If you’re scratching your head thinking ‘gardening’ and ‘faux’ don’t fit in one sentence, let us explain.
With spring approaching, avid gardeners are all set for the gardening season to start.
Horticulture therapy took off in 2020. And though most people are still enthusiastic about their gardens, not everyone has enough time. And this is where fake plants and artificial boxwood hedges panels, and topiary trees are being embraced.
Other trends focus on waste reduction and climate change. Here are the most popular gardening trends to look out for this year.
7 Gardening Trends in 2022
1. Gardening without water
Hard to imagine, isn’t it? But it is possible. The pressing threat of climate change has made it necessary to grow plants with less water.
Many gardeners are turning to drought-tolerant plants like succulents and Coneflower. This type of gardening design is called xeriscaping. These plants also require less finicky care and grow well when left alone. A double-win.
Another way to reduce the water consumed by your garden is by using artificial plants and hedges. For a manicured-looking lawn, get decorative faux boxwood topiary trees.
This 6 feet tall tree looks very lifelike. The unique shape of the cone topiary makes it perfect for a whimsical accent.
2. The year of color
All but 5 years ago, gardens were greenwashed. Greens and browns dominated garden landscapes. And the most color you could see was a dash of white maybe once in five houses.
Jump 5 years and the contrast is striking. Homeowners are housing all the colors of the rainbow in their garden.
The bright pinks of Fuschias and Azaleas will make a comeback. Some other plants that will be popular this year are Lavender, Marigold, and Lantanas.
One way to keep your garden in bloom year-long is by using artificial plants. This way, you won’t have to wait around for spring.
You can use artificial plants as accents in combination with real ones if you don’t want to fool the pollinators. Since artificial plants don’t need care, they will allow you to sit back and enjoy your garden.
3. The retaking of concrete
Another dying fad is having clear boundaries between the plants and pathways. The flower bed and pavement were always separated. And the proportion of concrete to greenery was skewed towards the concrete.
Well, not anymore.
The plants are here to retake their land and we’re all here for it.
This type of gardening is favored since it prevents water run-off. (Check the first point) And if you think this type of garden is easier to manage, you’d be wrong.
You need to be careful not to let invasive species overgrow in this type of gardening. Pothos and Spider Plant need periodic trimming so other plants can thrive.
This type of garden could become overwhelming for the eye. The juxtaposition of a manicured plant amongst the chaos will give you visual relief. For this, you can install an artificial boxwood topiary. This comes trimmed in a ball shape which will be contrasting in a wild garden.
4. Letting the H20 flow
As much as we’re trying to preserve water, flowing water fixtures will be popular in 2022. Fountains and birdbaths are making a comeback in a bid to welcome animals into our homes.
But the traditional circular carved stone fixture may not be returning. Instead, straight lines and open curved fountains will dominate gardens.
The water flow in fountains will also be reduced to a trickle. Since the water is recirculated, there is no apprehension of wasting water.
Having the flowing water fixture right in your backyard helps soothe your mind. This, along with the greenery of your plants is an excellent way to relieve stress.
5. Terrace and balcony gardening
Gardening isn’t restricted for sprawling gardens. And this year, expect balconies to be filled with plants.
Terrace gardening is one of the best natural ways to cool down your house. Plants in your terrace can reduce indoor temperatures by 5–7 °C in summers. This can then help reduce your electricity costs as well.
Plants in your balcony will also block the bright sun rays from entering your house. But for this to be effective, a large faux boxwood topiary is the best. The tree won’t need much care besides occasionally brushing off the dust accumulated on the foliage.
6. Low-impact design
Bringing in large machinery and resources to design a garden is wasteful. There is also a tendency to waste raw materials. This, hopefully, will come to a hard stop in 2022.
Low-impact designs make use of existing raw materials and reuse them. Flowerbeds aren’t redone yearly. Rather perennial plants, that blossom yearly, are chosen. This is a good way to cut costs as well.
Along with this, plastic and metal planters are fading out. Flower pots made from terracotta and other natural materials are flying off the shelves. This helps make the garden more natural and biodegradable.
7. Carbon-less gardening
This is another trend that has been necessitated by climate change.
Yes, plants give us oxygen. But growing them could release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The soil holds a large amount of carbon in it. When you dig the soil for gardening, this carbon dioxide gets released into the atmosphere along with gasses like nitrogen.
England and Wales have banned the sale of peat. The material is being phased out and banned fully by 2024. This is because peat is the largest carbon store in the UK.
A good alternative is to make your own compost and mulch. This will help you get rid of the waste in your house and also help cut costs.
Most of these trends will stick around for the foreseeable future. This is because they focus on what the world needs right now. So don’t fear, you won’t need to change your garden again in 2023.