The RHS, Soil Association and Garden Organic, RSPB, Houzz, Gardens Illustrated and other sources point to some exciting garden trends for 2025!
Sustainability is Key:
- Water-wise gardening:
With erratic rain patterns, gardeners are focusing on channeling and absorbing excess rainwater, using techniques like “sponge cities” with planted areas and rain gardens. Water butts are also becoming more popular for collecting rainwater. - Out with bedding plants:
Traditional bedding plants are losing popularity in favor of more sustainable options like hardy annuals and long-lived perennials that require less water and are more robust. - Organic gardening and zero waste:
There’s a growing emphasis on organic methods, home composting, mulching, and using organic fertilizers. Gardeners are encouraged to recycle plant materials back into the garden (Source: Soil Association and Garden Organic).
Embracing Nature:
- Biodiversity:
Gardeners are increasingly focusing on attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies by planting species like alliums and crocuses. - Wildlife habitats:
Creating habitats for wildlife is a priority, with features like water sources, log piles, and native plants to attract birds, insects, and small mammals. - Wilder aesthetics:
Gardens are adopting a wilder, less structured look (-> ‘Rewilding’), moving away from rigid designs and embracing naturalistic planting schemes with diverse colors, textures, and heights.
Innovative Techniques:
- Layered planting:
Techniques like “lasagna planting” for bulbs and layered perennial borders are gaining popularity for garden bordes to maximize space and ensure a succession of blooms. - No-dig method:
The no-dig method by Charles Dowding is emerging as a key approach to maintaining soil health, enhancing soil structure and biodiversity, and reducing weed growth. - Vertical gardening:
With compact urban spaces, vertical gardening is on the rise, using living walls and balcony gardens to bring greenery into unexpected places.
Other Notable Trends:
- Edible perennials:
Plants like blueberries and honeyberries are gaining popularity for their reliable annual bounty, low maintenance, and provision of habitat for wildlife. - Emphasis on Front Gardens:
Front gardens on the front line: Front gardens are getting more attention, with considerations for electric charging points, permeable surfaces, and low-maintenance planting to help with rainwater runoff. - Cottagecore:
This aesthetic is trending, incorporating natural stone walls and cobblestones with overflowing flowerbeds for a rustic feel (see Pinterest and Instagram). - Chocolate brown tones:
With the Pantone Colour of the Year, Mocha Mousse, expect to see more chocolatey tones in plants like Digitalis parviflora ‘Milk Chocolate’ in garden centers and nurseries. New blog coming soon…. - Cutting gardens:
The popularity of cutting gardens is growing as people seek sustainable ways to enjoy fresh flowers indoors to complement their interior design.
These are just some of the garden trends that you can look out for in 2025 and implement. By embracing sustainability, nature, and innovative techniques, everyone can create a beautiful and florishing garden that benefits both you and the environment.