6 Landscaping Trends You Should Know This Year, According to Pros

As the warm weather season approaches, we asked professional gardeners and landscapers to weigh in with their insights regarding the hottest landscaping looks of the year. From creating shade gardens to mixing in darker foliage, these trends will elevate your outdoor space.

Get ready to bring your yard up to speed by implementing one (or more) of the seven landscaping trends and best tips below.

New Victorian Gardens

If you have a penchant for traditional English country gardens, you’re in luck because gardeners are planting more roses, lilacs, hydrangeas, and hollyhocks these days, Joseph Richardson, landscape architect and founder of Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture, says.

“These classic, pretty plants bring a sense of history and tradition without the slight chaos of the typical cottage design,” he says.

Removing Lawns

Madeline Hooper, the host of PBS’s GardenFit, says that lawns are becoming less and less common—in their place are meadows, flower gardens, and vegetable patches.

“This saves the noise and gas of mowing and the dependency on chemical weed-killers, and adds more natural habitats for birds, bugs and small mammals,” Hooper shares.

In other instances, homeowners are laying down gravel instead. Richardson notes that gravel gardens are low-maintenance and sustainable, as they require little water or other maintenance.

Dark Foliage and Flowers

Move over, bright blooms! As Ryan McEnaney, the marketing and communications manager for Bailey Nurseries, explains how it’s all about creating drama in the landscapes with dark foliage and flowers.

We can expect to see plants such as the eclipse hydrangea making major waves, McEnaney adds, noting that this plant is a dark purple, almost black-looking color.

To bring more contrast, mix in some regular greenery or lighter flowers to help it stand out more against the pastels.

Outdoor Living

Entertaining outdoors will only become more prevalent, Joanna Buchanan, the owner and creative director of the Joanna Buchanan lifestyle brand, says.

“Creating spaces in the landscape where you can set a table and some pretty chairs is becoming increasingly important,” she says. “The beauty of dining by candlelight outside in the summer cannot be more magical or transformative.”

On a somewhat related note, Richardson says that wellness gardens will also be on the rise, demonstrating another way to make use of one’s backyard space. These gardens can be used both for growing vegetables and practicing yoga, he notes.

Clustered Pot Displays

Drew English, Head Dahlia Gardener at High Hampton Resort, enjoys embracing this landscaping trend, filling various terracotta pots—each with just one type of plant inside—to create a color-blocking effect. He will also mix annuals and perennials within one pot display.

“By planting up perennials, it allows you to swap out blooming plants from those that have passed their prime, showcasing the best of your plants, at the peak of their beauty,” English says. “At the end of the season, remove them from their pot and plant them out in the garden.”

English likes to place his clustered pot displays in several spots.

“The pot display is a classic cottage garden practice, common throughout gardens both large and small,” he says.

English recommends styling a pot display around the corner of a potting shed, around the base of stone steps, or on a table in the center of the garden.

“Much like a flower arrangement adds character to your dining table, a dramatic cluster of potted plants at the center of the garden has a similar effect,” English says.

English encourages those following suit to purchase all of their pots in the same colorway or material while mixing a variety of sizes.

“To add interest and depth to your pot display, make sure you have a good mix of upright growing plants, paired with vines or cascading varieties,” English says.

Shade Gardens

Shade gardens, which are grown in areas lacking ample sunlight, certainly don’t have to be boring, Lisa Cangialosi, the founder of When in Bloom NYC, says.

Cangialosi says that you can create stunning visuals by layering textures and colors by mixing annuals and perennials. She recommends pairing together ferns, coleus, begonias, and tradescantia zebrina for an eye-catching display.