Similar to interior design, vehicle and fashion trends, landscaping styles adapt and revamp throughout the years. Surged by the pandemic, outdoor improvements are at an all-time high and 2022 is full of creative and fresh landscaping ideas. Gander through these modern concepts to get inspiration for your next outside project.
Mixing Functionality with Beauty
Maximize the space: vertical gardens, hanging plants, use raised garden beds to avoid permanently altering the property, or potted plants to change up the flow and design when desired. Another fun example is repurposed wine barrels. You can find these at wineries and sometimes on websites like Facebook marketplace. When you cut them in half, they can create a nice addition to your garden and help keep your vegetables or plants off the ground. A bonus with raised gardens beds is that gophers have a difficult time disrupting your plants. Another popular trend are metal horse troughs you can get at Tractor Supply. Fill these with some premium soil and away you go.
Utilizing different edging materials and bed shapes can really bring excitement to your yard. You can create an artistic design using edging to distinguish between hardscape and softscape or between lawn and planting areas. To stick with a modern theme, I recommend using steel metal edging with a black finish. This allows for clean lines, 90-degree angles and a look that matches a modern home.
Minimal & Uncluttered
In modern landscape design, we’re seeing much more of hardscape and less of plants. These contemporary arrangements offer minimal maintenance while still striking the eye. Concrete steps, planters, patios and even pathways offer a bold statement, but paired with a few neatly placed plants or flowers you can soften up the harsh edges. I also really like the use of black pebbles in place of mulch, this can provide a clean and finished appearance with less maintenance down the road.
Out with the Cool Tones, In with the Warm
Grey heavily dominated previous landscape designs, but recently we’re seeing warm tones of tans, browns and beige making their way onto the scene. Most concrete and pavestones have a more natural color to it, blending in with other elements as opposed to sticking out with an unsightly grey. Overtime, these products do require reapplication of sealant and regular care so make sure you have a maintenance plan.
IPE decking has become a huge craze in recent years. Unfortunately, this has driven the price of this wood to new highs, coupled with recent supply chain issues and you could be looking at a pretty penny for an IPE deck or fence. Although the price tag is high, IPE can create a wonderful experience in your backyard and provide a soft warm tone to your decking. Make sure to check the price and see if you can plant it into your budget.
Pet-Friendly Additions
Keeping our furry friends safe and happy outdoors is important for any pet owner. We’re seeing many landscape upgrades now designed with their pets in mind: secure fencing, replacing of toxic plants and flowers, artificial turf and dog runs are just a few of the trends gaining in popularity as the number of pet owners and homeowners increase. If you are looking at artificial turf options, make sure you request the pet friendly option which can include odor blocking and durability features.
Incorporating Technology to Save Water
Water will continue to be a top priority for us on the west coast as we navigate drought concerns. One of the easiest ways you can maintain a healthy landscape while also conserving water is to upgrade your controller. Controlling the amount, time and duration of your system is crucial to avoiding wasted water. Current technology allows controllers to be tied into your smart home or at least be connected to WiFi so you can adjust the system from anywhere in the world. There are some great additions you can add to your controller including rain sensors, auto-shut off valves and much more. This is one trend that won’t fade out and will continue to grow in importance upon its investment.