As we approach spring and look forward to longer days spent in our gardens, Dobbies’ Horticultural Director, Marcus Eyles, has outlined what he expects the top plant and gardening trends will be for Spring Summer 2024.
Marcus advises that quality is expected to be at the forefront of gardeners’ minds when considering their 2024 gardens, and more people will be looking for long-lasting ways to improve their outdoor space without spending a fortune. Marcus also anticipates vibrancy will play a big part in gardens this year, with plenty of spring and summer colours due to make a comeback. And building on the grow your own trend of recent years, Marcus doesn’t see this slowing down anytime soon, and expects more city dwellers to join the trend with indoor growing options
These gardening trends complement Dobbies’ four new themes for Spring Summer 2024, which focus on the flexibility and potential of our outdoor living spaces. From traditional country garden looks to vibrant themes that celebrate colour, there’s something to suit gardens of all shapes and sizes.
Shoreline simplicity
Inspired by soothing British shores, this natural theme embraces the tones and textures found by the coast. Shoreline Simplicity brings together colours and materials reminiscent of rugged grassy sand dunes and inky green hues from the sea for an overall natural look with modern touches of matt black.
Marcus notes that on-trend grasses like Festuca fit in with this style, in borders, raised beds as well as in pots. Other hardy plants to achieve the Shoreline Simplicity look include Armeria, Achillea millefolium and Miscanthus – all of which feature foliage in tones of blue and green for a clean, modern statement.
To create a fountain effect in keeping with the Shoreline Simplicity theme, Marcus suggests combining low growing plants in pots with taller grasses, or containers on raised stands. This look can also be achieved in borders for those with larger gardens.
Garden retreat
Inspired by wild meadows and cut flower gardens, Garden Retreat is a theme that delights all the senses. Vibrant bursts of pastel pink, green and yellow create a captivating visual display, while fresh scents of florals, tomato plants and cut grass breathe life into this idyllic country garden theme.
With colourful flowering plants back on trend for Spring Summer 2024, Marcus encourages gardeners to embrace the vibrancy of nature and create their own Garden Retreat. Roses and Hydrangea will help you achieve this look in pots and borders, and climbing plants are a great way to enjoy a country garden in small spaces.
Florals, foliage and fragrance are put on centre stage in this theme. Plants that fit in include the Acer palmatum, variegated Abelia, Echinacea and Hebe shrubs, as well as other evergreen shrubs and extended flowering plants that will allow you to enjoy colour for longer.
Relax and unwind
Relax and Unwind is a theme with wellness at its core. It fuses soothing blue tones with Scandi influencers for a mindful theme that embraces the restorative side of nature. Inspired by calm waters, tones of light and serene shades of blue, this theme uses stripped-back natural wood to achieve an on-trend, cool vibe that promotes relaxation and transports you to an oasis of calm.
Recreate your own oasis with Pampas, Miscanthus and other grasses, as well as fragrant plants like Lavender to calm the senses. Marcus notes that taller plants such as the Strelitzia can help add instant impact to patios and balconies and inject a wave of green for a soothing look and feel.
Marcus notes that embracing nature’s green is a wonderful way to welcome mindfulness into your garden and create a new dimension. He suggests utilising darker green plants at the back of borders to create a cocoon effect, and then layering lighter tones towards the front of your display. Not much colour is needed to achieve a tranquil garden look as a neutral palette will lend itself to a more cohesive look. If you’re looking to welcome seasonal colour, Marcus suggests keeping it to low level plants and not mixing too many vibrant shades.
Colour your space
A high summer theme that celebrates all things bold and beautiful, Colour Your Space instantly lifts moods with vivid hues and striking designs. Set to be a huge trend for outdoor living, this theme nods to the 2024 Pantone Colour of the Year, ‘Peach Fuzz’, and will brighten up any space with its warm hues. Ideal for compact gardens, this theme embraces vibrant container plants to bring balconies, courtyards and patios to life with a colour palette reminiscent of the seasons.
For those looking to take their small space gardening to the next level, Marcus suggests having fun with grow your own varieties that can be placed outside in summer, such as Citrus plants. Marcus also suggests using Mediterranean plants like Jasmine to achieve the sun-soaked look. These plants will produce a beautiful aroma and help give your space a touch of the tropics, transforming it during the warmer months.
Dobbies’ new SS24 collections launch in stores across the UK and online from Spring 2024: www.dobbies.com.
