Think carefully about what you buy for indoors and out, says Claire Saul
WORDS: CLAIRE SAUL
Are you on trend? We don’t mean wearing hot Barbie pink (so last year) or cultivating a mullet (yes, apparently so) but it seems that when it comes to our homes and gardens, new consumer tendencies are emerging.
These are driven by the shifting dynamics of modern lifestyles, the emergence of innovative technologies and the ever-growing focus on sustainability and well-being.
British Garden Centres (britishgardencentres.com), which incorporates 62 garden centres around the country, has identified the trends that are transforming the way we plan, design, and nurture our outdoor spaces, and some of those inside, too.
If you have followed the advice shared in Green Scene and our other horticultural features, you should find yourself ahead of the curve on sustainable practices.
We are all becoming more aware of the environmental impact of our gardening endeavours and seek eco-friendly solutions, such as saving water, using organic fertilisers and composting.
We should also be focusing on native plants to create more sustainable and resilient gardens that support our precious local wildlife and ecosystems.
There is a continuing trend for the creation of low-maintenance gardens with instant impact. Container gardening is increasingly popular, especially among those of us with no access to a garden.
Pots and containers are also helping to drive the popularity of the grow-your-own plant sector, which reflects both sustainability and the financial perspective.
Vertical gardening and growing upwards is popular in new builds and flats with limited or no outdoor space. Solar garden lights are a great renewable energy option for outdoor ambience.
Indoor gardening continues to rise, partially encouraged by the greater amount of time people have spent living and working at home in recent years. Indoor plants have positive results on our psychological well-being, including improving mood and reducing stress.
They impact our physical well-being too, with research identifying benefits such as reduced blood pressure.
Perhaps this trend also partly accounts for the increase in sales of tropical plants, including succulents.
Our outdoor spaces are increasingly seen as an extension to the home. Whether it’s creating a play area or a cosy dining sp
