With an expert eye for detail and a passion for creating beautiful, meaningful outdoor spaces, Chris Young is one of the most respected voices in British garden design. As a former Editor of The Garden magazine, his insight into planting, design and storytelling in the landscape is second to none. We caught up with Chris, garden designer and consultant, to talk about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, plus expert tips for designing a garden with heart.
Can you tell us about any standout gardens or designers you're particularly excited about this year?
As ever, it should be a great year for new ideas and tempting designs. Jo Thompson’s ‘The Glasshouse Garden' should be a lovely, softly-planted, jewel-like delight. Tom Massey and Je Ahn’s ’The Avanade Intelligent Garden' garden will be fascinating - it’s an urban forest garden that is using technology to help people understand how to look after trees and a public garden. This has never been done before at the show. It’s also great that Nigel Dunnett, a superb plantsman and professor at the University of Sheffield, is working with an arts charity to create an art studio and workspace, based on the east coast of Scotland. In the smaller gardens, I’m looking forward to seeing ‘Garden of the Future’, by Matthew Butler and Josh Parker, all about how we can deal with climate change.
What trends are you noticing at Chelsea this year?
Trees are a definite. The last few years has seen more - and bigger - trees come into the show. But this is not just for aesthetics - it’s because trees offer so many things, from casting shade to slowing down heavy rainfall, and even being great for wildlife. The trend for more informal and relaxed gardening is very much a norm now - intermingling plants and soft crescendos of colour and foliage. Specific trends are difficult to predict ahead of the show because the planting palette will continue to change right up until the last minute. With the very hot past few weeks, many of the planned plants may have gone over and done their flowering - so replacements will be in order!
What do you find most rewarding about returning to Chelsea each year?
I’ve been coming to Chelsea for the past 25 years and I love to see how garden design, horticulture and gardening changes over time. You may not see a major difference year on year, but if you look back 5, 10 or 50 years, then you really can see how things have changed! For me, that’s inspiring and really interesting.
What are your tips for a well-balanced garden?
Grow what you love the look of and know will be happy in your garden. A well-balanced garden is one where people can enjoy it; that the right plants are in the right place; there is space for wildlife; and that plants are growing in tune with nature. The more you can get the right materials and plants to suit where your garden is, the happier they will be, the easier they will be to manage and the less time you’ll have to spend on them!
What are your favourite low-maintenance plants that still offer big impact?
Catmint in May is hard to beat - Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ has loads of blue/purple flowers that attract pollinators. You can cut the plants back as soon as they’ve finished flowering, and then they will flower again in the same year. If you want something bigger, then why not a fuchsia? There are plenty of shrubby ones - my favourite is Fuchsia ‘Hawkshead’ which has pure white gorgeous flowers. Requires hardly any maintenance apart from a bit of a prune! And finally, if you want a real wow factor or something exotic, try Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’ - massive leaves that die down over winter, but you don’t need to do much looking after. Just be warned that it grows big (to 5m)!
How do you start planning a new garden space - from blank slate to finished design?
That’s a massive question… as Editor of the RHS Encyclopaedia of Garden Design, I’ve written a whole book about designing a garden! But the short answer is to really get to know your garden - where the sun rises and sets; where the frost pockets are; where the really dry soil is and so on. Then work out what you want from your garden. And don’t hold back - write down everything you dream of doing in your garden, and see if you can get all that into the reality of your outside space. It can often be done. And if you’re struggling, hire a garden designer.
What’s your go to plants for all season summer blooms?
I’d have to pick a rose - like Rosa Lady of Shallot. I’ve been growing it for a few years in my garden now, and the lovely orange-red chalice shaped blooms have a nice scent. The other plant that is great for a season-long flowering period is a salvia - Salvia ‘Pink Amistad’. It grows to about 1.2m but has lovely soft pink open-mouthed blooms. May need a bit of protection in winter, but a real show stopper in your garden.
Do you have a favourite plant or garden feature that always works?
I always include a yew bush, hedge or topiary in any of my gardens. I love the structure they bring and the fact they clip so easily. Plus I love the heritage of them, and the fact that you can see them growing majestically near churches or historic buildings.
Any advice for those looking to get into gardening?
Please just give it a go! There is no failure. Things might not work out, but having a go IS gardening. And do what you like in your garden - whether it’s growing veg, growing cut flowers, growing succulents, growing trees! We need more gardeners in our world, as it’s great for wellbeing and for creativity. And for helping the planet and nature, one plant at a time…
Looking for more gardening inspiration? Follow Chris on Instagram:
Instagram - Garden consultancy: @SeeWhyGardens
Instagram - Garden design: @CYgardendesign