This year many of us are feeling the cuts and partly for this reason, as well as the fact that we are trying to do our best for the environment, many are leaning towards growing their own vegetables, collecting rain water and thinking carefully about which plants attract birds and butterflies. We are slowly edging towards a greener lifestyle. And so what better way to promote this further than by updating your garden to match this new way of living.

Rethink the structure of your garden, what do you want to achieve? More butterflies? Plant some colourful and fragrant flowers. More birds? Add some berry plants and a lovely bird box that can become a feature in your garden.You can try something like this lovely bird box chandelier, which not only becomes a great feature but also brings the interior of your home out – a key trend this season.

The National Wildlife Federation have a lovely ‘how to’ page on their website so that you can make your own.

On trend this year is adding ornamental trees or shrubs with foliage and colourful blooms to create a lovely focal point for your garden. Look at trees such as Japanese maple, dwarf Korean lilac, or even a weeping cherry tree work well planted among annuals and perennials within a large container.

This pot is alive with colour and texture from flowers to foliage with lovely daisies creating height and becoming the bright focal point.

A. Gerbera daisy (‘Festival Orange’)
B. Creeping Jenny
C. Verbena ‘Superbena Burgundy’

The photo of the lovely rose tree pictures a rattan planter that matches our furniture sets. This is perfect for that modern touch matched with an ornamental tree. Depending on your colour palette you can choose specific flowers to match. So if you were going for the Vanity Palette for example, you would go for pink roses.

If you don’t have a garden or want to create a little haven in your home this is a brilliant idea. We’ve already seen top interior designers feature these as well as noticing them at trade shows.

These jars are a brilliant idea and something everyone can do. You can even add dry vibrant flowers to match your cushions and to add a sense of this year’s colour trends.