The Chelsea Flower show is one of the garden trend setters as it is the biggest show of its kind in the UK. At this show there are over 600 exhibits, from international exhibitors including France, Holland, Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Australia. There are also some top garden designers such as Shao Fan, Andy Sturgeon and Annabella Lennox-Boyd.

This years trends include texture and permanence which focuses on greenery and foliage. Hornbeam hedges and multi-stemmed Sumachs are featured. Another example of a newly popular trend for this year is Therapy due to the recession where simplicity has made a come back; simply shaped flowers in muted colours such as Rosa Mutabalis, loose peonies and pale Astrantias. Another fairly simple trend is Ethereal Charm where delicate flowers, like thalictrums and elegant aquilegias are grown amongst fine grasses. Then for smaller gardens there is some slim line space use in the form of Growing Up with vertical walls. These are just some of the many ideas and themes presented at the Chelsea Flower Show which can inform trends suitable for your own garden.

You could take inspiration from a number of trends but one that might prove popular with those seeking to save money is the idea of growing plants from seed. This is an increasingly popular notion with today`s gardeners and there is an increasing range available. While you could grow allsorts of flowers such as foxgloves, nigella and larkspur it is possible to grow your own simple flower garden using this method using inspiration from the simple muted colour theme from the Chelsea Flower Show. If the idea of pale and subtle colours is not your idea of a good looking garden a simple colour theme with the use of darker, bold colours can also be quite fashionable. Deep purples, magenta and black are possible striking colours to use. A suggested simple fashion tip is to team two plants of the same shade to dominate the overall aesthetic look of the garden. This could be as dynamic as a black iris with black bamboo or as bright as heather baskets with cornflower or violet plants.

Another colourful idea is to look beyond the British backyard of flowers and bring in something a little more exotic such as the Mediterranean cardoons which have edible stems as well as looking beautiful. This makes them of practical as well as aesthetic value. They are also silver leafed which makes them fit in well with an Ethereal garden. This type of design best suits a country garden, particularly where there is a natural pond. It is a good theme for entertainment as it can easily and inexpensively be dressed for a party with candles, Chinese paper lanterns, coloured gossamer fabric strips and other decorative items.

It is also worth shopping around for some good garden furniture which is an investment as furniture tends to see through various garden trends. Regardless of how you decide to have your garden this year it is always worth considering some permanence in there to ensure you make best use of your garden. BBQ furniture can ensure that your garden can be used for summer entertainment for example. A garden table and chairs are almost statutory; always useful for entertaining or simply enjoying the sun. If you like reading and relaxing in the garden then a garden swing is an ideal set piece. Aesthetic permanence on the other hand is often achieved through a feature that works well with other trends such as a water feature.

If you would like to use your garden at night then it is well worth investing in some permanent lighting; whether you want to dine al fresco in the evening or have some friends over for drinks. This saves the hassle of putting together makeshift lighting every time you entertain. However garden lighting is also a useful safety measure, particularly in the darker winter evenings. So think about the furnishing of your garden as well as the plants this year in order to make the most of your outdoor space particulary as this year there are some great special offers which you could take advantage of by using discount voucher codes available online.