While 2024 may not exactly have brought us the best summer in living memory, there’s still plenty of it, and indeed the year, left to have some good days in the garden, and to consider remodelling or modernising your outdoor space.
Equally, just as there are for fashion or interior design, there are trends for gardens, too. The following ideas are hot in 2024:
- Alternatives to real grass lawns
Consider an alternative to grass and say goodbye to watering, weeding and mowing, not to mention those dull, dry patches of lawn. Here are some options:
- A moss lawn
- Artificial turf
- A wildflower meadow
- Gravel, bark or mulch instead of grass
- Replace your lawn with low-growing hardy plants
- Go green
Gardening has always been a great way to connect with nature. But with climate change increasingly a problem, you can join the growing ranks of those using more sustainable methods. Think about how you can use less water, have a more diverse range of plants or rely on more locally sourced materials.
- Now and Zen
Zen gardens were where Japan’s Buddhist monks traditionally went to reflect. In today’s sometimes chaotic world, a space like this could allow you to retreat from all the noise, especially if you live somewhere urban. Think ornaments and water features, a bench, a Japanese maple tree and maybe somewhere for strolling, as you create your own serene oasis.
- Be water-wise
Another trend is for water-wise gardening, also called xeriscaping. This includes prioritising plants which don’t need a lot of water, using mulch to retain liquid, raised beds for better drainage, and having a water butt to gather rainwater. It’s a method that helps you save money on your water bills as you do your bit for the planet.
- Grow your own
Think about how you can grow your own fruit and vegetables to be sustainable, self-sufficient and avoid food air miles. Could you grow produce using a no-digging garden technique to avoid disturbing the structure of your soil?
- Go peat-free
One of the sustainable gardening ideas mentioned above could be going peat-free. The harvesting of peat from bogs and wetlands, which are crucial habitats, has had an adverse impact on ecosystems. Choosing peat-free compost could help to both safeguard natural habitats and reduce climate change.
- Zoning
Split your garden into separate zones, depending on how you aim to use the space, and emphasize them with different levels and textures. Stone could help create a planted area, for example; wood a warm seating area.
- Plants
Refresh your planting in borders and beds, using vibrant flower and foliage in containers.
- Upgrade your fencing
Power-washing and staining your fence can make it look brand new, as can a different colour thanks to a fresh lick of paint. Or give your fence more height with a trellis. Alternatively, consider replacing the whole thing completely.
Ideas for your patio
The lines between the outdoors and indoors have become increasingly blurred. Think ceramic tiling, outdoor rugs and cushions, comfortable furniture and so on to create an inviting outside space. Consider adding a source of heat and ambient lighting for an intimate feel.
Clean lines, simple shapes and a generally minimalist approach have been popular for a while, but there’s a definite pull towards modern, highly functional patios with a sleek aesthetic. It’s all about attention to detail, creating a clean and calm, uncluttered environment and sticking to clean lines and a neutral colour palette. Minimise décor and furniture. Different finishes will lend a varied texture to the area.
Have simple plants which won’t overwhelm the space, including succulents, grasses plus other low-maintenance additions to your patio.
Refresh your garden with AS Landscapes
Surrey-based AS Landscapes offers a bespoke garden and landscape design service for clients in the county, as well as Hampshire, Ascot and Windsor. And we will be with you from start to finish as we create your dream garden. Talk to us about fencing, new turf, your patio or decking and more. We’ll also come up with planting schemes to transform your outdoor space.
Get in touch today to learn more, whether you’re after a total garden transformation or prefer to focus on revamping just one area.