RANGE REVIEW: GARDEN & WOODCARE
blooms that offer attractive cut flowers. Traditional plants have not only infiltrated residential gardens, but have also returned as front- runners in flower shows across the nation – from local villages to the prestigious grounds of Chelsea and Chatsworth. Today’s gardeners are more inclined to break the rules with their planting schemes, encouraging new varieties of British classics to be introduced. Primroses are relishing their time in the spotlight, with 2019 celebrating the launch of the new primrose ‘Sweetie’, an exclusive to Wyevale Garden Centres, which can be grown both indoors and out. Rockeries also witnessed a revival in 2018, with alpines accounting for over 15% of all perennial plant sales. Perfectly suited to the modern world, alpines have a long flowering period and are extremely easy to look after, thriving in containers and shrugging off drought and neglect. To meet with customer demand, ‘The Rockery’ zone will be introduced to centres in 2019, comprising alpines, heathers and mini conifers.
Trend three: Multisensory Spaces Trends for colour and outdoor styling are filtering through from the fashion and interior design worlds. Just as people choose to coordinate their wardrobes and living spaces, gardens are now following suit, and the younger generations are particularly swayed. These style-conscious Brits are investing in their gardens year- round in a bid to constantly update and reinvent their outdoor space. During the extended hot summer of 2018, which welcomed Royal Wedding celebrations and World Cup fever to homes across the nation, Brits turned their gardens into the ultimate ‘staycation’ spots. Sales soared for quick-fix plants and accessories that offered instant impact for last-minute hosting and special occasions in the garden throughout the warmer months. The
internet, social media and
TV programmes are just a few of the platforms heavily influencing gardeners’ shopping habits, having a direct impact on sales. The immediacy and fast-paced nature of social media in particular is driving reactive sales in the garden.
Trend four: Health & Healing It’s no secret that gardening makes people feel good. With the extended summer of 2018, gardeners enjoyed a much longer season outdoors than usual, helping to keep activity levels high and combat signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Gardeners report a huge sense of satisfaction from the mental and physical perks
www.diyweek.net
of undertaking gardening projects, particularly restoring neglected gardens or creating new ones from scratch.
25-34 year olds are the most likely age group to purchase a plant for its health and wellbeing properties.
A gardening project for how to
create a ‘mini garden kitchen in a pot’ generated one of the most engaged- with posts on Wyevale Garden Centres’ social media channels in 2018, showing the desire for fresh ingredients to be grown right next to where they’ll be served. Herbs are savouring the moment, with over two thirds of Brits growing plants in their kitchens. An essential ingredient for the wellness trend, they are often used in cooking, for herbal teas, or simply for their aroma. Chamomile and mint are two of the nation’s go-to brews, while lavender is favoured for its calming properties.
Trend five: Indoors Out Wyevale Garden Centres last year coined gardens as the ‘fifth room of the house’ and witnessed the trend come into fruition during the heatwave of 2018, where Brits’ living spaces flowed outdoors. As we adopt ‘greener’ shopping habits, diets and lifestyles, the boundaries between the indoors and out are becoming increasingly blurred, with the trend set to reach new heights this year. Interiors are transforming into jungle-like environments, while garden designs are now reflecting the styles and layouts of interior space, with separate areas to dine, entertain, relax and be active. For Brits, size really does matter. Statement plants and feature foliage are set to be huge in all senses of the word for 2019, replacing soft furnishings throughout the home, as well as styling cafes, restaurants and other public spaces. Though bold and dramatic in their aesthetic; oversized plants also have cool and calming effects, helping Brits to create tranquil jungles throughout their living spaces. Leafy houseplants are bringing new dimensions to minimalist interiors while adding depth and texture to a neutral colour palette, often used as screens between open plan rooms. Where side-tables once stood and fireplaces sit empty, layered displays of greenery and low-level planted pots are now filling the spot.
Trend six: Giving back in the Garden Nature will remain at the forefront of gardeners’ minds in 2019, with ongoing support both at home and in the community to encourage greater numbers of wildlife into local areas. Conversations around wildlife are particularly popular on social media, with Wyevale Garden Centres’ engagements up 275% YOY for wildlife-related content. It’s not only the birds and the bees drawing attention; the most shared piece of social content was ‘how to build an insect house’. From DIY habitats and buying hedgehog houses, to using garden materials as nest spots and wildlife corridors, Brits are proving to be generous hosts.
Companion planting, where two or more plants are grown together for a beneficial effect, is becoming
Nearly 70% of British gardeners buy food for wildlife or provide a home for wildlife
widely popular as Brits use the technique to provide a habitat for creatures in the garden, as well as an organic route to controlling pests and aiding pollination. People are increasingly aware of the role that pollinators play in facilitating reproduction of the world’s flowering plants, and their vital importance to both horticulture and agriculture. Vegetables are the surprise stars of this show, with beans, peas, rocket, courgettes and garlic all having flowers that draw in pollinators like a magnet.
26 APRIL 2019 DIY WEEK 13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
