Top 5 Garden Trends For 2021
2021 has been a record year for home gardeners. There are more people gardening this year than ever before for a variety of reasons: the pandemic has created a fleet of remote workers who are finding more time to get out in their backyards and tend to gardens, often for the first time ever. These gardeners are mostly looking to grow their own food and become more self-sustainable. Others — especially younger gardeners — have been turning to houseplants and containers to brighten up their small spaces in cities. With this epic boom in gardening, 2021 garden trends are both exciting, ground-breaking and based out of necessity for this new gardener.
Growing Food
With the craziness of food hoarding and grocery stores being undersupplied in 2020, Many are taking it upon themselves to grow their own food. Those who were previously tied to a 9-5 job in an office are now working from home, allowing them more time to tend to their garden and pick up the new hobby. People are also extremely interested in self-sufficiency and having to rely less and less on the food system that has been somewhat uncertain in the past few years. These gardens are also getting much bigger; those who previously planted a few tomatoes and herbs are now expanding their vegetable gardens into raised beds with more square footage.
So what are we growing in 2021? A little bit of everything! People are trying to grow as many different things as possible to help offset their trips to the grocery stores. Home gardeners are growing the classic tomatoes, peppers, and herbs, but also branching out to more interesting varieties like watermelon, berries, and edible flowers.
Home garden seed companies are seeing record sales and shortages in popular varieties. Their advice? Order early to ensure you get what you want!
Community Gardens/Allotments
Along with this huge boom in home vegetable gardens, many neighborhoods, schools, and communities are creating shared gardens in otherwise unusable space. This has been especially popular in cities where many may not have their own green space, but want to grow their own food for their families and the community. 2021 saw a record number of shared community gardens and collective efforts to feed communities with fresh-grown produce.
Liveable Outdoor Spaces
With many working from home and spending less time going out, 2021 has seen a huge rise in homeowners investing in creating liveable outdoor spaces. Whether it be a new patio, landscaped garden, stone wall, or fire pit, people are investing in their outdoor spaces to become an extension of their homes.
Planting For Pollinators + Sustainability
In 2021, home gardeners are looking to plant varieties that attract pollinators and are sustainable in their landscapes. This means many are turning to native plants and growing pollinator-favorite perennials that require little maintenance and come back year after year. Gone are the days of pristine, chemical-laden flower beds that look fabulous year-round and repel insects. Instead, many are turning to wildflowers and nectar-rich perennials that offer pollinators food, breeding grounds, and winter shelter.
Popular Pollinator Plants Of 2021:
- Agastache
- Aster
- Bee Balm
- Milkweed
- Joe Pye Weed
- Echinacea
- Rudbeckia
- Wildflowers
Unique House Plants/Windowsill Gardens
Finally, one of the most interesting trends of 2021 is happening in studio apartments, small condos, and shared spaces with almost no outdoor space. People are becoming obsessed with house plants! With many stuck at home for various reasons, those with almost no gardening experience are turning to house plants to help beautify their indoor spaces and bring the outdoors in. We’re seeing a re-emergence of some of the old-school plants that our grandparents adored and people are tending to houseplants as if they are their own children.
Popular Houseplants Of 2021:
- Spider Plants
- Succulents
- String Of Pearls
- Pothos Plants
- Snake Plant
- Aloe
- Monstera
If you’re like one of the millions of homeowners looking to beautify their outdoor space, whether it be with a new patio or native planting, contact us to learn more.