Garden Trends for 2020

RHS Chief Horticulturist Guy Barter has some predictions for big garden trends we need to look out for this year. Using his abundance of knowledge, Guy explains that as we enter a new decade, gardening is taking on an ever more important role in helping us to create healthy and happy outside spaces to enjoy.

House Plants, supersized

As houseplants migrate from shelves and windowsills to more central locations in the home, buyers will increasingly seek show stopping varieties. These include Alocasia with its giant leaves and Monstera with its deep green, patterned foliage.

Soil steals the limelight

Gardeners will increasingly consider what their plants are grown in, turning to more sustainable materials such as wood fibre and green waste compost, sowing over crops to increase nutrient levels and quality and adopting the ‘no dig’ philosophy to limit damage to soil structure and wildlife.

Going back to the 80’s

Eighties favourites Nemesias and Diascias will see a resurgence owing to their flexibility as a bedding, basket or container plant, long summer flowering period and sweet scent that attracts bees and butterflies.

A more natural aesthetic takes hold

An increasing awareness of biodiversity loss means gardeners will look for ways to support wildlife. This could include growing more varied plants, accepting the presence of some damage and the flowerbeds not being too tidy. Bee hotels, wildlife ponds and compost heaps will continue to increase in popularity.

Growing to eat

Growing food becomes an obvious route for many in helping to support the environment. It reduces plastic use as well as building connections in more communal settings. Chillies, beans, peas, lentils and other legumes are becoming a staple of the vegetable plot pushing out more traditional crops.

Source: www.rhs.org.uk/garden-inspiration, Guy Barter, RHS Chief Horticulturist, 12 Dec 2019

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