Landscaping Trends to Know About in 2024

While everyone wants a beautiful yard, only some are about growing a trendy one. That said, certain landscaping trends are going around that make your property more efficient, sustainable, and fun. If there are any trends you should be aware of this year, they’re innovative gardening techniques, smart landscaping technology, and sustainability. Innovative Garden Landscaping Gardening is a hobby as well as a method that promotes a beautiful landscape. Historically, folks living in urban areas or who have small gardening spaces have found it difficult to grow anything–but advancements in landscaping technology have provided solutions for these problems, and they’ve come up with ways to make said gardens more functional. Vertical Gardens Vertical gardens are everywhere; nothing is more Shakespearean and effortless than vines creeping up a trellis. Along with being beautiful, vertical gardens also make urban gardening and gardening in small spaces much more accessible. They even provide their own slew of benefits; vertical gardens provide insulation, sound barriers, and increased air quality to urban spaces. Edible Landscapes Edible landscapes have also been growing in popularity since the COVID pandemic had everyone turning to self-sustaining methods of acquiring food. Now, it’s common to grow fruit trees, berry bushes, herbs, and vegetable gardens. Edible landscapes save money on groceries, reduce food waste and chemical use, add lots of color to your landscape, and make great carbon sinks. They make great additions to hardscaping like outdoor kitchens or other outdoor living spaces, instantly making them more functional. Smart Technology in Landscaping Between augmented reality, smart greenhouses, and robotic mowers, there have been countless technological advances in the landscaping industry. That said, the most accessible and efficient of these technologies is smart irrigation. Smart Irrigation Smart irrigation systems maximize irrigation efficiency by reducing water waste and supporting plant health. These systems have controllers and sensors that record daily soil moisture data and local climate and weather data to determine the landscape's irrigation needs in real time. In addition to the targeted irrigation approach, many of these systems are accessible through smartphone apps. These apps allow the owner to change watering schedules, check on their plants’ data, and input their own data about their plants so the irrigation systems can adjust watering schedules if necessary. FACT: This targeted and automated approach saves significant water and labor and provides better care to your plants. Sustainable Landscaping Sustainable landscaping is a landscaping tactic that is always trending, but advanced technology and gardening innovations have allowed for more sustainable tactics. This involves using native plants, rain gardens, and xeriscapes, among other things. It also supports the use of landscaping maintenance methods like grasscycling, organic lawn treatments, and proper mowing techniques. Native Plants Using native plants creates habitats for local wildlife, including pollinators, that will help your landscape flourish. Additionally, they require little water, reduce pollution due to their low maintenance nature, improve the air quality, and make great carbon sinks. They also reduce erosion in your yard by stabilizing the soil and preventing water runoff. Rain Gardens Techniques like rain gardens and rain harvesting are more effective methods for water conservation and can be used in conjunction with smart irrigation systems. They’re cost-effective and natural, filter pollutants, reduce the risk of flooding, and help maintain soil moisture. Plus, they look great in any landscape and make for sustainable alternatives to grass landscaping. Xeriscapes Xeriscapes is another water conservation technique; it’s a type of landscape design that uses drought-tolerant plants and other water-wise methods to conserve water and reduce maintenance costs. Some methods include planting drought-resistant plants like cacti, agave, and certain herbs, and implementing water-smart irrigation systems like drip irrigation, rain barrels, or underground storage tanks. You can also limit turf use to functional areas and focus on improving soil health through mulching and planting native ecosystems. Conclusion Overall, landscaping trends that make your property more automated, accessible, and sustainable benefit both you and your plants. Whether you’re looking to plan your landscape completely from scratch or you’re looking to update your current landscape, there are countless methods for improvement. Don’t let a lack of ideas hold you back from your ideal landscape.