With the sun shining, we are all gravitating towards the garden. But if it’s looking more sad than serene, our expert insight could be just the inspiration you need to get your garden into summer shape.
Speaking with Glenn Satterthwaite from The Fairview Gardener, SoGlos discovers which of the latest garden trends you should be keeping an eye on, and which plants and perennials will thrive.
For more information visit thefairviewgardener.co.uk
What should people be thinking of this summer for their outside space?
This is the time of year that everyone is sat in the garden and has either got all of their plants in or are looking at getting it totally re-designed!
It’s also a time when most nurseries are fully-stocked. We certainly are at the moment! We’ve got everything you would need for colour, all of the herbaceous perennials, all of the alpines, shrubs, trees, roses – everything you could want for your garden is in stock right now, so it is the perfect time to buy.
Is there a particular sort of plant that people should be focussing on at this time of year?
Think about what’s right for your garden. Because we have staff here who have a lot of knowledge, we suggest people buy the right plant for the right place. So, we’d tell customers not to shove a shade-loving, wet-lover into a garden that’s dry and sunny! Because we’re more specialist, we can give you that advice when you come to visit us, and make sure you’re getting the right types of plants and shrubs for your space.
What are the main things that your team can help with, if people don’t know where to start with their garden?
I like to think that we’ve always got one or two qualified designers or horticulturalists on the site at all times, so whenever anyone comes in, they should be able to take advantage of all the knowledge they need, whether that’s plants, design work, landscaping, pesticides… whatever they need.
Because we’ve had a really mild winter, pests have been a really big problem this year. We’ve also come into a mild spring, then a wet period and now a dry period, so it means pests have hit epidemic levels. Our team can really help people navigate that if they’re facing problems.
Are there any garden trends we should keep an eye out for this summer?
I think there’s been a general trend away from one-off planting and bedding plants, and people are swaying towards planting their gardens permanently. So, they want it to look good all year round.
Lots of people are using their gardens as a room outside now, so they want the garden to be something that’s an extension to their house, and not just a garden. That means things like outdoor living, outdoor dining and outdoor kitchens are becoming a really popular. The whole experience out in the garden is much more an integral part of a house design these days.
We’ve got a whole landscaping side to the centre, so The Fairview Gardener isn’t just about plants. We can help with all forms of design, maintenance, building and construction. We can give people all the advice they need if they want to transform their outside space.
Does anything surprise you when it comes to garden trends?
Well, this year everybody seems to want a strip of veg to grow themselves, so that’s been huge! We’re way, way up on veg sales with things like leeks and lettuce.
I suppose it’s something easy for people to put in a windowsill or in a pot and grow it to harvest themselves, which is really nice to see.
For more information about The Fairview Gardener see The Fairview Gardener, call (01452) 750436, or visit thefairviewgardener.co.uk directly.
