They call it “lemonading” and claim it’s one of the top garden trends for 2026.
For the uninitiated, “lemonading” references the old adage and translates to “embracing small joys and simple pleasures that brighten daily life,” a movement that “transforms challenges into opportunities through creativity, mindfulness and joy,” according to Garden Media Group’s recently announced annual Garden Trends Report.
“Amid climate anxiety and digital overload, the garden is becoming the place where chaos softens and possibilities bloom,” the report explains. “Gardening has always been about transformation,” adds Katie Dubow, Garden Media president. “This year, it’s about more than planting seeds. It’s about planting possibilities. Consumers are seeking comfort, connection and creativity.”
The Chester County, Pennsylvania, group has studied shifts in consumer behavior for 25 years and looks at pop culture, runways and blockbuster movie releases and determines whether those shifts will extend into the garden, she says, adding input from growers, retailers and landscape designers to see what is gaining traction. “Our goal is to connect with what people are feeling and needing and tie it back to plants.”
Here’s what they have discovered cropping up for the 2026 growing season.
It’s personal
Gardening is becoming more personal, Dubow says. “We’re seeing a clear shift away from perfection to spaces that feel meaningful, whether that’s supporting pollinators, creating pet-friendly zones, or building a collection that reflects your identity, just like a shoe or vinyl collection would,” she says.
“There’s also a fascinating cultural split happening in real time: on one side, high-tech gardening (smart irrigation, sensor-based soil monitoring, app-connected grow lights). On the other, there’s a counter-movement to unplug” and move away from screens, Dubow says.
Purpose-driven gardening
“Purpose-driven gardening,” or planting with intention to give back to pollinators, communities and the planet, has also gathered steam, Dubow says.
“We’ve seen a true sea change here … from gardens for necessity (food) to gardens for beauty (flowers) to now people wanting their gardens to actively solve a problem. That might be emotional, like stress relief or a sense of calm. It might be practical, like growing food or cutting the grocery bill. Or it might be social — planting for pollinators, trading seeds, building community around plants. What we’re hearing is that gardening offers something rare now: a direct relationship between effort and visible results. In a world that can feel unpredictable and out of control, the garden is one of the few places where you plant something, tend it, and watch it grow. The American Psychological Association has documented the mental health benefits of time in nature and green spaces, and gardeners are clearly feeling that connection firsthand.”
Examples can be found in the recently published “Gardens That Can Save The World” (Timber Press, $35), which celebrates gardens that “help repair, heal, empower and nourish” with more than 60 DIY projects.
Local landscape designers have seen this trend bloom closer to home.
“Clients are shifting from purely aesthetic gardens to spaces that serve a purpose-entertaining, relaxing, and living,” says Matt Mosher, president of Mosher Design Co. in Royal Oak.
“It still has to be beautiful, but now it also has to work.”
“Pollinator gardens are big, says Amy Schimmel Bessolo, a registered landscape architect with Goldner Walsh Garden and Home in Pontiac.
“Many people want more than a pretty garden; they want to contribute to nature, giving bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, to name a few, food and environments to thrive and survive. Pollinator plants can be found in many plant categories including annual flowers, perennials, shrubs and trees.” Pollinator gardens are growing, but in a more curated way,” agrees Mosher.
“People want environmentally responsible landscapes that still feel intentional and refined but not wild or unkempt. People are also asking for rain barrels to capture roof water and inject the water through their irrigation system.”
Bessolo has also seen a rise in homeowners asking for native plants. “We have many great selections to choose from in Michigan, zone 5 to 6, but this also can be limiting when trying to carry out certain design goals such as providing more color in all seasons and a variety of bold textures for interest in the landscape,” she says. “We like to incorporate natives when they work in the design but we stay open to a variety of plant selections bred for hardiness and characteristics such as foliage color or blooms.”
Take it outside
Interior design trends continue to extend into the garden, Dubow says. “The garden is a true extension of the home. Outdoor rooms with defined zones for dining, lounging, and even working, layered the same way a well-designed interior would be. We’re also seeing the same aesthetic: softer, muted Kusumi colors, natural and weathered materials, and a preference for spaces that look lived in, rather than installed all at once. Wicker, aged terracotta, linen-toned cushions. The outdoor living market has grown substantially, with industry analysts valuing it at more than $50 billion in North America, reflecting just how seriously homeowners are investing in these spaces as livable, designed environments.”
Here in Metro Detroit, “Outdoor living spaces are part of almost every new home or renovation landscape design today,” says Bessolo. “The opportunity to expand a home outside often results in becoming the most utilized and loved gathering space for entertaining as well as a sanctuary or escape from everyday life.”
Mosher agrees. “We’re designing them with the same level of comfort, function, and detail as interior spaces,” he says. “Outdoor spaces have become true extensions of the home. People want a landscape that feels effortless — beautiful, functional, low-maintenance, and like it’s always belonged to the home. They also require elevated features such as louvered pergolas, outdoor fire table — really an extension of their inside.”
Deborah Silver of Detroit Garden Works in Pontiac carries a new line of wicker pots that reflect this trend toward hardworking yet handsome natural materials. “I love the wicker for its reference to the cottage garden, but also for very contemporary landscapes,” she says. “They are versatile and can be placed in a variety of architectural styles. The fibers have a natural color and texture that go well with a variety of flowers and plants. Properly cared for, they last a long time and tend to be reasonably priced.”
Maximum impact
Maximalism — as espoused in Teresa Woodard’s recent book, “Garden to the Max,” the first to introduce the trend — has also moved into the garden, Bessolo says. “I do feel the maximalist trend reflects into many gardens. In the right situation, bright colors, bold contrast and overly lush planted gardens reflect this theme. Interestingly, this trend can also work with elegant timeless designs using primarily shades of green and white in mass bold plantings.” “We’re seeing more layering and richness, but it’s controlled,” agrees Mosher. “The best designs balance fullness with structure so it feels elevated, not overwhelming.
Pet and people friendly
Homeowners want gardens to work not only for their human occupants, but their canine ones as well.
“Pets are absolutely part of the design conversation now,” says Mosher. “It’s about creating durable, pet-friendly spaces that integrate seamlessly without sacrificing aesthetics. The biggest trend we are seeing is the request for eco-friendly synthetic turf that functions for the whole family, including pets and pet waste. We also have had clients request high-end “Doggie Loggias” as a shady area for their dogs to relax.”
Deer are also being considered, says Bessolo. “Deer devouring and damaging garden plants is a huge issue in our area,” she laments. She recommends homeowners consider deer-resistant plants such as Hellebore, Pulmonaria and Brunnera varieties for shade along with the popular and low-maintenance Japanese Forest Grass.
On the horizon
With the garden constantly evolving, what does the future hold? “Like everything, it will be more personalized, more climate-aware and more flexible,” says Dubow.
She predicts we’ll see indoor gardening to fight weather challenges as well as “micro gardens, container growing and multifunctional spaces that work in tight square footage. Climate resilience is no longer niche; it’s becoming central to how designers and homeowners plan landscapes, with a strong emphasis on native plants, drought tolerance, and wildlife-friendly design,” Dubow says.
“But perhaps most significantly, the garden is becoming a genuine form of self-expression. The future gardener isn’t just growing plants — they’re building a space that reflects exactly how they want to live.”
Contact Khristi Zimmeth at trashortreas@aol.com.
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