A space for work, rest and play

Hannah Stephenson reports on how garden trends are changing post-lockdown

As working from home has become the norm for so many of us, our garden needs are set to change. So says garden designer Andrew Duff, managing director of Inchbald School Of Design, who won a bronze medal for his first show garden at Chelsea last year.

“For me, garden design has changed more in the last six months than it has in the last 60 years,” he reflects. “It’s no longer the space people come home to for a gin and tonic and to watch the sun go down. They want somewhere to have coffee in the morning, somewhere to have lunch, a green calm space just to be.”

The aesthetics of gardens are changing dramatically, transforming into functional working spaces, somewhere slightly more overgrown and more attractive to wildlife, he adds. Seating may have to accommodate both a laptop working space for the warmer months, and comfortable seating with plenty of cushions when work is over.

So, how will the extra time we have in the garden affect future trends?

Keen on green

“Green is the colour the eye recognises first, so inherently we relax with that. A good green selection of plants with a balance of different leaf textures gives us that feeling of freshness and growth, which is what people are looking for as we move through the seasons,” says Andrew.

“It may mean dark green backgrounds with acid greens and yellows to create a fresh and verdant look. A taxus background, with large-leaved textures of angelica and persicaria. It’s not about a riot of colour. People will want things that give them the joy of scents, such as rosemary and sage.”

Lawn comeback

Andrew has found that hard landscaping is being replaced by lawn.

“Lawns are making a comeback. The lawn has been a really usable space, particularly if you have children, and people now have more time to maintain their lawn and are finding it therapeutic to mow.”

Subtle sculpture

“We’ve had a lot of enquiries for more reflective and contemplative pieces of sculpture,” says award-winning sculptor David Harber, whose work has been exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show.

“People are seeking calm and sophistication, perhaps represented in a Zen-like water feature.

Rich shades

“People are after really subtle, deep colours that are quite jewel-like. If you’ve been stuck at your computer screen all day, this subdued rich palette that’s gentle on the eye is becoming important,” says Andrew. “We are talking deep red persicarias and the deeper blues of catmint.

More balcony food

“We are going to see fewer containers filled with annual colour. Petunias and geraniums are on their way out. We are going to see balconies with tomatoes and runner beans, with nasturtiums running through them,” Andrew predicts. “Seasonality is important, which is where growing vegetables in containers is really going to take off.”

People spending more time at home have been surprised just how much wildlife there is in the garden; subtle colours such as the blues of catmint are becoming more popular, as are rich colours such as the deep red of persicarias; having somewhere to sit is more important than ever; lawns are making a comeback as people have more time to look after them