The past year has been a big year for the landscaping industry and several design innovations have caught our attention. New landscaping trends took us back to nature with their low-maintenance and eco-friendly approach. These trends also encouraged us to use our outdoor spaces for our usual indoor activities.
Many desire an outdoor sanctuary where they can loosen up and unwind. The good news is that we can easily transform our own yards, gardens, or patios through landscape design. Do you need landscaping ideas to make your exteriors a relaxing haven? Let us show you the hottest landscaping trends for 2021.
#1 Outdoor Living Areas
The pandemic made us long for the outdoors. As people learned to adapt to social distancing and safe socializing, many have turned their outdoor spaces into new living rooms, play areas, dining rooms, and kitchens. Taking the indoors outside has been a huge trend this year and we’re seeing more people transform underutilized lawns into living areas. Pergolas and gazebos are repurposed into meditation, working, and entertainment areas. The 2021 outdoor trends are also inspiring people to install outdoor TVs or audio systems.
#2 Vertical Gardens
This is a perfect landscaping idea for small spaces All you need is a wall for you to build a frame on. Use plastic sheeting on the back to prevent water from directly touching your wall. You can also attach a few layers of fabric to the frame. Next comes the irrigation system and then your chosen plants. Plants such as succulents, honeysuckle, and lemon balm are highly recommended.
#3 Native Style
Over the years, people are choosing native plants over other varieties, and for a good reason. It’s because they provide many benefits and they can also tolerate the conditions of your area. When you choose native plants, you won’t have to hire a gardener. Native plants will thrive with the wind, drought, rainfall, and sun conditions that they’re used to. Furthermore, they tend to do better than non-native plants when it comes to the extreme weather conditions caused by climate change.
#4 Showcasing the Front Porch
With all this talk of gardening trends for 2021, it’s easy to overlook the one area of your home that deserves a little TLC: your front porch. As more and more people are spending their time outdoors, this means that the front porch is no longer just a space for dirty shoes and delivery packages. Curb appeal is as crucial as making our front porch inviting for our family members and friends. Choose bright landscaping elements, incorporate low maintenance plants, and add comfy seats. If you have a tiny space, then use hanging baskets to hold small potted plants.
#5 Multi-Season Plants
Garden season planning has gone beyond spring and summer. Now, there’s a new focus on shrubs, trees, and plants that thrive in different seasons. Plants that tend to display their fruits, flowers, colours, and textures even during the colder months are becoming more popular.
#6 Plants That Keep the Pests Out
Nobody wants to wake up and see their plants and flowers devastated by local deer and rabbits. Although there’s no sure-fire way to keep your garden safe from hungry wildlife, there are a few things you can do.
Do you have a huge garden? Then plant a buffet to satisfy the insatiable appetite of pests. In the spring, irises and daffodils might prevent deer from devouring other plants (plus they’re also pretty to look at). During the summer, aromatic plants such as lilac, allium, and lavender deter deer from eating the vegetables in your garden. Thorny plants also help keep the deers away too. If you want to drive mosquitoes away, then opt for aromatic plants such as marigolds, basil, catnip, citronella, and lemon balm. Plant these greens near your living area, patio, or deck.
#7 Eco-Conscious Design Elements
For many people, the usual English-style garden designs are coming slightly undone as they begin to adopt more naturalistic designs into their landscaping plans, opting for untamed lush gardens instead. Many of us are starting to consider wildlife more and are keeping certain elements intact — like trees and plants that offer shelter and food for local species of birds, insects, and even animals. This less is more philosophy results in a low-maintenance garden that offers valuable resources (aesthetic and otherwise) to wildlife and humans alike.
#8 Pollinator Gardens
People are more aware of the important role of pollinators and how they help prevent climate change. Many people are now setting up pollinator gardens in their own yards. It doesn’t have to be a large space, even a small space can be transformed into a pollinator habitat. Think of it as your personal contribution to the ongoing fight against climate change.
You can convert a garden bed, an entire lawn, or even a few containers into a pollinator-friendly zone. Choose a diverse group of plants that will attract various pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
#11 Smart Technology
Technology has come a long way over recent years and it’s no longer limited to computers and electronic gadgets. Expect to see tech innovations make their way outside and the integration of smart technology into landscaping. For instance, in areas prone to the drought there will be more people installing subsurface irrigation with smart controllers that have flow sensing features. This controls the water so that someone can preset the maximum flow for a specific garden area.
If you’re on a budget, various sprinkler systems are offering different configurations, ease of use, and built-in timers. Remember, that efficient watering means lower water consumption thus you get to save more. As for non-watering needs, there’ll also be a lot more lighting sensors and wireless connectivity to sensors and outdoor speakers.
#10 Unique Outdoor Lighting
Minimalist lighting continues to shine bright this year. Be it hidden lighting that illuminates a garden path, LED light channels underneath a sidewalk or patio, or lights placed under trees or floating structures, we’ll continue to see more lights used in new and unique ways. The trend with outdoor lighting is to enhance the curves and structures of a landscape design while using lighting to improve visibility to keep gardens safe.
#11 Elaborate Touches
This year focuses more on elaborate details even with larger spaces. Uniform and flat surfaces are replaced by ornate and geometric designs. People are more eager to take the newest interior design patterns and bring them outside. They are incorporating lattice, waves, textured materials, and basketweave designs in their landscaping projects. Even porcelain tiles, usually seen indoors, are popping up outside the home, appearing in patios, walkways, and retaining walls. More landscape designers are using concrete pieces, stone accents, and intricate patterns in their projects. Are you thinking of building an outdoor living area or walkway? Consider adding some fancy patterns and designs.
While some are natural green thumbs, others may be less skilled in gardening. This means that many people want a garden that’s easy to maintain. The good news is that a low-maintenance landscape is possible. Plant a ground cover, apply mulch, or turn your lawn into a cobblestone patio to help minimize the fuss but still create a space that looks cozy. Get creative and incorporate the latest trends that fit your lifestyle and personality.
Are you thinking of getting top-quality trees for your landscaping project? Caledon Treeland has the best selection of trees in the GTA. You may call us at (905) 880-1828 or email treeland@treeland.ca to set an appointment.