Would you consider your garden an outdoor haven of peace and tranquility?
Creating a beautiful outdoor space can often come down to clever design choices and tactful landscaping. One of the best ways to create a garden that is equal parts stunning and impressive is to stay on top of the latest gardening and landscaping trends taking the at-home gardening industry by storm today.
This article takes a look at seven of the top garden landscaping trends in 2023 and going into 2024. From a clear focus on locally sourced plants and eco-friendliness to popular aesthetics that give a stylistic flair to your garden, we cover all the top trends to know to create a lovely outdoor space.
Stay tuned to discover your new favorite gardening trend!
Table of Contents
1. Locally-Sourced Plants & Flowers
In a time when supporting your community is more important than ever, one of the top trends for garden landscaping is to source your plants, flowers, and supplies from local businesses in your area.
The best place to start when looking for local plants and flowers is at your nearest landscaping supply company. Not only can they help you stock up on everything you need to beautify your garden, but they can also point you in the best direction for finding the specific plants, flowers, and garden decorations you want from businesses within your local community.
By adorning your home garden with locally sourced plants and flowers, you can create a beautiful outdoor space that reflects the natural history of the region you call home.
2. Minimalistic Garden Pathways
The trend of minimalism can be seen throughout many fields of design, from architecture to landscaping.
For gardens, minimalistic pathways are an excellent means for creating a peaceful walkway through the garden without distracting from the garden itself and all its natural wonders. These garden pathways are characterised by their clean, uncluttered design and often feature straight lines, neutral colors, and simple materials like gravel, stone, or concrete.
Creating a minimalistic garden pathway involves careful planning and attention to detail. The goal is to create a seamless transition between the pathway and the surrounding landscape. This can be achieved by using subtle edging materials, such as low-profile stones, to define the pathway’s boundaries.
One of the key benefits of minimalistic pathways is their versatility. They can be adapted to fit any garden style, from modern and contemporary to traditional and rustic. Whether you have a small urban garden or a sprawling countryside estate, a minimalistic pathway can add a touch of elegance to your outdoor space.
3. Pollinator-Friendly Plants
In recent years, there has been growing concern about the decline in pollinator populations, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. To address this issue and promote biodiversity, many gardeners are turning to pollinator-friendly plants as a new landscaping trend.
Pollinator-friendly plants are those that provide nectar, pollen, and a safe habitat for pollinating insects and birds. These plants not only support local ecosystems but also enhance the beauty of your garden with vibrant colors and a bustling atmosphere.
Some popular choices for pollinator-friendly plants include:
- Lavender
- Coneflowers
- Milkweed
- Calendula
- Marigold
- Cosmos
By incorporating pollinator-friendly plants into your garden, you’re not only contributing to the well-being of local ecosystems but also enjoying the sight and sound of nature’s busy workers as they go about their important daily tasks.
4. Organic Designs & Natural Décor
The trend toward sustainable living and eco-consciousness is massively influential on the landscaping design of today’s most beautiful gardens.
Gardeners are increasingly opting for organic designs and natural décor to create outdoor spaces that harmonize with the environment.
Organic designs prioritize the use of natural materials and environmentally friendly practices, like composting and minimal use of fertilizers. These designs also embrace the use of native plants and eco-friendly gardening practices, such as composting and mulching.
As for natural décor elements — such as driftwood sculptures, stone fountains, and moss-covered boulders — these decorative pieces are becoming popular choices for adding character to outdoor spaces. These items not only blend seamlessly with the landscape but also provide a sense of tranquility and natural creativity that reflects the shapes, colors, and overall aesthetics of your garden.
By incorporating organic designs and natural décor into your garden, you can create a space that feels like an extension of the natural world, promoting a sense of peace and well-being.
5. Xeriscaping
Water conservation is a top priority in many regions, particularly those facing frequent droughts. If you live in an arid environment, knowing how to deal with this type of ground and natural setting effectively is the key to creating a beautiful outdoor space.
Xeriscaping is a landscaping trend that addresses this concern by creating gardens that require minimal irrigation. It involves the use of drought-tolerant plants, efficient irrigation systems, and water-wise design principles. By selecting plants that are adapted to local climate conditions and minimizing the use of turf grass, xeriscaping can significantly reduce water consumption in an outdoor garden.
According to National Geographic:
“Xeriscaping has become widely popular in some areas because of its environmental and financial benefits. The most important environmental aspect of xeriscaping is choosing vegetation that is appropriate for the climate.”
One of the key principles of xeriscaping is the use of mulch, which helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Additionally, efficient irrigation methods, such as drip irrigation and soaker hoses, are used to deliver water directly to the root zones of plants, minimizing water wastage.
6. Potted Bouquets
For those with limited space or a penchant for mobility, the trend of potted bouquets is a delightful way to bring beauty and fragrance to your outdoor area.
This trend involves arranging potted plants and flowers in containers to create stunning and ever-changing displays. Potted bouquets offer a wide range of possibilities for creativity, where you can mix and match different plant varieties, colors, and container styles to suit your garden’s theme and your personal taste.
Whether you prefer a contemporary look with sleek, modern pots or a rustic charm with vintage containers, the options are endless.
This trend can also go hand-in-hand with creating a pollinator-friendly garden, as you can organize pollinator-friendly plants together in clusters of pots and planters. For those with a taste for neatness, this can be an excellent means for welcoming butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden without having to embrace the typically chaotic appearance of traditional butterfly and pollinator gardens.
Additionally, maintenance for potted bouquets is relatively simple, involving regular watering and occasional fertilization. Swap out your plants seasonally to keep your displays fresh and on-trend.
7. Cottagecore Garden Themes
“Cottagecore” is an aesthetic popularized on the social media platform TikTok that is meant to emulate simplicity and traditional rural styles. The cottagecore aesthetic is characterised by many of the trends we have discussed — such as organic designs and minimalistic pathways — as well as by soft pastel colors.
In gardening and landscaping, the cottagecore theme has gained immense popularity for its charming and whimsical appeal. A cottagecore garden is characterised by its lush, overgrown appearance, with an abundance of wildflowers, herbs, and climbing vines.
The ultimate goal with a cottagecore-themed garden is to create an outdoor space that appears natural and unstructured as if it has been untouched by human hands.
To achieve the cottagecore look, consider planting a variety of flowers, including peonies, roses, and daisies, in a mix of colors and heights. Allow plants to spill over pathways and create meandering, informal borders. Vintage garden furniture, such as wrought-iron benches or weathered wooden chairs, adds to the rustic charm.
Final Thoughts
In the ever-evolving world of gardening and landscaping, these seven trends are leading the way toward creating beautiful, sustainable, and environmentally friendly outdoor spaces.
Whether you choose to embrace locally sourced plants, create a minimalistic garden pathway, or cultivate a cottagecore garden, the key is to align your outdoor space with your personal preferences and the needs of your local environment. By staying in tune with these top trends, you can transform your garden into a haven of beauty and tranquility while contributing to a healthier planet.