Years ago, gardening was reserved for those who had expensive pieces of land where they could create long rows for growing food. Today, however, there is a skyrocketing interest among urbanites to grow their food, herbs, and flowers. The good news is that gardening in 2020 has taken a whole new twist making it possible for more and more people to experience the joy and rewards of small space gardening. Even better, gardens are all about marrying the use of space with what is good for wildlife and the earth as a whole. It is indeed a great time to garden. Let’s explore some of the hottest garden trends for 2020.
Growing vertically
If you are a renter or owner of a small home or condo, you can find creative ways to incorporate more green into your life – no matter how big of a space you have. One of the easiest ways to add more green is to grow upward through vertical gardening. Anyone can start a vertical garden no matter what kind of space you have. Here are some great vertical growing ideas to try.
- Use wall planters in your kitchen to grow herbs and microgreens.
- Attach planters to a fence, wall, or screen for growing food and flowers.
- Make a living privacy screens using your favorite succulents.
- Grow plants in an elevated raised bed on your balcony or deck.
- Grow a container garden using various sized containers placed on a vertical shelving unit.
Utilize technology for beautiful indoor plants
Indoor plants are becoming more and more popular as people become more aware of not only their aesthetic value but also the health benefits associated with having plants inside the home. Even those who are not secure in their gardening skills can enjoy healthy indoor plants thanks to the evolution of technology. Here are a few neat ways to ensure your houseplants thrive.
- If you are drawn to certain houseplants but don’t have enough light, you can make use of a number of handy and attractive grow light kits that will make your life easier.
- If you aren’t sure of whether or not you have your plant in the best light possible, you can employ a handy light meter app that will tell you just what to do.
- If you have an issue with remembering when to water your plants, try a readily available self-watering plant pot that gives your plants just the right amount of water when they need it.
Composting made easy
Even if you have a small balcony garden, your plants will benefit from homemade compost. No worries, you don’t need a huge stinky bin in your backyard to be a successful composter – anyone can do it thanks to new advances in home composting. Here are a few of the great reasons why everyone should compost.
- It reduces your carbon footprint.
- It enhances the fertility of your garden soil.
- It provides plants with the right nutrients to grow well.
- It is a fun family activity.
Water features galore
Water is in, not just for your own enjoyment but also for wildlife. The presence, sound, and visual impact of a water feature is so relaxing and carries many health benefits as well. Consider adding a tabletop water feature to your patio or, if fountains are not your thing, what about a birdbath that comes in stand-alone and hanging options.
Fun upcycling projects
With an increased desire to reduce our carbon footprint and breathe new life into old stuff, there is plenty of room for upcycling fun in the garden. The Internet is full of ideas to create fun and practical garden projects. Here are just a few ideas.
- Flowers planted in old boots.
- A living succulent picture created using an old picture frame.
- A hanging herb garden made from a fruit basket.
- A beautiful flower planter made from a cracked birdbath
Embracing the low maintenance landscape
There was a time when much planning and care was put into the home landscape. This meant hours of work on weekends when all you want to do is lie down and relax. Luckily, easy flowing natural landscapes speckled with native plants are all the rage. What this means for the average homeowner is less work and more beauty. Using native species of plants is good for the earth, good for wildlife, good for your pocketbook, and good for your back. If you are unfamiliar with species of plants native to your area, visit your local Cooperative Extension Office where you can get a quick education in just what will thrive with little care. No worries, native plantings are beautiful and provide long-lasting color and interest in the landscape.
Plants that do double duty
Along with the idea of using native plantings, there is an increased interest in using plants that perform double duty. This is another cost-saving and earth-friendly way to garden. Here are some great examples.
- Food plants for landscape – Integrating hardy bushes such as thornless raspberry, blueberry, and yezberry into your landscape provides great focal points as well as delicious food.
- Insect repellent – If you struggle with enjoying the great outdoors because of pesky insects such as mosquitoes, consider planting aromatic plants that offer mosquito repellent properties. Some great choices for your outdoor living spaces include scented geraniums, lavender, marigolds, rosemary, and basil.
- Living privacy screen – Use plants, shrubs, and vines to create privacy screens between you and your neighbor. These living fences are a beautiful addition to any patio or yard and bring the added benefit of attracting a vast array of wildlife.
Thematic food gardens
It is so much fun to grow your own food. With an increasing awareness of the health benefits of raising food, more and more people are starting to gain an interest in planting, caring for, and harvesting food gardens. No worries, you need very little space to grow enough food for your family. Try elevated box gardens for your patio or deck. The sky’s the limit when it comes to planting fun and thematic food gardens. What about a pizza garden, a salad garden, or even a fresh cocktail garden, all at your fingertips right outside your living room or kitchen. What fun it could be to pick all your own produce for your next dinner party!
-Susan Patterson
