What are the best plants and trees to add to your garden?

What are the best plants and trees to add to your garden?

Transforming your garden into a lush oasis requires a careful selection of plants and trees. The right choices not only enhance the aesthetics but also provide year-round interest and support local wildlife. In this guide, we explore a variety of options, from towering trees to vibrant shrubs, to help you bring life and vibrancy to your garden. Don’t forget to have a look at your options for garden sheds to be able to keep all of your tools away properly no matter the weather. This way you don’t have to worry about what you’re using or if it’s going to be in good condition because you know that it will be. Whether you seek shade, colour or a combination of both, these recommendations will help inspire your choices when adding more plants to your garden.

Evergreens

Evergreens are invaluable additions to any garden, offering year-round beauty, structure and practicality. Their vibrant foliage remains lush and green throughout the seasons, providing a constant backdrop of colour and texture. Evergreens also act as reliable privacy screens, shielding your garden from prying eyes, wind and noise. Moreover, they serve as wildlife habitats, attracting birds and beneficial insects. Varieties like pine, spruce and cedar are easy to maintain, making them excellent choices for low-maintenance landscapes. Hedging UK offers a range of evergreen hedging plants such as Portuguese laurel, green beech and holly.

Perennials

Choosing perennials for your garden is a wise investment in lasting beauty and reduced maintenance. These enduring plants return year after year, offering a dependable source of colour, texture and fragrance. With a wide array of options like hostas, day lilies and coneflowers, you can create diverse landscapes that suit your style and climate. Unlike annuals, perennials require less replanting, saving time and money. They also promote soil health and attract pollinators. By carefully selecting perennials that thrive in your region, you can establish a garden that provides enduring charm and evolves with each passing season, making it a sustainable and enjoyable space each year.

Climbing plants

Selecting climbing plants for your garden is a captivating way to maximise vertical space and add lush, vertical interest. These versatile wonders, such as clematis, wisteria and honeysuckle, bring beauty and functionality to your outdoor space. Climbers can adorn walls, trellises and arbours, softening harsh structures and creating enchanting focal points. Many varieties produce fragrant blooms, attracting pollinators and creating an inviting atmosphere. Some even bear edible fruits or provide dense foliage for added privacy.

Wildflowers

Wildflowers are crucial components of ecosystems and play diverse vital roles in our environment. First, they support pollinators like bees and butterflies, aiding in the reproduction of many plant species, including agricultural crops. Additionally, they help control soil erosion by stabilising soil with their roots, improving soil health and water retention. Wildflowers also offer habitat and food for various wildlife species, promoting biodiversity. Furthermore, they enhance air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Their beauty and adaptability make them valuable for landscaping and rewilding efforts, enriching our landscapes while fostering a sustainable and biodiverse natural world.

Herb collections

Herb collections are a delightful and practical addition to any garden or kitchen. These aromatic plants provide a steady supply of fresh, flavourful ingredients for cooking, enhancing culinary creations with vibrant tastes and aromas. Moreover, growing and cultivating your own herbs can be an educational and rewarding experience, deepening your understanding of plant care and herbal remedies.

Fruit and veg

Growing your own fruit and vegetables in your garden is a rewarding and sustainable endeavour. It allows you to enjoy the freshest, most flavourful produce right at your doorstep. Not only does it save money, but it also reduces your carbon footprint by cutting down on transportation and packaging. Gardening fosters a deeper connection with nature and provides a sense of accomplishment as you nurture plants from seed to table. Moreover, it encourages a healthier diet, packed with vitamins and nutrients.

Native plants

Native plants are a superb choice for your garden, promoting local biodiversity and requiring minimal maintenance. Consider including bluebells, known for their enchanting springtime displays, and foxgloves, which attract bees and add vertical interest. Meadowsweet offers delicate white flowers and is excellent for damp areas. Red campion provides vibrant pink blooms and yarrow boasts clusters of small, white flowers that draw pollinators. All these native plants are well-suited to the UK’s climate and soil conditions, making them eco-friendly and visually appealing choices for your garden.

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Designer Desire: Richard Shimell

Montage of Richard Shimell artworks

Portrait of Richard Shimellcredit

This week, I saw a tree linocut print created by Richard Shimell which I loved so much I went in search of more of his work.

We have an absolutely huge sycamore tree in our front garden that we take pleasure in observing on an almost daily basis. We see the way it ebbs and flows with the seasons – its bare-branched silhouette in the winter; the array of birds and insects that use it for food, nesting and shelter in the spring; the auburn leaves and whirligigs carpeting the ground beneath in the autumn. His studies remind me of this reassuring, annual cycle; the trees are the stars of the show!

Here he is giving a little insight into his practice:

I started printmaking late in life. After a career in journalism, I joined the Dartington Print Workshop as a complete beginner in 2010. It was a steep learning curve, but I stuck at it and eventually started selling my prints. I became a member of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen in 2016.
I live in a wooded landscape on the edge of Dartmoor, so am lucky enough to be surrounded by trees. I have a small studio at home with my own Hawthorn press.
I’m drawn to the simplicity of silhouettes and the complexity of branches. I enjoy all stages of the making process, from drawing to carving to printing.
I also make books, using my prints on the covers and enjoy experimenting with other forms of printmaking, including drypoint, collagraph and etching on lino.

You can purchase his works on his own website and select galleries in Devon, Cornwall, North Yorkshire, Norfolk, The Lake District and others.

Price Points: Nature identification guides

Nature identification guides | H is for Home

Having to spend so much of the day in lock-down, indoors and in isolation makes you more aware of your wider surroundings. With the good spring weather, people have been spending their limited time outdoors, walking and cycling and generally appreciating the environment.

We’ve been noticing the growing presence of wild birds, butterflies and the reawakening trees. Here are a number of nature identification guides that we’ve found to help you in your quest to recognise what’s around you.

Bird identification guides | H is for Home

Birds

  1. Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab: free, Apple Store
  2. Field guide to the top 50 garden birds laminated identification chart book: £5.95, eBay
  3. RSPB Pocket Guide to British Birds – RSPB (paperback): £6.99, Waterstones

British tree identification guides | H is for Home

Trees

  1. British tree identification app, Woodland Trust: free, Apple Store
  2. British tree leaves A4 and A5 identification chart: £3.95, Etsy
  3. Collins Complete Guide to British Trees, (paperback): £14.95, Amazon

British butterfly identification guides | H is for Home

Butterflies

  1. iRecord Butterflies app (iPhone & Android): free, Butterfly Conservation
  2. British butterfly wall chart: £2.85, Watkins & Doncaster
  3. The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland (set): £550.00, The Pemberley Bookshop

shop nature identification guides

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland (set)
The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland (set)
£550.00
British butterfly wall chart
British butterfly wall chart
£2.85
iRecord Butterflies app (iPhone & Android)
iRecord Butterflies app (iPhone & Android)
free
Collins Complete Guide to British Trees, (paperback)
Collins Complete Guide to British Trees, (paperback)
£14.95
British tree leaves A4 and A5 identification chart
British tree leaves A4 and A5 identification chart
£3.95
British tree identification app, Woodland Trust
British tree identification app, Woodland Trust
free
RSPB Pocket Guide to British Birds – RSPB (paperback)
RSPB Pocket Guide to British Birds – RSPB (paperback)
£6.99
Field guide to the top 50 garden birds laminated identification chart book
Field guide to the top 50 garden birds laminated identification chart book
£5.95
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab
free
The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland (set)
The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland (set)
£550.00
British butterfly wall chart
British butterfly wall chart
£2.85
iRecord Butterflies app (iPhone & Android)
iRecord Butterflies app (iPhone & Android)
free
Collins Complete Guide to British Trees, (paperback)
Collins Complete Guide to British Trees, (paperback)
£14.95
British tree leaves A4 and A5 identification chart
British tree leaves A4 and A5 identification chart
£3.95
British tree identification app, Woodland Trust
British tree identification app, Woodland Trust
free
RSPB Pocket Guide to British Birds – RSPB (paperback)
RSPB Pocket Guide to British Birds – RSPB (paperback)
£6.99
Field guide to the top 50 garden birds laminated identification chart book
Field guide to the top 50 garden birds laminated identification chart book
£5.95
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab
free

Price Points: Metallic palm tree lighting

Metallic palm tree lighting | H is for Home

If you’re aiming to create a luxe interior, the black & metallic combo is a must have. Dark grey, even black, painted or papered walls set off perfectly gold, brass, bronze and copper accessories.

Flora & fauna motifs are also all the interior rage at the moment; think cacti and succulents, butterflies, exotic birds and wild flowers. You won’t go wrong with one of these exotic palm tree lighting choices. Team them with statement Edison filament bulbs for an even more opulent setting.

  1. Dar Lighting Hachi 72cm table lamp: £69.99, Wayfair
  2. Montserrat leaf ceiling light, gold: £450.00, John Lewis & Partners
  3. Palm Trees floor lamp in gold: £945, Out There Interiors

shop metallic palm tree lighting

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Palm Trees floor lamp in gold
Palm Trees floor lamp in gold
£945
Montserrat leaf ceiling light, gold
Montserrat leaf ceiling light, gold
£450.00
Dar Lighting Hachi 72cm table lamp
Dar Lighting Hachi 72cm table lamp
£69.99
Palm Trees floor lamp in gold
Palm Trees floor lamp in gold
£945
Montserrat leaf ceiling light, gold
Montserrat leaf ceiling light, gold
£450.00
Dar Lighting Hachi 72cm table lamp
Dar Lighting Hachi 72cm table lamp
£69.99
Palm Trees floor lamp in gold
Palm Trees floor lamp in gold
£945
Montserrat leaf ceiling light, gold
Montserrat leaf ceiling light, gold
£450.00
Dar Lighting Hachi 72cm table lamp
Dar Lighting Hachi 72cm table lamp
£69.99
Palm Trees floor lamp in gold
Palm Trees floor lamp in gold
£945
Montserrat leaf ceiling light, gold
Montserrat leaf ceiling light, gold
£450.00
Dar Lighting Hachi 72cm table lamp
Dar Lighting Hachi 72cm table lamp
£69.99
Palm Trees floor lamp in gold
Palm Trees floor lamp in gold
£945
Montserrat leaf ceiling light, gold
Montserrat leaf ceiling light, gold
£450.00
Dar Lighting Hachi 72cm table lamp
Dar Lighting Hachi 72cm table lamp
£69.99