Garden design close to nature: The trend towards wilderness

For some it is a place of retreat - in the middle of the countryside, far away from the hustle and bustle. For the others it is a place of communication - to chat with loved ones over coffee and cake. And for most it is a proverbial playground for creating, experimenting, growing and harvesting. We´re talking about the garden. And the desire to dig deep in the earth, to watch little plants grow and to be infected by the lightness of butterflies is undiminished. Even more: The "Gartln" is very trendy - as a pure and decelerating contrast to our digital and fast world. But one thing has changed: Gone are the days of meticulously trimmed green areas, strictly defined areas and bare rock gardens. Instead, gardens that are not only modeled on nature, but also allow nature to take control, are now making their grand entrance. Natural garden design is here to stay. We will tell you what characterizes this trend and how you can design your garden in a natural way.

Designing your own garden close to nature: our tips

When it comes to designing a garden close to nature, we say goodbye to too much perfectionism - nevertheless, a few considerations are required so that everything thrives and fits together in the end. The following areas are important to start with:

Flowering bee pastures: When it comes to natural gardens, the motto is: the more species-rich, the better. And not only the human eye is happy about a sea of colors and shapes, but also bees, butterflies and the like. Plants that are particularly bee-friendly are: sunflowers, daisies, dandelion, bellflowers, catnip or phacelia. Blackberry and raspberry bushes are also perfect for this. They can be optimally supplemented with other native shrubs and trees such as barberry, privet, viburnum, honeysuckle or cornel, which are also an ideal retreat for birds. By the way: This year we are also decorating our vases with cut flowers from the garden. Because with these flowers - in contrast to many products on the market that come from the south and are contaminated with pesticides - the transport routes are short and we know exactly where and how they grew.

Colorful Chaos: Anyone who hangs around at the garden shows will find that the trend is generally towards wild color combinations and floral opulence. The "color of the year 2023" heralded this daredevil, radiant time in other areas of life at the beginning of the year: it's called Viva Magenta. And if you also want to bring strong pink-red nuances into the garden, the following plants are the best choice: stonecrop, daylily, purple bells, purple coneflower, masterwort, spiers, ornamental dahlia. And: These colorful companions can also (re)conquer some areas in the near-natural garden, because we give them more space again. If overgrown paths are too much of a good thing, you can rely on cushions of low-growing ground cover between gravel surfaces and large stones. This also increases the proportion of green in the garden and more permeable areas are created that can transport rainwater away better. You can get inspiration from professionals, for example, at the Bavarian State Garden Show in Freyung, in the Kittenberger Adventure Gardens or at one of the many other garden shows in your area.

Self-Catering Paradise: Natural gardens should not only be pretty, but also practical. The advantages are manifold: your own vegetables and fruit not only taste good, but also protect the environment and your wallet. In addition, the path from sowing to harvest makes it possible to experience the course of the seasons and small failures are ideal teachers in terms of resilience and mindfulness. Gardening beginners are best off with frugal varieties – for example tomatoes, peas, cucumbers, courgettes, iceberg lettuce, radishes or strawberries.

Naturalness is trump: The trend towards a natural garden also includes the areas of terraces, balconies and the like. Because these have long been an extended living space, with outdoor kitchens becoming cooking oases, with yoga equipment for meditation and spa places and with comfortable furniture for the perfect place for the "staycation", i.e. the holiday that you spend at home. And natural materials such as wood and stone have priority. Garden paths are laid out with fine gravel, you take a seat on sustainable wooden furniture and decorate with cozy cotton or linen cushions and blankets. Our CHICO hammocks and hammock chairs go perfectly with this. We manufacture these in the environmentally conscious version from sustainable cotton and our frames are made from high-quality ash wood. Aluminum, plastic, cement or concrete, on the other hand, have no place in this natural scenario. When it comes to colours, the decoration in the natural garden is gallantly reserved: shades of beige and brown, delicate green or orange nuances as well as anthracite and black provide an appropriate stage for everything colorful.

Just let nature do its thing

So you could say that this year the motto in your own garden is: "More is more." And so we bathe in a sea of colors, enjoy everything that blooms and thrives and lean back a bit. Or swing from one hour of leisure to the next. For example in one of our CHICO hammocks. So: just let nature do its thing, it could be good.