These 5 garden trends will keep you in touch with the latest craze in gardening, and will inspire new ideas for the upcoming season.
As a plant lover and gardener, I'm always interested in learning about new or current trends in the industry. Today I'm sharing 5 garden trends you may want to try or experiment with, in this year's garden.
5 Garden Trends
1 The Art of 'Wabi Sabi'
One of the most interesting to me is the Japanese art of Wabi Sabi design. This concept centers around the idea of "perfectly imperfect." Ideas such as leaving seed heads on plants for winter interest, low maintenance gardens with native plants, and enjoying the beauty of nature as it evolves throughout the seasons and time.
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2 Growing Edibles in Containers
This trend has been going on for a while, and continues with more and more dwarf varieties of shrubs and trees for everyone to enjoy in the smallest of gardens. This year I plan on trying to grow blueberries in a container. I'm hoping using a container will be easier to protect the berries from the birds and squirrels.
3 Supporting Wildlife
Another trend is gardening with wildlife in mind. Gardens designed specifically for butterflies, and choosing flowers to attract more pollinators is a strong trend. Easy ways to include this trend are to create garden projects such as this Building bug hotel or this Bird and Butterfly Water Feeder.
4 Purple Passion
Pantone's Ultra Violet is the color of the year. Maybe that's why you find purple flowers in this year's plant varieties and garden design. It's pretty easy to incorporate this color in the garden as there are many flowers and shrubs with this beautiful color. However, there are also several edible purple plants that you can grow. Purple vegetables are not only interesting and pretty, their unique color denote anthocyanins which are very beneficial to your health.
5 Indoor Hanging Gardens
Lastly, going vertical is still largely on trend. Many are hanging their plants indoors and out. The art of macrame has made a comeback, perfect for hanging pots. You can find a very basic tutorial on how to create jute hangers here.
Though some may consider these garden trends a fad, or just the latest fashion, I think they'll be around for the long haul.
Pamela
I am a Wabi Sabi gardener and didn't even know it! I called it Lazy. 🙂 I put my blueberries in containers last year and I am hoping they do okay. I wanted to be able to move them rather than any other reason.
My cousin and I used to do macrame in our teens and I was looking for some patterns a couple years ago and everyone about had a fit that I was going to do something so 70's. Now it is back in which I think is great cause now I can find patterns easily.
Patti Estep
Pamela, you crack me up. Wabi Sabi definitely leans toward relaxed but I would hardly call you lazy. I also know what you mean about the 70s comebacks they are everywhere and I'm guilty of posting about many. There's just something fun about re-creating those crafts that we did as kids in a more modern or grownup way.
Jonni
I love this post!! I had never heard of wabi-sabi. I Wikipedia-ed the meaning. It's kinda like maybe finding out your heritage, I'm a wabi-sabi gardener!
Patti Estep
Hi Jonni,
Yes. Everyone is relating to Wabi Sabi. A great trend.
Stacey @ Poofing the Pillows
I didn't know that's what wabi sabi meant. I'm happy to know that. Truthfully, you'll drive yourself insane if you don't accept some imperfections in the garden. 🙂
Patti Estep
I totally agree Stacey. I think that's why so many are into the Wabi Sabi movement.
Maria
I love purple passion! When I see it in the nature I always cut a few stems and bring it to the screened porch area, its pretty safe there. Since my cat will try to eat it!. But its also toxic for cats so thats another reason I keep it there. Plus it super pretty.
Patti Estep
My cat past away last year and we decided not to get another pet but I really miss her. They are funny creatures for sure.
Carole
A friend of mine will be thrilled to find out her garden is spot on. She use to garden like crazy then life kind of took over and now does very little. But her yard still looks great because way back she planted very wabi sabi... Just the other day she was saying I need to enjoy what's here instead of what isn't. I love that.. Wabi Sabi. Anyways with berries I've learned the hard way... If you want to have enough for you to enjoy, then grow a lot. I had 3 plants my first year and the birds ate everything, then I doubled that, put them in raised beds and everything changed. I had such a large crop the birds couldn't keep up and Dixie and I enjoyed berries for months. So this year I'm doing four 8 ft. beds with cuttings we brought from the farm, I probably won't get much this year but the next will be amazing! Great Read and I may do Lettuce in planters.
Patti Estep
Yes. Wabi Sabi is something so many of us can relate to and I love your berries story. There's nothing more tasty and healthy than a bowl full of fresh berries. Thanks for sharing.
Jennifer
I can totally get behind wabi sabi. I have found I have less interest over the years in maintaining high maintenance perennial beds- I have switched to blooming shrubs and trying to use more native species. Much happier.
Patti Estep
Hi Jennifer,
I know what you mean. I love collecting new flowers but after a while it can be quite a problem with upkeep and I really love the beauty of nature in all forms, so wabi sabi is one that I can relate to as well.