Resilient climate gardens, Mediterranean-inspired plantings, and turning your exterior area into a haven will be key trends that garden enthusiasts will carry forward from this year’s showcase.
RHS
Experts are forecasting at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Highlights include the significance of local craftsmen and eco-friendly construction materials like weathered wood and mushroom-based walls. These elements were showcased in a single display garden crafted entirely from repurposed refuse gathered from past RHS exhibition gardens, reflecting a trend where creators avoid employing cement in exterior paving projects.
Jo Thompson, the designer behind The Glasshouse Garden, believes that plants will take center stage instead of hard landscaping as gardening trends shift toward increased plantings.
We should avoid excessive use of hardscaping. Whenever possible, utilize trees and shrubs for architectural elements and structural features.
Smaller display gardens are increasingly gaining traction, serving as inspiration for those who may only have a balcony or a tiny urban space.
Several key patterns from this year’s exhibition encompass:
Climate resilience
This year’s designs draw inspiration from untamed, frequently severe terrains, with many plants chosen for their ability to thrive despite shifting weather conditions.
Water-resistant shrubs like cistus and rosemary, along with fragrant gray-leaved plants such as santolina and artemisia, will take center stage — though the selection of flora that can thrive in unpredictable conditions will also be emphasized.
BBC Gardeners’ World presenter
Monty Don
, who has created The RHS and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden, states: “We are all facing climate change.”
And I believe that regardless of whether it’s this particular garden at Chelsea or gardening as a whole, we have to adjust to extremely wet winters followed by dry spells, along with quite soggy summers. It’s rather unpredictable.
The positive side is that plants are showing greater adaptability than expected, but the downside is that you can’t assume a plant which flourishes in hot, arid environments will survive winters with saturated soil. Thus, we have to adjust accordingly.
Alex Denman, a trustee of Project Giving Back, which is funding 10 show gardens in this year’s event, says: “I definitely see a trend for climate-adaptive planting and resilient gardening,” citing the sand dune planting in The Hospitalfield Arts Garden designed by Nigel Dunnett and the Mediterranean-style planting in Tom Hoblyn’s Hospice UK Garden of Compassion, featuring arbutus and luma.
Mediterranean-inspired planting
Drought-like conditions may encourage gardeners to go for
Mediterranean
style planting, RHS chief horticulturist Guy Barter predicts.
“There’s a Mediterranean or even desert feel to some of the gardens this year, which is very fortuitous since the British weather appears to be fixing to go into a drought mode.”
The Hospitalfield Arts Garden showcases resilient coastal plantings, featuring a sequence of prominent sand dune-shaped mounds.
Stand-out plants
Barter anticipates that Yellow Baptisias are beginning to appear in display gardens and could soon gain popularity.
“It’s similar to a lupin, but it’s simpler to cultivate and isn’t affected by lupin aphids,” he explains.
Phlomis, teucrium, tree lupines, and different varieties of broom are plentiful as well, he notes, adding that pines appear to be the most prevalent trees at the exhibition. Additionally, acers stand out prominently, and medlars are becoming increasingly popular.
Additionally, there is a plethora of orange geums that add splashes of color contrasting with the purple tones of salvia and lupin blooms.
Naturalistic planting
“I think you’ll see more wild planting in some gardens, like the King’s Trust Garden: Seeding Success and the Hospice UK garden. It’s not rewilding, but it’s very natural in its design,” says Denman.
“Rather than having those stiffly trimmed yew topiaries from before, opting for something like a copper beech would create a much fuller and slightly more laid-back look,” explains Thompson.
Je Ahn, who collaborated with Tom Massey on designing The Avanade Intelligent Garden, remarks, “The garden strikes a fine equilibrium between naturally styled and meticulously cultivated plants. This season, many gardens appear to lean towards an untamed look; however, theirs has been intentionally planned.”
Artisan works
“There’s a significant shift towards opting for locally made products, with greater consciousness about their origin and a stronger inclination to support independent craftsmen,” Denman notes.
The SongBird Survival Garden showcases intricate ironwork featuring wildlife scenes, brought to life through Jeni Cairns’ custom-designed metal patterns.
I believe this encourages individuals to explore innovative ideas when they visit the garden center,” explains Denman. “The focus is on discovering nearby artisans—once you begin searching, these creators emerge.
Sustainable building materials
There’s significant public attention towards improving practices, and at Chelsea they feature mycelium (fungi) walls in The Pathway Garden.
“
People
“We’re really exploring various materials. It’s not limited to concrete block walls or using concrete as the backdrop. Everyone is brainstorming creatively on how they can contribute to environmental efforts and construct in a more eco-friendly and sustainable manner,” explains Denman.
Thompson, whose exhibition garden pavilion is constructed from reclaimed steel and repurposed acrylic, states: ”
Sustainability
At the core of this garden construction lies the use of natural materials. It doesn’t incorporate any cement or concrete; instead, it uses only lime and sand. Additionally, every piece of stone used has been salvaged from previous structures.”
Barter notes, “Beneath that layer of vegetation, designers have made an effort to steer clear of concrete. Instead, they’ve utilized reclaimed wood and scavenged items that won’t end up as waste or debris but can be repurposed.”
The mound structures at The Hospitalfield Arts Garden were crafted using wooden panels with vegetation grown in sand, gravel, and various mineral components to ensure hardy, drought-tolerant plantings.
Wellbeing emphasis
Garden enthusiasts might leave with inspiration for well-being, since many display gardens are crafted for contemplation and tranquility.
This sentiment holds for individuals with limited outdoor areas as well, according to Robert Myers, a garden designer and the moderator of the Balcony and Container Gardens section. He thinks that following the pandemic, those with modest balconies or minuscule gardens began optimizing their available space. The book showcases abundant, intricate, multi-layered plant arrangements.
“Many of the smaller gardens have a laid-back and casual approach when it comes to plant arrangements. They aren’t overly pruned or maintained meticulously. Instead, they’re designed thoughtfully and contemplatively, featuring abundant greenery and considering how furniture will be placed within them. These spaces also incorporate numerous water features, adding a rejuvenating aspect,” he explains.
Denman suggests zoning various sections of the garden so they’re not visible simultaneously. This could be as straightforward as positioning a garden bench in a hidden area surrounded by plants, thus creating a peaceful retreat.
Focus on the future
We could consider adding advanced features like AI surveillance systems to monitor the requirements of our climate-adaptive flora and fauna, as suggested by Tom Massey and Je Ahn in their work ‘The Avanade Intelligent Garden.’
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