Crystal Ball Gazing

I've been reading reviews of gardening trends in the noughties in the gardening press, and I thought I might gaze into my crystal ball and see what might appear in the 2010s.

Growing Vegetables - I think the enthusiasm for 'growing your own' is unlikely to wane. 

Maintenance - I think this will become an issue.  I think new ideas that decrease the amount of time spent gardening will emerge. 

This might be design led through different types of low maintenance planting schemes, or scientific breakthroughs in plant development such as, 'self-pruning' plants (ie old shoots break off from the shrub and are left to break up on the bed), or grass that is genetically engineered to grow to a certain height.

An appreciation of the untended wilderness garden, and a greater tolerance of untidiness might emerge.

Small Gardens - A greater focus on small gardens will emerge, since most new houses are built with smaller gardens than in previous generations.

It is possible that the nursery trade will respond to this by producing miniature versions of shrubs that are popular but simply too large to place in a small garden.

Shrub plantings - perhaps a new working on old fashioned Victorian shrubberies.

Desire for peace - I think this will influence design for gardens enormously.  I think the desire for r & r in gardens will be even greater than now.

White gardens - Reworked as modern, clean, light and airy spaces.

Tangerine - the new pink.

Corals, apricots, and lemons take over from gardening world's love of dark crimson flowers.

Privacy - I think the desire for privacy will become the number one point on our client brief, whether screening from neighbours, or creating secret gardens. 

'Americanisation' of gardens, greater emphasis on entertaining areas, and less emphasis on garden work.  Labour saving devices such as computer operated mowers becoming mainstream. (You could mow your grass whilst updating your facebook).  Greater use of electric garden machinery which is more robust and has longer battery life.

China - will designers look to the past and future artistic trends of this country? 

Woodland gardens - large lawns given over to a series of interlocking copses 

Garden visits - invitation only garden visits to very private gardens.

Boundaries - hedging instead of fencing (less likely to blow down in high winds).

It will be interesting to see whether any of this comes to pass.