Chelsea Flower Show Gnome U‑Turn
The RHS has lifted its long‑standing ban on garden gnomes for the Chelsea Flower Show 2026 — only the second time in over 35 years the rule’s been relaxed, promising a more playful show garden season. Gardening star Monty Don also published his April to‑do list urging gardeners to resist over‑planting and make measured changes this spring. (irishnews.com) (kentlive.news)
The gnomes earmarked for Chelsea will be decorated by celebrities and sold at auction to raise money for the RHS Campaign for School Gardening. (rhs.org.uk) The RHS and The King’s Foundation Curious Garden will be presented as the show’s centrepiece during the Chelsea Flower Show running 19 May–23 May 2026. (rhs.org.uk) Celebrities already signed up to paint gnomes include Cate Blanchett, Dame Mary Berry, Brian May and Baroness Floella Benjamin, with the full 2026 line‑up due to be announced in May. (rhs.org.uk) Celebrity‑decorated gnomes were last used at Chelsea in 2013 when Sir Elton John, Dame Mary Berry, Lily Allen and Joanna Lumley took part in a fundraising auction. (rhs.org.uk) The long‑running restriction traces back to Rule 30 in 1927 and was tightened in the 1980s to bar “highly coloured figures” such as gnomes, making this only the second time the ban has been relaxed in the show’s history. (uk.style.yahoo.com) The RHS says proceeds from the 2026 auction will support its Campaign for School Gardening to expand gardening education and wellbeing programmes for schoolchildren across the UK. (rhs.org.uk) Monty Don’s April blog tells gardeners to “resist the temptation” to scalp lawns in spring, advising to set mower blades high for the first cuts to protect grass health. (montydon.com) Monty also recommends working in a manageable way — either tackle overdue jobs now, delay them a little, or leave them until next winter — to avoid over‑planting and disruptive, wholesale changes. (montydon.com)
