In our last post, we talked about five top trends in landscaping that center around sustainability. Over 800 landscape architects were surveyed to find out what their clients around the country are asking for to keep their yards spectacular and sustainable. Keep reading to uncover five more amazing ideas to take your yard from good to great.
- Fire pits and fireplaces – 75%. Especially in the summer and fall months in North Carolina, a fire pit or outdoor fireplace is the ideal location to spend time outside with friends and loved ones. Keep the bugs at bay, and use the fire to prepare delicious outdoor meals and snacks like charcoal-grilled chicken and s’mores. Fire pits and fireplaces add ambiance to your property, as well as increase the curb appeal and charm of your place. Now, who’s ready for some s’mores?!
- Food / vegetable gardens – 75%. Gardens are popular for those who love gardening, but also can be achievable for those who don’t! Your landscape architect can help you figure out exactly where to plant your garden for optimal sunlight and shade, as well as when to plant and harvest, and how to keep pesky rodents away. They can also help you with the actual gardening itself if you are not a “green thumb.” Whether you’re planting salad fixin’s, watermelons for evenings on the porch, or hearty vegetables to freeze for winter, gardening remains a top pet project for those who are interested in clean eating and growing their own food–even if you need a little help along the way.
- Rain gardens – 73%. Many homeowners complain that rainwater from their gutters, driveways, and roofs over saturates their yard, and causes unseemly erosion. In warmer areas, standing water can also attract bugs, and turn your yard into a swampy mess. Rather than drowning your plants and eroding the ground with surplus water, consider installing a rain garden. A rain garden is simply a hole or a depression in your yard with plants on and around it that allows rainwater and other other runoff water to be properly channeled and absorbed. Not only will your yard have a better chance to flourish, but rain gardens have been proved to decrease the pollution reaching rivers and streams by up to 30%!
- Drip/water-efficient irrigation – 72%. Drip irrigation allows water to slowly trickle to the root systems of plants, rather than completely inundating the plant with water. Your landscape architect can help you decide the best method to conserve irrigation water, whether it be through a below-ground piping system, a network of valves, or by using above ground methods to wisely water. Though water-efficient irrigation can require extra planning, the money and water you will save is well worth the effort, benefitting your yard, your bank account, and the environment.
- Reduced lawn area – 72%. One of the best ways to maintain a sustainable lawn and save money and time, is to reduce the size of your lawn itself. By incorporating a patio, firepit, permeable paving, or some of the other suggestions from our top-ten list, you can reduce the time and efforts it takes to keep up with plants and grass, as well as reduce noise pollution from lawn care tools, enhance your biodiversity, and increase your property value.
What trend didn’t you see here that you’d like to learn more about? Comment below to let us know!
Trends in Landscaping – Part 2