Your home is the one place that is completely yours and where you have the freedom (subject, of course, to zoning and other restrictions) to have it looking the way you want. Just as with interior decoration, styles and designs in landscaping keep changing with time and what was “in” a few years ago may be out of date today. That does not mean that you need to keep changing the appearance of the exterior of your home to keep up with the neighbors. What you should do is look at the changing trends in landscaping and adopt those that appeal to you, either to freshen up the garden or to give the exterior of your home a complete revamp.

Here are a few of the trends expected in landscaping in 2024:

• Edimentals: No, this is not a typo. It is a term that emerged in Norway and refers to plants that are both ornamental and edible. Edimentals can greatly expand the range of plants and shrubs you can have in your yard and just because they are also edible, it does not mean that they are unattractive. They can add color, texture and variety to any garden. Vegetable gardens are traditionally hidden away because they are not aesthetically pleasing. With edimentals, you have great fresh vegetables for your family to consume while also maintaining the beauty of the garden. Edimentals are generally hardy plants and hence are low maintenance. And kids are more likely to enjoy eating plants that they come into contact with when they are out in the yard.

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Also Read: Landscaping 101 – Part 2

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• The Perennial Movement: This is another Scandinavian import to our shores. It has been popular in Europe for almost half a century and is now finally reaching the U.S. The concept is that of a natural look. The aesthetic is not manicured but also not wild and unkempt. It strives to combine a natural look with a visually appealing and usable open space for the family to enjoy. The look is based on the use of native plants that look to have seeded themselves naturally, but which in reality have been carefully planted to create that look. At the same time, usable space is also created for the occupants of the home. Among the benefits of this look are that the plants are hardy and low maintenance and the plants are good for the soil as they grow in their natural environment. There is also a great deal of freedom in landscape design with the use of perennials.

• Rain Gardens: In its most basic form, this means the use of plants that reduce water runoff and instead retain rain and irrigation water and add to groundwater levels. These plants can be mixed with others to create a combination of functionality and beauty. At the same time, the garden is an environmentally friendly one that you can be proud of.

• Outdoor Landscape Lighting: Being able to enjoy a landscape after dark adds another dimension to the pleasure it offers. The best results can be obtained with expert help for landscape lighting installation.

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Also Read: What Type of Landscaping Increases Home Value?

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These are trends in landscaping for you to think about. Remember that it is your home and garden and while trends may come and go, your home is going to be yours for many, many years to come and it must look and feel the way you want it to. Find the trends you like and talk to a landscaping professional about how to modify and incorporate the concepts you like into your landscape.

The next part of the blog will look at some more upcoming trends in landscape design.