During the widespread gardening craze of 2020, a bulk of Americans around the continental U.S. took up gardening as a hobby in some capacity-“-“whether they constructed raised beds in their backyard or built a tower garden on their balconies, gardening lovers (old and new) couldn't get enough of this meditative pastime. The frenzy of green thumbs continues into 2021 as trends like food gardens, vertical gardening, and collections of tropical plants are more popular than ever.
In celebration of gardening trends that have swept the U.S. in recent years, Breck's analyzed Google Trends search volume of 38 popular gardening trends (according to Martha Stewart, Country Living, and Farmers' Almanac) over the past twelve months to determine the most popular gardening trend in every U.S. state.
From strawberry towers to succulent gardens, read on to see which gardening trend is most searched in your state!
The Most Popular Gardening Trend in Every State
The findings are clear-“-“food gardens, fence gardens, and tropical plants dominate the map, top-searched in ten, six, and three states respectively.
Sustainable gardens are also making waves, most Googled in largely-populated states like California and Texas. While there's no one-size-fits-all definition of a sustainable garden, as a whole these are eco-friendly gardens that incur less waste, fewer chemicals, and fewer costs. Best practices for sustainable gardening include mulching your garden beds, saving seeds, composting, planting perennials, and growing plants that are native to your region, among several others.
Additionally, hanging planters, balcony gardens, and ladder gardens are other popular trends for the innovative gardener, according to Google search volume. Incorporating these trends into your own green spaces is totally achievable with the abundance of online resources we have at our fingertips. Pinterest has countless ideas for styling a ladder garden and MasterClass features a whole course on tips for balcony gardening!
Long live food gardens, which reign supreme as the most popular gardening trend nationwide. The popularity of food gardens spans from coast to coast, top-searched in both the western and northeastern regions of the U.S. Perhaps Americans are Googling food gardens most due to the widespread popularity of the "grow your own" movement on social media or due to the growing concerns over food insecurity and produce shortages during the pandemic? Both are possible reasons for the rising adoption of this gardening trend.
Above we have a full breakdown of popular gardening trends ranked based on the number of U.S. states they're most searched in. Again, food gardens and fence gardens top the list, followed by tropical plants. More and more are using tropical plants to bring an exotic vibe into their outdoor spaces. Banana plants, cannas, and palms are big hitters within the #jungalow gardening trend that's currently taking Instagram by storm.
That wraps up our study on the most popular gardening trends both nationwide and state-by-state. Whether you're building a tiny garden or a romantic rose garden, Breck's has you covered with the flower bulbs, perennials, and garden essentials you'll need to incorporate the gardening trends that inspire you most.