Summer Landscaping Ideas for 2019

Mindful ecology, organic gardening, pollinator and wildflower meadows, outdoor wellness, staycation, and low-maintenance are the keywords in landscaping design summer of 2019. 

Here are the latest trends when it comes to transforming the land around your home:                                            

                               Inviting Mindful Ecology Into Your Backyard

Mindfulness is all around. At the core of mindful ecology landscaping lie concepts such as soil ecology, carbon sequestering, sustainable water, the principles of organic gardening, and pollinator meadows.

Pollinator & Wildflower Meadows

One of the biggest trends of the year is the firm transition towards eco-friendly landscaping. Wildflower or pollinator meadows, consisting of indigenous grasses and native flowering perennials, create a healthy habitat for bee and butterfly populations as well as a beautiful landscape. To attract pollinators to your garden, choose a variety of nectar and pollen-rich flowers. Consider as many plants native to your area as possible. Native plants evolve closely with native insects and are well-suited to meet their needs. Bear in mind that some pollinator species are entirely dependent on the existence of specific native plants.

It's All About Low-Maintenance

Simplifying one's life seems to be what everybody is after these days.

Living in such fast-paced times, with little or no time left for pruning, weeding, and watering, a low-maintenance garden is on everybody's wish-list. Think of these pro ideas to keep your yard as low-maintenance as possible:

● Go for perennial plants and even group them based on their watering needs. Choose evergreen shrubs that don't require much attention as well as dwarf shrubs. Dwarf shrubs are resilient plants with low maintenance needs, well-suited for smaller gardens.

● Invest in a performant irrigation system. Advanced irrigation technology now allows homeowners to control the quantity of water delivered to plants, encouraging a smart, eco-friendly investment.

● Set-up raised beds; they create less work --there are less weeding and dead-heading involved, and are a complementary extension for modern backyard landscaping.

● Painted structures. If you're on a shoestring and still looking to upgrade your relaxing space, then painting your fences, sheds, and your summer houses will liven up your garden - without much maintenance involved.

Tip: Dark grey, green and blue fences are in this summer.

● Potted plants. Pots are life-saving landscaping ideas as you have minimal weeding to do and reasonable control over the size of the plant.

● Opt for artificial grass or lawn alternatives. Instead of a traditional type lawn, plant grass mixes that don't need to be mowed, like habiturf and other prairie-type grasses.

● Choose the Cottage look. Embrace a natural look with a wildly lush cottage garden!

Letting your yard run wild is the best thing you can do for low-cost landscaping. To get that natural, charming cottage look, allow your garden to grow unhindered, but plant large amounts of contrasting grasses and plants of different scales throughout your yard.

Go on Staycation!

Set up your own Staycation Hub. As outdoor wellness is already becoming a custom and a must in our hectic lives, people are looking for more ways to enjoy a staycation in the comfort of their garden. Here are some ideas for creating your outdoor wellness hub:

To make the most of your backyard landscaping plans, consider the best spots to create a chillout area: set destination spaces—for example, comfy lounge chairs, decadent hammocks, a lazy swing, etc.; no matter how small your area is, arrange the seating in a conversational position. Include lighting to make your outdoor spaces easy to access in the dark. Also, set up a weatherproof speaker system to enjoy music while you're outside.

Last but not least, if cooking relaxes you, why don't you consider a light outdoor kitchen?

Or perhaps dig a pool if you love swimming and the budget and space allow.

As you can see, all the trends above talk about simplicity, commitment to the environment, and returning to nature. It's time we slow down and embrace nature closer to its pure shape.

Is it time for a backyard makeover? Then let us bring our craftsmanship and experience to create an oasis of beauty and vitality right in your backyard. Request an on-site appointment with one of our passionate landscape designers today!