Making a (lemonade) stand: Garden Media Group releases 2026 Garden Trends Report

Photo © Patrick Alan Coleman

Clad in a lemon-print sundress and her signature jean jacket, Garden Media Group President Katie Dubow took the stage during Cultivate’25 in Columbus, Ohio, and urged attendees to the take the bitterness of the world and make it sweet. “The great exhaustion is real,” she said, pointing to chaos of modern life. So, Dubow explained it was time to engage in “lemonading” — the overarching theme of her company’s 2026 Garden Trends Report.

But what is lemonading, besides a heretofore nonexistent verb? For one thing, it’s not a naïve denial of life’s horror in favor of false optimism. Instead, “it transforms setbacks into opportunities through creativity, mindfulness and a sense of joy,” Dubow explained.

She predicted the 2026 garden trends would follow suit: leaning into a sense of playfulness, simplicity, connection, beauty, mindfulness and an acknowledgement of the minor milestones that accentuate our lives. From a just-finished slide deck, Dubow laid out the trends to an anticipatory crowd.

The full 2026 Garden Trends Report was released Sept. 3. Click here to download it.

Purpose-driven gardening

Consumers are looking for their consumption to mean more than just goods for themselves and profits for the seller, Dubow said. That’s particularly true for younger generations. Citing a statistic that showed 76% of 18- to 34-year-olds prefer peer-to-peer giving models like GoFundMe, Dubow suggested Gen Z particularly want their purchases to have a philanthropic power. Likewise, gardeners want their plots to do good, too, with a record number of homeowners registering their outdoor spaces as Certified Wildlife Habitats with the National Wildlife Federation since 2020.

Dubow said the key to capitalizing on purpose-driven gardening is to create programs that align with your business’ values. She noted the charitable giving or philanthropic efforts need to feel genuine and make real impact. And while anonymity is humble, it’s not helpful for businesses.

“Are you sitting there thinking, ‘I already do all of this’? Well, why don’t I know about it?” Dubow implored. “Shout that story from the rooftops.”

Precision gardening

The rise in precision healthcare is undeniable. From concierge doctors to personalized services, having an experience tailored to health consumers’ needs is predicted to become the norm. And the trend has reached beyond the walls of the clinic, according to Dubow.

She suggests the horticulture industry needs to move away from seeing the garden as one-size-fits-most. Instead, she recommends that businesses start thinking of them as unique spaces that require unique solutions for unique individuals.

Tying the garden industry back to health care, Dubow suggested retailers think about the plants they offer consumers as a prescription to solve issues they are experiencing in their very specific landscape. The key, she said, is leaning into the ability to provide customization.

“You are not a big-box store, and you will never be, because you can offer this type of customization to your customers that they cannot get anywhere else,” Dubow explained. “So, don’t be basic. Don’t be generic. Tell your customers what you can do for them. This proactive approach requires less intervention and will create more beautiful gardens for the future.”

Level up

Gaming has been a part of the Garden Trends Report in the past, but Dubow explained that gaming has shifted. She notes that some of the most raved about and addicting apps and console downloads are so-called “cozy games” like Stardew Valley. These games are not about combat; they are about collaboration and relaxation. And it’s not just young men who are at the controllers. Nearly half of the 97% of 15- to 39-year-olds who are gaming are women with an average age of 36 years old: the core garden consumer.

Dubow said that while it might seem hard to connect digital spaces to real-life-gardening, there are some ways to connect to the gaming community. That might mean creating “cozy gaming” spaces within a garden center or leaning into plants with whimsical gaming-inspired names. She suggests businesses can also partner with emerging gaming brands, sell merchandise from popular game titles or host gaming meetups.

Personal museum

Minimalist design is ceding space to maximalism, or curated clutter that creates a museum of the self. It’s a booming pastime, according to Dubow.

Collecting isn’t relegated to tchotchkes on the shelf, collected from travels, specialty shops or antique stores. There are plenty of plant collectors, too, whether they be “nativists” who fill garden beds with eco-beneficial perennials or plant parents looking for new houseplants to add to their plant family.

“Collecting plants is like collecting Pokémon cards, if you remember when that was all the rage, when people were out bustling around trying to find the next big one,” Dubow said. “That is what is happening right now. People are dying for the newest plant to add to their collection. They want it.”

Botanical bento

Bento boxes are part of Japanese cuisine and feature a collection of rice, vegetable and protein presented in creative and adorable ways. They represent compact, refined experiences where everything has a specific place.

Dubow encourages businesses to lean into the trend by creating their own personalized, thoughtful collections that create moments of wonder and joy.

“This bento box mindset is not just about a container; it’s about a concept,” Dubow explained. “You can create all different types of little treasures — different ways you’re packaging your products to make your customers feel like they are special. And definitely make them a limited edition. And then think about the unboxing joy.”

‘Bark’itecture

Citing the buzzworthy RHS Chelsea Flower Show dog-centered garden created by UK garden celebrity Monty Don, Dubow said it’s time to bring pets into the garden — and not just the dogs.

Creating gardens for animals should focus on the pet’s experience and needs while also ensuring beauty and utility for the owner. Think of interesting things to sniff, water, places to sleep and eat and especially animal-safe plants.

“Pets and gardening go together like peanut butter and jelly, right? Seventy percent of gardeners also own pets in some form. That’s a huge number,” Dubow said. “And 87% of pet owners consider their pet a member of the family. So, don’t you think they’re going to spend a lot of money on their pets?”

Kusumi colors

This color trend leans into a faded, dusted palette of colors rooted in nature. The concept refers to hues that are “dusted with ash” — they have a gentle, nostalgic and ephemeral quality. And they are popular enough that Fender guitars plans to release a line of electric guitars in faded ashy pinks and blues.

Dubow noted the trend is connected to the Garden Trends Report color of the year: faded petal.

She described the color as pale and dusty, “a soft blush, kissed by ash.” She said the color is connected to feelings of refinement and luxury, and a sense of coziness and nostalgia.

Patrick Alan Coleman is editor of Greenhouse Management magazine. Contact him at pcoleman@gie.net.