Many folks enjoy spending time outdoors in their own yards—provided they’re landscaped just right. And what people want in landscaping changes all the time. So what are the top landscaping trends of 2019? The National Association of Landscape Professionals, a trade organization with about a million members, provided its annual forecast of this year’s must-haves.
“What we’re seeing is people’s desire to make their outdoor living space an extension of their home. People are being very intentional with how they want to use their outdoor spaces,” says NALP spokeswoman Missy Henriksen. “It used to be people would put in the basics of outdoor decks or patios. Now people are looking more at how they will use their space. So perhaps the pergola they put in has shading so if they work outside they can see their laptops. We’re seeing more requests for charging stations.”
Two-in-one landscape design – Phoenix
It’s not enough to just have a scenic backyard. Homeowners want it to be functional too. That means the things in that yard need to serve multiple purposes. For example, a vertical vegetable garden grown on a trellis can also serve as a privacy fence. Or a retaining wall can include built-in seating, good for conversing with friends or watching movies projected onto a screen. Folks are getting creative!
“We’re all very busy people,” says Henriksen. “Instead of people putting a new feature in their landscape, they expect it to be more than just pretty.”
Automation – Phoenix
Forget waking up early on the weekends to tend to the garden. Homeowners these days are embracing new technologies that take away the humdrum tasks they dread—like mowing the lawn and watering the plants. So they’re investing in things like robotic lawn mowers, programmable irrigation systems, and lighting that turns off automatically. Set it and forget it!
Pergolas – Phoenix
This isn’t your grandmother’s pergola. These overhead structures, which provide shade and a place to string lights and hang plants, are getting a 21st-century upgrade. This means enclosed versions with space heaters, state-of-the-art sound systems, and sophisticated, built-in lighting.
“People now design around them,” says Henriksen, adding things like outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and seating areas. “People are recognizing they are magical experiences to be enjoyed outside.”
Pink – Phoenix
The hot color to incorporate into your yard this year is pink. NALP expects homeowners will pick roses, petunias, zinnias, and hibiscus flowers in shades of coral and blush to add color to outdoor spaces. Light blush tones could even become the “new neutral.”
Metals – Phoenix
Homeowners looking to add sleek pizzaz to their outdoor escapes may want to turn to metal elements, like steel and iron, to incorporate into their design. This can include accents like decorative art, focal points such as streaming fountains or mini waterfalls, and furniture.
