Given the unprecedented situation we all found ourselves in during 2020, many of us shifted our focus to our gardens and outdoor spaces. As we hurtle towards spring 2021, it looks increasingly likely that we will be using our gardens much more than ever; as extensions of our home, to provide some much needed extra space for families who are unable to travel far, if at all. With the promise of a relaxation in lockdown rules which could lead to us welcoming people once more into our gardens, we look at five of the most popular trends for gardens in 2021.
1 Garden rooms
With many of the businesses that switched to remote working during the pandemic having chosen to continue with this way of working, utilising garden space to provide a home office solves the problem of lack of room inside the home. Garden rooms as an addition to outdoor spaces are on-trend for 2021 and, providing they fall within permitted development guidelines, do not require planning permission. This year, then, we can expect to see gardens becoming multi-functional spaces with, where size allows, zones for entertaining, working, and play. A timber log cabin or timber summerhouse will provide the ideal office solution.
2 Grow your own
The extra time people found they had on their hands last year, meant more and more started to grow their own food. Even without a kitchen garden-sized plot, everyone can incorporate an area into their outdoor space for growing; without an outdoor space, it is also possible! The grow-your-own trend can take the form of growing from seed in a greenhouse or coldframe to growing herbs in pots on your balcony or windowsill.
3 Gardens for wildlife
Wild gardens are set to be in vogue in 2021. No longer do people want to spend the lion's share of their time pruning and mowing and with environmental concerns being important to so many of us, we will definitely see a move towards wild, planet-protecting, eco-friendly garden designs. Establishing no-mow areas and wildflower borders will save time and provide vital habitats for pollinators, birds and hedgehogs. Opt for single-flowering varieties, plants with open flowers and also wild grass and plant vines that can scramble and climb up an arch or pergola.
4 Small space gardening
For those not lucky enough to benefit from a large outdoor area, 2021 will be the year families make the most of whatever they do have. The focus will be on making a small space appear bigger and using every available inch of growing space. Vertical spaces will be capitalised on with climbers and the growing season will be extended as much as possible with long-flowering perennials. A container planted with a climber can be placed against a wall-mounted trellis to achieve the same results as an archway in a larger garden.
5 Balcony gardening
The absence of an outdoor garden has not stopped apartment dwellers and house-sharers from exercising their green fingers and #balconygardening has been trending across social media platforms. Anyone can experience the thrill of creating a garden, without ever planting anything in the ground! From pots of herbs, dwarf fruit trees in containers and potatoes grown in sacks, this trend is set to go on and on. Our range of timber planters includes something for everyone, from obelisks and planters with integral lattice, to tiered planters which provide maximum growing space.
As the pandemic played out and our social movements were increasingly restricted, and enforced time at home increased, 2020 was the year many of us fell in love with our gardens. With Google data showing an increase of almost 40% in gardening related searches, it seems that 2021 will be the year that we are inspired to move forward even further!