Top garden trends

Top garden trends for 2022

We spend more time at home than ever before, so it’s little wonder we’ve turned our attention outside. No longer reserved for a couple of summer barbecues, our gardens have become extensions of our homes, offering a green space in which we can relax, play, cook, dine and even work. So, with a renewed appreciation for the humble garden, let’s look ahead and see what 2022 has in store for yours

FRONT GARDEN FOCUS

Lockdowns and Covid restrictions have left people craving connection more than ever, so we predict a renewed focus on our front gardens and porches, with many experts espousing their benefits. Compact spaces where you can sit and watch the world go by or catch up with your neighbours, porches and front gardens can offer fresh air and vital connection to the world beyond your fence. You can make yours more inviting with comfy seating, good lighting and some potted plants.

LUSH FOLIAGE AND GRASSES

2022 will also see a big focus on greenery. Award-winning London-based garden designer Charlotte Rowe is forecasting a focus on grasses in particular. “What’s trending with clients is using grasses mixed with perennials and bulbs alongside more structural planting,” she writes. “Grasses are popular as they look good for a lot of the year and do not need masses of maintenance.”

With the focus on outdoor living, many of us are keen to cook outside, too. An outdoor kitchen could be as simple as a firepit with a removable grill top, or you could go the whole hog and install a barbecue, pizza oven, functional prep area, outdoor sink and even outside refrigeration. Plant anearby herb garden or fruit trees for a full garden-to-plate experience.

PATTERNED TILES

From encaustic and ceramic to cement, patterned tiling has been slowly making its way from our bathroom floors and kitchen splashbacks and into our gardens — and 2022 is its time to shine. There's no end of striking designs to choose from, whether you're after a bold graphic print to inject colour into a grey patio or a more subtle, neutral pattern for an elegant courtyard. The choice is yours!

BACKYARD BIRDWATCHING

Sales of bird feeders and birdseed have skyrocketed this year, suggesting many of us have recently caught the birdwatching bug. It’s not hard to see the appeal to beckoning birds into our gardens – they help ground us in nature and connect us with the seasons. Indeed, our fascination with our winged friends has led many to rethink their gardens and add plants that provide shelter and good foraging options for birds.