Looking for some garden inspiration? Or simply interested in knowing what’s trending in that gardening world? Here at St. John’s, we’re taking a look at five garden trends for 2025, from edible landscapes to eco-conscious practices. We’ve paired each of these with expert advice on how you can integrate this into your own outdoor space, no matter the size or restrictions. If you need any further advice, our teams are always happy to chat to you in-store.
1. Edible Landscaping
Edible landscaping is all about integrating fruits, vegetables, and herbs into your garden’s aesthetic, whether in the form of a kitchen garden or a simple addition of some edibles between your flowers and shrubs. Imagine lush borders filled with kale and Swiss chard, colourful edible flowers like nasturtiums and fragrant herbs like thyme cascading from containers.
The “garden-to-table” movement has been a significant driver of this trend, as more people are opting to grow their own produce to ensure fresher, healthier meals. Fruiting trees and shrubs, such as blueberries, are particularly popular for their low maintenance and high yield. In fact, 2024 saw a surge in blueberry sales, which shows no signs of slowing.
Tips to get started:
- Try companion planting to deter pests while adding a pop of colour, a few common companions are: onions and carrots, marigolds and tomatoes, nasturtiums and squashes.
- Plant perennial vegetables like asparagus and rhubarb for bountiful harvests year after year.
- Create vertical planting structures to save space with bamboo canes and sticks around the garden for plants like beans and peas.
2. Gardens in Small Spaces: Think Vertically
With an estimated 1 in 8 people in the UK living in a property without a garden, many are looking at small spaces and innovative growing methods to add a touch of greenery to their homes. Courtyards, balconies, and even windowsills are being transformed into green sanctuaries with the rise of container gardening and growing microgreens.
Living walls, tiered planters, and hanging baskets are perfect for those with limited space. Herbs, salad greens, and compact vegetables like chilli peppers and Tiny Tim tomatoes thrive in pots, while ornamental plants like ferns and ivy add lush greenery to vertical installations. You can even pick up some fantastic dwarf fruit trees such as patio peaches.
Container gardening tips:
- Choose pots with good drainage to prevent waterlogging.
- Top your pots with pea shingles, crushed shells or mulch to help retain water and suppress any weeds.
- Regularly feed your plants to ensure they flourish.
3. Rewilding and Naturalistic Designs
The wild garden trend is ever-growing as more gardeners embrace naturalistic designs. This approach mimics nature with fluid, informal layouts and native plants that attract pollinators. It’s also a win for the environment, creating habitats for birds, bees, and butterflies while reducing the need for fertilisers and intensive maintenance.
Allowing sections of your garden to grow wild or introducing features like wildflower meadows, hedgerows, or clover lawns can transform your outdoor space into a biodiverse haven. We have a range of beautiful wildflower collections available to pick up in-store, as well as plenty of havens for creatures big and small.
Enhance your wild garden with:
- Introduce bird feeders and nesting boxes to support local wildlife.
- Add insect hotels to provide shelter for beneficial bugs.
- Plant low-maintenance native plants like foxgloves, cowslips, and knapweed.
4. Outdoor Living and Gardening for Wellbeing
As our lives get busier, the garden has become a sanctuary for relaxation and restoration. A recent UK study of more than 8,000 people focused on connecting people to nature saw fantastic improvements in participants’ mental health, life worthwhileness and overall happiness, which has further pushed the trend of getting outdoors, whether that’s creating a garden haven at home, or joining in with a community gardening program.
Seating areas, water features, and calming plant palettes are being incorporated into garden designs to create personal oases. There’s also an increase in community gardening projects, which bring people together to share the joys of gardening and foster a sense of connection. One of our team members, Fiona is in her second year of studying plant medicine and recommends adding [examples of things to add to your garden, and the benefits they may bring].
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5. Environmentally Conscious Gardening
Sustainability remains at the heart of modern gardening. More people are adopting eco-friendly practices such as no-dig gardening, which preserves soil structure and reduces carbon emissions. Organic fertilisers, rainwater harvesting, organic pest controls, plants for pollinators and solar-powered garden lights are becoming staples for the eco-conscious gardener.
In response to climate change, gardeners are also prioritising resilient plants that can thrive in extreme weather conditions. Native cultivars, drought-tolerant species, and shade-loving plants for hotter summers are in high demand.
Eco-friendly tips:
- Add a wildflower patch or pollinator friendly plants into your garden.
- Incorporate companion planting to naturally repel pests.
- Mulch your garden beds to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a green-thumbed beginner, these trends offer inspiration to refresh your approach and try something new. From cultivating edible landscapes to creating wild havens and embracing sustainability, 2025 is all about making gardens more beautiful, functional, and connected to the environment.
What trend are you most excited to explore? Visit us at St. John’s Garden Centres to find everything you need to bring these ideas to life.