RHS predicts 9 horticultural trends for 2023

RHS has shared its predictions of what will be big in the world. Horticulture and horticulture in 2023.

As with all areas of life, the RHS estimates that many of the 30 million gardeners in the UK will seek more sustainable techniques to use when gardening. They will also make a garden keeping nature in mind. They suggest that people will seek to improve soil health, conserve water and encourage wildlife.

Other predictions include unconventional lawns, green landscaping and welcoming weeds.

RHS horticultural forecasts for 2023:

1. Thriving houseplants

Winter chills aside, the climate is generally warming, meaning we’ll be using less central heating throughout the year. This is good news for our houseplant friends, as they don’t like the dry, hot air from our central heating.

2. Regenerative gardening

2024 will see peat-based bagged compost banned in the UK, so gardeners before that will look for more environmentally friendly alternatives to make swapping easier. These include compost made from wood.



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Comfrey and winter beans can be grown as green manure to help fix nitrogen and other nutrients into the soil. Comfrey ‘Bocking 14’ can be grown and used directly as a mulch or made into a sustainable liquid feed that promotes the growth of newly planted crops.

3. Horticultural technology

When it comes to gardening, apps and social media are becoming more and more popular and useful as people share tips and notes, in keeping with all other areas of life. RHS will expand the range of digital services offered in 2023 to meet demand.

4. Herb gardens

Instead of buying packages of cut fresh herbs in disposable (and hard-to-recycle) plastic packs, grow your own herbs. They are relatively easy and can be done on windowsills from March to April and outside from April to August.



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5. Climate-resistant innovative gardens

2022 saw the hottest summer we’ve had in years, with temperatures reaching 40.3C. Gardeners are keen to future-proof their fields for a more extreme climate. Gravel gardens and xeriscaping (gardens designed to minimize future watering) will be popular, but that doesn’t mean you have to radically change your entire garden. Gardeners have swaps like fragrant choisya for hydrangeas and phygelius for fuchsia to maintain the same feel.

6. Changing the lawn

It was nearly impossible to keep the grass green after the summer’s drought. Longer grass not only helps with biodiversity, but is less water-intensive. Look for ‘tapestry lawns’, which are low-lying, intertwined flowering plants made up of mini wildflower meadows alongside yarrow and self-healing flowering plants. Plants previously considered weeds, including dandelions, will also be embraced for their ability to adapt to their green surroundings.

7. Green landscape

Green walls, fences and ponds are poised to rise in popularity not only as a more affordable alternative, but also as an alternative to demanding landscaping to avoid the increased flooding problem it can cause.

8. Dried and pressed flowers

Dried flowers have regained popularity over the past few years as a more sustainable alternative to fresh flowers. Pressed flowers are also making a comeback in the form of bunches, wreaths or garlands.



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9. Embracing the unloved of nature

RHS Garden Advice is getting more and more questions about how to encourage more wildlife to fend off more nasty species, including wasps that will exist before caterpillars, slugs that can help recycle decaying materials, and aphids that provide food for favourites. like ladybugs, lacewings, and flying fly larvae.

Guy Barter, RHS Chief Horticultural Specialist, said: “In 2022, the charity predicted safe cultivation will increase this year with the celebration of red-fleshed apples and RHS’s Flower Shows, which take advantage of the extreme summer temperatures that make them sweeter and richer in colour. A riot of reds, purples and yellows.

“Next year we expect gardeners to garden more than ever before with nature and the environment in mind, a growing trend each year and set to become the main concern of gardeners in Britain.”