Just like your home interior design trends go in and out of style, the same is true for your yard, though landscaping design trends tend to last longer and the shifts are less dramatic than interior trends. After all, trees, plants, and hardscaping materials are long-lasting fixtures while paint colors and furnishings can often be switched out more easily. However, if you’re ready to update or even transform the look and function of your exterior spaces, we are sharing the 5 landscape design trends that are on their way out in 2022 so you can have a modern, attractive yard.
High Maintenance Gardens and Lawns
While roses and hydrangeas are beautiful and a crisp lawn is appealing, today’s homeowner doesn’t have the time nor the desire for a high-maintenance lawn or a formal garden. These overly formal landscaping designs require significant upkeep. Often several hours a week need to be dedicated to pruning and trimming, watering, weeding, and spraying pesticides. Rather than devoting this time to working outdoors, homeowners would rather spend time enjoying their outdoor spaces, entertaining and relaxing with friends and family, or starting functional gardens like vegetable or herb gardens.
Planting Non-Native Species
This tends to coincide with high-maintenance gardens going out of style as flowers, trees, and plants that are not native to North Carolina often require more care and effort for them to thrive. If non-native plants have adapted, they can actually become invasive and threaten native plants and wildlife.
On the other hand, when you include native plants into a landscaping design, you’re choosing trees and flowers that have already adapted to the climate and conditions of the area, and they benefit local wildlife. As homeowners choose sustainable landscaping design, this almost always includes choosing native plants over non-native species. Popular options include:
- Flowering dogwood trees
- Eastern redbud trees
- Wild hydrangea
- Flame azalea
- Columbine
- Butterfly weed
- Coneflowers
- Coreopsis
- Lobelia
- Lyreleaf sage
Poured Concrete and Stone Walkways and Patios
Stone or concrete patios, pathways, and sidewalks were standard for a lot of homes for decades, but these solid, slab-style options are giving way to more natural, sustainable methods of hardscaping. Gravel and wood chips are especially popular for two key reasons:
- They improve drainage. This reduces pooling and standing water which cuts down on mosquito populations and improves the overall health of your property.
- Gravel and wood chips are low-maintenance. While concrete slabs and stone are also easy to care for, they can develop mildew stains or crack and crumble over time, requiring expensive repairs. On the other hand, gravel and wood chips can simply be added to if the existing ground cover washes away or appears to be reduced. Often, a porous cover will be laid down under the gravel to block grass from intruding in the area, keeping an attractive, tidy appearance.
Choosing Style Over Function
For decades, the goal of landscaping was to create stylish exterior spaces that improved curb appeal, and while these yards were often stunning, they weren’t functional. Today, landscape design is about blending beauty with functionality by looking at the homeowner’s lifestyle and factoring in what they need as well as what is aesthetically pleasing. This has led to an increase in attractive but cozy outdoor living spaces, adding in soothing water features, or making spaces for kitchen gardens or raised vegetable beds.
Natural Maintenance Methods
As sustainability and minimal maintenance are the over-arching themes of where landscape design trends are heading, it’s not surprising that pesticides, weed killers, and other gardening chemicals are being used less frequently. Previous generations would use artificial chemical solutions to get the best results from their garden, but today, homeowners are choosing sustainable methods to get the best results:
- Using kitchen scraps to create nutrient-rich compost
- Choosing native plants to attract pollinators
- Relying on rainwater barrels and catchment systems for irrigation
- Planting low-maintenance grass and ground cover to reduce the frequency of mowing
Schedule a Free Consultation for Landscaping Design in Raleigh Today
If you would like to transform your hard into a modern haven of relaxation, we can help. Our experienced hardscaping and landscaping design company in Raleigh is dedicated to helping you create the perfect outdoor spaces that suit your lifestyle. Call us today at 919-817-0087 or schedule a consultation.