Natural, colorful and sustainable

Given the increased awareness of nature due to alarming news such as bee deaths and insect decline, it is not surprising that naturalness and sustainability are the number 1 garden trend for summer 2019.

The bee-friendly garden is more than just a fashion trend: More and more garden owners and hobby gardeners want to contribute to ensuring that wild bees find more food again and are foregoing the carefully trimmed English lawn in favor of cheerful, colorful flowering meadows and freely growing perennials and shrubs.

The bee-friendly plants naturally support not only the busy bees, but also other pollinating insects such as bumblebees, hoverflies, wasps, beetles, and butterflies. The hobby gardener also benefits: they can look forward to a more abundant fruit and vegetable harvest.

Natural materials.

Natural materials such as stone and wood are used in the garden design. The cushions of the comfortable lounge furniture feature warm colors ranging from "Spiced Honey" to ochre yellow and dark gray. Colorful decorative cushions add vibrant accents.

Swimming ponds are replacing concrete pools in many places. Fences and walls are also increasingly covered in greenery and flowers. Even privacy screens become eye-catching features thanks to the lush blossoms of climbing roses and clematis, which lend the garden a dreamy, enchanted air.

Built close to the water.

Speaking of which: Water gardens, in their many variations, are very much in vogue. Whether in the form of a garden pond or fish pond, a fountain, or a stream connecting different parts of the garden or ponds, water and the soothing sound of a water feature transform any garden into a haven of tranquility. Aquatic plants are not only highly decorative but also very useful for the biological water purification of swimming ponds and natural pools. The trend for raised beds, which allow for an ergonomic working posture, remains strong this year. Vertical gardening is particularly popular in urban, confined spaces.

"Perennial of the Year 2019".

Climate change is also prompting new planting ideas for summer. According to forecasts, summers are expected to be just as hot as last year. It is therefore advisable to choose plants that tolerate drought, such as the robust and thorny globe thistle in its diverse decorative forms, which was named "Perennial of the Year 2019".

"Thistles are practically a must-have in the garden for nature lovers," explains Georg Uebelhart from the Association of German Perennial Nurseries. "They produce vast amounts of nectar and pollen in the summer, which is why they attract countless bees, butterflies and other insects. Their leaves also serve as food for many butterfly caterpillars."

Sources: mein-schoener-garten.de, stadtbienen.org, welt.de, plantura.garden.de, staude-des-jahres.de