13 New Gardening Trends for 2025
As we ring in the new year, our thoughts shift from celebrating holidays to getting back in the garden. As we head into 2025, it looks like we will see an exciting melding of new, innovative ideas with the nostalgic value of simpler times. Join gardening expert Melissa Strauss to talk about some of the exciting trends that we hope to see more of this year!
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The past few years have seen us making some major cultural shifts. Among those were a movement to reconnect with nature and a heightened awareness of sustainability. As a result, we have experienced a whole new generation of gardeners with wonderful and innovative ideas. A distance from the bustle of constant connectivity has created a fascination with and a return to nature.
For veteran gardeners, it’s refreshing and exciting to see more folks taking an interest in the natural world. As much as we can share our practical knowledge with them, they have plenty of revelations to bring to the table. As science continues to advance, the value and motivations in gardening are ever-evolving.
Of course, not all new gardening trends are related to sustainability. The word aesthetic has seen a massive resurgence with Gen Z, and the English teacher in me is here for it. Let’s take a look at the ways we can expect to see sustainability, aesthetics, and a new type of connectivity take the gardening world by storm in 2025.
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Trading Minimalism for Maximalism
The 2010s saw a push for streamlined minimalism. Modern lines and farmhouse chic were all about creating a space that was easy to keep neat and tidy. There are great things about this concept. It’s low maintenance, and for those who have little time to spend in the garden, it’s easy to maintain a clean and sharp appearance.
The 2020s have seen more and more people working from home offices and enjoying the flexible schedules that go along with it. It turns out that advances in technology have, perhaps ironically, given us more time to connect with nature. Specifically, more flexible hours mean that we can use more of our daylight hours to cultivate gardens.
Maximalist gardening is not new, but it has typically been reserved for those with plenty of time and disposable income to devote. With attention turning toward native, pollinator, and waterwise gardens, maximalism is about more than aesthetics. It’s a way to make the best use of your space.
The maximalist garden isn’t limited to those plants that you can maintain easily. It means letting go of the notion that a garden needs to be Pinterest-perfect. If you like something, you find a place for it, even if it doesn’t blend seamlessly with your initial landscape plan.
Maximalism doesn’t have to be messy, either. You can create a maximalist garden with beautiful symmetry and deliberation. The only real rule to this type of gardening is that more is in fact, more. Maybe it looks like a melding of the ornamental with the food garden. Whatever makes your heart and your eyes happy. Go for it!
Nurturing Natives and Rewilding Your Space to Support the Ecosystem
One of the most significant trends we have noticed in recent months is a push toward rewilding and a return to native plants. Even if you aren’t eradicating non-natives, there is much to gain by reintroducing the plants that are native to your region.
The push toward pollinator gardening brought the importance of natives to the forefront of many of our minds. Many pollinators are drawn to non-native nectar and pollen plants. Others, and specifically butterflies, need specific host plants to support and sustain their future generations. Adding these plants to your space all but guarantees the presence of these species in your garden.
The natural progression from this realization is that a space filled with native plants supports all kinds of native wildlife. From frogs to insects to birds, wildlife is drawn to areas where food sources are abundant. Native plants are specially adapted to grow in the areas where they evolved, just as native fauna is.
A more balanced ecosystem has many benefits. For one thing, an abundant population of beneficial wildlife helps to control pests. Providing bountiful food sources will draw predatory insects, keeping down populations of nuisance insects. Frogs and dragonflies are excellent for controlling mosquitoes. Bats are as well.
Recreating habitats for native wildlife will bring those creatures to your space. Not only is it beneficial to your living space, but it also creates spaces for wildlife to take refuge from development, which forces them to relocate. Native plants tend to need less maintenance, conserving resources and making the garden more economical as well.
Sustainable Lawn Alternatives
Another popular topic heading out of 2024 is replacing turf grass lawns with more sustainable alternatives. Once a sign of affluence, lawns have become the standard in most suburban neighborhoods. They require a substantial amount of upkeep and can be costly to maintain. They can also damage and destroy the natural ecosystem.
Native ground covers require less maintenance and reduce the need for pesticides, herbicides, and supplemental water. Any time you can reduce the use of chemicals in your garden, you’re doing yourself and the environment a favor. They support pollinators rather than threatening their existence.
There is mounting evidence that pesticides and herbicides act as endocrine disruptors. Their effects, not only on wildlife but on human health, are well documented. Maintaining a well-manicured lawn is difficult without the use of these chemicals. We predict that in 2025, more and more gardeners will move in the direction of replacing non-native turf grass lawns with more sustainable alternatives.
Soil Building
Along with a movement toward creating more sustainable spaces, soil building is another trend that we see making its mark in 2025. The foundation of a healthy garden is healthy soil. Over time, our soil can become depleted of certain vital nutrients, which affects the overall vigor of our plants.
When you have poor, depleted soil, you spend a lot more time and money on fertilizers. Soil building puts important nutrients back into the soil and improves the composition to support plant life in the long term. This reduces the need for additional fertilizing. That is not to say that using organic fertilizers doesn’t have a place in the garden, but they are not a replacement for rich, healthy soil.
Soil building is something anyone can work on. Adding amendments like compost, manure, and cover crops helps to replenish the nutrients that your soil may be lacking. In many cases, you don’t even need to purchase amendments. It can be as simple as utilizing your fallen leaves as mulch rather than bagging and disposing of them.
Fascination With Hybridization
Maybe it’s because the exciting world of hybridization has piqued my own interest, but I see this gardening trend taking off in 2025. Hybridization of plants dates all the way back to 1716. This is when Thomas Fairchild successfully crossed a Carnation with a Sweet William, creating Dianthus caryophyllus x Dianthus barbatus.
With the rise in popularity of rare species, I foresee hybridization seeing a major resurgence. It’s through this process that we get not only new and beautiful plant varieties but also increased pest and disease resistance. With access to all the information we need to make this happen, I think more and more home gardeners will try their hand at the art.
Waterwise Gardening
Another practice that is making a comeback this year is waterwise gardening, also called xeriscaping. This goes hand in hand with adding more natives to your yard, as they naturally require less supplemental watering.
Sprinkler systems are costly both to install and to run. Much of the water they use doesn’t even make it to the roots, which is where your plants need it delivered. Waterwise gardening is about more than planting drought-resistant plants, though.
Other waterwise practices include soil building, mulching, and delivering water at the soil level rather than overhead. You can also install systems to collect and utilize rainwater or greywater, redirecting these to the garden.
Making Space for Mindfulness
Mindfulness was a buzzword for 2024, and we predict this gardening trend to pick up momentum in 2025. Mindfulness and sustainability go hand in hand, and melding the two in your garden can be seamless.
Meditation gardens have a history going all the way back to ancient Persia. Made popular in 6th century Japan, Zen gardens have their roots in Zen Buddhism. A resurgence occurred in the US in the 1920s, and I believe we are about to see another major movement.
Gardening itself promotes mindfulness. It connects us with nature and how elements work together to build a thriving and harmonious environment. It slows us down, teaches patience, and taps into our nurturing nature.
Bringing elements of mindfulness to your space can look like many things. Maybe it’s a quiet space devoted to your yoga practice. Perhaps it’s an outdoor living space where we can share our bit of nature with others, enriching our lives and theirs as well. It could be as simple as a comfortable place to rest, recharge, meditate, or enjoy a favorite book.
Mindfulness is about creating space to be present and to take a break from the bustle and anxieties of everyday life. Creating a space to foster gratitude, encourage connectivity, and be free from judgment is a wonderful addition to your gardening journey.
Vintage Revival
We love all the modern conveniences and technological advances that make gardening more accessible to everyone. However, there is something nostalgic and sweet about getting back to the basics. This ties into some of our other trends, with a return to conservation and sustainability.
In years gone by, kitchen gardens were something you could find outside many homes. The advent of fast, refrigerated transportation has made it easier to obtain a wide array of fresh herbs and ingredients. As a result, kitchen gardens fell out of vogue. This has had both negative and positive effects on our diets.
We predict a resurgence in kitchen gardens and in the resurrection of nostalgic gardening in general. I think we will see more of the plants we saw in our grandmother’s gardens, like dahlias, four-o-clocks, and a thriving herb patch.
Fighting Fire with Flora
With wildfires on the rise, it makes sense for gardeners in fire-prone areas to plan their space to resist damage. Some plants are particularly susceptible to burning. Those with high resin and oil content and those that create a lot of debris tend to pose an increased threat.
In addition to planting things that are less likely to catch fire, there are other ways you can minimize the damage caused by wildfires with your garden. If you have room, creating a defensible space around your home is a great idea. This involves planting fire-wise plants between your home and nearby wooded areas at a distance of at least 30 feet from the house.
Planting a large swath of plant life that is fire resistant not only protects your garden, it can protect your home as well. Knowing what to plant and where can contribute to a more fire-wise landscape.
Microgardening
Small-space gardening is another trend on the rise for the coming year. Growing your own food isn’t just for those with a large veggie patch. There are great ways to grow food in small spaces like a balcony, patio, and even in the comfort of your kitchen.
Microgardening is growing food and other plants in small spaces. It’s a great alternative for urban gardeners who don’t have access to a green space or rooftop garden. Vertical planters and elevated raised beds make it easy for gardeners with limited space to plant a vegetable garden, herb garden, or ornamental plants.
Cultivating the Front Yard
Something I’ve noticed more in the past year are gardens extending farther into the front yard than usual. Suburban front yards have mostly consisted of turf grass lawns for several decades. While some homeowners associations may frown on it, more and more gardeners are using that valuable front yard real estate.
Whether it’s a pollinator patch, a vegetable garden, or a small collection of fruit trees, front yard gardening is another trend on the rise. What were once sprawling expanses of manicured grass are undergoing a conversion.
Hand in hand with rewilding and replacing turf grass with sustainable alternatives, the front yard is getting a makeover. I predict that 2025 is going to be the time for front yards to shine.
Plant Swapping
Houseplant enthusiasts rejoice! All of those plant parents who got started while stuck at home in the early 2020s now have beautifully mature specimens. Those plants are screaming for a trim, which means it is propagation time!
I love plant swapping with my gardening friends. This goes for outdoor plants and houseplants alike. Any time you prune, hold on to those cuttings and get to work rooting them. You never know when your friend with the Pink Princess Philo is going to want to trade for a rooted node from your Monstera Albo.
Incorporating Edimentals
One trend we see carrying over from 2024 is the increased use of edimentals. That is, edible plants that are also beautiful and add ornamental value to the landscape. One of my favorite ornamental edible plants is okra. This relative of hibiscus produces some of the most beautiful blooms in the vegetable patch.
There is an amazing range of ornamental kale, cabbage, and other beautiful brassicas that make a stunning border. Pea vines look amazing on a trellis over your front gate and contribute to the perfect cottage garden vibe. Grow edible flowers in a window box outside your kitchen window for use in decorating baked goods.
Blending the line between the edible garden and the ornamental one is a common theme in cottage gardens. In this style, you can incorporate many upcoming trends into one space. Maximalism, edimentals, native plants, and a kitchen garden all work together to create a charming cottage garden.
