DOUG’S GARDENING BLOG – Gardening Trends in 2020

HERE IS A LITTLE SNAPSHOT ON SOME OF THE POPULAR GARDENING TRENDS

First, Happy New Year to all. Typically, January is a month where there is not too much activity outside and, naturally so, with the cold, dreary days. But, now is a good time to think about what you want to do come spring. As you sit in your favorite chair with a fire in the fireplace and looking out the window, think about some of these popular gardening trends that are gaining momentum as we enter 2020 and becoming more and more popular with homeowners and gardeners.

Here is a list of some of the more popular gardening trends for 2020:

HOUSEPLANTS

Having houseplants in your home environment continues to be a strong and popular trend. Everyone wants to have some green plants in their lives. Whether you own a home, or a condo, or live in an apartment, houseplants are popular. Houseplants are referred to as “clean air machines.” NASA research has proven that with houseplants clean the air that we breathe. Through photosynthesis, houseplants take out harmful air pollutants and produce clean air. With these high rise condominiums being so popular these days, millennials are wanting some “green” included in the house interior design.

ORGANIC GARDENING

The industry is playing catch up with the creation and production of more organic products in order to keep pace with the demand. I sense the pendulum swinging with customers toward using more environmentally friendly products. Homeowners and gardeners are becoming more conscientious and more knowledgeable about alternative fertilizers and chemicals. More friendly insecticides and herbicides are becoming more in demand.

NATIVE PLANTS

You may be asking yourself a very common question  –  what, exactly, is a native plant. This is a good question because there seems to be different answers to this seemingly simple question.  Personally, I like the answer by the Virginia Native Plant Society. According to VNPS, a native plant is a plant that existed in Virginia when the settlers arrived. So, why has landscaping with native plants becoming such a gardening trend? The connection with nature is through native plants. Native trees such as oaks, willows, birches, and maples, and native herbaceous plants such as goldenrod, milkweed, asters, honeysuckle host numerous caterpillar species that are a vital source of protein for birds. How to use native plants in the garden is very important to understand. Plan for a variety of shapes, sizes, and kinds of plants to give a vertical structure to the garden and add cover for our birds. Try to plant native plants that bloom continuously throughout the growing season. Remember, don’t deadhead the flowers when finished blooming. Seedpods are a valuable food source for birds.

GARDENING IN SMALL SPACES

Lifestyles are changing. This is so evident when you see all the construction of new housing condominiums that are springing up everywhere. Not everyone wants to live in a traditional home with a large lot and trees.

PLANTS FOR DOUBLE DUTY / EDIBLE LANDSCAPING

There is nothing quite like the taste of homegrown, handpicked fruit and vegetables from your own property. The one reason that seems to be driving this landscaping trend is that homeowners are starting to realize that you don’t need to live on a large farm to grow fruits and vegetables. Landscape plants are becoming double duty with being an attractive plant as well as producing food. If you think about it, it only makes sense. Why not have your flowering trees and flowering shrubs serve double duty by flowering and then producing fruit.

LOW MAINTENANCE LANDSCAPING

What I see trending is people are wanting to cut back on high maintenance gardening that requires a lot of watering, fertilizing, and way too many chemicals. Another strong aspect, or trend, with low maintenance landscaping is letting plants grow naturally – no pruning. For this trend to work for you then you need to pay close attention to the growing habits and dimensions of the plant and then plant accordingly. Just let the plant do its own thing and enjoy it.

VEGETABLE GROWING

Growing vegetables continues to be a popular and strong gardening trend. I see no end in sight with this popular trend as we begin 2020. One reason for this popularity is that people like to know how their food is grown. Secondly, vegetable growing can be successfully done in containers on any patio, deck, or balcony.

My challenge to you is to just start thinking about my list of gardening trends and whether any or all is something that you want to learn more about and maybe give a try in 2020. Through the course of 2020, I will be expounding in more depth and detail with some, if not all, these plant and gardening trends as topics with my future blogs.

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