For many of us, our garden is our sanctuary. It’s where we go to switch off after a busy day at work and where we while away the hours over the weekend.
As we’ve all spent more time at home over the course of the last 18 months, many of us have become more green-fingered. What was once a nice pastime to try is now something that many of us have developed an active interest in. This means that the nation has picked up different gardening techniques and developed preferences for certain plants.
So, what plants are the most popular in the UK? If you’re looking for ideas for your outdoor space, read on to discover the latest plant trends.
Going green
As well as homeowners picking up on the gardening trend, the desire for more outdoor space has increased in the last year, with the garden becoming a key priority for property buyers. This has led to the focus being place don the garden, and outdoor areas have been tidied up and reimagined in order to attract potential buyers.
But it’s not just those who are selling up who are turning their attention to sprucing up the outside areas of their properties. Homeowners who are staying put have taken on the garden as their major home renovation project. According to the 2020 Renovation Nation Report by Money.co.uk, gardens topped the makeover list last year, with approximately 35% of householders focused on outdoor space over other updates in the home.
These numbers reveal how much our priorities changed last year – and this trend has continued into 2021.
Staying alive
So, how competent are we in the garden after over a year of tending to our plants? Premier Polytunnels, recently conducted a survey to find out how our newfound gardening skills are going and the numbers are encouraging.
Almost one-third of Brits (30%) say that they’re excellent when it comes to gardening skill and nearly two-thirds (63%) say they’re confident they can look after certain plants, but that it depends on the type. Unfortunately, a further 7% say they struggle to keep anything alive.
Popularity contest
The research by the polytunnels specialist went on to reveal that the most popular plant among UK gardeners in 2020 was the tomato plant, with almost half (49%) saying they favoured the fruity addition to their gardens. Roses took second place (42%), while cheery daffodils came in third, with 39% of gardeners saying these springtime flowers were their favourite to grow.
Get started
Are you tempted to try gardening for yourself? You don’t need a large lawn. A balcony or even a ‘yarden’ can be transformed with the right horticultural additions.
If you’ve been thinking about tidying up your outdoor space, it’s easy to get started. First, look at the space you have. If it is a balcony or yard, invest in pots and plants that will enhance the space. You might want to try different-coloured pots that will contrast with the flowers that grow or you might decide on plants that are fairly easy to maintain – certain palms are hardy enough for a range of weather conditions and make a real impact.
Should you have a decent sized garden, rethink the borders, and consider adding plants that you’ve always wanted to try growing. If you have the space, small trees could be a great addition too.
Whatever you have in mind, remember to have fun. A lot of gardening involves trial and error, but there are plenty of tools available and guides that you can follow to help you along the way.
