Trends for 2023 in the Garden

Trends for 2023 in the Garden

Colour

We are going to start off this month discussing colour! Whether you are looking into the fashion world, home decorating, or the trends for your garden in 2023, the colour of choice is Viva Magenta. A colour displaying the pinker side of red rather than the purple tints, Viva Magenta stands for strength and resilience. So how can we apply this colour to our gardens?

Perennials

There are tons of plants that would qualify as being Viva Magenta or close to magenta. There’s a new dianthus this year that’s called Paint the Town Red. It is a gorgeous, dark, hot, red fuchsia colour. There’s Sedum Spectabile ‘Neon’ which is a good fall bloomer. Echinacea Powwow Wild Berry is a very deep red colour. A few more perennials would include Geranium Sanguineum ‘Max Frei’ along with Monarda ‘Grand Marshall’ (Bee Balm), Phlox Paniculata ‘Nicky’, or Rocky Road Magenta.

Shrubs

Turning our attention to shrubs, we have Buddleia ‘Miss Molly’; Syringa ‘Charles Joly’, which is a lilac; Girard’s Fuchsia Azalea; and Hydrangea Cherry-Go-Round, which was new for us last year. It is very deep in colour and under three feet, so it’s one of those big-leafed hydrangeas that are very hot right now. Euonymus Alatus ‘Compactus’ (Burning Bush)—in the right conditions and in the right pH—gives you that very intense, deep, pink colour. Rhododendron ‘Nova Zembla’ is another example of a shrub with just the right colour for 2023!

It is very interesting where the colour magenta originated. It comes from carmine dye found in the cochineal beetle which lives on Opuntia (Prickly Pear Cactus) pads. In South America, they plant these plants that are already infected with this little insect. To harvest, they have this tiny tool that’s like a flat spoon, and they go around and they scrape this bug off the plants. When you squish this bug, the inside is that bright red carmine colour. Up until 2022, Starbucks used this dye in some of their drinks to make them pink. Also, if you buy frozen meat or frozen fish, it is often used to keep the pink colour in the product to keep it looking appetizing. You can often see reference to it on ingredient lists of some packaging where colour information is included.

Many people find the idea of these insect products in their food rather disturbing, and many companies are looking for alternatives, but you may still find it in strawberry ice cream, yogurt, lipsticks, shampoos, and many other products. After all, it is difficult to replace the deep, saturated magenta colour that you get from this little guy.

Habitats

Some other trends for this year include pollinating plants, which have been trending for the last 4–5 years. Also, creating habitats for insects, birds, and butterflies has been common for a few years now. Just don’t forget about a water source. When putting up a birdhouse, or an insect or a butterfly house, all these guys depend on water every day. I always have a water source nearby. It could be just as simple as a plastic saucer with water about an inch-and-a-half deep. Put a nice flat rock in there so they will have somewhere to land. They’ll love it.

Stop Bagging

Another trend we are seeing is to “leave the leaves,” so stop bagging up your leaves! Compost or mulch them with your lawn mower. Don’t put them in the landfill or out at the end of the road, especially if you have leaves like oak, because oaks break down very slowly. You can use them as a mulch and put them around your plants.

Batteries

Battery-operated equipment such as leaf blowers, mowers, and trimmers are the trend right now as well. I personally love my battery-operated ones, and I hate the gas-powered, noisy machines which are so offensive. Battery-powered products are so much quieter, lighter weight, and easier to maneuver, without the hassle of gas and oil storage. If you stick to the same brand, the batteries are interchangeable, and you can charge one battery while using another and then switch batteries from product to product.

Water-Wise Gardening

Grow tolerant plants like yucca plants and cacti. We can grow Opuntia cactus here in the valley. Sandy soils are very dry, so anything that grows in sandy soil would grow in a water-wise garden.

House Plants

House plants are big again this year, especially the large, leafy tropical plants like the Areca Palms, which are very fashionable this year and can be used in outdoor planters as well to give that tropical feel.

Food Security

Another trend since pre-Covid is growing your own herbs, vegetables, and small fruit trees and bushes. Very little space is required in order to “grow your own” products. Even a “grow bag” on a balcony in the city can provide continuous produce. Tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers can easily be grown on a balcony.

If you have any questions about what’s trending in the world of gardening this year, drop in to Blomidon Nurseries, find Jackie, and ask away, or check us out online at www.blomidonnurseries.com.