From retro-inspired designs, to contemporary containers and holistic herbs, the latest hot garden fashions, from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2006, can transform every garden, from small patches to urban patios
Trendy water collectors
With water-shortages and drought orders playing on every gardener's mind, water collection is vital. 'As we all face water shortages we are thinking of inventive ways to look after plants,' says Bob Sweet, Show Organiser at the Royal Horticultural Society. 'There are several really good ideas extending from water collectors to composters with propagation units which use the heat from compost for propagation.' (Propagation is when new plants are grown from existing ones, such as cuttings or dividing plants that grow in clumps, like chrysanthemums).
The goods news is that bulky green plastic butts can be swapped for trendy collectors made of galvanized materials or Italianate urn styles to collect rainwater run-off.
Once the chic water butt is filled with a reserve supply, go one step greener and water the garden during a hosepipe ban using solar energy. At the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2006, an ecofriendly gadget called Solarflow made its debut, using a solar-charged pump, which can water 100 plants for 10 days. (www.garden-irrigation.co.uk)
Herb gardening
Herbs are more popular than ever - in 2004, more than £22 million was spent on herb plants, according to the Horticultural Trade Association's Garden Industry Monitor, as more gardeners are opting for these sensory, aromatic and even healing plants.
One of the UK's top female gardeners, Jekka McVicar, who is Jamie Oliver's personal herb gardener and a regular Gardener's World contributor, runs her organic nursery, Jekka's Herb Farm (www.jekkasherbfarm.com) in Alveston, South Gloucestershire. With her 11th gold medal at this year's Chelsea under her belt for her latest herb garden design, she says herbs have always been the 'in-thing.' 'The herb industry is increasing every year. You are what you eat. If you grow a rosemary bush, for example, you can make rosemary tea by just pouring boiling water on top - it's a good pick-me-up and is good for the memory. The garden is becoming holistic along with your health and lifestyle. Herbs tick all the boxes - they smell good, relax you and do you good at the same time,' says Jekka.
There is an element of 'The Good Life' in herb gardening - you can eat what you grow and the most novice of gardeners can get results. And less is more with herbs, which grow happily in containers in the smallest of spaces - from a window box to a small balcony or roof terrace. 'If you are stuck for space, there aren't many plants that you can grow that will give you so much in return. A lot of people grow in containers and urban spaces, so they can grow basil, for example, which will not grow in the garden,' Jekka explains.
Architectural artichokes
Forget nurturing a blooming pink border. Simple abstract-shaped plants, like the artichoke, are 'in'. Bob Sweet says, 'Artichokes are very architectural, very hardy and look very trendy in an urban landscape with its bright silvery cut foliage. Its very demonstrative, grows happily without much water and likes containers,' says Bob Sweet.
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.
Experience the indoors...outdoors
The garden is an important part of the home, so why not extend the personality of the interior outside and do some 'exterior design'. For some garden chintz or retro try the following:
Susan Bradley, a London-based designer who works on domestic outdoor spaces and has exhibited at Chelsea in 2005 and 2006, is renowned for her 'Outdoor WallpaperTM' - making traditional designs, like damask, in trelliswork from stainless steel, aluminum or acrylic Perspex.
Susan Bradley (www.susanbradley.co.uk) explains, 'I think people are realising more and more that their outdoor space represents a relatively large portion of their total living space, and so are making their outdoor areas more personal like they would the interior of their homes. So, just as people have art on their walls and pieces of sculpture indoors, they are now thinking of these as relevant to their outdoor spaces too. I also think people are realising sculpture outdoor doesn't have to be a monolithic slab of stone or a Grecian statue - it can be much smaller, personal and a bit quirky.'
The wallpaper-patterned panels, which can be fixed onto any garden wall, unlike some plants, need minimal attention. 'Outdoor WallpaperTM can be used in outdoor spaces of any sizes and is ideal for the smallest balcony or roof terrace. It provides an immediate impact and requires no watering or pruning, and won't wither through neglect - perfect for people who want an instant garden with minimal effort,' she says.
Be a lounge-lizard outside on a giant garden bean bag, made in water and rot-resistant materials, like this one created by Odd: www.oddlimited.com
Blend in with the begonias and support Breakthrough Breast Cancer at the same time with bright pink Yeoman secateurs and Camelot gardening gloves, available from various garden outlets.
(www.breakthrough.org.uk)
Fill a shady garden corner and make a statement with ornate furniture. 'Retro furniture is around in a lot of garden centres and is made to look Victorian-style with inter-mess steel [woven in a criss-cross pattern],' says Bob Sweet.