Brian Minter: New Gardening Trends Will Make For An Interesting Year Ahead

Sasquatch view! Go ahead and add a little smile to your garden this year.

We are all affected by the many changes taking place today, but what is surprising are the trends that emerge from these changes. In the world of horticulture, Cathy Dubov, president of US-based Garden Media Group, delivered a series of reports on the seven growth trends her company predicts will have the biggest impact in 2023.

At the heart of these trends is our response to an uncertain world. According to DuBois, there seems to be a new sense of self-confidence and self-determination. While we cannot control everything that happens in the world around us, we can control what we make and buy to match our own values.

We can do a lot in our gardens to support our food security, help wildlife and provide habitat for pollinators, and do lots of little things to be eco-friendly. How trends play out is how we collectively choose what to do, and it's an interesting process. Dubois identified these trends in seven areas.

Horticultural media identified the first trend as the "Tesla effect". This trend is similar to technological innovation and adaptation. For example, the green industry has adopted more battery and electric options than other industries. There has been a significant move away from petrol-powered tools such as electric lawnmowers and cordless blowers.

The color of the year 2023 is terracotta, a very rich warm tone to add to your garden.

Vegetable consumers have also switched to multi-channel shopping and visit stores less frequently. When they choose to buy garden supplies, they choose big box stores where they can shop only once. They also want programs that help them succeed in everything from seeds to growing vegetables and perennials.

"Revolution" is the second new trend. This is really the housing crisis facing our younger generation and the reality of living in rental apartments, or as Dubeau says, living in ADUs (modular units) - small, detached or attached units. Separated from existing houses. Many municipalities in the US are developing special zoning to allow the development of these small units. This is where garden features such as privacy plants and new planting techniques become very important.

The most active members of the Boomer generation are now known as the Supernations. This group of older adults acts as if they are under 30 and is still a major player in the workplace and as a consumer. These people have always been very involved in the world of gardening. However, when it comes to affordability, they want to enjoy the benefits of gardening as much as possible. Dubo defines this trend as "accessible gardening."

Despite the Tik Tok controversy in the US, the average user - more than a billion a month - spends 52 minutes a day browsing the platform. It plays an important role in identifying modern trends, also in the world of plants. Dubeau described this trend as "PlantTok."

Fresh herbs are hard to beat, and many annuals can be enjoyed year-round.

TikTok is all about self-expression and offers information on everything from cooking, financial education and investment advice to gardening tips and book recommendations. Two of the hottest niche trends are Gnomecore and WitchTok. Gnomecore is all about ease, self-care, whimsical and resilient, and the gardens are bursting with vibrant color and texture. Witch Talk is an exchange of ancient knowledge and rituals passed down through the ages, including the use of herbs, magic and even witchcraft. Lunar Gardens, another trend, is also on the rise.

"All things Greek" is how Dubbo gets another trend. Garden design is becoming a big trend especially among the younger generation, from stone walls, arches, static and terracotta plants to roses, boxwood and antique plants are the new trendy gardens. Olive trees are important in this garden style. Mosaic gardens are also part of this Greek revival. The use of more drought-resistant plants, such as grasses, perennials and shrubs, is part of this landscape design. Native plants also play an important role, especially helping pollinators and wildlife.

"Redraw the zoning maps" would be huge. Climate change is forcing us to revise these maps. Hot and cold zone requirements are based on the average annual high and low temperatures for a specific location. In the US, the map was last updated in 2015. Since the 2012 record, 50 percent of the country's land area is at least half of the warming belt. A new zoning map is now being created. This is an important event that directly affects the types of trees and plants to be planted in each zone, making them more resistant to climate change.

The Garden Trends Report named terracotta the "2023 color of the year". This color brings warmth and earth tones to both interior and exterior decoration. Herbs such as echinacea and achilles in cool orange colors look great in our containers and gardens. This color choice goes well with the most popular modern desert themed gardens.

I want to thank Cathy Dubois and the Garden Media team for identifying some of the key trends for the new year.

As we face many changes beyond our control, it is great to see people of all ages and demographics making decisions and actions that align with their values and the needs of their environment. It's going to be a very interesting year.

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