If you're embarking on a garden design project, understanding the styles and garden trends that are at your disposal can certainly help when it comes to deciding how your garden will look.
But, garden trends are also about considering how your garden serves you, the environment and how you can create an external space that lasts. After all, redesigning your garden every year isn't quite as simple as painting a wall or upgrading your front door.
That said, if you aren't creating a garden from scratch, this year's garden trends certainly make it easy to adopt new ideas into existing spaces. From embracing wellness and imperfection, to self-sufficient and regenerative gardening, here's what to expect.
1. Expect less manufactured and more natural spaces
Although contemporary design will still influence garden landscaping ideas into 2026, there's a growing trend for something a little less forced, says Rosie Wilkins, founder of Rosie Wilkins Landscape Design.
"Going into 2026, there will be increasing emphasis on creating spaces that feel crafted, not manufactured. Gardens that capture a sense of ‘relaxed yet refined’, that are not only beautiful to look at, but more importantly, are inviting to use and spend time in," predicts Rosie.
In line with some of the interior design trend predictions for the coming year, it's about investing in craftsmanship and quality.
"In terms of materials, there’s a clear shift in favour of natural materials, with an increasing preference for stone, timber, and clay over composites and porcelain," says Rosie. "It’s not only about sustainability, but also the warmth and character these materials bring. When specifying materials, there’s also more thought going into the lifecycle and lifespan of products – how they’re sourced, produced, and eventually reused or recycled.
"With this, there’s also a renewed appreciation for craftsmanship and local skill," she adds. "Natural materials are lovely to work with, tactile and each piece slightly unique, allowing for more bespoke, creative detailing. This hand-finished quality gives gardens a sense of quiet luxury and understated elegance that continues to get better with age."
For inspiration, why not consider ways to re-use brick in your garden.
Rosie Wilkins studied Landscape Architecture at the University of Sheffield, and now heads up Rosie Wilkins Landscape Design. She enjoys working on both domestic and small public projects
2. Mini meadows will become accessible to all
The appeal of the wildlife led and sustainable, eco-gardening trends we saw in 2025 is set to continue in 2026, with the rise of a trend some experts are calling 'mini meadows.' Rather than thinking you have to give your garden over to nature entirely, even small spaces can bring joy and abundance.
“These pocket-sized meadows offer far more than beauty – they feed pollinators, enrich the soil, and reconnect us with the natural rhythms of the seasons," explains Dr Emily Attlee, conservation scientist and co-founder of Seedball.
"You don’t even need a large garden," she confirms, hence the reason why a mini meadow can work for anyone. "A balcony box, pot, or planter can become a perfect mini meadow, and when choosing your wildflowers, consider what will thrive in your space," advises Dr Attlee.
"Pick sun-loving blooms like poppies, musk mallow, and scabious for bright, open spots, or shade-tolerant species such as foxgloves, red campion, and toadflax for tucked-away corners.
"Soil type matters too," she adds. "Wildflowers often flourish in poorer soil, where other plants struggle. Once you’ve chosen, simply scatter the seeds onto bare soil, water once, and let nature take care of the rest."
Try these garden planter ideas if you're living in a more urban environment and need somewhere for your mini meadow to thrive.
Dr Emily Attlee is a conservation scientist, and along with her partner Dr Ana Attlee, founded Seedball, a multiple-award-winning, not-for-profit organisation. Ana and Emily’s mission is to help increase the abundance of British wildflowers and wildlife that depend upon them by encouraging people to maximise the outdoor space available to them and scattering seed balls of native flowers.
3. Destination gardening brings wellness to the fore
Throughout the homes and gardens trends we've shared for 2026, there's a buzz-word that's appeared across the board and that's wellness. It's at the core of interior design trends, so it's no surprise that it's extended into our gardens too.
"It feels like there is a slow but meaningful change in attitude around how people think about and use their gardens. While people are still short of time, there is a definite rise in the number of people who are using gardening as a way to relax and unwind. It’s a subtle but important shift from “low maintenance” to “low-intensity” that goes hand-in-hand with the naturalistic planting style which is relaxed, easy to care for, and approachable for people of any skill level to get involved with," says Rosie Wilkins.
"It feels part of a wider shift towards using gardens to support wellbeing and lifestyle, as people are looking to spend more time in their gardens for the simple joy it brings, whether pottering around, growing fruit and veg, or having a morning coffee surrounded by nature. Gardens are increasingly being seen as spaces to nurture, and be nurtured by.
"It also builds on the long-established concept of 'indoor-outdoor' gardens," she adds. "Our gardens are becoming an integral part of everyday life, helping us reconnect with nature. With features from garden offices and outdoor kitchens to saunas and cold plunge pools, we are now able to create personal sanctuaries in the comfort of our own home, to slow down and balance the fast-paced demands of modern life - and it’s proving very popular to do so."
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4. Climate resistant designs will be increasingly necessary
Changing garden trends aren't just about aesthetics, they are also about dealing with the evironment and landscape you're working with. Climate change continues to impact our homes and our gardens and so we have to find new ways of designing them to suit.
"With the UK experiencing more extreme weather - including longer dry spells and higher temperatures alongside periods of intense rainfall and storms - the need for climate-resilient planting is becoming more important when designing outdoor spaces," confirms Simon Parry, director of Simon Parry Gardening & Landscaping.
"When planning designs, we need to consider species that can tolerate extremes without compromising on aesthetics. This means planting schemes will include shrubs, perennials and grasses that are drought/heat tolerant, such as Rock Rose, English Lavender, California Lilac and Lambs Ear," says Simon.
"We'll also see more layered planting – incorporating structural shrubs as the backbone of the space, grasses for movement and perennial flowers to add seasonal colour," he expands, "as well as gravel or mulch when planting to retain moisture, keep roots cool, improve drainage and protect the crowns of plants."
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Simon Parry is a director of Simon Parry Gardening & Landscaping and a TrexPro composite deck installer for Trex UK. Established in 2011, the specialist gardening company is based in South Birmingham and offers a range of services: from basic mowing and maintenance to full garden transformations. Simon is dedicated to maintaining, developing and creating beautiful gardens for homeowners to enjoy
5. Regenerative gardening will help nourish our gardens
In the same way we are using our gardens to heal ourselves, we will also become more conscious of ensuring our gardens are replenished too, with the trend for regenerative gardening coming to the fore.
Not sure what regenerative gardening is? It's about about working with nature, not against it. Techniques like no-dig gardening and trends such as 'No-Mow May' are key, along with layering organic materials like compost and mulch to feed the soil and encourage biodiversity.
So how can you create a garden that is essentially designed with self-improvement in mind?
“Healthy soil is the foundation of resilient gardening – and if we look after it, it will look after us," explains Dr Sarah Owen-Hughes, head gardener at Rudding Park. "More than just dirt, soil is a living ecosystem that stores carbon, prevents flooding, mitigates drought, and provides nutrient-rich food. By nurturing it, we can help both our gardens and the planet thrive.
“One of the most important steps is to keep soil covered, either with plants or organic matter. This could be a temporary green manure crop such as clover, a thick mulch of compost or leaf mould, or even the ‘chop and drop’ method, where herbaceous perennials are cut back and left to break down on the surface," she suggests.
“Variety is also key. Growing a wide mix of plants allows roots to reach different depths, strengthening soil structure. Legumes add nitrogen naturally, while even small fruit trees help stabilise the ground. And, just as our diets benefit from variety, so does soil: feed it with compost, straw, spent hops, or well-rotted manure and let the microbes do their work."
“Finally, reduce digging wherever possible," says Dr Owen-Hughes, "to protect the delicate fungal and microbial networks that keep soil healthy and resilient.”
Dr Sarah Owen-Hughes is Head Gardener at Rudding Park, a luxury hotel, spa and golf destination near Harrogate, North Yorkshire. A former horticulture lecturer, she is passionate about making horticulture accessible to all, and co-curates the Human Gardener stage at the Harrogate Flower Shows to promote the people behind the plants twice a year.
6. Mixed material surfaces will add variety and character
A growing preference shared by Eliza Gray, founder of Eliza Gray Gardens is a move away from single surface finishes in our gardens.
"Something I have found more and more is clients asking for mixed surfaces. Whether it is gravel and paving slabs, or self-binding gravel and clay pavers, mixing up the detail on the ground level is a growing garden trend," she says.
"This has a number of advantages. Firstly, it can help with your garden landscaping costs. Gravel and self-binding aggregate are far cheaper than pavers and slabs. Secondly, it gives visual interest and lifts the scheme out of the ordinary," adds Eliza.
"Last but by no means least, using different surfaces within a landscaping scheme is a simple and effective way of differentiating between spaces that have different uses, for example a terrace and a pathway, or a step and a patio.
"I have also used different paving surfaces to indicate changes in level or direction within schemes for those with impaired vision," she says, making it worth considering if you are creating a garden for a lifetime home.
Eliza's top tip? "Make sure that you don't use too many different materials within a scheme so that unity of colour and materials is preserved."
Somerset-based garden designer and director of Eliza Gray Gardens. Since graduating with a distinction in Garden Design in 2006, she has also gained various qualifications in horticulture and organic gardening.
7. Immersive and seasonal gardening schemes
Increased connection and use of our gardens as another 'room' within our home, is also leading towards a trend to create schemes that Rosie Wilkins refers to as 'immersive gardens'.
"With a growing desire for ‘destination’ gardens that offer a sense of escape and sanctuary, particularly in urban environments, an immersive style of planting plays a key role," she says.
"Schemes in these settings call for design that feels restorative and refreshing, full of lush green foliage that creates layers of texture from the ground up. And, as we continue to seek out that indoor-outdoor feel in our homes, installing bigger windows and large bi-fold doors for example, the seasonal interest of our gardens becomes more important.
"Expect to see gardens that incorporate uplifting drifts of spring bulbs, dramatic autumn foliage and book-end colourful summer flowering displays, followed by structural evergreens to tide us through winter."
"For year-round interest, consider bold, architectural plants such as New Zealand Flax, Japanese Maple and ornamental grasses like Miscanthus," suggests Simon Parry which have the added benefit of being low-maintenance too.
8. Outdoor living isn't going anywhere
Worried that all the gardening trends seem to imply that keeping your garden as natural as possible won't allow space for outdoor living? Don't be say the experts. Outdoor living is going nowhere, and in fact will potentially become even more popular as we stay at home more due to the rising cost of living.
"Outdoor living is certainly set to continue increasing in popularity throughout 2026," confirms Simon Parry. "Homeowners are using their gardens to host family and friends, creating spaces that function as additional living rooms, dining areas and outdoor kitchens.
"To blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, we will be using colours and styles that complement the homeowner’s inside space, creating a seamless ‘flow’ from inside to out," he says.
Climate change will also influence how our outdoor living spaces look, adds Rosie Wilkins.
"With hotter summers, the demand for pergolas and garden shade to create cooler, more comfortable climates to sit out in will grow, as well as a need for garden lighting and heaters that extend our ability to use gardens long into the evenings and across more of the year," she adds.
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If we look further ahead, what else are our experts hoping will grow in garden trends in 2026?
"On a personal level, one area I’m particularly keen to focus on in 2026 is front gardens and streetscapes," says Rosie Wilkins. "I’d like to see a broader view of sustainability across the industry, one that recognises the social and economic benefits of landscape design as a way to gain traction with the more obvious environmental impacts.
"For example, well-designed front gardens can boost property value, reduce the urban heat-island effect and enhance local biodiversity, among other things. Collectively, this has the power to transform streetscapes, and as a result, communities, the local economy and ecology."
If your front garden design needs to include a driveway, make sure you check out these front garden driveway ideas before you finalise your designs.
