Dig Into These Bountiful Gardening Trends in 2022

What’s new in the home horticulture scene for the coming year? Dig into one of these five bountiful gardening trends in 2022.

People have long turned to gardening to beautify their landscape and grow food for their families. The pandemic made this pastime even more popular as people spent more time at home.

1. Adding Shade Trees

The climate crisis is real and getting worse, but Mother Nature offers one possible solution for clearing the air. Each mature tree removes approximately 48 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year. The more the planet has, the better its chances for survival.

Spring is the ideal season for adding more shade trees to your lawn. Saplings prefer thawed soil that isn’t yet dry, making summer less than ideal in all but the coldest climates. Ensure you follow the directions that come with your new hemlock or elm. Planting the roots too deep can cause rot, but placing them too close to the surface can make the tree fall over, perhaps damaging your home.

Placement matters. Trees that can grow 70 feet or taller belong at least 20 feet away from your home to prevent possible structural damage from falling limbs during storms. Smaller trees should still be placed at least 15 feet away to keep the roots from damaging your foundation.

2. DIYing Your Compost

The cost of everything seems to have increased these days, including mulch and topsoil at your local nursery. Who knew dirt could be so expensive? Fortunately, you don’t have to drop a bundle preparing your garden soil for planting if you make wise use of your kitchen and lawn scraps.

It’s relatively simple to assemble a compost bin. You can purchase kits or DIY with old pallets available for free at many hardware stores.

Once you construct your container, you need to study what you can and can’t include in the mix. Grass clippings and dead leaves should go in the bin. So should vegetable matter such as banana peels and coffee grounds. However, you should avoid adding meat scraps or pet waste, as these can contaminate the soil.

3. Healing With Herbs

Did your mom or dad keep a windowsill herb garden? You can enrich your family’s health and add flavor to your cooking if you adopt this practice.

Peppermint and spearmint are well-known tummy remedies. A tea from the leaves can soothe an upset stomach. So can catnip — although you might have to keep your plant out of the reach of any curious felines sharing your home.

Other spices like basil and oregano add flavor to your meals and also contain curative properties. You can use either one to take your pasta to new heights. The oil from the oregano plant is a potent antimicrobial agent that’s effective against MRSA when used topically.

4. Cutting Grocery Costs

Have you noticed your grocery bill rising lately? You aren’t alone. The cost of feeding your family has soared 3.6% since April 2020. If you’re also battling rising housing and health care costs, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

Your backyard garden adds fresh organic produce to your family’s meals without requiring you to spend extra at the store. Even if you don’t have a large yard, you can successfully grow many tasty items in containers, such as green beans and tomatoes. If you have considerable acreage, start saving the seeds from your foods before cooking them. Start them in egg cartons, and you’ll have a ready supply of seedlings come spring.

5. Connecting With Your Community

This vacant lot in an inner city neighborhood has been turned into a community garden

Many people don’t know their neighbors these days. You can meet new friends where you live and even lend a helping hand with your gardening skills.

One way is by starting a community garden. Another is exchanging products. If you have a bumper crop of lemons while your neighbor has oranges, why not mix and match? Sharing the food that you grow with others on your block can help everyone reduce costs while creating a sense of fellowship that’s often lacking these days.