This year has certainly proven to be unlike any year many of us have ever experienced. The same holds true with gardening, as a surge of people were introduced to growing plants for the first time, whether it was a vegetable plot, outdoor container garden, or discovering houseplants and the joy of indoor gardening.
Even those of us that have been enjoying this pastime for years found ourselves on the front lines of the COVID gardening boom. An avid gardener myself, I learned a thing or two while gardening during a pandemic, trying my hand at growing something new too. You’re never too old (or young) to start a garden.
As we finally approach the end of this taxing year and the quarantine gardens so many of us took part in, what gardening questions were asked most? What answers did you long for? Journey with us as Gardening Know How takes a look back at the best of 2020.
Top 2020 Gardening Topics
This year may have had its share of ups and downs, but gardening bloomed throughout the seasons. Let’s take a peek at the top gardening articles 2020 gardeners searched for and the trends we found interesting, starting with winter.
Winter 2020
In the winter, just as the COVID gardening boom was taking off, many folks were thinking about spring and getting their hands dirty. This, of course, is when most of us are looking forward to starting our gardens again and busy planning and prepping. When we couldn't get outside, we kept busy with our houseplants.
During this season, we had a number of new gardeners seeking info. In the winter of 2020, you loved these articles:
Seasoned gardeners may have already known this, but newer ones enjoyed learning how specific soil microbes benefit our health and how gardening can improve well-being…great for fighting those winter blues inside too.
- How to Care for Orchids Indoors – Another great option for perking up those drab winter days of quarantining indoors, growing orchids inside became a popular topic of interest.
- Tips for Spider Plant Care – You may hate spiders but this plant and its cute “spiderettes” managed to capture the interest of both new and old gardeners this winter season. No arachnophobia here!
Spring 2020
By springtime, the huge surge in quarantine gardens had people looking for inspiration, at a time when we definitely needed it, and eagerly planning those gardens, many for the first time ever.
In spring, you were focused on these gardening questions and answers from our site:
Plagued with dark corners throughout your landscape? Well, you’re not alone, as this popular article proved.
- Plants and Flowers for Full Sun – Some places were unseasonably warmer this year, making plants for sun a hot topic for 2020.
- Composting with Coffee Grounds – Avid coffee drinker? The 2020 pandemic forced many to remain at home, with morning work coffee brewed in the kitchen rather than the breakroom. This article answered your questions on what to do with all those piled up coffee grounds.
Summer 2020
By the time summer rolled around, not only were you glad to be outdoors in the fresh air, many people, myself included, were looking for or curious about vegetables and the like for our gardens – what to grow, how to grow them, how to keep them healthy, etc. Here’s what topped the list:
Unlike old George, chopping down the cherry tree was not an option. Most people were interested in learning how to grow them instead – from a pit.
- How to Grow a Victory Garden – Victory Gardens may have been popular during the World Wars, but they found a huge resurgence with home gardeners during the COVID gardening boom.
- Helping Plants with Neem Oil – Protecting our veggies and other plants from insect pests and fungus with healthier alternatives sparked a wave of inquiries for neem oil.
Fall 2020
Then, by fall, as the Coronavirus outbreaks continued to soar and temps began to get cool once again, the focus turned back to indoor gardening. Here were the top searched articles during this time:
One of the most popular indoor succulents, jade continues to be one of our top 2020 gardening topics.
- Pothos Plant Care – If you haven’t yet tried growing a pothos houseplant, it’s not too late. These are among not only the top searched articles for fall, but some of the easiest houseplants to grow.
- Caring for Christmas Cactus – Just in time for the holidays, Christmas cactus rounds out the best of 2020 articles in our list. Mine is currently blooming. Given just the right care, yours can too.
Now we're ready to begin 2021 by preparing to get back out into the garden very soon. Remember though, no matter what you're most excited to grow in the new year, we're here to help.
Happy New Year from all of us at Gardening Know How!