GARDENERS are likely to return to native plants that give value for money, with an emphasis on low-cost options and a merge of vegetables within the flower border.

‘Our native species need shouting about’

andrewduff

GARDENERS are likely to return to native plants that give value for money, with an emphasis on low-cost options and a merge of vegetables within the flower border. So says Andrew Duff, director of garden design courses at Inchbald School of Garden Design (www.inchbald.co.uk).

“Next year is going to be much fluffier, but in a naturalistic way,” he says. “Our native species need shouting about – we’ll see more of the viburnum, the oak and other plants that attract wildlife. We may still see manicured touches, but using native species.”

Colours will be moody – fewer brilliant colours, more blood reds and blacks, he predicts.

“People are only using things that are tried and trusted. They don’t want to splash out on designs that are going to be contemporary. People are playing it quite safe. Now is not the time to make a mistake. They want cool, calm and subtle,” Duff says.

“Fashion has gone into the 80s, with shoulder pads and colours, and maybe gardens will start to come that way in the end.

“But we are much more conscious about what materials we are using. Now we will see a bigger sweep of British natives coming in.

“There’s a lot of black – black walls, black fencing, black grasses – which is great for our grey skies. And there are some lovely blood reds. Black gives a great deal of depth to a small space. In a small garden it can be really effective.

“Glaucous blue yuccas work well in front of a matt black wall, and another great trick to exaggerate depth is to plant small-leaved plants at the back and large at the front. It tricks the eye into thinking things are further away.”

People are going to be growing more plants from seed because of the ongoing “grow your own” campaign and the economic climate, he predicts.

“We may see a revival of the old species, such as purple runner beans, the blue carrots, which naturally have a better colour foliage,” Duff says.

“Mixing the vegetables in the border is really nice. It can work well. Space is at a premium and this is a good compromise, so you can have something pretty and have vegetables.”

The grassy, fluffy foliage of fennel works beautifully in flower borders, adding texture and movement, while the deep foliage of other vegetables can provide a good contrast in the flower border, along with pretty flowering herbs such as chives and thyme.

Ultimately, our gardens will reflect the release from the current stranglehold of the recession.

“Gone are the days of carefully manicured gardens,” Duff says. “There’s a more rough and ready approach, a return to allowing things to look slightly out of place. Our houses have become very ordered and structured, and the garden will give us a release from that.”