Making More of Your Outside Space this Spring
Signs of spring will soon be showing and it's time thoughts turned to the garden again. Our outside space has become even more precious recently, but what are the major trends for gardens this year, and how can you make more of your own green space?
Simple solutions for instant garden appeal is a trend that is expected to continue into 2025. After the unpredictable weather of 2024, it seems we want to quickly enhance our gardens with pre-planted bedding for containers and hanging baskets for fast-track colour and impact. When it comes to planting, Hydrangeas have seen a notable increase in popularity over the past few years and this trend is expected to continue into 2025, especially as they continue to regain fashion appeal. The later-flowering Paniculata types have experienced the most significant rise with their ability to bloom strongly after many other garden shrubs have completed their display.
Native trees are also poised to gain popularity in 2025 as sustainability and biodiversity stay top of the agenda. Species such as blackthorn, hawthorn, and crab apple are particularly well-suited to UK gardens, providing beautiful floral displays, attractive berries, and valuable habitats for pollinators and birds.
The changing climate has seen many of us adjust some of our gardening practices and seen a spur in demand for more exotic plant varieties and the blending of outdoor and indoor plants. This is a trend only likely to increase as we look to introduce exotics such as Canna lilies as well as large-leaved plants such as Rheum, Fatsia, palms, and tree ferns.
Aware of the increasing threat to our wildlife, the noticeable trend towards naturalistic planting is set to continue as gardeners opt to incorporate plants such as lavender, rhododendron, honeysuckle, snowdrops, and wildflower meadows, all effective in drawing in bees, butterflies and other insects, and many of us are also adding features such as bug boxes, bee bricks and birdhouses, which provide wildlife with essential food, breeding, shelter and hibernation spaces.
As finances tighten, the grow-your-own trend will only become even more popular this year. Not only is it more affordable, but it is also eco-friendly, fun and relaxing and has been shown to improve both mental and physical well-being. Growing your own fruit and vegetables helps reduce your carbon footprint and homegrown produce is also packed with high-quality nutrients that are beneficial for health. It seems we are also trying more exotic varieties too, with increased demand for vegetable and herb plants that are outside the typical range such as samphire, winter savoury, horseradish, artichoke, chickpeas and okra.
In 2025, technology is set to play an increasingly prominent role in gardening, inspiring more and more of us to embrace our outdoor spaces. The rise of clever apps make it easier to engage with gardening, allowing users to access advice, track plant health, and connect with gardening communities at the touch of a button.
Advances in technology will continue to help you make more of your outside space in 2025. Motion sensor lighting is not only good for security but as it becomes more and more sophisticated, it can transform outdoor spaces, illuminating pathways and garden features. Portable LED lamps also mean you can enjoy entertaining outside far longer into the night. Robot lawnmowers have revolutionised lawn care, and as these technologies continue to evolve, they are not only simplifying garden maintenance but also encouraging more of us to venture outdoors and cultivate our own green spaces with ease.
When it comes to greening up indoors, houseplant sales have been increasingly popular recently and social media continues to extoll their virtue. It’s a huge and growing trend that shows no signs of slowing down. Traditional bottle gardening and terrariums are experiencing a resurgence as we look to create little ecosystems which work well as centrepieces. Bold, sculptural plants like Monstera and Philodendron are also back in vogue as their striking leaves making them ideal statement pieces for any indoor space, and their health benefits and low maintenance requirements making them a safe option for plant novices.
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