Gardening trends for 2011

With summer just round the corner, it is time to start reflecting on current garden trends. Gardening trends, just like fashion trends, change with every year and season. Whether it’s colouring, garden furniture, textures or customisation, gardens certainly require significant changes throughout the seasons. In order to accommodate for these changes, it’s good to have a few respected companies on gardening speed dial. For example, for garden furniture, Capital Gardens have a selection that change both with season and fashion. Let’s have a look at a few of the current garden trends taking root across the UK.

Keeping it organic

Going organic has been a strong trend since the days of 2009. Maybe because of the economic downturn, maybe because of other factors, but growing our own vegetables took off. This trend has continued into 2011 and doesn’t look to be going anywhere. With a recent Which? study professing that more Brits are finding 2011 economically tougher than 2011, there is no wonder growing edible flowers, fruits and vegetables in our own gardens is still ever-popular. And after all, a garden full of home grown edibles is every gardener’s dream.

Customisation in 2011

Every gardener loves customising their garden. Beautiful gardens take a lot of work, all year round. This year, Zen is the main theme. This means creating an area of tranquillity, full of fragrances and textures that are calming and promote spiritual wellbeing. In order to create a quintessential Zen garden, think of Japanese-style influences. Keep chairs to a minimum but make sure the style of chair you do choose is appropriate to your Zen aura. Styles like Alexander Rose garden furniture are great for their versatility and often cutting edge look. Also think about lighting. Soft lighting at night, by means such as far eastern looking lanterns can be really effective. Just don’t leave them outside at night or dew and British summer time rain will soon damage them.

Going green

One of the trends to arise from this year’s Chelsea Flower Show and still (almost) counts as gardening, is having a green roof. Increasingly present in cities, green roofs are the ultimate in green chic. Pioneered by Warwick University, having grass on the roof is a great way of energy saving and accounting for any grass lost during construction. Even Westfield shopping centre has one, bringing the greenery back into the capital. Grass roofs can be implemented easily into the domestic garden. Try putting one on your shed or garage or even try a green wall which could serve as a disguise if you wish to cover a rather unsightly fence or broken brick work.