How the Role of Gardens Will Change in 2021
What a rollercoaster year 2020 has been! There has been so much upheaval, both social and political, in addition to the global pandemic. Humans have been through a whole lot this year, and we saw a massive rise in the number of people seeking solace in gardening.
It’s been exciting to see so many people take an interest in growing things for themselves, even just here in Powell River. In 2021, we think the role of gardens will change, but we’re hoping that gardening will still be top of mind for many people. This social reset has helped so many people reconnect with nature, which will be essential for our well-being in the future.
Here’s how we think gardens will fit into the collective consciousness in 2021.
Everyone Is Going to Have Intense Spring Fever
Being locked down over the winter will make everyone even more anxious to get outside come spring, even if they can only get out into their yard, balcony, or patio. We think people will be chomping at the bit to start growing more things than they did last year!
People who had a couple of herbs, a tomato, and a pepper plant will be figuring out how they can grow even more in the space they have. People who picked up bedding plants in the spring might be brave enough to try starting their own seeds this year. People who dug up a patch of lawn to create a garden last year might be looking at the rest of their lawn, going, “Hmm, how can we make this space more pollinator-friendly and grow even more of our own food?”
People Will Want to Dig Deeper Into Gardening
While many people spent a ton of time learning about gardening last year, they’re going to have a thirst for even more information in 2021. Caring for a garden or plants always has people searching for more knowledge in the hope of making their garden or plants grow bigger and stronger, producing more tasty vegetables, or making their growing space more environmentally-friendly and efficient.
We think people will be looking for opportunities to connect more closely with their local gardening community, to learn from seasoned gardeners who have dealt with the local challenges for a long time.
Eco-Conscious Gardening Will Continue to Grow
Whether it’s rewilding parts of the yard, planting more native plants, xeriscaping, or growing organically, people will be looking for more ways to grow their gardens in eco-friendly ways. We expect that people will be more interested in composting, encouraging biodiversity, organic pest control and fertilization, as well as improving water efficiency.
Custom Raised Beds are Going Glam
Raised beds have been popular for a long time because they make garden work considerably less back-breaking. People are starting to get creative with how and what they build raised beds out of, and they’re starting to become real works of art. We expect to see some raised bed gardens that are straight-up works of sculptural art in 2021.
On the sustainability side of raised beds, we’re expecting to see rising interest in highly efficient irrigation systems, weed management, and soil improvement methods like hügelkultur.
Are you planning your 2021 gardening adventures yet? Don’t wait too long; if you need seed starting supplies or have questions about how you can improve your garden this year, stop by Mother Nature and chat with our knowledgeable staff.