In January of the last two years we have written about the cultural zeitgeist in garden design – about what are the most popular garden design trends for the new year.

In these last two years a range of suggestions and trends have been made, including the use of meadow mixes, growing your own vegetables, using more products made from bamboo… and painting your fence panels black.

Not sure that one took off as they thought it would!

Read Garden Design Trends 2014

Read Garden Design Trends 2015

Before we Talk About Garden Design Trends for 2016…

We just want to mention which trends we have left out and why. We have read widely in order to find out what people are thinking, what companies are pushing and what the garden media wants you to know about, use and do in the garden. Some of it makes for painful reading – certain ‘trends’ are suggested and they have nothing to do with actually being out in the garden and growing, eating or enjoying plants.

The best that can be said about this is that it feels like the horticultural world is trying to make an industry out of something that just isn’t there. For example (and this is one of the trends we haven’t included in our list of trends for 2016 below) we read that this year a three-bladed shrub pruning tool would be a garden trend.

Why?

Trends are about plants and materials and how we relate to the world outside of our homes, not about a tool conjured up to get you to buy something new, that you use once and then leave in the back of the shed.

A gardener needs very few tools – 1 pair of decent shears should last you a long time. We offer these Japanese shears – and that is it. All you need. Buy once, buy well.

Silly ideas for garden ‘trends’ left aside then, what did it make it to our list for 2016?

The Must-Read Garden Design Trends for 2016

Locally sourced products will be sought after and used. (For the gardener with rough hands, these vegan soaps are made for us in East London. So are these tins of seedballs. All plants included should be local to you!)

Houseplants will be used more creatively, with new ideas being tried like growing vegetables indoors.

Firepits, exterior rugs and outdoor kitchens will become the norm. We’re taking the inside outside folks!

Flowerpots and planters will become more colourful. As will garden structures (no more black fence panels then…?)

Little used urban spaces will be made greener and supported by the community. Call it authorised guerrilla gardening…

Herbs will be appreciated.

Less box balls. Not sure we think much of that trend as we love topiary at Modern Mint. Oh well, here is to another year of not being cool and on-trend…

Copper and brass will be seen in the garden. Amen to that, we have been fans of copper in the garden for years. You know who isn’t a fan of copper? Slugs and snails. Here is why – copper tools.

We will see the return of rockeries. Woah…

What About These Trends?

There you have it, all you need to get in order to be funky and ‘with it’ in your garden in 2016. As in the previous years a lot of these suggestions appear a bit ridiculous – a few outdoor kitchens might go in, but they will not be for everyone. The weather just isn’t conducive to it in the UK, and a barbecue – real fire! – is surely more fun than an oven when you do get a chance to eat outside in the summer.

But it is interesting to see what is being talked about, the way the country feels about their outdoor space – what do you think? What trends do you think will sweep the nation and their gardens in 2016?

Let us know your ideas on Facebook – we would love to hear them! Modern Mint Facebook.

Read Garden Designs Trends 2015.