6 trending ideas for your garden from RHS Hampton Court 2023

RHS Hampton Court 2023 is short for The RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. But that sounds far too grand.

It is the Chelsea Flower Show’s much loved younger sibling – more relatable, less crowded, not as tainted with the whiff of ‘being fashionable.’

Because we gardeners often declare that we’re not keen on ‘following fashion’. It is viewed with deep suspicion and firm denials.

But when you see a good idea, why not copy it? A new plant variety? Yes, please! A better tool? I’ll try it. And so on.

Fashion is often about innovation and invention. It can get people talking and thinking differently. So this is what I think we can take away from Hampton Court for our own gardens.

Several show gardens at RHS Hampton Court 2023 featured rocks as water features, sculpture, seating and more.

Gabions are large metal baskets, filled with rocks or stones. They were used for sea defences, but are now being used widely in garden design. The gaps between the rocks and stones are a good wildlife habitat. When Jane Beedle re-designed her small contemporary town garden, she re-used the paving that was originally in the garden by breaking it up and putting it in gabions. It doubles up as seating and wildlife habitat. It saved her money because she didn’t have to pay to have it taken away.

Raised beds used to be for growing vegetables. Now you can find them in different materials and colours. They’re perfect for renters because they can be moved when you move.

And raised beds show off the planting by raising it up. You can grow plants that don’t suit your soil by using specialist