As the sun is starting to make more of an appearance and the temperature is rising, many of us are starting to think about getting stuck into our gardens. Whether you’re a novice gardener or are simply looking for some inspiration, here are some of the top gardening trends for 2016.
Bright colours
Bright and bold colours are really in this year so don’t be afraid to be brave with your garden. As well as colourful flowerbeds you can also go all out with fences, arbours and sheds.
Heavy fragrances
As well as being bold with the colours in our gardens, heavily fragranced flowers are hotly tipped to be in this summer. Roses are always a popular choice and The Lady of the Lake is a great option if you want something that smells delightfully sweet but has a scent that’s less overpowering.
Types of flowers to go for: dianthus, gardenia, oriental lily, roses, sweet pea, lily-of-the-valley, hyacinth, iris, lilacs, heliotrope, lavender and peony.
Bedding plants
Bedding plants are a quick and easy way of adding impact to your garden and they’re very much in fashion this year. The great news is that they’re also a very cost-effective way of filling large areas and with the proper care can provide months of colour in your garden.
If you want your garden to be as trendy as it gets, look out for a new bedding variety of sweet pea called Northern Lights. As well as being beautiful to look at, it promises a wonderful fragrance which is another top gardening trend for 2016.
Types of flowers to go for: northern lights (sweet pea), begonia, busy lizzie, geranium, antirrhinum, lobelia, petunia, rudbeckia, Californian poppy, cosmos.
Growing your own food
We’re always being encouraged to buy organic foods but the latest trend is to grow your own fruits, vegetables and herbs. This may seem like a daunting prospect at first but there’s nothing more satisfying than growing and eating your own produce. The good news is that this is becoming such a popular thing to do that seed and plant companies are recognising that not everybody has access to an allotment or a large garden. You can now grow fruits and vegetables in patio plants and window boxes which is great for those who are limited on space. If you have a fruit or vegetable patch but would like to protect it from hungry birds use some garden netting for protection.
Types of plants to go for: the list is endless. You can grow most things at home including raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, spring onions, radishes, potatoes, peas, mint, onion, garlic, carrots and runner beans.
Outdoor living spaces
We love nothing more than a good barbecue once the sun comes out so it makes sense to make our gardens as comfortable as we can. Think grills, covered areas, heated areas, fancy lighting and comfortable seating. Speaking to Garden Design Magazine, Susan Cohan of Susan Cohan Gardens commented:
“We’ve reached a tipping point in garden design where furniture and fabric and outdoor accessories are as plentiful and available as they are for interiors. There’s a huge movement towards individualising outdoor spaces. You can be very specific with fabric and accessories. There’s no longer just one line of wicker furniture to choose from.”