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The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is just around the corner and so are the new gardening trends that come with it.
Like other fads like rewilding and No Mow May, this new trend taking over this year’s show requires minimal effort.
Chaos gardening is easier for gardening beginners to learn, and at the same time they can grow a beautiful garden.
But what is the new trend taking over the biggest gardening exhibition of the year?
What is chaotic gardening? The new trend taking over this year’s Chelsea Flower Show (file image)
What is chaos gardening?
Chaos gardening is aptly named: the main premise is to ignore all the rules and let plants grow wherever the seeds fall.
From vegetable and fruit seeds to bee-friendly plants, you can choose to scatter the seeds throughout your backyard.
However, you should be careful if you have seeds that need to be planted deeply to thrive, such as carrots, lettuce, or poppies.
Explaining the relaxed method, Colin Baily of Rewild Garden Design said: “Leftover seeds are of no use if left in their packets as they will simply deteriorate.”
He added: “Old seeds have a lower germination percentage, so spreading them is a good way to use them up.”
“The end result, if you mix vegetable seeds, is something like a chaotic traditional potager.”
Chaos gardening is aptly named: the main premise is to ignore all the rules and let plants grow wherever the seeds fall (stock image)
You should be careful taking this approach if you have seeds that need to be planted deeply to thrive, such as carrots, lettuce or poppies (stock image).
The Advantages of Chaos Gardening
According to Andrew O’Donoghue of Gardens Revived, this “exciting” new way of building your backyard has numerous benefits.
At the top of the list are the environmental benefits that come with selective gardening.
The method is not only a great way to produce food, but also increases biodiversity in your garden, helping wildlife.
According to Andrew, this relaxed method is not only economical compared to other gardening methods, but it also saves a lot of time.
Another positive aspect of the new gardening trend is that it is a little more contained than the controversial rewilding trend.
According to Ideal Home, many avid gardening enthusiasts found that rebuilding didn’t work in their backyard.
Chaos gardening is reportedly more concentrated, and you can concentrate your efforts on your garden beds rather than letting your entire green space run wild.
Although chaos gardening requires little maintenance, you should still keep an eye on your garden for fungal diseases such as Botrytis or Black Spot.
The Disadvantages of Chaos Gardening
With all the advantages it offers, chaotic gardening seems too good to be true.
Like everything, it also has disadvantages, the main one being that your garden looks very polished due to the chaotic nature.
Although maintenance is low, there is still work involved. You will still need to trim and prune your plants so that your garden is not overrun by wildlife.
You will still need to keep good control over your garden and watch out for diseases such as botrytis and black spot.
Botrytis and black spot are fungal diseases that can arise in your garden, and any affected flowers, buds or leaves should be removed immediately to prevent their spread, according to Thompson and Morgan.