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Comfort planting is one of 2021's biggest gardening trends according to the RHS - here's what it is
The Royal Horticultural Society has revealed its gardening trend predictions for 2021 — and comfort planting, lazy lawns and delphiniums are tipped to bloom.
With warmer weather on the horizon, now is the perfect time to slip on your gardening gloves and get to work on a planting scheme. Whether you have a large cottage garden or a small balcony space, there's something in the trend report for everyone.
"2020 ushered in a period of experimental gardening – for those that picked up a trowel for the first time, opted to dabble with raising crops alongside ornamentals and trialled new ways of growing old favourites," Guy Barter, RHS Chief Horticulturist, says.
"However, lawns and big blooms, long stalwarts of the garden, remain an important draw for UK gardeners as people continue to seek out the familiar during these less than familiar times."
Take a look at some of the things to do in the garden this year...
1. Comfort planting
According to the RHS, 2021 will see gardeners create a beautiful space packed with colour. While traditional roses were all the rage in 2020, this year will see the rise of delphiniums, lupins and foxgloves.
"Roses and hydrangeas won out in 2020 as gardeners turned to old, reliable favourites with big blooms and long flowering periods," the famous gardening charity say. "However, that demand is set to translate into shortfalls this year with delphiniums, lupins, foxgloves and poppies instead likely to be top candidates for those wanting to create a cottage-garden look."
2. Pick-your-own
With allotment gardening booming as a result of nationwide lockdowns, it's no surprise to see pick-your-own veg patches staying put. Some of the things we should keep our eyes open for this year include raised beds, smaller plots, tubs, troughs, windowsill crops and vertical growing systems, too.
"Food growing in domestic settings increased substantially in 2020 with a return to staples such as potatoes, salad and onions and plants associated with herbal remedies including aloe vera, echinacea and sambucus," the RHS say.
3. Lazy lawns
Wondering what to do with your lawn this year? According to the charity, gardeners will come to accept the "inevitable wear and tear" of their lawns and "turn a blind eye to a bit of browning in summer". Pristine striped grass areas might look pretty, but 2021 is all about keeping it natural and wildlife friendly.
The team add: "Some will seek out interesting and environmentally benign alternatives such as small leaved clovers which, usually mixed with grasses, will stay green without fertiliser and resist drought."
4. Starting small
Seeds are on their way up, with gardeners being encouraged not to despise small beginnings.
"The growing popularity of seeds - attributed to their low cost and with some harvested from supermarket produce for free - has seen many develop their skills in plant raising," the RHS add. "Production issues could also translate into more 9cm pots being sold over the usual 2-3L options with gardeners enjoying the process of watching plants grow."
5. Soil recycling
Last year, the charity found that gardeners were more frugal when it came to the garden. With stocks dwindling and garden centres closed, many of us saved money and the helped the planet by creating our own mixes, such as combining sieved soil with organic matter and re-using growing media in containers.
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