Predicted Trends in Gardening and Landscaping: Insights from Professionals on What's Hot for the Year Ahead
In the realm of gardening, the style wheel takes a more leisurely spin than it does in fashion or interior design. Yet, this pace does not exempt outdoor spaces from the ever-evolving trends that govern aesthetics. Each year, captivating styles stir the world of horticulture, seizing the spotlight at notable events like the Chelsea Flower Show, and eventually filtering into our own backyards.
These styles, once spotted in the gardens of friends and families, have a knack for lingering — owing to their undeniable beauty and the enduring charm of nature. If you're yearning to experiment with garden trends, our experts are here to guide you. Here are seven trends anticipated to dominate gardens in 2025.
- Regenerative Gardening: This is not just a buzzword; regenerative gardening is about crafting spaces that foster soil health, promote biodiversity, and nurture our well-being. It's where ecological integrity and good horticulture practices intersect, often dubbed "wildlife gardening" in its quest to create a diverse ecosystem benefiting local wildlife. By employing techniques to fortify soil, you'll cultivate a garden that evolves and improves year after year. Expect to see gravel gardens, perennial meadows, edible edges, rain gardens, and compost bins taking center stage.
Nic Howard, a registered member of the Society of Garden Designers with 20 years of experience under his belt, advocates for this approach with his firm, We Love Plants.
- Multi-Functional Spaces: The function of a garden can vary, be it a spot for relaxation, a children's play area, or a venue for alfresco dining and entertaining. Encouragingly, 2025 promises continued evolution in the art of multi-use garden design, creating spaces not just for aesthetics, but daily living. Even small gardens can be choreographed to accommodate various leisure activities, blending layers and flexibility to achieve flow, beauty, and atmosphere. Zoning a garden doesn't mean sacrificing its charm. A dining area can serve as a workspace, while a corner seat can transform into a morning coffee nook or an evening storytelling spot for kids.
Colin Boggon, a landscape designer, champions this trend, emphasizing its potential for both large and small gardens alike.
- Indoor-Outdoor Cohesion: The seamless continuity between our interiors and exteriors remains a desirable trend in 2025. Natural stone takes center stage in this movement, particularly in large-format stone paving and outdoor kitchens. By adopting organic materials and tonal palettes in garden design, the lines between nature and architecture blur, promoting tranquility. Even outdoor kitchens can effectively bridge the gap between indoors and outdoors, bringing a typically indoor activity outside.
Suppliers like Cullifords, known for their high-quality stones, can help you achieve the perfect balance between luxury and nature. With an array of both man-made and natural stones in their collection, Cullifords offers everything from statement-making marble to neutral granite slabs.
- Embracing Native Plants: Similar to regenerative gardening, this trend champions the natural landscape and prioritizes integrating native plants, aims to foster a weather-resistant garden with drought-tolerant plants that thrive throughout the seasons. From your flower beds to native plant lawns, native plants offer a beautiful, adaptive alternative to more traditional options.
- Cast Concrete Features: Cast concrete gains popularity in outdoor kitchens, benefiting from its industrial edge that complements exteriors well. The material is often crafted into features like integrated BBQs, double as planters or seating, or steps connecting different levels in your garden.
- Limestone Paving: In the ongoing debate between natural stone and concrete pavers, limestone emerges as the clear winner for 2025. Its timeless look and versatility make it an ideal choice for outdoor spaces. The warm, soft materials boast a range of tones from buff and cream to beige, light browns, and pale greys, complementing various architectural styles.
- Edible Gardens: The appetite for connecting to food sources sustainably continues to grow, inspiring the cultivation of vegetable gardens at home. From windowsill herb gardens to shared community orchards, individuals are embracing the effort to cultivate fresh produce themselves. Not only does this trend foster a better relationship with food, but it also boosts personal well-being and self-sufficiency.
Sanctuary gardens, relax and unwind within your own oasis, and wellness gardens complete with saunas, cold plunges, and showers, are other trends reflecting the desire for personal retreats in 2025. Vertical gardening, no-dig gardening, repurposed and moveable gardens, and embracing local environments further reinforce the move towards gardens that are both beautiful and eco-conscious. In essence, a garden can be both a breath of fresh air and an extension of our commitment to sustainability.
- In the realms of both interior design and gardening, trends influence the aesthetics we embrace, with outdoor spaces, too, being subject to the ever-evolving trends that shape our visual landscapes.
- The year 2025 anticipates the rise of regenerative gardening, a holistic approach that emphasizes soil health, biodiversity, and well-being, blending ecological integrity with effective horticulture practices.
- Multi-functional spaces are projectioned to continue trending in garden design, offering versatile areas catering to relaxation, children's play, alfresco dining, and more, ensuring gardens can serve multiple purposes without compromising their overall charm.
- The seamless transition between interior and exterior design remains a desirable trend, with the adoption of natural stone, particularly in large-format stone paving and outdoor kitchens, playing a significant part in this movement.
- Embracing native plants is another trend for 2025, focusing on cultivating weather-resistant gardens with drought-tolerant plants suitable for various seasons, promoting ecological consciousness.
- As we strive for a more sustainable lifestyle, edible gardens continue to gain popularity, allowing individuals to cultivate fresh produce at home, forging a stronger connection between food sources and personal well-being.
