Gardening trends for 21st century

The last few years have seen gardening rise in popularity.

Once considered an activity mostly undertaken by elderly people or retirees, owning, potting and planting greenery has now become a big hit with younger millennial generations.

For those who want to up the ante and spruce up their backyard with the latest in gardening, the trends as we enter the new decade have come in for the year. In a previous article, I summarized the guiding philosophy for these trends as the 3Ws; that is gardening for Wellness, Wildlife and the World. The experts have revealed their gardening trend predictions for 2020 — and it seems sustainability and super-sized houseplants are at the top of the list.

As we enter a new decade, gardening takes on an ever more important role in helping us to create healthy and happy places to live. While many gardeners will celebrate the return of some old favourites, there is much to be excited about in the way that we’ll all be growing in 2020. (Horticultural experts and science and communities teams reviewed and tried to figure out what will be the next big thing in gardening).

From huge plants to 80s flower inspiration, here are the top five developments expected to blossom in 2020.
Supersize your plants

In 2020, plants will take centre stage in people’s homes.

Wildlife garden with pond

Sustainable Soil will become more important

Don’t know much about soil? Time to do some research.

According to new findings have revealed that a soil bacteria known as mycobacterium vaccea is good for our immune systems, which could spark interest in mud pies this year. Sustainability is also key, with gardeners expected to use environmentally-friendly materials such as wood fibre and green waste compost, as they put the environment first. In addition, they are predicting that many of us will embrace the ‘no-dig’ philosophy when it comes to gardening, which could help limit damage to soil structure and help wildlife thrive

The 80s are back
Meanwhile, if you’re considering adding a new flower to your pots, baskets or beddings, the 80s will resurge with sweet-scented old-fashioned flowering plants such as nemesia and diascias at the front of the line.
Some of the 1980s favourite plants, such as nemesia and diascias, are set to make a comeback. Famed for their long flowering period and sweet-scented petals these beautiful species will pop up in gardens. The experts explain: “New breeding programmes that have resulted in a wider range of sensational colours such as the dark and mysterious Nemesia ‘berries and cream’ and more delicate ‘Wisley vanilla’ only add to their appeal. The sweet scents will attract bees and butterflies’.

Natural aesthetics
Pristine plants are no longer all the rage.
Thanks to increasing awareness around environmental care, more of us are looking for ways to help wildlife numbers in our own gardens. Bee hotels, wildlife ponds, log piles, plants for pollinators and compost heaps are tipped to rise in popularity this year. Plus, more good news, Gardeners are also expected to shun the use of pesticides as they put the planet first.

As more people become aware of plummeting wildlife populations and aim to do their part in supporting these, they will take place in their homes and gardens for imperfect designs, such as plants that leave seed heads for insects, as well as shopping from a wider selection of greenery.

Grow your own food
While growing fresh produce at home has become an obvious route for many across the years, horticulture experts are predicting more of us in 2020 will grow our own fruits and vegetables to help support the environment.

With the environment and climate change at the forefront of people’s minds, many will turn to sustainable ways in sourcing their food too, by growing their own, reducing plastic use and gardening in communal areas.
Chilli is still number on one on the list of popular spices.

Other staples in vegetable plots include beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils, soya and other legumes Planning on making your own vegetable patch? Why not give it a go…

Collection of mini cacti and succulents<br />