Many of us have reconnected with the natural world over the past two years. In doing so, we’ve also realized that there’s lots to enjoy right outside our door. Discovering how much nature can contribute to well-being has prompted some of us lucky enough to have our own outside space to really make the most of it.
“I’d say the trend that underlies all others is that of seeing the garden as a valuable space, rather than a place that can just be a burden to look after,” designer Peter Reader says. “Being at home during the pandemic has enabled people to reengage with the natural world and to realize how much they enjoy it.”
So what will we be looking for in our outside spaces in 2022? Here, professional landscape designers share their 10 predictions.
“I’d say the trend that underlies all others is that of seeing the garden as a valuable space, rather than a place that can just be a burden to look after,” designer Peter Reader says. “Being at home during the pandemic has enabled people to reengage with the natural world and to realize how much they enjoy it.”
So what will we be looking for in our outside spaces in 2022? Here, professional landscape designers share their 10 predictions.
1. We’ll Try to Make Planet-Friendly Choices
We’re becoming more aware of the wider environmental impact in the ways we garden. “People want their gardens to be green in more senses than one,” garden designer Jane Ashley says. “Clients are increasingly concerned about the practical impact on all aspects of the environment, and that’s certain to intensify in the coming year.”
She observes that people are taking specific environmental issues to heart, including the declining bee population “but also broader cultural and economic trends in land use, such as the current enthusiasm for rewilding,” she says.
This has led to homeowners’ requesting wildlife-friendly designs. “Many clients want to create more favorable conditions for bees and other pollinators, and also other wildlife — birds, insects, frogs and hedgehogs,” Ashley says.
We’re becoming more aware of the wider environmental impact in the ways we garden. “People want their gardens to be green in more senses than one,” garden designer Jane Ashley says. “Clients are increasingly concerned about the practical impact on all aspects of the environment, and that’s certain to intensify in the coming year.”
She observes that people are taking specific environmental issues to heart, including the declining bee population “but also broader cultural and economic trends in land use, such as the current enthusiasm for rewilding,” she says.
This has led to homeowners’ requesting wildlife-friendly designs. “Many clients want to create more favorable conditions for bees and other pollinators, and also other wildlife — birds, insects, frogs and hedgehogs,” Ashley says.
Garden designer Claudia de Yong believes we’ll also be more aware of what we’re buying, especially when we’re buying compost. “We need to find more sustainable products to limit the destruction of peat bogs, and peat-free alternatives are going to be very popular as more products come to market,” she says.
Ashley predicts we’ll pay more attention to the impact of material choices too. “Another issue I think will become more prominent is the comparative environmental impact of different materials, including concrete, and the benefit of more permeable surfaces, such as gravel or planted areas, which can absorb surplus water runoff,” she says.
Ashley predicts we’ll pay more attention to the impact of material choices too. “Another issue I think will become more prominent is the comparative environmental impact of different materials, including concrete, and the benefit of more permeable surfaces, such as gravel or planted areas, which can absorb surplus water runoff,” she says.
2. There Will Be Less Formality and More Naturalistic Plantings
While there’s still a place for the formal garden, many of us are aiming to create a wilder look, even if it’s just with a small patch of meadow flowers or a more natural-looking border. “I’ve certainly noticed more requests for wildflowers to be incorporated within garden designs, along with natural ponds to attract more wildlife,” de Yong says.
Ashley agrees. “There’s a growing popularity for more naturalistic planting, including using a wide variety of different plants — in particular, herbaceous perennials,” she says, “plus having wilder-looking areas, avoiding a look that’s too tidy and including a wildlife pond.”
While there’s still a place for the formal garden, many of us are aiming to create a wilder look, even if it’s just with a small patch of meadow flowers or a more natural-looking border. “I’ve certainly noticed more requests for wildflowers to be incorporated within garden designs, along with natural ponds to attract more wildlife,” de Yong says.
Ashley agrees. “There’s a growing popularity for more naturalistic planting, including using a wide variety of different plants — in particular, herbaceous perennials,” she says, “plus having wilder-looking areas, avoiding a look that’s too tidy and including a wildlife pond.”
3. Indoors and Out Will Increasingly Merge
We’ve seen how indoor living has flowed outdoors via the same flooring and large glazed doors, but in tandem with the inside’s creeping out is a newer feeling that the garden shouldn’t be pushed away. More people want to blend their patio area with greenery.
“There’s a desire to bring the garden right up to the house by breaking up patio areas with raised planters and other planting,” Reader says. “This is coupled with the resurgence of houseplants, tying the indoors and outdoors together.”
We’ve seen how indoor living has flowed outdoors via the same flooring and large glazed doors, but in tandem with the inside’s creeping out is a newer feeling that the garden shouldn’t be pushed away. More people want to blend their patio area with greenery.
“There’s a desire to bring the garden right up to the house by breaking up patio areas with raised planters and other planting,” Reader says. “This is coupled with the resurgence of houseplants, tying the indoors and outdoors together.”
4. More of Us Will Embrace a Kitchen Garden
While growing fruits and vegetables at home has been on the rise, Reader predicts it will become even more popular. “As people reengage with their gardens, they’re finding joy in working the soil to plant seeds and fruiting plants that then grow into food they can harvest,” he says.
And the veggie-growing demographic appears to be getting younger. “This trend seems especially strong in families with young children,” Reader says, “where the parents want [kids] both to understand how food grows, and to enjoy the process and engage with nature and the planet.”
De Yong also predicts an increase in growing food at home. “As more of us are working from home, a kitchen garden is high on the agenda for a lot of people to potter in and pick their own lunch,” she says.
While growing fruits and vegetables at home has been on the rise, Reader predicts it will become even more popular. “As people reengage with their gardens, they’re finding joy in working the soil to plant seeds and fruiting plants that then grow into food they can harvest,” he says.
And the veggie-growing demographic appears to be getting younger. “This trend seems especially strong in families with young children,” Reader says, “where the parents want [kids] both to understand how food grows, and to enjoy the process and engage with nature and the planet.”
De Yong also predicts an increase in growing food at home. “As more of us are working from home, a kitchen garden is high on the agenda for a lot of people to potter in and pick their own lunch,” she says.
5. We’ll Grow Our Own Bouquets
A bunch of cheery flowers can instantly lift a room, and anyone with a sheltered patch of ground can grow repeat-flowering plants, such as cosmos (pictured), zinnia, cornflower and larkspur. Not only is it satisfying to cultivate flowers, but it’s much more cost-effective than buying them from a florist, and de Yong predicts more of us will be giving it a go.
“A cut flower garden can offer fresh flowers throughout the year,” she says. “In addition, many of these blooms can be pressed and used for arts and crafts, which also became popular during lockdown.”
A bunch of cheery flowers can instantly lift a room, and anyone with a sheltered patch of ground can grow repeat-flowering plants, such as cosmos (pictured), zinnia, cornflower and larkspur. Not only is it satisfying to cultivate flowers, but it’s much more cost-effective than buying them from a florist, and de Yong predicts more of us will be giving it a go.
“A cut flower garden can offer fresh flowers throughout the year,” she says. “In addition, many of these blooms can be pressed and used for arts and crafts, which also became popular during lockdown.”
6. We’ll Reach for Bold Colors
Pale palettes can look beautiful, but right now some of us want bright, cheerful color in our gardens. “The drab period of lockdown has fed a desire for more joy — in life and in gardens — and lots of people are asking for bold, brightly colored flowers,” Ashley says.
“A few years ago, subtle-tone pinks, mauves and whites were popular, but recently I’ve been getting more requests for bright colors, including previously often-shunned yellows and oranges, plus clashing colors,” she adds.
In terms of the specific plants that seem to be growing in popularity, Ashley picks out long-flowering, rich purple ‘Amistad’ sage (Salvia ‘Amistad’, USDA zones 8 to 10; find your zone), shown here. “It’s rightly become one of the most popular herbaceous perennials, despite needing some extra protection to get through a cold winter,” Ashley says. “It’s a plant that keeps on giving.”
Pale palettes can look beautiful, but right now some of us want bright, cheerful color in our gardens. “The drab period of lockdown has fed a desire for more joy — in life and in gardens — and lots of people are asking for bold, brightly colored flowers,” Ashley says.
“A few years ago, subtle-tone pinks, mauves and whites were popular, but recently I’ve been getting more requests for bright colors, including previously often-shunned yellows and oranges, plus clashing colors,” she adds.
In terms of the specific plants that seem to be growing in popularity, Ashley picks out long-flowering, rich purple ‘Amistad’ sage (Salvia ‘Amistad’, USDA zones 8 to 10; find your zone), shown here. “It’s rightly become one of the most popular herbaceous perennials, despite needing some extra protection to get through a cold winter,” Ashley says. “It’s a plant that keeps on giving.”
7. We’ll Want Beautiful Scents
Many of us are sitting and socializing in our yards more frequently, which is leading to a desire for a more sensory experience. “Scent in the garden seems more popular than ever, perhaps because of people spending more time outdoors,” Ashley says. “This means plants such as Daphne odora [pictured] that can fill an area with scent are a great bet.”
For garden fragrance, Ashley also suggests ‘Pallida’ witch hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Pallida’, zones 5 to 8), ‘Dawn’ viburnum (Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’, zones 5 to 7), golden sweet mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius ‘Aureus’, zones 5 to 9) and common jasmine (Jasminum officinale, zones 8 to 10).
Many of us are sitting and socializing in our yards more frequently, which is leading to a desire for a more sensory experience. “Scent in the garden seems more popular than ever, perhaps because of people spending more time outdoors,” Ashley says. “This means plants such as Daphne odora [pictured] that can fill an area with scent are a great bet.”
For garden fragrance, Ashley also suggests ‘Pallida’ witch hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Pallida’, zones 5 to 8), ‘Dawn’ viburnum (Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’, zones 5 to 7), golden sweet mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius ‘Aureus’, zones 5 to 9) and common jasmine (Jasminum officinale, zones 8 to 10).
8. We’ll Lean Toward Natural Paving Materials
The desire for more natural-looking gardens extends to our paving choices. “In terms of materials, I’m finding more people going for an aged and natural look,” Ashley says. “Among my clients, I’ve found fewer people wanting porcelain, while clay pavers and [stone] are very much in.”
Ashley says she expects this enthusiasm for clay pavers to continue. “They look fabulous, both on their own and to add edging and detail to natural stone, and they come in an amazing range of earthy colors,” she says.
The desire for more natural-looking gardens extends to our paving choices. “In terms of materials, I’m finding more people going for an aged and natural look,” Ashley says. “Among my clients, I’ve found fewer people wanting porcelain, while clay pavers and [stone] are very much in.”
Ashley says she expects this enthusiasm for clay pavers to continue. “They look fabulous, both on their own and to add edging and detail to natural stone, and they come in an amazing range of earthy colors,” she says.
9. We’ll Continue to Want Backyard Rooms
Whether they’re used as a home office, an exercise space or a personal escape, there’s no doubt backyard studios and cottages have become desirable, and Ashley sees no end to the trend.
“I’m finding tremendous enthusiasm for garden rooms,” she says. “Often the rooms are smart to look at and can provide an attractive feature at the end of the garden, despite taking space. By providing a destination, they draw people into their [yards], even in winter.”
And Ashley predicts the trend will outlast the end of the pandemic. “Even when people are more comfortable going back to old workplaces and gyms,” she says, “the convenience of home facilities will mean this demand will continue.”
Whether they’re used as a home office, an exercise space or a personal escape, there’s no doubt backyard studios and cottages have become desirable, and Ashley sees no end to the trend.
“I’m finding tremendous enthusiasm for garden rooms,” she says. “Often the rooms are smart to look at and can provide an attractive feature at the end of the garden, despite taking space. By providing a destination, they draw people into their [yards], even in winter.”
And Ashley predicts the trend will outlast the end of the pandemic. “Even when people are more comfortable going back to old workplaces and gyms,” she says, “the convenience of home facilities will mean this demand will continue.”
10. Our Front Yards Will Accommodate Greener Forms of Transport
Our growing awareness of more environmentally friendly ways to get around might impact our front yards. “Nowadays, almost everyone wants bike storage, as more people take up cycling and need frequent, easy access to their bikes,” Ashley says.
And electric cars are already making their mark. “Electric charging points are becoming standard for new driveways,” she says.
Article provided by Sarah Alcroft @ Houz..com
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