How to make a small garden look fabulous in one afternoon
Dreaming of a gorgeous garden but short on time? 7 Chelsea designers spill their secrets for a quick glow-up
With warm weather and sunshine, many of us are going to be spending more time in our gardens, even hosting friends and family in our outdoor spaces.
If you want to give your garden a quick refresh, we spoke to seven Chelsea garden designers to find out their top tips for instant garden results.
1. Buy plenty of pelargoniums
With 18 years in the fashion industry before turning his attention to gardens, award-winning designer Manoj Malde isn’t afraid of a vibrant palette. “Add a splash of colour to your garden.” he says, “This can be done through colourful cushions in beautiful prints, simply placed on your garden furniture. Also, get some decent-sized pots and fill them with bedding geraniums (AKA pelargoniums). These will provide colour all the way through to the first frosts, so long as you keep deadheading them.”
Find out why Manoj loves visiting the Chelsea Flower Show each year:
2. Unfashionable but true
Matthew Wilson, best known for his appearances as a panellist on BBC Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time and his People’s Choice-winning garden at Chelsea in 2016, advises looking at the sometimes controversial yet ubiquitous garden feature – the lawn.
He says, “If you have a lawn, mow it and trim the edges. It sounds obvious, but an untidy lawn is like an unmade bed in an otherwise tidy bedroom. It’s all you see.”
And if you don’t have a lawn, then he suggests you “make sure every bit of empty soil has plants in. You don’t have to spend a fortune – annual plants are great for filling gaps and adding colour. They can be especially useful during the mid-summer season downturn when gardens tend to go off the boil a bit.”
3. Remember to enjoy your outdoor space
You can’t enjoy your garden if there isn’t a comfortable spot to put your feet up, so prioritise your own comfort, says award winner Kate Gould. “A good design already in place will, of course, help, but to create a sense of place in one afternoon, accessorise your furniture, add cushions, throws and soft furnishings as well as lanterns to make a cosy, inviting space that will work from day to night.”
4. Harness the power of cosmos
A familiar face to many, designer and presenter Joe Swift loves to fill his garden with blooms at this time of the year. He recommends that you "fill any gaps and cram any empty pots you have with annuals that will flower all summer long. Include some cosmos, which are classy, versatile (they look great in a range of garden styles) and come in an array of colours, from whites (Cosmos bipinnatus 'Purity') to wine reds (Cosmos bipinnatus 'Dazzler'), or go for a ready-made mix in cool or spicy colours.”
5. Never underestimate a tablecloth
Gold-medal-winning Chelsea designer Ann-Marie Powell has heaps of experience to help transform your garden, especially if you’re hosting. She suggests you “Give your terrace the full VIP treatment, scrubbing furniture and refreshing pots, positioning them to draw the eye.”
Plus, she’s got the perfect tactic for distracting your guests from unsightly corners: “If you're entertaining, don't underestimate the power of a lovely tablecloth, colourful crockery and a simple posy from the garden as a centrepiece. Your guests will be so beguiled they won't notice the rest of the garden is still finding its feet!”
6. Do some weeding - it's worth it
Gold medal winning Chelsea designer and the author of RHS Resilient Garden: Sustainable Gardening for a Changing Climate Tom Massey suggests a bit of weeding to give your garden an instant lift, he says “At this time of year, a focused session of weeding, mulching, cutting back, and general tidying is always worthwhile. It’s incredibly satisfying to clear the way for new growth to burst through.”
But don’t get too carried away, “gardening is never just about one thing – it’s about finding a rhythm and balance that fits your lifestyle. Keeping on top of it in a way that feels manageable is key. It also helps to know your own threshold for ‘tidiness’. Personally, I’m happy with a bit of wildness, as long as invasive weeds don’t take over.”
7. Grab your hoe
Gold-medal winning Chelsea designer Ann-Marie Powell relies on her hoe for instant improvements, “At this time of year I adore my hoe, I think of it as my trusty outdoor vacuum cleaner. It skims through young weeds with ease, ready to be mulched over with a layer of fine composted bark, which gives a polished finish. Then nip to your local garden centre or nursery and treat yourself to some gorgeous herbaceous perennials (always in groups of 3, 5 or 7 – nature doesn't do even numbers).”
8. Just cut it out
Six-time Chelsea gold medal winner Robert Myers suggests getting the secateurs or loppers out for an instant improvement: “If you have a large, overgrown shrub with a suitable branch structure inside, spend an afternoon pruning it up into a ‘multi-stem’ tree. Lifting the canopy by clearing the growth around the base, allows you to open up views beneath, let in light, and create a sculptural, green focal point. It’s a simple, satisfying job you can do in just a few hours and it can completely transform a space.”
More ideas for small gardens:
Plant of the Week: Double Trailing Fuchsia Collection
Offer ends 23.59, Sunday 18 May.
