Create a Chelsea Flower Show-inspired garden

We take a look at the elements of this inspiring show you can utilise in your own
home space

Obviously, the stunning Chelsea Flower Show gardens offer inspiration in abundance, but hoping to
directly recreate them at home can be both unrealistic and setting ourselves up for a fall. However,
there are plenty of ideas and lessons we can take to bring a little of the Chelsea pizazz to our own
home gardens – whatever the size and whatever the budget! Here are some of the things you can do:

•Think sustainably. Adding climate tolerant plants, or simply plants that suit your growing
conditions, whatever they may be, gives you the best chance of success. For example, you
will struggle for a thriving garden if your plot is in the shade but you are choosing sun-
loving plants. The right plant for the right spot will always give the best impact.

•Add ‘levels’. From gorgeous winding paths, to elegant structures for climbing plants to wind
their way up, giving visual interest at all levels of the space will help the eye travel and find
interest at every turn. Similarly, ‘layering’ your plants (trees, tall shrubs, and ground cover
plants) fills the space beautifully. You can also use plants to cordon off areas and create
distinct parts of the garden.

•Think in themes. Colours really create mood at the Chelsea Flower Show. Whether it be a
calming and cohesive spot to relax in, or a wild and vibrant array of different blooms, this is
an easy way to add buckets of personality to any area.

•Incorporate structures into your design. Your shed doesn’t need to be an afterthought or an
eyesore. You can find paints in plenty of gorgeous hues to transform your garden buildings
into part of the look. You can also use walls etc to mount bird feeders, bug hotels, trellis and
more onto, to bring a little extra life and interest to these practical structures.

•Utilise interesting containers. Depending on your style, a statement pot can either be a welly
boot, something made from an interesting stone, a home-made raised bed, or anything
between. Where you site pots can create a real statement, and can give you additional
planting possibilities.

•Consider water. Many of us may already have some kind of water feature in our garden –
perhaps in the form of a bird bath, or a small pond. These are extremely helpful for garden
wildlife, and collecting of rainwater is a sustainable practice, too. But why not take this
further and consider channelling water? This creates interest and a really relaxing
atmosphere, while still collecting this essential resource.