We’re Gardening Experts – these are our top trends we predict will be big in 2024
WHETHER you grow on windowsills, pots, patios, balconies or in big expansive gardens – New Year is the perfect time to start experimenting with new ideas.
But what do horticultural experts think will be the biggest trends of 2024? From ‘Cyber Lime’ and ‘Edimentals’ to ‘Horti-Futurism,’ I spoke to some of the best in the business to find out more…
Matthew Pottage – Curator at RHS Wisley
“The current awareness of planet friendly gardening will continue to grow, and gardeners are not just thinking ‘right plant right place’ but thinking in greater depth about soil types and microclimates.
“Our increasingly extreme weather patterns mean gardening needs more thought than just digging a hole and banging in a plant.
“On a lighter note, the current trend for naturalistic landscapes will continue to grow, whereas in the warmer climes of indoor gardening, the trend of variegated houseplants will continue to grow apace, and now variegated orchids are appearing in garden centres, I think they’ll be a ‘must have’.”
Rekha Mistry – BBC TV Gardeners’ World presenter
“The biggest incoming gardening trend for 2024 will be Edimentals!
“Growing plants that are both edible and ornamental eliminating dedicated grow spaces.
“A few Rainbow chard amongst Dahlia will not look out of place.
“Yes, all dahlia flower petals are edible and so are its starch retaining tubers.
“For a riotous Edimentals display, compliment Kale with nasturtium and lavender. Edible, ornamental and pollinator-predator friendly.
“Think native, think natural! Self seeders like Papaver, Campanula and
Digitalis to provide colour and drama amongst the waves of grasses providing much needed food for bees, birds and mini beasts too.
“But the biggest trend for 2024 will be Gardening with Climate Change. On one hand gravel gardens have been the forefront for the past few years due to hot dry summers. On the other hand we need to embrace bog garden design concepts during extremely long and wet summers. Therefore, plants like Primula florindae and Euphorbia palustris will not look out of place in our garden.”
Mark Lane – BBC1 Morning Live! Presenter, landscape designer, and writer
“With house prices increasing and persistent price inflation there is unpredictability in the housing market, as well as evolving social and communal requirements. This is leading to a growing need to maximize the use of both indoor and outdoor spaces in our homes for well-being and nature immersion.
“Self-care and self-sufficient gardens are now offering greater value than ever before.
“There is also growing awareness of the fact that sustainability and biodiversity are indispensable if we are to have a healthy living environment.
“Therefore, expect to see more natural materials such as wicker, jute, hemp or seagrass, as well as stone and earthenware pots and containers, creating a more rugged and almost primeval outdoor space.”
“There will be a huge focus on GenZ come 2024, who want quality over quantity, especially with regards to sustainability. Being the first generation to be raised in an entirely digital world they will look towards gardening social media, especially those that are updated regularly.
‘Horti-futurism’ is being banded about for 2024, which is defined as bold, bright and sci-fi in feel from closed ecosystem terrariums to ‘night gardens’ and ‘self-sufficient gardens’, with plants with neon-coloured, bright vegetation.
“The colour for 2024 is cyber lime!”
Kim Stoddart – Editor of Amateur Gardening magazine and author
“All too often gardening is an individual pursuit full of exacting ‘to do’ lists and work, work, work.
“But I think next year we’ll see that by channelling a bit of good old-fashioned community barter and banter; exchanging and swapping plants, seed, tasks and tools with friends, family and neighbours you can save money and have fun in the process.
“This is truly gardening for the people, it saves money and feels great in the process, together. “
Michael Perry ‘Mr Plant Geek’
“Mixing Perennialas and Annuals is going to be big. Coreopsis and Alstromeria, for example, will flower for 5 months, and can pair up with the usual suspects to freshen up those displays.
As and as to indoor plants – Phalaenopsis and Chrysanthemums are finally having a comeback- thanks to many new colours and shapes, plus fragrance in some newer orchids will be big.
Julian Palphramand, Head of Plants at British Garden Centres
“We expect to see a continued blurring of the traditional seasonal timings within the plant-selling calendar as customers continue to push for colour and interest in their gardens all year-round.
“Consumers are also very aware of the changing climate and will garden accordingly and this will bring the inevitable demand for more exotic plant varieties, like banana plants (particularly ensete maurelii (red leaved), Canna lilies and more exotic other lilies such as Callas and Oriental lilie, large leaved exotics such as Rheum tetrapanax, Colocasia, Fatsia, Gingers (Hedychium), palms such as tree ferns, Phoenix and then the cross-over indoor/outdoor plants such as succulents.
“We are also likely to see continued growth in the grow your own plant sector in part by new plant product introductions but also the continued interest in growing your own product from a sustainability interest and financial perspective.”
Jo Reason, Brand & Range Director at Bloom & Wild
“Natural: think soft neutrals, organic textures and earthy tones. But there will also be hypercolour: Fuschia and electric lilac flowers mixed with lime yellow foliage.
“Then there’s Heritage with a modern twist: colour block bouquets, forest greens and nostalgic reds and oranges.”
Dr Emily Lambert, one of the founders of Seedball
“More people will recognise the decline of native flora and make a conscious decision to plant natively. Native wildflowers aren’t just pretty – they also play a vital part in our ecosystem, providing resident bees, butterflies and other pollinators with food throughout the year.
“In fact, on a single day in summer, one acre of wildflower
meadow can contain three million flowers, producing one kg of nectar sugar – enough to support nearly 96,000 honeybees per day!”
Patty Willems, Manager at Sustainable plant pot elho
“We’re predicting that the trend of having luscious potted trees and extra-large houseplants is set to soar in 2024, with more people opting for big, bold, and beautiful statement foliage to fill their homes and gardens.
“From oversized exotic houseplants like the palm plant, bird of paradise or monstera deliciosa, to bamboo plants, hibiscus and acer trees, the bigger the better is the mantra for the year ahead.
“We believe that the grow your own trend will also continue to flourish.
“With the constant rise in consumer consciousness and the rising appreciation for fresh food, more and more people now favour home-grown goodness, and there are plenty of innovations to help
make growing your own fruit and vegetables more accessible to all!”
WIN!
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Try these budget Winter insulated gardening gloves from Industracare at £3.99
Or invest in a pair from Niwaki at £12
LEARN!
Q. When is it best to chop back bushes? Karen Nicholson, Mickleover, Derbyshire
A. It very much depends on what shrubs they are. Generally if it’s deciduous and blooms before June – cut it back as soon as it’s flowered.
But if it blooms between July and November, wait until early spring.
Evergreens can be done late Spring to Autumn but don’t do it after as it can damage the plant.