Achieving a great-looking, functional garden doesn’t need to take a lot of time, resources or hard work, and with these 5 tips from David Coton, you’ll see just how easy it will be to elevate your outdoor space and achieve your gardening ambitions in 2025.

Make the most of the space you have by keeping it neat, tidy and organised

Vanguard Storage

A tidy garden = a tidy mind. If you keep your space organised and know where things are, not only will it save you time in the long run but it’ll keep you motivated to do little jobs throughout the year, knowing you have everything you need to complete whatever task it may be efficiently. Small, organised storage solutions with shelves and draws are a great place to start as they often come with hooks, pegs, tool hangers and sometimes even extra shelves which will help to maximise the space by creating levels and depth.

If you are looking for a larger storage solution, take some time to research your options. It is often too tempting to settle for the cheapest solution, but as the age-old saying goes, you get what you pay for! By investing in a reputable brand, such as Biohort, Europe’s leading manufacturer of metal sheds and storage boxes, you will have the peace of mind that the unit itself and everything inside is safe and protected at all times. Ask yourself, does the product have brand reputation, longevity and a manufacturer’s guarantee? Don’t forget to consider any possible ongoing maintenance requirements, such as having to treat your shed every year. Speak to an expert first! This will help you to better understand the pros and cons of each material, from timber to metal, and always seek advice on ground and base preparation before proceeding with any purchase.

Once you have your space organised, create a plan! Get a pen and set tasks on your calendar in advance. This will help you to stay ahead of the seasons, ensuring you are planting and sowing at the optimal times and giving your garden the best chance to look its best throughout the year.

Add life to your garden by introducing the sound and movement of running water

Blagdon Mocha Pool

The sound of flowing water creates a refreshing and tranquil atmosphere that is universally loved by not only us humans, but animals too. By adding a water feature to your garden, you’ll be creating a peaceful spot where you and your family can relax and unwind after a long day or on a warm summer’s evening. If you decide to install a pond, you’ll also be fostering a natural ecosystem for any local wildlife, such as frogs, toads, newts and dragonflies, who will very much appreciate a quick pit stop where they can refresh themselves before going on their way.

Both ponds and water features can be adapted to fit in seamlessly with your existing environment by adorning them with edging stones, wildflowers, pebbles and more. 
Purchasing a self-contained water feature will be the most instant solution for achieving this, but you could also purchase a ready-to-use preformed pond which could either be sunk into the ground to create a natural waterside look or raised and supported to create a focal point in your garden.

Illuminate your space with energy-efficient outdoor lighting so it can be enjoyed day and night

garden lighting

With ever-changing technology and the cost of living to be considered, garden lighting can easily become a minefield! Making the right choice for you and your space is important in ensuring you create the desired ambiance and drama, whilst extending the enjoyment of your garden from day into night.

Start small and gradually add as you become more confident. Always invest in mains-powered lighting to illuminate walkways and spaces - this will help to create dimension and depth to your space even if it is on the smaller side.

Wall lights may be a more feasible option to install nearer the house or balcony and will be controlled from the comfort of your own home - speak to your electrician and embrace smart technology which may be able to control lights via voice or realtime dusk to dawn settings ensuring you will not need to change the setting as seasons or clocks change. 
If you plan to lay a patio or pathway, why not run conduit underneath with little extra cost, this will future-proof your long-term goal even if you are not quite ready to tackle the project this year. 

Solar lighting can still be hit and miss with typical British weather meaning grey cloudy days will not give you a bright garden for very long in the winter… Solar technology has come a long way and is a perfect solution where intense lighting is not always required. The best place to start with solar lights is with lighting that adds to the mood, perhaps a string of solar festoon lights in trees or around a gazebo or archway? Or maybe a set of festive lights can put you in the mood for an outdoor party or add a splash of colour or what not place some flame effect solar lights in pots or around borders and rockaries. To create that extravagant or romantic feel, outdoor table lights and patio lanterns make a nice feature where rechargeable lights are becoming more popular and an ideal choice for an instant, anywhere effect. 

Keep sustainability in mind to create a resourceful garden that gives back

Climate change is a growing concern for us all and it’s important we are doing our part to protect the environment we live in. Gardening is a great way to embrace your natural surroundings by supporting the flora and fauna. Growing in an eco-friendly way is a must for every gardener, whether it be introducing wildflowers that create habitats for pollinators or building manmade habitats that will attract other wildlife into your garden - a great simple way to start is by attracting birds and bees is using nest boxes and bird feeders and planting natives species of plants like bluebells.

The need for composting is becoming more important and will reduce the need for fertilisers or bagged compost required, however, should you need to support what's growing, ensure you are adopting the eco-friendly approach by using peat-free compost or organic fertilisers.

Whilst we hope to see a more settled 2025 in regards to the weather system, we find the weather getting warmer and planning for extreme temperatures should also be considered. The use of rainwater and harvesting this is a good place to start - use a water butt connected to your gutting system, greenhouse or other garden building.

What will be GardenSite Top Seller in 2025?

My predicted top seller in 2025 will be our Halls Signature Moon gate garden arch, each year we have grown our range of garden archways and the moon gate that is inspired by Chinese architecture has set the bar, not just because of its elegant design, they all create a sense of enclosure and guide you towards a focal point, separate or hidden space adding a touch of mystique and tranquillity to any garden.

Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy New Year!

We all face many challenges each and every year in all aspects of life, and ourselves as a family-run business included. It's important we also stop and reflect on what has been achieved, now celebrating over 25 years of trading online and positively looking ahead. In 2025, we look forward to continuing our investments not just in the people we employ and knowledge and expertise but also with sustainability, working with the right supplier partners and continuing to source the right products so we have the confidence of being able to support you, our valued customers who I would like to thank and wish you all a happy and healthy New Year.