Kirsty McLean on 2023’s gardening trends

This year looks to continue and expand on our new found love of our outdoor living space. We’ve developed a genuine desire to balance beauty with nature, finding a path where both can work in harmony. We want to create environmentally healthy gardens with sustainability and the changing seasons at their heart.

Grow your own Getting closer to our food source through growing our own. Even a small kitchen garden not only brings us pleasure but helps our bank balance. This can be achieved using simple raised beds, buying a veg trug or using large pots to grow anything from root vegetables to herbs. You could see about an allotment if you’re really keen and have the time to invest. Home grown really does taste better and it’s better for you too.

Combatting climate change With our weather systems becoming ever more extreme, there is a greater focus on thinking about the plants we use and the job they do. Using drought tolerant plants such as salvias, rock roses, rosemary, thyme, lavender, and grasses will be popular as will plants that soak up the effects of heavy rainfall that deal with wet conditions in winter and dry in summer, such as grasses, rosa rugosa, geraniums, ferns, hosta iris, persicaria, willow, cornus and many more. Rain gardens have been trialled for a number of years now and are becoming more popular. Mow less for diverse ecosystems Leaving areas of grass to flower naturally or add in wildflower seed to create a habitat for wildlife and attract more insects is another huge trend. This approach will also help to absorb heavy rainfall. Rain gardens soak up 30% more water than grass!

Put down your spade No dig borders are big news. The no dig approach, means exactly that and by not disturbing the structure of the soil it becomes more balanced, making it more productive.

Colour palette for plants Rich, warm and bold colours to make interesting combinations (think tangerine against dark purples or deep blues for instance) but most of all, cottage garden-style /naturalistic planting where there are no rules and anything goes!

Material considerations Patterns are in! Whether achieved through patterned paving and tiles, outdoor rugs and wall hangings, these create a Mediterranean or Greek feel, which is very on-trend. Outdoor furniture is reflecting an interior feel, providing a seamless connection from indoor to out and an extension of the home.

Smart design The big trend in Garden Design for 2023 is less about geometric contemporary design with lots of obvious structure and more about thoughtful and innovative design that incorporates the necessary changes and ideas that will help to protect the planet.