Garden Trends for 2018
It has been a busy start to 2018 here at Vialii so we are slightly later than planned with our guide to garden trends for 2018. With the weather still not great for being outdoors it is the perfect time to curl up inside with a cuppa and plan what you want to do in the garden in the year ahead. Here are our tips to ensure you stay bang on trend for 2018…
COLOUR OF THE YEAR
The pantone colour of the year is Ultra Violet (Pantone 18-3838) so it’s a great excuse to add some stunning purple tones to your garden such as salva, lavandula, vinca, eryngium, nepeta and verbena!
GARDEN ART
Clients sometimes feel that garden art and water features are not for them but they can help add your own personal stamp on your garden. You add ornaments and pictures to your home after all so why not to your garden? From flamingos wading through your planting to a standing stone with water trickling down the edges there will be something to suit your style. Adding a corten steel lantern can look great as well as being practical. Or a sculpture on a plinth can add height and guide you to a certain part of the garden (we are always talking to clients about creating journeys!) and can be a lot less money than you would expect.
TRY ONE NEW THING FOR 2018
Gardeners are always up for something new and there are always funky new things to try and grow in the garden. As well as giving our front garden an overhaul this year we care going to experiment with growing strawberry spinach this year. What new plant will you grow in 2018?
SMALL IS THE NEW BIG!
We are always telling clients that even the smallest of spaces can make an impact. From small back gardens to postage stamp sized front gardens we have created makeovers for the smallest of spaces, giving the maximum effect. There is always space for “journeys”, focal points and stunning planting. It’s just about planning and carefully selecting the right materials and maximising space. It might be introducing raised planters which make the most use of height as well as doubling up on somewhere and considering planting vertically.
WILDLIFE GARDENING
Encouraging wildlife into your garden need not mean you let your garden get overgrown. It may not be a new theme for 2018 but it’s as important as ever. From beautiful birdhouses and stylish feeders to funky bug hotels and bee houses there are architectural homes for wildlife as well designed as their human counterparts! And of course by giving consideration to the planting you add to your garden you can easily attract lots of wildlife.
OUTDOOR ROOMS
Creating an outdoor space where you can both dine and relax is an important part of the designs we do. Choosing the right location and that might not always be just outside the kitchen door. We think carefully about where to build patios, looking at aspect, views, planting and of course those “journeys” we always talk about. Why would you want to sit right beside a brick wall if you can sit in a sunny, peaceful, private corner of your garden surrounded by fragrant planting?
CONSIDER YOUR BOUNDARY
Creating good boundaries in your garden is really important both for privacy and security as well as creating a cohesive backdrop for your garden and planting. From handsome hedges to fabulous fences there are lots of options to suit your house style, setting and budget. Our top tip for 2018 is to paint your fences slate grey, a wonderful backdrop to show off planting to its best.
Most importantly we just want you all to get outside and enjoy your garden as much as you can in 2018. If you need any advice on any areas please get in touch for a free design consultation.
Vialii
Going Native (Hedge)…
Hey, Lulu here again! Have you met my parents? M&D are very clever garden designers and they can suggest all sorts of suitable boundaries in your garden – many clients opt for stone walls or one of the many different types of fencing available. But one of my favourite kinds of boundary is a native hedge. Now is the perfect time to plant a new hedge. In this blog I will explain to you why they are so special and how to plant one…
1. Wildlife will love it
There are two main reasons to opt for a native hedge:
Straight away you will see all sort of lovely wildlife visiting your hedge, from small mammals and invertebrates to insects and all sorts of birds making a home there and eating the berries. Butterflies and moths will also come visiting your new boundary.
2. Year round interest
You will have year round interest from foliage, blossom, flowers and berries. Planting a mixed hedge will provide a wide array of foliage which change through the seasons and some shrubs will provide berries and/or flowers to add additional interest throughout the year.
Hedging can provide year round interest
Ilex aquifolium (Holly) – who can forget the wonderful holly, especially at this time of year. We all know its lovely foliage and hungry birds love its berries.Choose a nice mixture of native shrubs and trees such as birch, beech, oak, hazel (for the lovely nuts if you can get there before the squirrel!), dogwoods (for their wonderful red stems in winter) and hawthorn (berrylicious!). Look at adding in some other wonderful species such as:
- Euonymus europaeus (Spindle) A favourite in our own garden, in autumn the leaves turn bright red and are followed by shocking pink and orange fruit.
- Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose) – this shrub will reward you with masses of white flowers in May and June and red berries in autumn.
- Acer campestre (Field maple) Beautiful yellow autumn colour.
- Rhamnus cathartica (Buckthorn) The Buckthorn providesred autumn fruits that turn to black.
- Lonicera periclymenum (Honeysuckle) This will add scent as well as fruit to the mix.
Mixed hedging is wonderful for wildlife
The cheapest way to plant your native hedge is to get “whips” which are available now. Winter is the best time to plant a new hedge. The whips will look teeny and not very impressive when you get them (a bit like sticks) but as soon as Spring arrives they will burst into life and will soon grow quickly. Try and source your hedge locally if possible.
Next, the planting…
Prepare your area and remove any weeds, large stones or debris. Your hedge will be there for many years to come so you need to give it a good start. Dig a trench and add some compost to the bottom then plant your whips in staggered double rows, half a metre apart. You can always fill any gaps later if required. Back fill the trench with the native soil and water well and mulch. Feed your hedge once a year and be aware of dry spells when you may need to water your new hedge over the first couple of years. The best time to prune your hedge is late Autumn when you won’t disturb any nesting birds. If necessary, cut back hard as this will help thicken up your hedge.
Hedging can be anywhere in your garden, not just the boundary
And remember hedges don’t just need to be used to create boundaries. You can use them within your garden to create “rooms”, add privacy, create journeys and add interest to the garden. Long live the common garden hedge!
If you need any more information on planting a native hedge or any form of boundary in your garden then please don’t hesitate to get in touch for a chat.
Lulu