Trends come and go as time moves on and tastes and needs change. Even the most ‘out of the loop’ landscapers can identify the era a home was designed, or its landscape was last updated based on clues from how it was built. Landscaping styles vary based on location, time available, and of course the size of the pocketbook. The past year has made us no stranger to changes. Our needs and desires have changed along with the adjustments we have had to make. Experts have predicted that many landscaping trends once popular will no longer make the ‘it list’.
Trend #1 – Underutilized native plants
The era of beautiful showstopping gardens is coming to a close in favor of lower maintenance and climate-friendly landscaping. Beautiful flowering plants such as hydrangeas and rhododendrons, or even the standby gorgeous rose have fallen out of favor. While these beautiful blooms are still lusted after and appreciated, their need for constant watering, maintenance, pruning, feeding and spraying has made them less desirable. What is now topping the charts for garden must-haves are native plants. Native plants and pollinator gardens are better for conservation of the planet’s natural resources, and our pocketbooks.
Trend #2 – Unappreciated Outdoor Spaces
Ornamental, unwelcoming garden designs are so yesterday! Your parents’ generation may have thought of outdoor spaces as an artform and put more value in their form than their function. Now, we are focusing on how to maximize our spaces and fully appreciate our backyard. Raised wooden garden beds help to create more useable areas. Incorporating reclaimed cobblestone, water elements, and beautiful outdoor furniture into our landscaping designs allow us to fully utilize our outdoors for relaxation. Adding in edible gardens increases the functionality and make for deliciously fresh additions to those summer BBQ’s.
Trend #3 – Keeping up with the Joneses
Maybe a few years ago all you wanted was to have a better backyard than Mr. So and so, or the best yard on the block. Comparisons and competition often lead to frustration and a pile of debt. What’s the new landscape desire? Raw comfort. Spending more time in our backyard spaces has led us to shift away from the flashy, sleek, modern and stylish in favor or pure comfort. As our backyard spaces have been transformed into home offices, homework hangouts, and family game night stages we are transforming our furniture and spaces to suit our comfort and needs. Do you really want to sit on that stylish, but back assaulting chair for 8+ hours?
Trend #4 – No more time wasters
Our time is precious, it always has been, but now we realize the importance even more so of conserving our precious resources, one of the most elusive being our time. Years ago, it would be commonplace to spend time in formal gardens, but those days are long gone, as is the extra time it takes to maintain them. With people losing work or spending even more time at work to keep up with changing demands, we need to buy out the time from somewhere. Homeowners are opting for lower maintenance landscaping that allows them to relax in the space instead of increasing their workload.
Trends aren’t everything, but they are often an indicator of what people are starting to value. Our landscaping can become a haven in a world of chaos, so it’s important that we make it suit our needs and not rob us of our valuable time and resources. One way to save time and money is by consulting professionals to guide you in your landscaping process. We would be happy to help.