The recent Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival showcased plenty of new ideas for both budding and experienced gardeners. Here are some of the top tips gleaned from this year’s show.
1. Using wildflower turf
You can now buy established meadow turf, providing gardeners with an almost-instant floral display that will also keep the local bee population happy. The BBC Springwatch garden featured such a lawn, with a path mown through to access a seating area.
2. Outdoor shelves
Shelving units designed for outdoor use can give gardeners more room for plants, as well as hiding unsightly areas like a garage wall or fence.
3. Heatwave-resistant gardens
The Beth Chatto drought-proof garden featured gravel paths winding among brightly-coloured flower beds. There’s no lawn to mow nor any watering to do, making this kind of garden a great choice for busy people. The beds were edged with thyme and oregano, making this a fragrant option that would suit keen cooks down to the ground.
4. Bug hotels
The trend for insect homes in our gardens continues: all sorts of great and small bug accommodation was seen at Hampton Court this year. Once again BBC Springwatch came up trumps, by showcasing a bee box with a transparent viewing panel and a removable inside section for cleaning.
5. Folding chairs
Easy to store and carry, folding seating similar to Outback reclining chairs were seen all over Hampton Court. Such pieces are very versatile, as they are equally suitable for use at the beach, on picnics or on holiday, as well as in your own garden.
