HOME GROWN: Veg patches and fruit bushes are increasingly popular in gardens (Image: Tosh Lubek/Getty)
Gardening trends can be a bit of a mixed bag – some have taken root, like increasing biodiversity by rewilding, while others have been consigned to the compost heap, like the 70s penchant for crazy paving. But they can help with your plans for the year ahead.
Trends are an inexact science – a combination of expert analysis and consumer behaviour, influenced by broader cultural, environmental and technological shifts. They don’t tell you what you have to do, but they’re a way to find out what others are up to and what seems to be growing in popularity.
In recent years, some of the biggest influences on gardens have been the increasing awareness of climate change and the need for sustainability, more people working from home and wanting to blend indoor and outdoor spaces, and a growing interest in ‘grow your own’. These factors continue to influence the gardening trends in 2026, according to lawncare expert Chris Cooper at Toro.
READ MORE1. Having home allotments
“Allotments are in high demand – in fact, I can’t ever remember a time when allotments have been both this scarce and wanted by so many new and experienced gardeners alike,” says Chris. “Two years ago, there were more than 150,000 people on waiting lists for allotments – and it seems like it’s only getting worse.”
Online searches for ‘allotments to rent near me’ have seen a year-on-year rise, but it appears that many have grown tired of waiting and taken fruit and veg growing back into their own hands, says Chris. There’s been a surge in searches for ‘best vegetables to grow at home’ and an influx of growing guides on TikTok and Instagram.
2. Space-saving gardens
“It’s said that necessity is the mother of invention, and believe it or not, this has massively influenced how we plan and landscape our gardens over the last few years,” Chris says. Many new-build owners have reported dissatisfaction with their gardens, which are often noticeably longer than they are wide, leading to a wealth of ‘new-build garden transformation’ videos.
“I think we’ll see a huge rise in living walls, modular planters, trellises and other space-saving garden additions,” says Chris. “We’ve already seen them grow in popularity on socials, but more and more are starting to catch on to the efficiency and satisfying use of space-saving planters.”
3. Garden privacy hacks
“Garden privacy is a big concern for homeowners – people want to escape to their own slice of nature and they don’t want to feel watched with their morning cuppa,” says Chris. “I predict we’ll see a big increase in tall, fast-growing hedges that add height to low fences, such as cherry laurel, bamboo and leylandii.”
In addition, he thinks we’ll be installing permeable structures, like trellis and pergolas then training climbing plants. “Nobody wants to tempt a nosy neighbour, so any excuse to add more green or functionality to a garden whilst also improving privacy is a win-win in my book,” he says.
4. Battery tools and equipment
Chris noticed a significant increase in interest in battery-powered domestic tools in 2025, from lawnmowers to power tools. They’re incredibly handy in the garden as you don’t need an outdoor socket or miles of extension leads. Best of all, they’re increasingly affordable as prices have dropped in response to the rise in demand.
Go cordless
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5. Garden upcycling
“Garden upcycling was massive in 2020, and I think it’s set for a significant comeback,” says Chris. “Several factors contribute to this – the cost of living making new gardening items less affordable, the growing drive for sustainability and the push for fun activities for families away from screens.
“I think we’ll see a rise in the transformations of used items, turning them into chic, rustic additions to the garden. Recently, I’ve seen DIY biodegradable seed pots made from newspaper, planters made from wheelbarrows, vegetable patches made from metal panels and more.”
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