Gardening Trends in 2021 and How to Achieve Them

Many popular trends have come out of 2020, from baking bread to arts and crafts; one that stands out is gardening. With many stuck at home and unable to go to their favorite restaurants and stores, people turned to the great outdoors.

Backyards got transformed into outdoor living spaces, new gardens emerged, and even urban city dwellers looked to add more greenery to their lives.

It looks like in 2021, adding more outdoor space and time in the garden here to stay. Here are a few of the most popular outdoor and gardening trends and a few tips for you to get started.

Tight on space? Go vertical

For a lot of city dwellers, outdoor space is at a premium. So as much as you might love a veggie garden, you might not have enough room to do it without fully giving up what little space you have.

A great way to add more greenery, and even a few veggies, to your life without taking up a ton of space is to go vertical. All you need is a solid wall, so even those who live in condos or multi-family homes with balconies can add some plants and herbs.

Pick a sturdy fence or wall to start. Cover it with plastic sheeting to protect it from water damage. Then build a wooden frame to lean against the wall, and you can hang small baskets of plants on it. For tighter spaces, grab a used ladder from a yard sale as use that as your base.

Create an outdoor living room

If you’ve got a nice yard with plenty of space, why not consider turning it into another living space? It’s a great way to have more area to unwind.

Even if you don’t have a deck or patio, start simple with an outdoor rug. Then surround it with lawn furniture and add a store-bought or homemade fire pit to toast some marshmallows.

If you live in an area of the country where you can enjoy your yard year-round, then consider laying down paving stones to create a raised patio area. Invest in higher quality waterproof outdoor furniture, or even add an outdoor pizza oven, and you can enjoy your meals outside.

Make your own victory garden

Back during World War II, many families planted victory gardens all over the United States to help support the war effort and make sure there weren’t food shortages at home.

Take that “can do” spirit and create your own victory garden in your backyard. One of the easiest ways to start a project like this is with raised beds. You can buy or build raised beds that sit on top of your lawn. That way, you don’t need to dig up your space, and it’s a little easier on your back!

Consult with a local gardening store and find a few veggies and herbs native to your area. Then, prep your dirt, plant your seeds at the right time, and in a few months, you’ll be adding your own freshly grown food to your meals.

Build a pollinator garden

Garden’s aren’t just for vegetables anymore. Another popular gardening trend for 2021 is what’s called a pollinator garden. These gardens are set up specifically to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. You don’t need a ton of space for them either.

The great benefit of a pollinator garden is you can feel good knowing you’re helping other local plants grow, improving the ecosystem. An added bonus is you get to have a yard that’s home to all sorts of cool birds, plants, and insects.

With these gardens, you must get the right plants for your area. So consulting with your local gardening store or wildlife habitat reserve for tips. From there, get your soil ready, your plants in the dirt, and sit back and enjoy.

Go all-in on cottagecore

Have you ever walked through a field brimming with wildflowers? People are taking that wild rural aesthetic concept, called cottagecore, and bringing it to their yards.

With this concept, you can turn your yard into what feels like an open field of nature. It’s also really easy to get started, especially if you want to focus on a smaller area of your yard. A core feature of this aesthetic is it’s rustic and all about natural materials. Don’t be afraid to add rock gardens or wooden features to it.

Cottagecore is about having lots of pretty flowers, grasses, and greenery. It’s hard to go overboard! Many gardening shops sell seed mixes of wildflowers as a starter kit. Also, consider adding in fruit-bearing plants such as strawberries or blueberries to mix in. Tall grasses and some smaller green shrubs complete the look.

No matter how big or small your outdoor space is, you can find ways to get more out of it. Plus, improving your outdoor space is a great way to increase your property value.

If your current home doesn’t have the outdoor space you desire, we can help. Get in touch with OVM Financial today or start an application at ovmfinancial.com/QuickStart.