We hope you’ve enjoyed 2025 so far and are looking forward to the months ahead across all areas of your life – including your garden. After all, January Is a great time to think, plan and set some goals for what you want to achieve outside.
There are some 30 million UK gardeners, so of course everyone will have different ideas. But here we look at some of the key overarching trends for the months ahead. Not all these notions are entirely new, but they’ll remain popular and reflect our increasing understanding of the environment and our role in the natural world.
- Take a fresh look at bedding plants
This year, we’re likely to witness a shift away from traditional bedding plants in favour of varieties which live longer, are more robust and need less water. Dahlias and heather, for example, require little upkeep but still provide bursts of colour and appeal to pollinators.
- Working around EV charging points
As of late November last year, there were some 1.3m fully electric vehicles (EVs) on the UK’s roads. Meanwhile the government has pledged to restore the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars. So more of us will be looking for easy access to home-based EV charging solutions as we make landscaping choices. For example, permeable paving and gravel gardens with low-maintenance plants are inexpensive and stop rainwater from pooling or running off, especially where space is tight.
- Less is more
If potted plants are your thing, 9cm varieties were a hit last year and are more affordable than the standard 2 or 3-litre versions, allowing you to enjoy a wider range of plants for the same financial outlay. While smaller plants take longer to mature, equally you may be surprised at how quickly they become established features of your garden.
- A garden on the wild side
Increasingly, gardens are becoming wilder and less structured – there’s been a clear departure from rigid designs. So expect to see more naturalistic planting schemes with a greater variety of colours, heights and textures. In 2025, borders are likely to become more untamed and informal, making them more akin to natural landscapes and enhancing biodiversity. If life is busy, you might appreciate this relaxed approach.
Equally, if you have piles of logs, sources of water or features such as small ponds, and native plant species, you encourage birds, insects and small mammals.
- The rise of vertical gardening
Innovative ways of maximising limited space are increasingly sought-after, not least in urban settings. Creative ideas include living walls and balcony gardens, which also enhance air quality and biodiversity. Could you bring greenery somewhere unexpected?
- The power of trees
Trees are vital to garden ecosystems, offering shade, enhancing air quality and providing micro-habitats while supporting wildlife. They also make a space beautiful, so people are increasingly incorporating them into their garden designs.
- Outdoor areas boosting well-being
We’re understanding more about the way gardens can enhance our wellbeing. So in 2025 we’d expect to see continued interest in creating interactive, peaceful spaces to provide an escape from the stresses we all experience in daily life. You could, for instance, incorporate scented plants and flowers and water features to introduce a sensory element. Encourage birds and you’ll hear birdsong, too.
- Gardens as an extension of home
These days, gardens are often seen as extensions of our living spaces. And this trend is set to continue in 2025. Many of us want to relax as we reconnect with nature – you can do this by having bi-folding doors, for example, or by adding some decking or a patio.
How AS Landscapes can help
Surrey-based AS Landscapes (also covering Windsor and Ascot) has more than two decades’ industry experience. We specialise in a wide line-up of hard landscaping, from driveways to artificial turf, outdoor kitchens and more. Meanwhile, our soft landscaping services range from planting schemes to a full garden design service.
Get in touch today to learn more about how we could transform your garden in 2025 – in a way that never goes out of style.