Another year means another garden to plan! We’ve had more than enough of 2020, and now a new year has begun, we’re eager to start thinking ahead toward the exciting new garden trends that will influence this year’s designs. Here’s what to expect in North Dakota gardens all through 2021!
Sustainable Garden Tactics
The move toward sustainable living extends far beyond the gardening world, but what we do in our outdoor spaces is, without a doubt, a major way we can make an impact. The sustainable gardening trend is actually several garden trends that fall under the same umbrella. This year, jump on the bandwagon with things like:
- Rainwater collection: The more you can recycle rainwater for irrigating your garden, the better it will be for both the planet and your water bill!
- Composting: By composting your kitchen scraps, you’ll improve your garden soil and end up with fewer full trash bags by collection day.
- Wild gardening: In 2021, the prim, polished look is going out of style in favor of lush, “overgrown” beds of native plants and pollen-rich perennials. These gardens are much healthier for pollinators and wildlife, plus they have a charming “secret garden” quality to them!
- Less lawn: While it’s okay to love your lawn, many people are opting to replace their turfs with vibrant perennial beds or food gardens.
- Permaculture and Xeriscaping: Essentially, permaculture is gardening (particularly food gardening) that promotes a self-sustaining ecosystem, similar to what occurs in nature. Xeriscaping applies a similar approach to landscaping, in which the landscape effectively takes care of itself through the year. Eco-friendly, low-maintenance, and beautiful!
Indoor plants support mental health by mimicking the feeling of being outdoors, while also filtering unwanted chemicals out of the air and replacing them with clean, fresh oxygen.
Edible Container Gardens
Speaking of food gardening, the past year saw thousands of people re-discovering the art of homegrown food. In 2021, we expect the trend to soar in popularity as last year’s newbies learn from their first crops and grow more confident in their skills. In particular, we foresee that more folks will come to learn just how much can be grown in containers!
Containers make growing everything from tomatoes and herbs to carrots and potatoes accessible to everyone—even apartment dwellers! These mini-gardens are self-contained and easy for beginners to maintain and monitor.
Monochromatic Gardens
While a garden that flaunts all the colors of the spectrum has its own place in our hearts, trendsetters are showing us the stunning elegance of color repetition at its best. To try this trend, choose a large section (or your whole garden!) to grow blooms of the same color. The look is breathtaking in full bloom and is easy to pull off for those who struggle with the color wheel. In particular, all-white gardens seem to be gaining a lot of traction, but we also recommend trying this garden trend with yellow, one of the Pantone Colors of the Year.
Tiny Gardens
Not all of us are blessed with endless yard space, and that’s okay! In fact, in 2021, we’ll see more folks getting creative with the outdoor space they have to create a small-but-mighty garden that works for them. Think creative container arrangements for balconies, vertical gardens for townhouse patios, and tiered raised beds for postage-stamp-sized yards. This garden trend is all about discovering the potential of a small space!
Bringing the Outside In
By now, you probably know every inch of your four walls better than you ever thought you would! While 2021 brings light at the end of the tunnel, we still expect to be spending a lot of time indoors, and houseplants are playing a key role in keeping us sane.
Indoor plants support mental health by mimicking the feeling of being outdoors, while also filtering unwanted chemicals out of the air and replacing them with clean, fresh oxygen. But, let’s be honest, the real reason we love them so much is that they’re just so dang beautiful!
Get in on the “jungalow” decor trend by adding to your houseplant collection and making the absolute most of your home’s natural light.
While these are trends on our radar for this year, we’re confident that the creativity of North Dakota gardeners will be inspiring us even more throughout this year’s growing season! Make sure to visit us at Plant Perfect and chat with us about your plans for the spring.