Does a garden have to be designed to the ruler and each plant have a designated place? More and more people are abandoning this concept, opting for a style of gardening that allows nature to take the lead. Free gardening, also known as chaos gardening, is gaining popularity as a form of relaxation, rebellion and micro-ecology.
In the spring of 2023, TikTok and Instagram began to fill up with videos of people pouring handfuls of seeds into their gardens without much of a plan. No drawn-out flowerbeds, no expectations about the composition. A few weeks later, the same plots were sprouting poppies, sunflowers, marigolds and a whole host of previously unseen plants. "This is my style of gardening!" - wrote delighted viewers in the comments.
Thus was born a trend called chaos gardening, which can be found under #chaosgardening. In Polish, it has not yet lived to see a single, established translation - in this article I use the terms "chaos gardening" and "free gardening" interchangeably, because both capture the spirit of the style: a conscious abandonment of the plan and trust in nature.
Casual backyard garden - screen from TikTok @ryleesblooms - A frame from a video documenting a backyard garden full of wild and colorful flowers. It is nature that leads the composition, and each plant finds a place without a human plan.
A frame from the TikTok video @ryleesblooms | © Rylee's Blooms
The movement has made waves online, but the idea itself is not entirely new. After all, there have long been gardens where nature had more say than man; in nature, plants sow themselves completely by chance. Seeds are spread by wind, animals or water, and species grow side by side without a clear order imposed by man. Chaos gardening mimics this natural process, allowing the garden to surrender the initiative to Mother Nature. The difference between gardening as we have known it until now is that today this chaos has become a choice. And that it can be shown to the world, without accusations of carelessness. Gardening chaos isn't just a way to start a garden - it's also a response to the tiredness of an ordered world. When everything has to be planned and polished, the pleasure of sowing without rules proves surprisingly liberating.
The mixes used in free gardening are not just flowers - increasingly they also include vegetables, herbs or utility plants, which have just as much to say in this informal arrangement.
The philosophy and inspiration behind chaos gardening
Behind chaos gardening is an approach that could be described as gardening "with a light hand." Rather than controlling every inch of the bed, it's about accepting imperfection, spontaneity and the fact that not everything has to be perfect. For many, it's not only a way to start a garden, but also a quiet form of defiance against an increasingly ordered world, an escape from digitization into nature. As the Daily Dot notes in an article about chaos gardens on TikTok, it's "a healthy ritual on the one hand, and a gentle form of rebellion against an increasingly digital and directed world on the other." Rather than imposing on oneself the obligation to match colors, plan flowerbeds and compare with perfect photos on social media, one consciously chooses a certain messiness and randomness of solutions.
This approach appeals especially to younger generations, especially those who grew up online. For them, it's a form of contact with something real - a soil, a plant, a seed. Sowing without a plan, without pressure and without comparing oneself with others becomes a way to unwind from a life dominated by screens and constant evaluation. In this sense, a garden of chaos becomes more than a flower bed - it's a space to breathe, slow down and just be.
Importantly, the very contact with the land can have a beneficial effect on mental health. As Laura Tenenbaum writes in Forbes, bacteria present in soil, such as Mycobacterium vaccae, can increase serotonin levels and act as a natural antidepressant. The Ecohappiness Project presents similar findings, stressing that playing in the soil promotes lower stress levels and improves concentration. The Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic Health System, on the other hand, point out that gardening itself supports mental and physical health - reducing tension, improving mood and boosting the immune system.
The inspiration for transforming one's garden often comes from observing and admiring wildlife. In nature, no one spreads out plants in even rows. Chaos gardening attempts to replicate this on the scale of the home garden. By throwing seeds and stepping back, the gardener_ woman assumes the role of observer rather than steward. This approach is close to some permaculture practices or zen gardens, which also assume minimal interference and trust in natural processes.
@thathouseoverthere We might get some rain soon. either way every spring I chaos garden and see what happens. #chaosgarden #springplanting #cottagecore #1950shome #strawberrycottage #frontporchdecor #lifefindsaway #wildflowers #fairygarden #cacti #succulents #california ♬ Gnomes and Fairies - Marco Cutini
The "rewilding" movement, or restoring wilderness to degraded or converted areas, is also a strong inspiration. Proponents of chaos gardening often intentionally turn a section of their lawn into a meadow - abandoning barren turf for a more diverse, vibrant space. This action not only has a positive effect on aesthetics, but also supports the local ecosystem - attracting pollinators, creating a micro-environment for insects and birds, and enhancing biodiversity in the long run. By using seed mixes - often native and adapted to local conditions - chaos gardens follow the principles of organic gardening, and their maintenance does not require intensive fertilization or frequent watering.
In a similar vein, microforests are also being created today - densely planted, species-diverse groves created according to the Miyawaki method, which is being adapted to Polish realities by Kasper Jakubowski, among others. As he argues in an interview with A&B, microforests can act as urban islands of coolness, lowering temperatures by up to 10-15 degrees, supporting local microclimates and providing an alternative to concrete squares or barren lawns. Created with native species and well-prepared soil, they become a habitat for birds, amphibians and beneficial microorganisms. You can read more about microforests, their impact on the city and how to establish them in the May issue of Architecture and Business.
A low barrier to entry is also an important part of the philosophy. Chaos gardening is considered easy and undemanding - no experience or time is needed. You don't need to know composition, plan the layout of the beds or worry about caring for the seedlings. All you have to do is throw seeds and watch what happens. For many people, this is a huge advantage. Beginners who feel overwhelmed by gardening rules can just start sowing - without fear of doing something wrong. This kind of carefree, stress-free planting style turns the garden into a space of experimental fun, and sometimes just surprises. People like chaos gardening because it's easy, lazy, fun and unpredictable.
free gardening vs. tradition
Where a traditional gardener starts with a blueprint and draws out the beds, selects plants by height and color, and follows the rules of neighborhood and composition - a person who chooses the free style simply sows seeds without a plan and lets nature decide what will grow.
The differences are not only in planning, but also in goals and philosophy. Traditional gardening is all about the result - whether it's a bountiful harvest of vegetables or a harmonious flower composition. In free gardening, it's more about the process, curiosity, a certain fun. The yield or color arrangement is a nice bonus, but not an end in itself.
The two styles also differ in terms of maintenance. A traditional garden requires systematic weeding, watering, pruning or fertilizing. A free garden involves minimal intervention: the plants manage themselves, and the gardener can limit himself to occasional watering or minor touch-ups. This approach does not completely eliminate work, but it definitely simplifies it.
Geometric garden in traditional and formal style, Tours, France - A precisely planned flower bed in a garden in Tours, showing a classic example of geometric gardening, contrasting with the style of chaos gardening.
Erin Silversmith | © CC BY-SA 2.0 UK & GFDL
It's also important to remember that the two approaches respond to different needs. A traditional vegetable garden is meant to be a predictable source of yield, while a flower garden is the result of landscape and space design, an expression of horticultural artistry. Casual gardening works better as a relaxed form of relaxation and contact with nature - no pressure, no plan, open to what the season will bring. Some people choose to combine the two styles, for example, growing vegetables in tidy beds and dedicating a piece of the plot to a pollinator meadow or experimenting with seed mix.
The choice between one style and the other depends mainly on our expectations, personality and... readiness for surprises. Because while a free-flowing garden can be a joyful chaos, sometimes it requires more patience than a perfectly trimmed bed.
When chaos is too much
It should be added, however, that this is not a solution for everyone or for every space. Gardening of this type can be freeing and enjoyable, but it also carries specific limitations and risks that you should be aware of before you abandon your planting plan.
The most commonly cited challenge is the complete unpredictability of the results. You never know which plants will germinate, which will take hold, and which will dominate the rest. You can sow a mix of ten species, and in the end the garden will be overrun by the three most expansive. This risk can be especially frustrating for those hoping for specific results in a particular color range or continuity of flowering. Instead of a "wild paradise," you may get a patch of green without flowers, a bed full of leaves.
The unpredictability of results can also be a source of disappointment. In a free garden, you never quite know what will take, which plants will dominate the rest, and whether the species you most hoped for will grow. Some seeds may not germinate at all, while others will overgrow and drown out neighboring plants. Those counting on diversity, continuity of flowering or specific species combinations may be surprised when mainly one stronger species rises from the whole mix. Such an imbalance can not only disrupt the vision of the garden, but also make it more difficult to carry on - especially when no more major interference is planned.
In addition, some people may find the effect difficult to accept - especially during transitional periods, when bloomed flowers, shriveled shoots or unevenly landscaped areas evoke associations of neglect. Free gardening, therefore, requires not only an openness to experimentation, but also a certain tolerance for moments when the garden doesn't look the way it does on social media or in brochures about "naturalistic gardens." There are also problems with plant recognition.
Beginning gardeners may have difficulty distinguishing between seedlings of desirable plants and expansive weeds. In the thicket of sprouting shoots, it's easy to uproot something valuable by mistake or, conversely, not to notice that the garden has been overrun by uninvited competition.
At this point, it is worth noting the special threat of invasive species. Cheap seed mixes, especially those labeled "wildflowers" or "flower meadow," can contain plants that are harmful in the local context - such as Canadian goldenrod, knapweed and some varieties of lupine. If they are allowed to proliferate in a garden of chaos, they can quickly crowd out native flora and deplete biodiversity. What's more, such plants are sometimes difficult to remove once they have established themselves. Therefore, even in a "no rules" garden, responsibility and vigilance are needed.
Mantegazzi hogweed - a dangerous plant in the garden - The characteristic white flower umbels of Mantegazzi hogweed - an invasive and toxic plant that can appear in our meadow and threaten local flora and human health.
Appaloosa | © GNU Free Documentation License 1.2+
Sowing plants too densely - which happens quite often in free gardening - can significantly hinder their growth. Seeds end up where they happen to fall, often too close together or in places that are not conducive to growth. This leads to intense competition for light, water and nutrients. Some plants don't have a chance to break through, while others - even if they germinate - grow poorly, fail to bloom or remain small and rachitic. In the case of vegetables, this usually means a lousy crop, or sometimes no crop at all.
Contrary to appearances, gardening chaos is not always cheap. If we don't have a stockpile of old seeds, we will have to buy a lot of them to fill the chosen space. Ready-made mixtures, especially those organic and "for pollinators", can be expensive. If the result doesn't meet expectations, it's easy to have a feeling of wasted money - especially for people who were counting on a showy meadow from a catalog.
And let's not forget - this is not at all a "garden without work". Although the slogan "you throw seeds and do nothing" sounds tempting, the reality is more complex. You need at least basic soil preparation, removing weeds and providing light. Sometimes you also need to intervene during the season: water during a drought, ligate plants with limp stems, remove those that have overgrown. Even a "wild" garden sometimes needs a gardener to react when nature starts to get out of hand.
On the other hand, despite all these objections and potential difficulties, many people decide to give this method a chance - and find surprisingly much satisfaction in it.
why let nature work?
Free gardening has gained popularity not only because of its aesthetics or the philosophy behind it, but also because of its real benefits. These we see both for people and the environment. Such a garden first and foremost supports biodiversity: densely sown, diverse plants create miniature ecosystems that attract pollinators, birds and beneficial insects. Many people intentionally include native meadow flower species in the mix, helping local bee or butterfly populations.
It's also a method that's accessible to virtually anyone - it doesn't require plans, projects or long hours of work. All you need is a little free time, seeds (even old ones lingering in a drawer) and a piece of land to start your gardening adventure. For busy people or beginners, this is a huge relief: you don't need to know the rules of composition or remember about fertilization. And if you choose hardy species and well-adapted to local conditions, the garden will manage itself - without constant tending and watering.
One of the biggest advantages is also the sense of freedom and the pleasure of surprises. Every day in such a garden can bring something new: an unplanned bloom, an unexpected fragrance, a new color among the greenery. Unlike a garden where everything must grow "according to plan," here it is nature that arranges its own composition. For many gardeners, it is this element of surprise that is most valuable - it gives joy, relaxation and a bit of childlike excitement.
Chaos gardening in practice - screen from TikTok - A frame from a video by user risingfromtheashes123176, documenting a garden full of colorful flowers, created by spontaneously sowing seeds without a plan. An example of chaos gardening as a personal manifesto and space of freedom.
frame from TikTok @risingfromtheashes123176 video.
Free gardening is also wallet-friendly. Instead of investing in seedlings and fertilizer, you can use what you already have - leftovers from previous seasons, free seeds that you often get at eco deals. This not only saves money, but is also a way to reduce gardening waste.
Finally - although this style may seem chaotic, it has an internal logic to it. The plants that will take hold are often those best adapted to the soil and climate, and a dense, diverse arrangement acts as a natural barrier against disease and pests. The garden develops in the rhythm of nature, and the gardener does not so much manage it as accompany its transformation.
Free gardening will not be suitable for everyone. It will not guarantee abundant yields or perfect compositions. However, for those who want to try something new, get away from the schemes and let nature surprise them - it can become a source not only of home greenery, but also of pleasure. And sometimes it is in this unpredictability that the greatest value lies.
