Hottest garden ideas for 2006

Going potty over containers
The terracotta pot has become somewhat of a garden cliche, but container gardens can have a contemporary look with pots in a range of new materials. Companies, like Bright Green (www.brightgreen.co.uk ) are using stainless steel, bronze and fiberglass - or for a futuristic look choose cuboid pots instead of cylinder shapes.

Blues and dark blues are the pot colours to choose in 2006. 'We are seeing lots of rusty steel containers and artifacts in dark granite and blue slate,' says Bob Sweet.

Ready-hedges
Bring a bit of Louis XIV-style to the garden with a neatly manicured hedge boundary. Instant hedges, a fashion originating in Italy, is taking off around nurseries in the UK and requires minimal gardening effort and no topiary skills.

'Companies are selling ready-made hedges instead of panels, and a section of hedge, for example beech or privet, is becoming popular for boundaries. They are very trendy, encourage wildlife like hedgehogs and birds and are attractive in new developments,' says Bob Sweet.

Return of the rose
Don't be put off by pruning and thorny prickles - the rose was voted Britain's favourite flower at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2006 and is more chic than ever. 'It's becoming a useable, trendy and popular plant. We are seeing more British and imported roses at florists and they are now available in a vast amount of colours, the range has improved and they are grown in any shade you want - no longer just white, red or pink,' says Bob Sweet.