123 Garden design by Colette Charsley
Chelsea 2016 -Trends A
s I write this, the mad circus of the Chelsea Flower Show is in full swing. It is haute couture for plants
and garden design and as such the majority of what one sees is simply not achievable for mere mortals. Having done planting at the show I know what is involved and, believe me, you wouldn’t want to do it! But as with all high fashion there are elements that can be extracted and that can be made to work well in the real world. The main themes, colours and planting this year seems to have become somewhat polarized with not much in the middle ground.
Arid planting – This is obviously with climate change in mind. It would work well in the creation of low maintenance gardens with an architectural feel.
Woodland and shade planting – This is a logical continuation of the popular wildflower meadow style. With careful planning it can be surprisingly easy to maintain and is excellent for encouraging wildlife.
Extreme geometric, almost harsh, ground plans – This should be kept in close proximity to the lines and angles of the built environment. Courtyards and terraces would be best. It would look very out of place in a rural setting.
Free and almost haphazard layouts mimicking nature – These look wonderful in natural settings so that the garden blends into the surrounding countryside. You do need to keep this removed a little way from the house so that the transition between buildings and the natural environment does not jolt.
The use of exotics in planting schemes – We are lucky with our relatively mild climate in that we can grow a lot of plants that are considered borderline hardy. The key is good drainage. Wet kills more tender plants than cold.
Native/natural planting – The closer a plant is to the species usually means that it is easier to look after. The downside is that you might have fewer flowers over a shorter period of time.
Colours - Orange, purple, silver, Soft yellow, white, blue, pink
Technical materials and finishes used quite aggressively – These can have an almost sculptural quality. Corten steel and sawn (as opposed to riven) stone are probably the most accessible.
Natural materials like self-binding gravel – Give an organic feel. If they are locally sourced will help to tie the garden into its surroundings.
colette@charsleydesign.com •
www.charsleydesign.com t: 01803 722449. m: 07774 827799. Follow me on Twitter @ColetteCharsley
Professional Landscape and Garden Design
Creative and beautiful designs for village, town and country gardens
Colette Charsley PG Dip OCGD 01803 722449 07774 827799
colette@charsleydesign.com www.charsleydesign.com
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