Here’s to a bright new year: Cutting gardens are just one trend for 2023

A new year brings a fresh start, resolutions and contemplation of trends for the coming year. This means your garden, too. A quick search will unearth all sorts of lists that highlight the latest gardening trends. I must admit, some of them tend to be a little out there, while others reinforce the variety of questions we receive at the Extension office.

Cut flowers grown for cheerful arrangements are gaining in popularity. They continue the trend of bringing the outdoors inside. Sunflowers, zinnias and colorful foliage are easy to grow, and when freshly cut can be used to help decorate and bring a refreshing pop of color to your spaces. Areas in your landscape can be set aside to create cutting gardens so fresh flowers can frequently fill your homes.

Color in the garden is all the rage, and not only from the plants. Brightly colored accents like containers, structures, furniture and décor are in vogue. Our zest for bright cheerful colors can be contributed to the dark days of the pandemic. People crave the happiness and joy that bright and colorful items can bring.

Color is popular not only in our outdoor spaces, but also in our houseplants. The houseplant craze began during the pandemic as people brought nature inside. It continues with our work-from-home spaces. People new to houseplant care tackled the basic plant-growing requirements of common varieties and are now reaching out for “different.” Different in houseplants means more unique and colorful foliage with larger leaves, interesting shapes and textures, and more colorful varieties.

Vertical gardening is a growing trend. Arbors, trellis and living walls are a great way to create interest and save space. When we combine these structures with the use of color, we draw the eye further and create more interest and enjoyment in the landscape.

The movement toward incorporating more native and drought tolerant plants is booming and has been the trend for several years. Natives are often more heat and drought tolerant and require less water and resources overall. Additionally, they are often easier to maintain. The use of local native plants also has the added benefit of supporting a variety of valuable pollinators and other beneficial insects necessary for a healthy food chain.

The vision of the lawn continues to shift. The concept of a bee-friendly meadow rather than a manicured lawn is growing in popularity. Traditional lawns are viewed as requiring too many resources like water, fertilizer, and mowing and contribute less to a healthy ecosystem.

The meadow or bee friendly concept slightly changes the focus away from the traditional monoculture of blue grass and tall fescue. A more natural lawn utilizes the traditional turf grasses but also embraces lawns with clover, dandelions and other plant species that provide the ground cover. Diversity in the new lawn allows us not only a place to play and let the dog run, but it can also provide precious pollen and food for native insects and honeybees.

These trends really are about us and our changing views. We are concerned about the impact of our actions in the world and want our escape from global issues. We want to be part of the solution rather than contribute further to the problems.

Now is a good time to assess your landscape, start planning your new beginnings, and see if any of these trends have a place in your corner of the world.

Dennis Patton is a horticulture agent with Kansas State University Research and Extension. Have a question for him or other university extension experts? Email them to garden.help@jocogov.org.

This story was originally published January 6, 2023 at 6:00 AM.