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Sustainability, Native Plants Among Landscape Trends for 2014

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Just as the designs of fashion change with seasons, lifestyles and personal tastes, so do the designs of backyard landscapes and outdoor living spaces. So what’s on tap for 2014? According to the Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey, sustainability and low-maintenance design are high on the priority list.

The survey of residential landscape architects across the country rated the popularity of outdoor design elements with gardens/landscaped spaces at the top of the list, closely followed by outdoor living spaces (kitchen and entertainment spaces). Rounding out the top three was outdoor recreation or, as we might define it in the South: a place to put the cornhole boards.

Conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects, the 2014 survey also found homeowners want lighting, seating/dining space, fire pits/fireplace and grills worked into their backyards. Also high among popular landscape elements were low-maintenance landscapes, native plants and fountains. Interestingly, more than 75% of those surveyed said gardens, including vegetables, orchards and vineyards, will be in demand in 2014.

A continued focus on sustainability means homeowners want native/drought-tolerant plants, water-efficient irrigation and a reduced lawn – all of which also support the idea of a low-maintenance landscape.

Many of these same ideas were outlined in an HGTV.com article about new trends in landscaping. The idea of sustainability through native plants plus edible gardens and plenty of seating all made the list, supporting the concept that homeowners love a great landscape but they don’t want to burn up their weekends maintaining it or waste precious natural resources to keep it lush and green.

Plus the growing popularity of the farm-to-table movement has more people interested in using their yards as a place to grow their own food rather than a carpet of green grass without much practical function.

At DIG Landscapes, we take note of trends and often begin to see those requests from our landscape customers here in Charleston. It’s why we spend time ensuring we understand our clients and their unique needs. It’s important to make sure they aren’t jumping on a trend that won’t fit with their lifestyle. A busy family with working parents and children on the go might not have the time needed to maintain a substantial vegetable garden, for example.

The idea of using native plants and creating a low-maintenance garden makes sense for our Charleston landscapes. Few people relish the idea of mowing the lawn in the heat of a Lowcountry summer. In fact, depending on how hot the summer is, we might just see a few more requests for rock gardens!