Usually, chaos is not a good thing, but if you are looking for a more laid-back approach to gardening, it just might be for you. The chaos gardening trend is here, even receiving honorable mentions at the 2023 Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show.
If you haven’t heard, chaos gardening is a carefree approach to planting, where detailed garden plans and designs are abandoned for a grow-what-may approach.
Most gardeners utilizing chaos gardening simply throw new or leftover seed around their gardens and wait to see what happens. It is an intentional effort to create a natural-looking garden that is full of diversity and plenty. If you don’t have time or the urge to draft garden plans, or if you just want a more natural landscape, you may want to give chaos gardening a try.
The method can be applied to any kind of plant – flowers, fruits, vegetables, and even grasses. This means your entire landscape could be chaos, or just a small portion of your garden. Just let nature do its thing and see what plants thrive and what plants don’t.
Chaos gardening is both simple and adaptable. Start with an open mindset. Even if you love the randomness that casual gardens embrace, you will still need to be ready to let go of control. Nature will bring imperfections. Native plants are obviously a good choice and may already be present in your landscape. They are well suited to the climate and require less maintenance. They also provide food and shelter for wildlife and insects. In addition to natives, look for seeds and seedlings that are adapted to our area. Your local garden center will have a great selection. Once planting is done, organic mulch will help conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and create a more natural appearance.
Good gardening practices still apply. Prepare the planting area by loosening the soil to help with seed germination. Scatter seeds and seedlings/plants without worrying about the arrangement. Water initially, but as plants become established, rely more on rainfall. Let the garden grow freely; watch how plants grow and interact. Remove weeds and invasive plants if they decide to join the party. Let flowers go to seed to encourage self-seeding next year.
Do keep in mind that some plants, like corn, need to be planted near each other for pollination, but many vegetables do well on their own, and intermixing them with flowers and other plants can help prevent insect and disease problems.
There are additional benefits to chaos gardening. Biodiversity helps to keep plants healthy and attracts beneficial insects and birds. Chaos means low-maintenance gardening, including practices like no-till, which are good for your soil and the environment. Your connection to nature will become deeper as you learn the beauty of natural patterns and cycles. Chaos gardening also allows for creativity beyond formal design and helps you to learn what flowers and crops are best suited for your landscape.
