With sustainable, low cost and environmentally friendly outdoor spaces at the heart of gardening trends this year, we give you our top three favourites that aren’t only pocket friendly but they’re easy to manage too.

Outdoor Living Rooms

We’re all feeling the pinch this year, so many of us are likely to be entertaining friends and family at home much more. When the warmer weather comes, why not use your garden and outside areas as another room?

Create your outdoor living room just like you would your indoor one. Use quality garden furniture to fashion a space for parties and gatherings or relaxing and peaceful retreats. Dress it up with cushions, throws and other accessories. Don’t forget the lighting, perhaps a gazebo for shade and add in a statue or water feature for extra interest. Why not include a fire pit for the cooler evenings?

Sustainable Gardens

Limiting our impact on the planet and creating sustainable gardens is here to stay.

A few easy examples include letting your lawn grow, plant rich flowers to attract pollinators, make your own compost, collect rainwater in water butts, grow your own fruit and vegetables, plant more trees and create animal shelters.

Companion planting is a great sustainable way of cutting back on pesticides. By using certain herbs and flowers in partnership with each they can help aid pollination, keep pests away and prevent disease. For example, if you plant cabbages or radishes then plant mint nearby as this deters flea beetles. Putting chives near sunflowers, tomatoes and chrysanthemums help rid aphids.

Drought resistant plants

With the challenges of climate change, there are a few plants we can add to the garden that will leave it looking colourful and healthy in any summer drought.

Try planting hardy Geraniums, Osteospermum, Salvia, Lavender, Dianthus and Nepeta. All are drought resistant plants that will brighten up your beds, borders and baskets in any hot, dry spells we might encounter this summer.

Whichever trend you try this year you can find all you need at Hartwell Nurseries. Our expert team is always on hand with advice to help you maximise your outdoor space and enjoy it with friends and family all year long.

Happy gardening!

Hartwell Nurseries