2021 gardening predictions: what trends will we see?
Will we see comfort planting and the rise of the ‘lazy lawn’ in 2021? Read all about our predictions for gardening in the coming months
As the UK’s 30 million gardeners get back out on their plots this spring and summer, we’re delighted to publish our annual gardening predictions.
Shaped by the events of the last year, and with an estimated three million people newly green-fingered, we’re predicting a return to quintessential garden design and a new make and make-do approach that will influence how plants are grown and nurtured.
1. Comfort planting
Delphinium ‘Centurion Sky Blue’ has striking azure flowers
Poppies bring a punch of colour to borders and beds
Roses and hydrangeas won out in 2020 as gardeners turned to old, reliable favourites with big blooms and long flowering periods. However, that demand is set to translate into shortfalls this year with delphiniums, lupins, foxgloves and poppies instead likely to be top candidates for those wanting to create a cottage-garden look.
2. Pick your own
Growing fruit and vegetables in any space available wil prove popular
Food growing in domestic settings increased substantially in 2020 with a return to staples such as potatoes, salad and onions and plants associated with herbal remedies including aloe vera, echinacea and sambucus. This is set to continue with raised beds - which aid with accessibility and promote faster growing – proving popular while for those on smaller plots, tubs, troughs and windowsill crops as well as vertical growing systems are likely to become de rigueur.
3. Lazy lawns
Alternatives to the traditional cut lawn may become more familiar sights
Prized by those that have them, lawns have taken centre stage as a space to work, relax and play. But the immaculate, striped lawn has given way as gardeners come to accept the inevitable wear and tear and turn a blind eye to a bit of browning in summer. Some will seek out interesting and environmentally benign alternatives such as small leaved clovers which, usually mixed with grasses, will stay green without fertiliser and resist drought.
4. Starting small
Sowing seeds can be a low-cost and satisfying way to grow plants for your garden
The growing popularity of seeds - attributed to their low cost and with some harvested from supermarket produce for free - has seen many develop their skills in plant raising. Production issues could also translate into more 9cm pots being sold over the usual 2-3L options with gardeners enjoying the process of watching plants grow.
5. Soil recycling
Re-using and re-purposing soil is becoming more common amongst gardeners
Gardeners have learnt to be more frugal when it comes to what their plants are grown in. Home-made potting media was a necessity in 2020 as stocks dwindled and growers are now more inclined to save money and help protect the environment by creating their own mixes, such as combining sieved soil with organic matter, re-using growing media in containers and even forgoing containers and planting in existing border soil.
