AI‑Designed Gardens Stir Debate at Chelsea Flower Show

The Royal Hospital gardens in Chelsea are hosting their annual showcase, a venue usually marked by polished horticulture and polite conversation. This year, the atmosphere is charged as award‑winning designer Matt Keightley introduces Spacelift, an app that generates garden plans using artificial intelligence. Keightley argues the tool gives homeowners a concrete starting point, a clear plan, and the confidence to move beyond imagination.

Spacelift’s debut includes three distinct installations: a rural garden built from reclaimed materials, a compact balcony garden for city dwellers, and a woodland‑themed wellbeing space featuring a sauna and cold shower. All three are produced entirely by the platform, marking the first time AI‑designed full‑scale gardens appear at the world‑leading show.

Traditionalists are vocal. Andrew Duff, chair of the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers, calls garden design an art rooted in creativity, collaboration, and human connection—qualities he says AI cannot replicate. He warns that while AI may serve as an inspiration tool, it cannot replace the insight, empathy, and accountability that professional designers bring. Yvonne Price, a veteran exhibitor, called the Chelsea platform a “betrayal” of the show’s standards.

Industry voices acknowledge limited AI use, such as sensor‑driven watering schedules or climate‑responsive planting suggestions. Gold medallist Tom Massey, who previously integrated AI for data monitoring, distinguishes that from “robot designers,” expressing concern that AI could eventually mimic his style without the tactile interaction he deems essential.

Spacelift counters that the app targets homeowners priced out of professional services, not designers. Alexandra Davison, head of PR for Spacelift, says the platform expands the market, producing better‑informed clients who arrive with clearer briefs, ultimately benefiting designers.

The controversy highlights a broader question: will AI democratise garden design or erode the craft? As visitors walk the Chelsea grounds, the three AI gardens will serve as a live test of technology’s role in shaping outdoor spaces.

What to watch next: Reactions from the public and industry after the show will indicate whether AI tools become accepted supplements or face regulatory pushback in the garden‑design sector.