We live in an age of uncertainty, anxiety, stress and burnout, and it’s a global phenomenon. That’s the observation of the Garden Media Group, having scoped global consumer trends and consulted with media and other experts for its annual Trends Report for 2026. They identify where people are, what they want and how they want to live: simplicity over excess, connection instead of consumption and prioritising well-being instead of status and success.
As the saying goes, if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. As the theme for 2026, ‘Lemonading’ shines the light on a mindset that turns setbacks into opportunities and builds resilience through creativity. Gardening, says the report, can help people get there because gardeners are ‘rooted in resilience’ through having to “work with living things, face seasonality, unpredictability and failure as part of the process”.
It’s no secret that gardening has always been immensely therapeutic. As any gardener knows, to garden is to play. We lose ourselves in a world of imagination, possibility and activity, where time has no meaning.’ Research from Oregon State University confirms this.
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‘Play is a psychological toolkit; it reframes problems, reduces anxiety, and fuels creativity’. ‘Lemonading’ in the garden, allows us to experiment, to create joyful spaces, and it takes the sting out of failure. After all, if a plant dies, we can repurpose it onto the compost heap and there are always new plants to discover!
Like everything else, gardening is changing and these are some of the trends the Garden Media Group have identified. Gardening is becoming more purpose driven, and more outward looking. The garden is not just a private sanctuary but can be a driver for change.
Gen Z in particular sees the garden as part of a wider eco-system that can work for the good. “It’s not just what I plant but why I plant it.’ It’s about having a purpose, whether its planting for wildlife, supporting community or school food gardens, or charitable causes through the purchase of plants. How we garden is also changing.
The key word is precision. Like everything else, gardening is becoming data driven instead of gardening by the rule of thumb. It’s about opting for technology like soil and water sensors, following local weather trends and seeking out ‘bullet proof’ plants that are drought tolerant, low water users and low maintenance.
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