I feel it’s my duty to tell you what the garden and landscaping trends of 2023 are going to be tout de suite. After all, gardens don’t grow in a day, and winter is the best time to plan.
What’s Going to Be Hot in 2023
Miranda Estes
Sowing Sanity
In Monrovia’s most recent study, homeowners who strongly agree with the statements “Gardening is good for my mental health and well-being” and “Gardening helps me feel hopeful and positive” increased over last year. “At the beginning of the pandemic, gardening was more about freshening up the areas where we were spending more time,” says Katie Tamony, Monrovia CMO and trend spotter. “Now homeowners are maximizing and personalizing their outdoor space. Gardening, and just spending time in an outdoor space that you have created, relieves stress and makes us feel more positive.”
Chad Mellon
Maximal Materials
The Maximalist look is gaining steam outside, according to Kristin Swenson, the communications manager at Yardzen. “Customers are asking for more bold and playful decor details—think a pop of handmade tile on a patio or around the edge of a pool,” she says. The idea is to use a variety of tones, volume, and texture. If you do it right, the look will be intentional, but not overly messy.
Caitlin Atkinson
Abundance Abounds
The Garden of Abundance trend is all about making your garden a bit wild, more productive, and connected to the earth. Monrovia says it’s time to mix in edible plants with the rest of your landscape, rather than containing them in raised beds. “We’re seeing gardeners appreciating the ornamental beauty of edible plants and mixing them in with their other trees and shrubs,” says Tamony. “An abundant garden incorporates the usefulness of edible plants with the love of pollinator plants. It also includes providing a season-long habitat for birds.”
Jennifer Yakey-Ault/Getty Images
The New Victorians
“Blame it on Bridgerton,” says Tamony, referring to the Netflix series. Nostalgic plants like roses, lilac, hydrangea, and hollyhock are back. Think of this trend as an elevated version of a cottage garden. To make it work, the look is casual but not disorganized with a palette of pink, purple, and white, and pretty, delicate foliage. White fences, gravel or brick pathways, and birdbaths are also de rigeur. Article by Deanna Kizis.
More 2023 garden ideas are available to view at the link below:
We’ve seen lots of skirts as a significant trend during the spring season, and, although some people can’t wait to ditch mini skirts, they’re still trending — even to the point where a sexier variation of them is going to be everywhere: the micro miniskirt. According to Vogue Britain, Miu Miu inspired this trend with their tiny, low-rise, super-short mini skirts that would be every strict parent’s nightmare.
Anyone considering experimenting with the micro miniskirt trend and looking for some style inspiration can find a plethora of looks on Instagram. Although a few examples are on the borderline of being NSFW, there are many provocative yet appropriate looks (depending on where you’re going).
For instance, a fitted white micro miniskirt with a chunky belt and a fun T-shirt makes an excellent going-out outfit. Or, if you want to wear a girly, preppier spin on this trend, try a pink pleated option. Furthermore, a tiny black or denim skirt will match countless summery tops in your wardrobe.
Not sure how to style such a low-rise skirt? PopSugar explained which pieces look fashionable with these seemingly promiscuous skirts. For instance, wearing a shirt in the same color or pattern as the skirt will come across as cohesive and sleek.
And, since this trend is only appropriate for warm or hot weather, why not tap into the spring or summery spirit by pairing it with a flowery piece for some floral fun? Although you may first associate miniskirts with date nights, partying, or brunches, PopSugar noted that you can rock this look with a more professional spin, too, styling it with a blazer or a button-up top and more serious shoes.
If you’ve been following all the trends, then you’ve put in a lot of work to create a beautiful, stress-relieving place full of interesting sights, scents, and sounds. Are you only going to use it when you’ve got time off on the weekends? Many people are saying absolutely not to that idea! With more people than ever before working from home, outdoor offices are starting to trend.
What does it take to build an outdoor office? If you’ve built an outdoor living room, then you likely already have most of what you need. The key elements are a workspace, which will consist of a table and chair within Wi-Fi range and near to power outlets, shade to keep the glare off your laptop, and privacy in the form of hedges, fences, or lush trellises so that your neighbors don’t accidentally interrupt your Zoom meetings.
Gardening For Climate Change
As the effects of climate change become more extreme, people have started to respond with the way that they garden—though this means different things in different areas. Areas that are experiencing record-breaking wildfires are doing what’s known as “firescaping.” Firescaping means fireproofing the landscape as much as possible by doing things like:
Planting water-retaining plants, which are slower to catch fire.
Creating defensible spaces around the home, which often means moving wood-mulched beds away and creating fire-resistant beds immediately around the house instead.
Using stone, brick, or concrete paths or walls to create firebreaks within the landscape.
Elsewhere, where people are experiencing record rainfall, popular gardening trends include planting water-loving plants in lower areas where water collects or protecting against erosion with groundcovers and other things that have root systems to keep soil in place.
One part of this trend defies regional conditions, and that is the rise of low carbon gardening. Low carbon gardening places an emphasis on purchasing locally produced plants, materials and products for the garden, thereby reducing the carbon emissions created via long-distance shipping. Many also choose to reduce their environmental impact even further by not only purchasing local goods, but also by purchasing renewable or easily recyclable things such as wood or metal patio furniture instead of plastic.
Ready to get growing? Use these trends as your roadmap to create a gorgeous outdoor space for the summer!
As much as we love sweaters, coats, and scarves, there is just something special about finally breaking out your spring dresses. They’re breezy! They’re romantic! They’re fun! A delicate, vivid dress is the perfect reflection of the way that spring makes us feel after a long winter, and we are ready to break out all the 2022 trends, from maxi dresses to mini dresses and everything in between.
Add this dress to your sustainable closet for a colorful and cute outfit any day of the week. Equal parts feminine and bohemian, this is the perfect dress to wear until summer ends.
If you need something breezy and comfortable for your weekend trip to the farmer’s market, we have the perfect solution. The relaxed, airy design of this dress is complemented by a bright color that will catch everyone’s eyes.
Whether you use it as a bikini coverup or pair it with a structured jacket for date night, a slip dress in a vivid pattern is the perfect mix of casual and flirty.
If you’re looking to splurge for a wedding or a formal event, consider a cranberry number with straps that look like strings of roses! Romantic, chic, and also appropriate come holiday season.
It’s been four months since you started dating Jim. You’ve gone hiking, binged the entire second season of Fleabag together and eaten at his favorite pizzeria so many times you feel like the staff knows you’re together. But you haven’t met any of his actual friends—let alone any family. Wait, you did run into his college buddy on the street, though! And they chatted for a bit…but now that you think about it, he glazed right over an introduction, didn’t he? And when you posted a pic of you two, he asked you to delete it. Welp, take a seat. We’re sorry to say it, but it sounds like this Jim character is stashing you.
Stashing is when one person in a relationship makes the conscious decision to hide the other person from his or her inner circle, and yes, that includes both in real life and on social media. (Deep breaths.) Of course, this is so much more a reflection of the stasher than the stashee, but c’mon, it’s downright rude and hurtful as hell.
Great, the person I’m seeing is stashing me. Why is this happening?
There’s no one reason why stashing happens, but we spoke with marriage and couple’s therapist Irina Firstein about it. She told us the stasher may be stashing you because they 1) are embarrassed by or have issues with their family, 2) don’t see a serious future with you or 3) are carrying on another relationship simultaneously. None—we repeat, none—of these reasons (or any others) are good enough to justify making you feel like dirt but having a little bit of insight might take the edge off.
How do I bring up stashing to the person I’m seeing?
“Ask them why you haven’t met anyone important in their life,” Firstein says, “and follow up with questions if they give you the runaround.” (Psst: “There hasn’t been a convenient time” can be filed under “runaround.”) The conversation might bring you closer together over some shared vulnerabilities—maybe the so-called stasher is not on speaking terms with certain family or friends after a falling-out—but there’s also the potential for the opposite to happen.
What if I’m met with backlash?
If this person is doing something hurtful to you and they respond in any way that’s not supportive, understanding or at least curious, it’s time to reevaluate the relationship, because let’s be honest, that wasn’t that tough of a question. Sidestepping your feelings is a major red flag. And, as Firstein sees it, “If they play ignorant, that’s a form of manipulation.” Tough love, people.
Remember that a caring partner will not want you to feel this way, and if they really do have a good reason for keeping you stashed, like a family matter or they just weren’t “there” yet, they’ll be receptive to the conversation and interested in moving forward. If not, then you deserve to be with someone who wants to roof you. (That’s the term we just made up that means “shout from the rooftops that they get to be with you.”)
Winter may be on the way out, but a sleek off-black hair color never goes out of season.
It’s easy to think going blonde is the move for warmer temperatures. Nectar blonde and expensive blonde looks have been taking over Instagram, plus Gigi Hadid and Florence Pugh just went back to the popular shade.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 29: Dua Lipa attends The Fashion Awards 2021 at the Royal Albert Hall on November 29, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
There’s nothing like being the trendsetter, though, and off-black hair will be the sleeper hit of this spring. A full black hair dye can be a dramatic change to make, but for those looking to try a cool brunette tone that can look close to black, off-black hair dye is an excellent choice.
“While very dark, this hair color is actually the darkest shade of brown with a very cool, ashy undertone, giving the appearance of black to the untrained eye,” says Tom Smith, celebrity hair colorist and creative director at Australian haircare brand evo. “This stops the shade looking too harsh or draining, but retains the striking, inky appearance of the hair. Off-black is a current celebrity favorite, recently seen on Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Olivia Rodrigo, Megan Fox, and Maya Jama.”
Off-black is a great way for brunettes to try out a darker color, even if jet black isn’t their favorite. To achieve this color for your hair, ask your stylist for the darkest shade of brown with a cool ash tone.
This style achieves the look of a dramatic dye, but it won’t take arduous trips to the salon to maintain. Smith says this shade can be maintained perfectly with the evo fabuloso colour boosting treatment in the shade of cool brown.
Don’t forget to consider the hair cut possibilities with this dye. The refresh doesn’t have to stop at color. A boy bob could give the new color a natural feel, or try the blowout bob for a ’90s throwback.
Gardening can be tricky even when you are graced with good soil, but what if you’re dealing with unpleasant growing conditions? Or does the very idea of endless weeding give you a backache? Starting a straw bale garden this spring may be the answer to all your gardening prayers. This method of gardening uses bales of straw as your garden beds — with no soil — and is a versatile, thrifty, and easy way to garden.
Image credit: Ruth Temple @ Flickr
What Is Straw Bale Gardening?
Straw bale gardening is essentially a form of container gardening with the container being the bale of straw itself. Straw’s hollow tube design helps to soak up and hold moisture, making it an ideal material for growing vegetables. These mud-free and weed-free gardens can be started anywhere that gets six to eight hours per day of direct sunlight. Arrange as few or as many bales as you wish right on your lawn, or even in your driveway (maybe you will inspire a neighbor or two!).
The Benefits of Using Straw Bales
Straw bale gardens are an ideal alternative for those with physical impairments. You can make them as tall as you’d like, which means no bending over – good news for sufferers of back pain. Lugging and digging heavy soil and wedding is also a thing of the past. And the best part of all: straw bale gardening can result in a 25% higher crop yield. This is mainly attributed to the excellent root run and air circulation. The bales also heat up much quicker than soil making them a perfect option for northern climates with shorter growing seasons. Building a garden out of bales of straw creates a whole new range of possibilities!
What Can You Grow In A Straw Bale Garden?
Almost any vegetable, herb, or annual flower can be grown in a straw bale. As the straw begins to break down, it is transformed into a rich, compostable planter ideal for growing. As a bonus, straw bale gardens are a biodegradable equivalent of a raised bed. After your crops are harvested, the straw can be used as a top soil dressing to your garden beds or an excellent addition to your compost pile. Do not confuse straw bale gardening with using loose straw on your garden for mulch or compost.
How To Get Started!
Step 1 – Choose Your Straw When planting a straw bale garden, you will obviously need bales of straw. They can be bales of wheat, oats, barley, alfalfa or rye. Local garden centers and nurseries usually sell straw bales, however if you want to garden organically it is best to go directly to the source. Find a local farmer who does not use pesticides on his or her crops.
Note: Don’t be tempted to buy hay in place of straw to save a few dollars! Hay tends to be very seedy which can create a weed problem in your garden.
Step 2 – Choose A Location You will need to pick a spot in your yard that receives at least six hours of bright, direct sunlight a day. While some veggies such as lettuce and green beans can grow in partial shade, most need full sun to thrive. Be sure to choose a spot with access to water. Once you water your bales, they will become too heavy to move, so decide on your location before you get started.
Fig. A Be sure the cut side of the straw in the bale is facing up.
Your bales can be configured however you wish. You can create square or rectangular shaped raised beds, or arrange them in rows. If you decide to lay your bales side by side in rows, be sure to leave enough space to mow your lawn in between. Set up the bales so that the twine holding them together runs horizontally to the ground, with the cut side facing up (see Fig. A) — this allows the open stems to absorb water and fertilizer your plants need more easily. If you have physical limitations and would prefer to garden standing up — straw bale gardening is perfect, as you can stack the bales on top of each other, or on wooden pallets.
Step 3 – Condition Your Bales Before you start planting you will need to prepare your bales. Conditioning the bales is an essential part of the process and takes about two to three weeks for the initial decomposition process to be complete and for the temperature inside the bales to cool down. You don’t want to cook your seeds and seedlings! Moisture is required for the decomposition process, so you will need to water your bales thoroughly.
A nitrogen source, such as an organic fertilizer or blood meal is suggested to jump start the composting process and to create an ideal environment for plant roots. Choose a fertilizer with a minimum of five percent active nitrogen content.
Week 1: water the bales thoroughly every day (you should see water running out the bottom). Then, every other day, sprinkle the surface of each bale with fertilizer prior to watering (half cup per bale of a nitrogen source fertilizer, or three cups of blood meal).
Week 2: Apply half of the amount of nitrogen source for three days, followed by a watering. The following three days, water daily. At the end of the two weeks, your bales should be ready for planting.
Take the Temperature: Stick your finger into the bale. It should feel warm, but not hot. If it feels hot, wait another couple of days before you begin planting. You can also use a compost thermometer to check the temperature. It should be between 75-80 degrees F. If you wish to build trellises or install posts for tomatoes or assorted vine vegetables, this would be a good time to do it. You may also want to consider laying a soaker hose on the top of your bales to efficiently irrigate your bales.
Step 4 – Planting Growing From Seeds: You can grow from seeds in your straw bales. If you do this, it will help if you lay one to three inches of compost and potting soil mix onto the top of the bales. This will help the seeds to germinate and to prevent the seeds from falling down the porous straw bale. Be sure to not use soil from your yard as you don’t want to introduce weeds and disease to your bales. When sowing seeds directly, do as you normally would and follow the instructions on your seed pack.
Growing from Transplants: To plant seedlings in the bales, simply take a sharp trowel and stick it into the bale and wiggle to make a crack large enough for your seedling to fit into. Per bale, you should be able to fit two to three tomato plants; four pepper plants; two to four squash plants; two to three zucchini plants; four to six cucumber plants; and three to four strawberry plants.
Caring for Your Straw Bale Garden Maintaining your straw bale garden is painless. Regular watering is necessary to keep the straw bales moist. In the summer heat, you should water daily. It is best to water in the morning, making sure to water the bales and not the leaves. And great news! Since the water drains out the bottom of the bales, you can’t over water your garden.!
You will also need to feed your plants frequently. Fertilize your plants every two weeks while they are young, and every week once they start bearing fruit.
If you see mushrooms popping up in your garden — don’t panic! This is a sign that your bales are working as they should; decomposing slowly. You can pick them out if you like, but do not eat them.
Once your garden is done, you can spread the used straw on your compost pile so that nutrients can be returned to the soil. Straw bale gardens are a great way to reap more, weed less, and garden just about anywhere!
