Gardening trends for 2020

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Garden nook: secluded spaces for relaxation and meditation

Sustainable soil, and Soil care: Soil steals the limelight. Gardeners will pay attention to what their plants are grown in

Include plants that perform double duty, at last rose combines fragrance and disease resistance

Use houseplants to inject life into indoor space, popular for mood enhancing effects and for décor

Like most things in life, even garden trends come and go. From popular plants and flowers, to shrubs, bushes and trees, new gardening ideas and the right plantings can transform an outdoor space into something that wows. Learn more about how to choose the best look for your garden to give it a chic, up-to-date, modern appeal that is both eye-catching and on point with recent trends.

Here’s what the gardening trend-watchers say they see in their 2020 compost-stained crystal balls:
In summary, interest is strong for native plants, dwarf hybrids, re-wilding gardens, edible settings, novel greens, wildlife-friendly landscapes, dark foliage, succulents, water-wise and xeric gardening, landscaping for natural disasters, and softer, leafier floral arrangements, the horticulturists said.

More and more folks are wanting to think about sustainability,’
They’re wanting to plant things that don’t require as much water or fertilizer. Plants that resist disease and insects. Plants that provide for wildlife use and need less maintenance and input. That not only saves money but it looks good, too. It’s restorative to the environment.”

BREAKING DOWN THE TOP TRENDS:
—Native Plants. These plants original to a specific place generally are lower maintenance, requiring less water, pruning and fertilizer.
For one thing, that’s translating into less chemical use. For another, it means gardeners are increasingly looking for tough, naturally bug- and disease-resistant plants so they can be successful without spraying or coddling. Organic is not enough. gardeners are keenly interested in eco-friendly ways to garden as well as bigger-picture sustainable practices.
Related to the above eco-friendly concerns, gardeners are planting with an eye on attracting pollinators and helping native wildlife in addition to care and ornamental considerations. Thanks to an 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, in more good news, gardeners are also expected to shun the use of pesticides as they put the planet first.

Houseplants get supersized
It’s no surprise that houseplants have made the list but, for 2020, more of us are expected to opt for larger, show-stopping species. Some of the plants include Alocasia (famous for its giant leaves) and Monstera (loved for its deep green, patterned foliage). While this is considered to be one of the biggest trends for the coming year, buying smaller 6-9cm plants and growing them remains a popular pastime for many.

Soil goes sustainable
Gardeners are expected to swap soil for more sustainable growing options, such as wood fibre and green waste compost, as they put the environment first. In addition, they are also predicting that many of us will adopt a ‘no-dig’ approach when it comes to gardening, to limit soil structure damage and help wildlife thrive.New research showing the benefits of soil bacteria Mycobacterium vaccea on the immune system could also see the welcome return of mud pies, helping to tempt younger people into the garden.

—Dwarf Hybrids. Gardeners without a lot of living space increasingly are choosing the dwarf varieties of their favorite plants. They also require less pruning. The houseplant craze continues. I don’t expect this upward trend to end anytime soon. Old houseplants are new again, and everyone is searching for the newest and most unusual. An offshoot of this trend is that people are increasingly interested in ways to decorate with houseplants.
—Re-Wilding Gardens. To encourage beneficial insects and the health of your garden, allow shrubs to return to their natural shapes, let grass grow longer and permit a few weeds to flower. Some of those volunteer weeds may be great wildflowers
—Edible Settings. Fruit-bearing plants, ornamental vegetables and edible flowers do double duty, adding beauty as well as nutrition to the home landscape.

Grow your own
While growing fresh produce at home has become an obvious route for many across the years, horticulturists are predicting more of us in 2020 will grow our own fruits and vegetables to help support the environment and reduce plastic waste. According to their research, chillies are one of the most popular choices for people to grow at home, closely followed by beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils and soya. Planning on making your own vegetable patch? Why not give it a go…

—Novel Greens. Vegetable gardeners will be looking to diversify their harvests with leafy greens generally grown outside from foreign continents— bok choy, mizuna and komatsuna among them, according to the horticulturists
—Plants for Wildlife. Most contemporary landscapes lack diversity, so gardeners should choose a variety of plants that flower and fruit. Plants with berries attract birds, and layering plants of varying heights provides hiding places for other species.
—Dark Foliage Plants with red, purple or black leaves are striking additions to any landscape, making them attractive to gardeners looking for something new in 2020.
—Succulents. The other class of plants that’s been booming lately is succulents, those fleshy-leafed plants that include cactus, sedum, echeveria, hens and chicks, and aloe.

Succulents are running in tandem with the houseplant phenomenon. There’s equally robust interest. This is a global trend where both tender and hardy succulents are being used in gardens.

Fueling the interest is the wide variety of shapes, colors, and forms of succulents as well as their ease of growth (low water needs, compact growth, few troubles with bugs, insects, and animals, etc.)

People are reaching out for lesser-known succulents that offer interesting shapes, textures and growth habits.
—Landscaping for Natural Disasters. Storms are becoming more erratic and more feared. Plant the kinds of trees around your home that reduce risk.
—Softer, Leafier Floral Arrangements. Flowers combined with foliage are gaining in popularity. “We are going away from the bundle bouquet of solitary flower blooms to the soft, organic feel of greenery.

Garden nooks
We’re seeing more people interested in creating secluded spots for relaxing and enjoying their yard’s gardens.
The ultimate goal in planning any outdoor environment is finding the right combination of lush growth and comfortable, inviting spaces that yard-guests want to be in. Private corners of a yard can be easy to transform into sweet, secluded spots that are ideal for reading, quiet conversations, meditation or even dining al fresco.
It is simple to create a space that’s both secluded yet inviting. It is best to keep seating comfortable, cosy and small. Establishing a boundary is easy using a vine covered trellis, arbour or even tall-growing hedges. You can always build an actual structure too, if the budget is big enough. Adding a water feature or an outdoor fire pit can put the final touches on any outdoor secluded sanctuary.

Art of the reward of nurturing a garden is spending leisure time in the beautiful outdoor space you’ve created. A garden nook tucked away within that space is the perfect place to pause, relax, and appreciate.Nooks are typically in the shade (although they don’t have to be) and have comfortable seating as well as accessories that might include a water feature, a fountain, or wind chimes.
The concept of garden nooks is certainly not a new one, but the idea is experiencing some renewed popularity as we all continue our quest for that ever-elusive work-life balance.

Water-wise gardening
Gardeners also are more interested in reducing water use in the garden.
Gravel gardening, water-wise gardening, and xeric gardening are all gaining in popularity as we all become more and more aware of global climate change and areas where access to water is a real issue. Public gardens are using these types of gardens to demonstrate how to have beautiful gardens that require very little water or irrigation.

Herbalism
Another sizable segment of gardeners is turning attention to a “deeper look at herbalism.
That includes growing herbs for tea (lavender, chamomile, basil, lemon-grass and “yes, even chemical-free roses to harvest the petals”) as well as DIY herbal syrups and elixirs. There’s a returned interest in plant medicine. 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.