National Gardening Week is here and this year the RHS invites you to 'Be Curious'.

The theme encourages us to slow down and enjoy the little moments in garden, whether it's the soft breeze in the trees, the buzzing bees collecting nectar or the sweet sound of the birds singing.

Curiosity leads us to a better understanding of our gardens. It doesn't matter whether you have a small balcony area or a wide open plot - you could try something new and and see how your plants respond to the changes, leading to more joy outdoors.

Be Curious in the Garden: Plant Ideas to Inspire You

Pollinator Favourites

Welcome more pollinators into your garden and take a moment to enjoy the gentle buzz of bees or spot graceful butterflies passing through. Did you know we have over 270 species of bee in the UK?

Discover plants that pollinators love.

Ribes 'King Edward VII' (currants) help pollinators by offering early-season nectar and pollen when few other plants are flowering.

Known as the 'Butterfly bush', Buddleja 'White Profusion' offers sweet nectar to butterflies, hummingbirds and other beneficial pollinators.

Crab Apple 'Butterball' is a popular tree with pollinators due to it's abundant, fragrant blossom with a long flowering period.

Stress free, low-maintenance plants

Part of this year's 'Be Curious' theme involves supporting newer gardeners in their planting ventures. At Ornamental Trees, we have a variety of low-maintenance plants that provide impact without demanding constant attention. These plants are also ideal for those busy gardeners who want a stress-free garden they can enjoy without fuss.

Amelanchier lamarckii is a wonderful small tree for beginners, needing very little pruning or maintenance once established and also has a natural resistance to pests.

Cornus 'Cherokee Chief' brings beautiful seasonal interest while being heat and disease resistant compared to many other cornus varieties, with no need for regular pruning. 

Photinia 'Red Robin' is fantastic for vibrant colour and is a robust evergreen tree withstanding cold temperatures, it offers year-round interest with very minimal upkeep. 

Trees for birds

The 'Be Curious' theme also encourages you to take a minute to enjoy and observe our lovely garden birds.

You can support them by planting species such as Birch, Oak, Hawthorn, Sorbus and Crab Apple. In David Attenborough's newest series 'Secret Garden' he discusses how the little Blue Tit relies almost entirely on caterpillars to feed their young. These live on our native trees and are vital to keeping the species alive. You could support an entire eco-system in your very back-garden!

Our native Sorbus (Rowan) is a fantastic tree for supporting birds. Blue tits can feed their young from the tasty caterpillars and the bright berries provide a crucial food source from autumn.

Silver birch is a valuable tree for birds, providing insects for chicks in spring and summer, and later offering seeds and shelter through its branches for food and protection throughout the year.

Highly favoured by birds Crab Apple 'Red Sentinel' produces bright red fruits that often last until the birds need them most, popular for its high berry yield