WHEN everything changed in 2020, and the world adapted, gardening did too…but very much for the better.
Lockdown made many people rediscover their gardens, and in a very short space of time, millions of new enthusiasts found that growing their own herbs and sowing their own seeds was not just practical, but also beneficial to their overall wellbeing.
Candide, the free gardening app that connects green lovers across South Africa, saw a 50 per cent average increase in new members compared to the same period during the previous year.
“What happened over lockdown has changed gardening forever,” says Tessa Laas, ecologist at Candide.
Gardeners were asked why they gardened and what kind of gardens they cultivated, about their gardening experience and shopping habits, and what they were looking forward to in 2021.
Here are a few of the most popular trends:
Eat In: Lockdown led loads of people down the path of growing their own food. From an explosion of planted pavements to homegrown harvests of spinach, tomatoes, peppers, fennel, brinjals, cucumbers, swiss chard, celery, lettuce, and green beans, families found deep satisfaction in this deeply pleasing activity. Community gardens have also popped up everywhere, helping feed and uplift communities in a healthy, wholesome way.
Less Lawn More Plants: There’s no one law for lawn. You can go the low maintenance route by planting a groundcover, applying mulch or building an inviting cobblestone patio, all the while staying eco-friendly. Because less grass helps you go green.
Making Your Garden Work: As work, home and classroom blurred into one, garden Zoom calls became common. This increased connectivity to nature has been the driving force behind biophilic design, and as people return to their offices, there’s a big drive to include more natural elements in these environments. Surveys have shown that greener spaces mean happier workers.
Less Is More: You don’t need a huge space to make a big impact. By growing delicious treats like tomatoes, mini bell peppers, baby ball beets, cucamelon, miniature cucumbers, sprouts and microgreens, your tiny turf can yield a massive feast.
Go Wild: The wilder your garden, the wilder its inhabitants, from chameleons to bees, birds, butterflies and frogs. Around the world, gardeners are leaving a patch unattended, planting wildflowers, single-flowering varieties or open flowers, and creating their own biodiverse havens.
Waste Not, Want Not: Conserving water is not just about being wise; it’s about being responsible. There are many ways to do this, and one of them is xeriscaping, a mouthful that comes from the Greek word for ‘dry’. This water-saving approach helps you analyse soil and figure out irrigation and maintenance methods.
- For more information visit www.candide.co.za email hello@candide.co.za or follow Candide on Instagram and Facebook @candideappza.
Issued by: Candide
