Spring is upon us! If you’ve got a green thumb or are hoping to develop one, this is an exciting time of year. The days are longer, the weather is warmer and landscapes big and small are ready for beautification. Before you get to work, take some time to familiarize yourself with some of this year’s biggest landscaping trends.
Sustainability
Sustainability in all aspects of life has been on the rise for some time. Now, the movement has made it to outdoor living in two major ways.
Homegrown Goods
Many are using their landscaping areas for more than just beauty, growing fresh produce and herbs to be used in a variety of home cooked meals. Doing so not only benefits your physical well being, it can save you money and help the planet. The fossil fuels burned to transport produce across the country are harmful to our environment. The more people grow their own fruits, vegetables and herbs, the less demand there is for such items in grocery stores, which means less energy used to transport.
If you are interested in incorporating a produce garden into your landscape this year, make a plan before you get started. Figure out how much of your space you want to dedicate to aesthetics versus consumable goods. To determine what to grow, consider what fruits, vegetables and herbs your family consumes the most. When you are ready to purchase seedlings, consult an expert at the nursery to figure out how much you need based on your family size. You don’t want anything to go to waste, as that would defeat the entire purpose of growing your own.
Supporting Wildlife
We’re going beyond bird feeders in 2022.Think about pollinators and other forms of wildlife that could benefit from your outdoor oasis. But how exactly is planning your landscape with wildlife in mind sustainable? Well, when done properly, a native garden can provide natural pest control, rather than using harmful pesticides.
Creating a landscape space that supports wildlife will require a bit of research. To be most successful in this endeavor, you want to avoid going about it haphazardly. Furthermore, you’ll need to become comfortable with focusing on biodiversity rather than your preferred aesthetic. That doesn’t mean that your landscape can’t or won’t still be beautiful. It just means that you may need to rethink what beauty looks like.
Take some time to learn what plants are native to your area. It’s also helpful to have an understanding of how wildlife actually benefits garden spaces. Creating a balanced habitat will ensure harmony between your plants and local wildlife.
Out with the In
Who says you can’t mix the indoors with the outdoors? In 2022, residents are not limiting their landscaping dreams with restrictive ideas regarding indoor and outdoor landscape features. Why not have the best of both worlds? You’ve likely seen fire pits adorn the backyards of many, but what about an outdoor fireplace? Talk about blurring the lines between inside and outside living. Such an addition can allow you to enjoy the outdoors even as the seasons change. Some other common ways to morph exterior and interior landscape features include building an outdoor kitchen, installing a television or using hedges as natural fences to maintain privacy. If you’re interested in participating in this trend, it’s pretty easy. Just think of what comforts of home you’d like to enjoy outdoors and get to work.
Self Care
Gardening for self-care is a trend we’re hoping sticks around for the foreseeable future. It’s safe to say that the last two years have been rough, prompting many to cultivate new skills and hobbies, such as gardening and DIY-ing. Such activities can aid in easing symptoms associated with mental health issues. As a result, people are finding ways to create a landscaping space that prioritizes mindfulness.
If you’re looking to improve your mental health, you may benefit from this healthy trend of gardening and working DIY landscape projects. While such activities can’t cure mental health disorders, they may complement your current treatment plan.
Whether you’re a newbie or a veteran with a green thumb, making plans for your landscape space should be enjoyable. Thankfully there are tools to make this process easier and affordable. Even if you have big dreams for your outdoor living space, you can accomplish them with the right funding through a modest personal loan, savings or regional homeowner grants.
No matter what landscaping trends you decide to participate in this year, big or small, remember to plan, be intentional and have fun!
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