Garden trends are changing. Outdoor spaces are being utilized and accelerated because we are spending more time outside for work and leisure. That means we want to know what’s trending with style inspiration for outdoor living. Functionality is the key to the garden / patio / balcony / terrace which is now a multi-purpose space. Work From Homes (WFH) is here to stay.
Natural materials are stylish and relevant to the indoor/outdoor feel. Ceramics, colored glass, practical plastics, textiles, raffia and granite to name a few will be in high demand for natural, handcrafted and practical items.
Durability is important especially in the first year of the new garden design. We recognize the need for watering in order for our new plants to establish so they can do it on their own except in drought years. Choose the right plant for the right place. Our gardens are a place of peace and tranquility, a refuge in a bubble of well-being to escape hectic days and stressful times.
Garden design includes soft plantings and hardscapes
The right mix of soft (planting) and hardscape (materials) is key to good garden design and the natural starting point for naturalistic planting paired with textured hardscapes with less formality and more consistency. Use mixed grasses with perennials and bulbs for a more structured planting.
A hard path will make way for gravel, wood chips and other natural materials. More gravel can be used because it is low maintenance, permanent and flexible. It is good for draining rain runoff.
Using a combination of brushed/light-textured limestone and sandstone mixed with smooth or polished stones add additional interest to your area. Do not use polished stones as they become slippery when wet and can be dangerous.
Propagation (main spring/summer season using spring bulbs – camassia, tulips, daffodils, alliums and early flowering plants such as hellebores) will give you a good head start and pave the way for developing perennial summer plants. Then come late bloomers such as anemones, rudbeckia and hylotephium. Using grasses, seed heads, colored bark and winter hardy blooms (such as hale flower, blue fir, boxwood, mint, coral bells and hostas) will continue until the cycle begins again.
Gardening allows us to be part of the natural world and this connection is nurtured by the plants you choose. The current trend seems to be loose and naturalistic zoning (the area of grass or grain that has been mowed) and reclamation or reopening projects that make conservation efforts aimed at restoring and protecting natural processes and wilderness areas (a form of ecological restoration by recreating an uncultivated natural area).
A naturalistic garden can be a sanctuary
If this is your goal, there are online classes and information that focus on naturalistic garden design trends. A naturalistic garden provides a sanctuary not only for us, but a wealth of biodiversity where easier control is applied making it aesthetic. It is a different approach and a new way of life.
This new garden design is twofold in that it captures the design trend for gardeners who have the spirit of the country and are in tune with their surroundings. You want to enjoy and appreciate your garden and spend more time there throughout the year by including fire pits and durable outdoor furniture. Include plants that maintain visual interest through all four seasons by selecting trees and plants that keep on giving, whether spring blooms, summer flowers, a crescendo of fall leaves and berries, or the beauty of frost on seed heads, both enhance our experience. our gardens, and it also helps wildlife by providing important food and shelter that wildlife needs most. Trees such as crab apple, hawthorn and amelanchiers are suggested and offer longevity. For a smaller area, grasses like Miscanthus maintain their structure all winter.
If you only have one balcony space, focus on how to maximize your growing space by using planters on wheels to make the space truly flexible. When it’s party time, just get them out of the way. Create a living wall planter that can also be built for privacy from your neighbors. They will be a focal point on your balcony or terrace – a perfect solution for city living.
If you have a rooftop area, go with larger pot containers. Using larger containers gives a real focal point and a sense of lush greenery, but keep the design simple and use materials and colors that complement each other so the plants stand out. Even a small gardening space is useful.
The 2022 Sandusky County Fair is August 22-28.
Register now for the 2023 Master Gardener class
If you want to learn more about gardening, why not join the Sandusky/Ottawa County Master Gardeners Class 2023. It’s a 10-week, one-day-a-week course. Ohio State experts will provide you with excellent information. Upon completion, you will become part of Ohio State’s knowledge pool of the master gardener team. Call 419-334-6340 or email [email protected] for more information.
Susan La Fountaine is a Master Gardener with the Sandusky/Ottawa County Extension Offices.