The team at Growtivation always take an avid interest in the annual Association of Professional Landscapers Awards, as the shortlisted entries provide endless inspiration for professional landscaping. The entries and, ultimately, the winners point the way to future landscape gardening trends.
Here are the trends we see emerging both from the gardens shortlisted for the APL Awards 2019 and elsewhere:
- Maximising small spaces
The shortlist suggests that the trend to create beautiful gardens and landscapes in even the smallest of spaces continues. Among the shortlisted projects are The Pocket Courtyard and Urban Flow by Habitat Landscapes, Paradise in Ealing by Oakley Landscapes, and several roof terrace gardens by The Garden Builders.In restricted spaces, garden design must ensure that every plant, every feature serves a purpose, as well as forming part of the aesthetic. For example, a fence erected for privacy could also be a vertical garden of edible plants or a wall around a raised bed could double as a seat.
- Low maintenance gardens
Research suggests that 29% of houses with a garden are being purchased by those under the age of 34. This generation of homeowners is not so concerned with a perfectly manicured lawn or an exquisitely balanced border. Instead, they want a garden that caters for the social and family lives they are living.Using professional landscaping products designed to make life easier for both landscapers and homeowners are perfect for creating low maintenance gardens.
- Calming and spiritual influences
Many of the projects shortlisted for the 2019 Awards are gardens centred around meditation and mindfulness – Frogheath Landscapes’ Spiritual Retreat in Lewes, Stewart Landscape Construction’s Buddhist Centre and Kingston Landscape Group’s Abraham Cowley Unit Therapy Garden for St Peter’s Chertsey, for instance. Minimalist, sensual gardens also benefit from being low maintenance and require the same approach in their build and development. Using landscaping products that stabilise the ground, aid drainage and filtration, keep gravel where it was intended to be and help to suppress weeds will all ensure that these remain the tranquil green spaces they were designed to be.
Find out more about the Growtivation Product That Works range by downloading our Product Guide and your free copy of our Landscaping That Works guide to weed control and geotextile fabrics.
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