As spring unfolds, gardeners often embrace new trends and techniques to revitalize their outdoor spaces. Here are nine garden trends for the spring season:
Native Plant Focus
Spring is an ideal time to incorporate native plants into your garden. These species are adapted to local conditions and support native pollinators and wildlife. Look for native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees to add biodiversity and resilience to your garden.
Pollinator Gardens
With the arrival of spring, pollinators become more active. Create a dedicated pollinator garden filled with nectar-rich flowers such as lavender, salvia, and bee balm to attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Consider adding a bee hotel or butterfly puddling area to enhance habitat.
Seasonal Vegetable Gardening
Spring is prime time for planting vegetables. Start seeds indoors or directly sow cold-hardy crops such as lettuce, spinach, peas, and radishes outdoors. Embrace season extension techniques like row covers or cold frames to maximize your harvest.
Container Gardening
Container gardening is a versatile trend that allows gardeners to cultivate plants in limited spaces. Use colorful pots and planters to create vibrant displays of spring blooms, herbs, or vegetables on patios, balconies, and windowsills.
Vertical Gardening
Vertical gardening maximizes space and adds visual interest to gardens. Install trellises, arbors, or living walls to grow vining plants such as peas, cucumbers, or climbing roses. Vertical structures also provide support for vertical herb gardens or trailing foliage plants.
Heritage and Heirloom Varieties
Embrace heritage and heirloom plant varieties that have stood the test of time. Explore seed catalogs and nurseries for unique and flavorful heirloom vegetables, antique roses, and heritage fruit trees to add historical charm to your garden.
Sensory Gardens
Engage all the senses by designing a sensory garden. Include fragrant flowers like lilacs, jasmine, and roses, as well as tactile plants with interesting textures such as lamb’s ear or ornamental grasses. Add wind chimes, water features, or bird feeders to stimulate auditory senses.
Houseplants
Indoor plants can have positive effects on mental and physical well-being. They can help reduce stress, improve air quality by filtering out toxins, and increase productivity and concentration. With more people spending time indoors, especially in urban settings, houseplants offer a connection to the natural world.
Homegrown Fruits and Vegetables
Connect with your food by growing your own herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Plan a kitchen garden filled with culinary herbs like basil, thyme, and mint, as well as salad greens and tomatoes. Harvest fresh produce to incorporate into seasonal recipes and meals.
These spring garden trends celebrate the beauty of the season while encouraging sustainability, creativity, and connection with nature. Whether you’re a novice or seasoned gardener, there’s always something new to explore in the world of gardening.