As we move toward the summer season of 2021, many of us are already planning on how to best use our garden spaces. They can be difficult to maintain during the winter and, due to our climate, there are few opportunities to spending time renovating and enjoying them, which places a great deal of pressure on the middle of the year.
Websites, such as Zoopla and Rightmove, have informed us that there is now a significant demand for properties with gardens, which means that, at the end of the government’s stamp duty holiday, there will be plenty of homeowners finding themselves with garden space for the first time.
Looking at everything we know so far, here’s what’s in store for garden design next summer!
Hands-Off Gardening
This trend goes by a few names but each one pertains to the same approach, which is curating a garden that takes care of itself. Historically, the most celebrated gardens have been those with neat, regimented flower beds, each one combed over for the sign of a weed or pest. Not only do these gardens require a large amount of maintenance, but they tend to encourage the use of chemicals, such as weed killers, which, for a more environmentally friendly generation, is no longer acceptable.
Instead, green-thumbed youngsters are encouraging the garden to become its own wild, one that eventually regulates itself with minimal interference. Certain persistent weeds are being celebrated and animals are welcomed to make a home in the shrubs. So, next time you look into your neighbours garden, don’t be surprised to see a small ecosystem.
A Private Cabin
Sheds are old news and, in their place, log cabins are taking over. Instead of dedicated space to, what is essentially a small storage unit, homeowners are converting and upgrading their sheds into cabins. With the blank canvas of an insulated and private cabin, people are creating home offices, gaming rooms, and even private gyms. These rooms come in various sizes and, depending on garden limitations, can accommodate a wide range of concepts. Some people are even building saunas!
Not only will a cabin improve the value of your home, along with the square footage, but it will also be useful during winter too, meaning that your garden space investment will bring reward year-round.
Bartering Economy
There’s a culture of nostalgia, a call for the halcyon days and simpler times, which is bringing the bartering economy back with it. More people are looking to trade their skills and products for necessities. This is why gardens are now becoming an environment for growth.
If you visit your local Facebook group, you are now likely to see neighbours looking to swap their surplus tomatoes or propagated herbs. By growing produce in their gardens, they are able to supply themselves and others with food, saving them from going to the supermarket. It may only be happening on a small scale right now but, as people strive to be more eco-friendly, you are likely to see your local area boom with trades.
