Calling all amateur gardeners! Your opportunity to shine has arrived in the form of chaos gardening, a carefree and versatile way to develop your green thumb. The new approach to landscaping has been gaining traction on TikTok, and the trend is sprouting up again this spring.
Read on to learn more about this fresh approach to gardening, including the benefits and how to get started.
Related: How to Plan the Best Layout for a Vegetable Garden
What Is Chaos Gardening?
In its simplest terms, chaos gardening is a casual way of creating a beautiful garden without the restrictions of traditional gardening methods. The concept involves tossing a handful of assorted seeds onto the soil and waiting for the magic to happen. This unique process allows flowers, plants and vegetables to grow wherever they land, creating random patterns and patches to be admired by all.
The Benefits of Chaos Gardening
There are many benefits to chaos gardening. The most obvious is that it’s easy to start and maintain, but there are a few other highlights worth exploring.
Save Time (and Money!)
One of the top benefits of chaos gardening is higher efficiency. It saves you time building up your plant beds, while avoiding detailed preparation, planting and all of the maintenance that comes with it. You’ll also enjoy saving money on seeds, soil and food for your garden by leaning on less costly flower and veggie options. You can select those that require very little of you, such as herbs, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, marigolds, black-eyed Susans and assorted wildflowers.
Related: 5 Reasons to Start Lasagna Gardening Now
Low Maintenance
Perhaps the most appealing benefit is the promise of low-maintenance gardening. The word chaos may not immediately spark feelings of calm, but the idea hinges on the “set it and forget it” mindset. You won’t need to plot sections, rows or bunches; nor do you have to cater to lighting, soil and water specifications. Instead, select like-minded seeds, toss them, water them and return to them for regular watering as required.
Encourages Biodiversity
While it depends on the seeds you plant, chaotic gardening can promote biodiversity in your garden space. That’s especially true if you focus on native plants, which can quickly adapt to the environment. In addition, chaos gardening offers wildlife food and shelter, providing extra protection and nourishment for the winter months.
A Fun Conversation-Starter
The wildness of chaos gardening can also be a great talking point for guests, neighbours and admirers. The eccentric array of colours, patterns and the all-over vibe draws on-lookers’ positive attention and curiosity, allowing you to flex your skills and pass along the trend to others who might find it enjoyable.
Related: The Easiest Vegetables to Grow in Each Canadian Province
How to Create a Chaos Garden
As we mentioned, chaos gardening is relatively simple without the rigid rules. However, some research will be required to ensure you’re selecting the ideal seeds for your outdoor project. Here are a few other considerations to get started.
Choose a Location
If you don’t already have a space carved out for your garden, look to areas in your front or back yard that offer the best sunlight. Doing so will afford more options for vegetables, flowers and herbs that thrive in the light. Of course, some shady areas are acceptable to cover, but try your best to strike a balance so all seeds have a chance to flourish as needed.
Related: 5 Reasons to Start Lasagna Gardening Now
Select the Proper Seeds
Not all seeds are created equally, so do your homework to confirm which plants and vegetables will play nicely together in your garden. A good start is to select plants known for their self-seeding ability, such as echinacea, poppies, cosmos, fleabane, verbena, nigella, coriander and more.
Next, consider native wildflowers that can attract pollinators and much-needed insects — like bees and butterflies — to help them prosper in your garden. Companion planting is also an option, which promotes growing vegetables and flowers together that offer mutual benefits to each other’s growth, add shelter and deter pests.
Lean Into the Chaos
Remember: variety is the spice — or, in this case, the garden of life. There is little need to focus your attention on the size, volume and spread of the plants, flowers, and veggies you select. The real fun in chaos gardening is the variety and unexpected results of your attempts to build a beautiful space. Just get planting, water accordingly and see what magic begins to bloom in the weeks after.
As the chaos gardening trend continues to grow, so will your inspiration and ability to transform your outdoor living space into an area that welcomes a variety of colours, textures and patterns. Toss the traditional rules aside, let go of your inhibitions, and allow the soil, sun and water to do the work for you.
Related: 10 Most Invasive Plants in Canada to Remove From Your Garden
