February 27th, 2023 by Sarah Miles

While perhaps not as changeable as interior design trends, there are definitely some developing themes for gardens. Many of the trends that are growing in popularity and tipped to be big in 2023 are as driven by things like climate change, sustainability, and the desire to minimise cost as they are by aesthetic appeal.

Here are 5 trends that we expect to see emerging this year:

Long-term sustainability

Many gardeners are thinking more long-term for their planting and garden maintenance. This includes choosing resilient plants that are more resistant to periods of drought and higher temperatures as well as implementing strategies to improve soil quality that will deliver better planting conditions over time. Short-term bedding planting that looks lovely but only lasts a single season is being rejected in favour of choices that may not appear as attractive this year but will pay dividends in years to come.

This can be more expensive, to begin with, but you are playing a long game and it will prove more cost-effective over time and create better sustainability in your garden. Choose drought-resistant plants (especially those with grey-green or silver leaves, as they reflect the sun’s rays and conserve moisture) and cultivate the soil by digging in organic matter, such as garden compost, mushroom compost, composted bark, or well-rotted manure, or a gravel mulch.

Planting for the climate

This idea is closely linked to the idea of sustainability mentioned above but it’s also a direct response to the kinds of conditions you have in your own garden. With increasingly extreme weather conditions, drought-resistant plants and planting methods, such as gravel gardens and xeriscaping (the process of gardening that reduces the need for irrigation) will both give you a thriving garden even when water is scarce as well as save you much of the work of watering (good for those who like a low maintenance garden), and, of course, they help to conserve water, which is better for the planet.

Likewise, if you find that your garden gets quite waterlogged, choosing the right plants means that they will not only thrive in these conditions but could help alleviate issues with flooding. Shrubs such as fuchsia and hydrangea, herbaceous perennials like geraniums, Hosta, and irises, and trees like magnolia and crab apple plus measures such as mound planting, raised borders, and adding organic matter to create air spaces in the soil will all help.

Herb gardens

Herb gardens have always been popular but in these challenging times, they can offer a double whammy. Not only are home-grown herbs considerably cheaper than buying fresh herbs from supermarkets, but they can also help to add flavour to your cooking and salads, making even the most basic of ingredients taste like restaurant food. They also add fragrance to your garden, adding an extra sensory dimension, which can offer a boost to well-being and mental health when you spend time there. Many herbs are very easy to grow, and you don’t even need a lot of space.

Darker, dramatic shades

From an aesthetic point of view, many garden designers are predicting a desire for darker, more dramatic shades this year, with small bursts of brighter colour for contrast. Deep plums, violets, and burgundies provide background depth while smaller meadow-like flowers like verbenas or scabious provide pops of bright colour, made all the more impactful for sitting against the darker shades. Echo this trend by upcycling furniture in colours to match (you can buy outdoor paints in a wide range of colours these days).

From garden to vase

While we have talked a lot about long-term sustainability and choosing plants that will last a long time, that doesn’t mean that all seasonal planting is wasteful. This year will see gardeners demanding more from their plants, specifically growing flowers, grasses, thistles, and foliage that can be enjoyed in bloom and then cut and dried for indoor displays that could last right through the winter.