Simon Parry is a TrexPro composite deck installer for Trex UK and director of Simon Parry Gardening & Landscaping. Established in 2011, the specialist gardening company offers a range of services: from basic mowing and maintenance to full garden transformations.
Simon is dedicated to maintaining, developing and creating beautiful gardens for homeowners to enjoy. He is also part of the TrexPro installer network for Trex UK. Founded in the US and established in the UK in 2011, Trex invented and perfected composite decking – a sustainable alternative to wood, made of up to 95 per cent recycled materials.
Climate-resistant designs
With the UK experiencing more extreme weather – including longer dry spells and higher temperatures alongside periods of intense rainfall and storms – the need for climate-resilient planting is becoming more important when designing outdoor spaces. When planning designs, we need to consider species that can tolerate extremes without compromising on aesthetics.
Shrubs, perennials and grasses that are drought/heat tolerant include:
- Rock Rose
- English Lavender
- California Lilac
- Lamb’s Ear
- Catmint
- Sea Holly
- Stonecrop
- Mexican Feather Grass
- Blue Fescue
Shrubs, perennials and grasses that are drought/heat tolerant include:
- Red-Barked Dogwood
- Guelder Rose
- Astilbe
- Hesta
- Miscanthus Sinensis
- Bowles’ Golden Sedge
In terms of climate-resistant designs, we’re seeing more layered planting – incorporating structural shrubs as the backbone of the space, grasses for movement and perennial flowers to add seasonal colour.
We also add gravel or mulch when planting to retain moisture, keep roots cool, improve drainage and protect the crowns of plants.
Low-maintenance spaces
Low-maintenance spaces are increasingly in demand, with homeowners looking for attractive gardens that don’t require regular upkeep. Designs for low-maintenance spaces focus on incorporating durable materials along with resilient planting options to reduce the time, cost and effort required to keep gardens looking their best throughout the year.
Composite decking is a popular option for low-maintenance design schemes, offering long-term durability and requiring much less upkeep compared to timber alternatives. Resistant to fading, warping and rotting and requiring no staining or sanding, composite can be cleaned periodically with warm, soapy water.
Bold, architectural plants such as New Zealand Flax, Japanese Maple and certain types of Bamboo (don’t be scared!) and ornamental grasses like Miscanthus add year-round interest while keeping the need for maintenance to a minimum.
Biodiversity
Garden and landscaping designs are increasingly prioritising biodiversity, creating outdoor spaces that support wildlife while still maintaining a sense of structure. Attracting pollinators and using planting schemes that work in harmony with nature encourages a healthier ecosystem, with thoughtful planting and design choices suiting gardens of all sizes.
More homes are introducing wildflower patches, which as well as being aesthetically pleasing are easily maintained are also self-seeding for beautiful flowers year after year.
Other examples of pollinator-friendly plants include Lavender, Ceanothus, Buddleia, Black-Eyed Susans and Verbenas.
Making your garden an extension of your home
Gardens are now seen as an additional ‘room’ in the home, with outdoor living set to continue increasing in popularity throughout 2026. Homeowners are using their gardens to host family and friends, creating spaces that function as additional living rooms, dining areas and outdoor kitchens.
To blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, we’re using colours and styles that complement the homeowner’s inside space, creating a seamless ‘flow’ from inside to out.
To create the freedom for people to use their outdoor area as they please, we incorporate covered seating and decking areas for use in all weathers and rather than use built-in furniture, we opt for seating that can move as and when needed.
Zoned deck designs that shape the landscape
Another trend for this spring and summer is intentional zoning within outdoor spaces. Elevated decks, terraced deck levels and clearly defined zones such as dining, cooking, lounges and garden transitions are increasingly popular for maximising use of sloped or irregular terrain. This trend positions the deck as a functional design feature that shapes the garden and connects garden features (like planting beds and paths) with outdoor living spaces.
Container gardening and soft scaping
Homeowners are increasingly treating decks and patios as garden spaces in their own right. More people are layering greenery directly onto decking areas through container gardening, built-in planters, and vertical plant displays, blending functional outdoor living with lush, plant-rich environments. This trend makes decks feel more inviting and garden-connected while softening hardscape surfaces with colour, texture, and fragrance.
Trex is available from a range of builders’ merchants, garden and landscape supplies specialists across the UK, as well as at over 150 Wickes DIY stores. For more information on Trex, visit uk.trex.com
