The Garden Media Group has released its annual Garden Trends report. It says that in 2017, gardeners will be concentrating on health and wellness -- growing food and plants both indoors and out without the use of pesticides and chemicals.
One big surprise: five million new gardeners this year were in the 18-34 age group, so what Millennials want they will likely get.
Gold-colored foliage is big, big, big. Examples include the 'Katsura' Japanese maple, 'Rising Sun' redbud, and 'Goldy' arborvitae. Check out the caramel-colored heucheras and golden-tinged carex as well.
The report indicates that gardeners will turn to plants that attract birds as well as bird and bat houses to combat pests; and install hydroponic and aquaponic systems to grow food indoors.
Tidy gardens are also popular, which does not mean pruning shrubs into little globes, but rather defining boundaries and spaces with good design, downsizing the plant palette, getting rid of clutter and plants that are past their prime.
Forest bathing -- a Japanese fitness trend developed in the 1980's -- is spreading to other countries. Spending time in the forest -- or simply outdoors in nature -- is believed to reduce stress, awaken the senses, and increase overall well-being.
Finally, imagine a garden subscription service similar to a food subscription service like Blue Apron or Hello Fresh -- plants and garden products ordered online and delivered to your door!
The image above shows a California garden designed by Patricia St. John Landscapes -- tidy, containers with vegetables, and a lovely design that won a silver award this year from the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, APLD.