ gardens meanwhile taste as good as they look. Try dahlia, lavender, globe artichokes, chives and ruby chard.

All about the beds 

The RHS notes 2025 will see a continued shift away from traditional bedding plants towards more long lived, less thirsty and robust varieties, such as salvias, heather and dahlias. If you enjoy cut flowers indoors, there’s a move towards planting up your garden with gorgeous blooms for your vases as a more sustainable local approach: plus, a home-made bouquet of seasonal flowers makes a great gift.