What’s looking good

The cheerful lemon flowers of the primroses (Primula vulgaris) and cowslips (Primula veris) are lighting up the garden at the moment, a welcome hint of sunshine, even on a grey day as I walk down to the shed. Perfectly complimented by the deep purple hellebores (Helleborus x hybridus ‘Harvington Smokey Blues’ and the more compact Helleborus orientalis) and the last of the snowdrops. I was ordering some bright yellow winter aconites (Eranthis hyemalis) in the green (a bundle of sprouting bulbs ready to plant for a client) and couldn’t help but add a few bundles of snowdrops to go into my own garden. Most of the snowdrops in the garden are the traditional Galanthus nivalis, with the odd clump of more unusual varieties, that I’ve picked up when visiting snowdrop displays over the years. This time I’ve chosen the double flowering Galanthus nivalis ‘Flore Pleno’, with its green tips. A friend will be enjoying a few of the snowdrops too, apparently hers have been escaping into the neighbours garden so we are going to find an ideal position for them and plant them in a pot.

The Japanese flowering quinces are starting to flower (Chaenomeles japonica or speciosa), there is a bright red variety in a garden I’ve visited recently. My neighbours have one with peach flowers, it seems to like my side of the fence (I suspect because it gets more sun) so keeps climbing through. I’m loving the purple and lilac shades in the crocuses too, they are scattered throughout the verges along the street and continue into the park as I walk into town. I never quite remember to get around to adding a few to the garden, I think they would really suit being planted under the apple tree, maybe this is the year I finally do.

Trends

Green roofs continue to be planted, ranging from covering offices and blocks of flats in cities, to adding a small wildflower meadow on a shed. Helping add more green spaces to encourage biodiversity and reducing summer temperatures in cities. Gardens have more spaces to add a green roof than we tend to think about, anywhere from a shed or garden office, to a bike store or to hide the wheelie bins.

Less manicured or a more relaxed look is a key trend this year. Less neatly clipped shrubs, hedges and topiary and more plants merging into each other and flopping onto the lawn. It also means that the leaves don’t have to be rigorously cleared up in autumn but can be left along with a few twigs or branches for insects to shelter underneath. For full disclosure my garden has looked liked this for some years now, it happens to be the way I like it. A few evergreen shrubs and architectural shapes interspersed with lots of perennials, summer flowering shrubs and grasses with a few nooks for wildlife.

Forest gardens are still being planted, providing plenty of delicious things to eat. The idea being to create a forest effect with layers of planting, that are all edible. Fruit or nut trees underplanted with fruiting shrubs, perhaps a few currant bushes or gooseberries and plenty of herbs or alpine strawberries, for example. It is one way to maximise the planting in a small space, not to mention that as well as looking good you get to enjoy the produce too.

Aftercare and development tips

I love seeing all the new shoots appear through the soil, ready for the plants to start blooming again. While I’m waiting for the flowers to appear, there are always a few activities to be undertaken in the garden, helping to set the garden up for summer:

• Something I’ll be doing this month, especially as I’ve had some new frames made is pruning my climbing and bush roses, ready for the summer ahead. Pruning them will help improve their lifespan and general health. In some parts of the garden I’ve intertwined shrub and climbing roses, to enjoy the blooms from the ground up.

• Grasses and perennials that have been left over winter, to create interest with seed heads, if they haven’t already, can be cut back, once the new growth is starting to appear.

• Divide perennials: Any perennials that have outgrown their space can be divided up to make new plants, either to fill spaces in other areas of the garden or to give away to friends.

• Order summer flowering bulbs: One of my favourite pastimes is browsing bulb and seed catalogues, online or flicking through a paper copy with a coffee. There are plenty of summer flowering bulbs to carry on the colour as the spring bulbs fade. Whether preferring dahlias, some of my favourites for cut flowers, lilies or one of the few blues found in flowers, agapanthus.

What I’m working on

Now that the garden surrounded by a nature reserve has finally received planning permission, work is underway on the technical drawings and visits from landscapers are being lined up. It is existing to start thinking about this project being realised, the project is going to be carried out in phases, starting with the two seating areas. The area at the top of the garden, which gets the evening sun, perfect for enjoying a gin and tonic with friends. Along with the smaller coffee area half way up, the garden slopes down from the top (which has a right of way behind the stone wall) to the small road at the bottom (only the client and the neighbours use this road). Having the garden on a slope allows the views of the trees and the surrounding nature reserve to be enjoyed. The paths will be mown grass through wildflower areas, keeping the touch on the landscape as light as possible.

At the other end of the spectrum I’m busy sourcing a hedge before bare root season ends. This is the first stage of a front garden design, the house is surrounded by a busy area and the aim is to provide more privacy. The front garden wraps around the side of the house and has some small pockets that would be ideal for seating areas, to enjoy the afternoon sun. Once the hedge is in, the rest of the garden can be planted out and enjoyed.

Camilla Grayley is an experienced garden designer, speaker and writer based in York. She designs gardens and delivers garden consultancy services for clients in Yorkshire and across the UK. Get in touch if you’d like help planning your garden for 2025 on 07887 926095 or info@camillagrayleydesign.com