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Top gardening trends for spring/summer 2021

Want to improve your gardening game this year? We’ve worked with designer Nikki Hollier and analysed Google search trends to reveal the trends that are set to sweep the nation.

Vertical and allotment garden two biggest trends

An allotment isn’t just a community garden for growing vegetables, they’re now being used as alternative therapies to help with our mood. When starting an allotment, begin with simple vegetables such as radish, rocket, and salad leaves. Ideally, your allotment wants to be in an area that attracts the sun to help grow your produce.

Similarly, vertical gardens are set to be popular with people who have limited space but want something a little quirkier. Vertical gardening allows you to grow plants vertically using different surfaces such as walls and fences. Climbing plants such as clematis, roses and honeysuckle are ideal for vertical gardening.

Another trend to watch out for is raised bed gardens; they’re versatile, can be placed on any level, and start growing in quickly after filling with a rich soil mix.

Other garden-themed trends are cottage gardens. You can transform your small patio or balcony by adding shrubs and flowers, and the colour scheme to dominate this year will be a mix of pastels or blues and mauves.

Last up is wild gardens. Wildlife gardening is focused on the vital importance of preserving and protecting the garden’s biodiversity. If you’re planning on starting a wild garden, include flowers such as Hellebores (for winter flowers), Buddleja, Scabious, Penstemon and single open flowers such as Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff'.

Swiss Cheese is a popular choice of plant for spring/summer 2021

Otherwise known as ‘Monstera Deliciosa’ this “it” plant is loved by interior stylists, celebrities, and Instagram influencers. Believe it or not, the plant can grow up to 4 metres in height in 10-20 years.

Another top choice is Devil’s Ivy, technically known as Epipremnum Aureum. Their noteworthy leaves have a pointer heart shape, which instantly makes them highly Instagrammable. When choosing a pot for devil’s ivy opt for one that’s 20cm so its aerial roots have something to attach themselves to and cascade down.

We also can’t forget about lavender. Known for its floral aroma and calming qualities, lavender can be highly beneficial for our mood, heart rate and quality of sleep. Lavender thrives best in free-draining soils and full sun.

The first flower of spring, snowdrops are also set to be big this year – mainly because of the exciting variants. Also, look out for Aloe Vera. If, like many, you choose to grow your aloe in a container, use a cactus compost with added sharp sand or grit to improve drainage.

Rattan one of the plant accessories of choice

Rattan is known for its ‘retro’ look and has made a comeback since last year. With the second-hand and refurbishing movements rising recently, Brits are looking to incorporate rattan in their space. When paired with a fiddle leaf fig the warmth of rattan will make the plant pop.

Those looking to hang their plants, but with an artistic touch, might want to opt for a macramé hanger. Some of the hanging plants that you can hang with a macramé are Devil’s Ivy, asparagus fern and arrowhead plant.

Let’s also not forget the window box - a fantastic exterior feature that adds a unique touch. Pansies, Bacopa, Million Bells and Lobelia are some of the window box flower favourites for summer.

Grey plant pots are also expected to add some serious chic lines to the green space and are a great addition to the terrace, decking, patio, and balcony. Lastly, terrariums will offer garden enthusiasts a creative way to inject greenery. They allow plants to recycle water and thus are self-nourishing, plus they’re a good alternative to plant pots.

Top tips for keeping your garden safe

Perfecting our gardens with flowers, plants and accessories doesn’t come cheap, so it’s important that our prized possessions are covered should an issue arise. Here are our top tips:

  • Keep your back gate locked: If you’re outside in the summer months, it can be tempting to unlock your gate so you can access the street easier – but make sure you lock it when you go inside, to stop potential burglars from accessing your garden.
  • Get rid of any climbable items: Wheelie bins perched by a fence and ladders left lying around are both key ways burglars can access your garden. Make sure you leave them somewhere where they can’t be used.
  • Consider insuring your garden, but always check the cover first: Knowing your favourite flowers and plants are insured will give you peace of mind. Some providers offer cover for loss or damage of certain plants, shrubs, trees, and lawns. However, loss or damage caused by other factors such as pets, birds, insects, and natural causes, including storms and floods, often isn’t covered. There’s usually a total monetary limit for the amount of cover you’ll get, so always double-check the provider offers the cover you require and what the limit is.

It can be easy to assume that having a luscious garden is only possible if you have a large space to play with – but these top trends show that this definitely isn’t true. All you need is some time to dedicate, and you can have a beautiful green space – whether it’s your back garden, allotment plot, or balcony.

Brought to you by our home insurance experts at comparethemarket.com.

Methodology

We analysed Google Search Trends to determine the top five most-searched gardening themes, plants/flowers, and plant accessories. The findings were cross-referenced with their related hashtags to create an overall top five per category. We also teamed up with Nikki Hollier, founder of Border in a Box.