The Designers at Green Oasis have been in the landscape industry for decades, and these are the landscape design trends that they are noticing going into the new year!
Shade Structures
2023 was a hot, dry year in Minnesota and Wisconsin. A shade structure is the perfect way to beat the heat without sacrificing your time outdoors. Shade can be created in many forms. For some, it comes in the form of planting a large tree with a beautiful canopy to sit beneath. For others who like more immediate results, options include a covered porch with seating, built in lighting, and even an electric fan or TV for hosting outdoor events. Shade structures are quickly becoming one of our most popular requests going into the 2024 season as they double as an all-weather space and make the cutest hosting areas for backyard BBQs and family gatherings. Shade Structures can be completely customized to fit your ideal style with endless opportunities, including adding counter tops ,grill stations, and additional seating so that everything you need for a backyard is at your fingertips, no matter the season. No more renting tents for that special event you have coming up, you’ll be the talk of the town!
Zeroscapes & Xeriscapes
This trend isn’t new, but we are seeing more and more people ready to invest in low-maintenance gardens for their homes and business’s alike. Landscaping adds tons of value to your home, but can be a pain to keep up with. Low-maintenance gardens typically include adding a weed barrier over the soil, and dressing it up with mulch or rocks. Plants like sedum, phlox, daylilies, and virtually any Midwestern shrub are a great fit for our climate. These types of garden beds need little pruning and upkeep aside from regular watering, letting you sit back and relax. Our landscape designers can help you find the perfect combination that will utilize beautiful color combinations, vivid textures, and varying heights that also meet the maintenance level that you desire to really make your garden stand out!
Two other popular forms of low-maintenance gardens are xeriscape and zeroscapes. A zeroscape is a landscape design that utilizes rocks, mulch, or other structures for texture and interest instead of plants. These landscapes are perfect for those lacking a green thumb. A xeriscape is made up of plants that need very little maintenance or watering beyond rainfall. You’ll find a lot of native plants with deep root systems in these types of gardens. These gardens are perfect for areas prone to droughts or for those who want to help native pollinators by creating habitat.
The economy is in a sellers market right now, meaning it’s the perfect time to invest in a refresh of your home and get that property value up!
Outdoor Kitchens & Dining Rooms
Outdoor kitchens and dining rooms are the perfect place to host a backyard barbeque, graduation party, or even an outdoor backyard wedding! Each space is completely customizable. They can include a built-in grill space, outdoor countertops, or even a personalized bar, pizza oven or an entire outdoor living space for an amazing outdoor experience. These spaces are perfect for those who like to host outdoors, or for those who want to enjoy the fresh air and enjoy their time outside. Pair your new outdoor kitchen with backyard classics like fire pits, patios, stepping stone pathways, and outdoor lighting features such as bistro lights, lanterns, or built in lighting. These spaces are truly a landscape design must-have this year!
Low-Maintenance Structures
Maximize your look while minimizing the upkeep! Traditional wooden decks are on their way out, while maintenance-free composite decks are in! Wooden decks require sanding, staining, and the replacement of boards every few years to keep them looking pristine. This can be a lot of work, not to mention expensive! On the other hand, composite decks use compressed fibers to create their boards. They come in an endless variety of colors and textures, ranging from wood grain and natural designs, to sleek and industrial. They have the ability to match the look and feel of your house without compromise. Black or white tones are a great choice for those looking to keep your look clean and streamline. Composite decks, pergolas, pavilions, and gazebos are common requests for those seeking low-maintenance landscape design structures.
Poolscapes
Every backyard needs a place to cool down in the heat of the summer, and pools are coming back as a popular choice to do so! Fully integrated into your backyard, your new pool can be designed with low maintenance plants, a poolside patio, built in storage spaces, or night lighting to extend your poolside fun into the evening hours. This landscape design trend also applies to hot tubs! Not only is night-time lighting a popular choice for hot tub surrounds, but a built-in staircase that surrounds the hot tub makes total sense for easier access and give your landscape that finishing touch. They can even be custom built to match your porch, deck, or patio and tied into your backyard landscape for an amazing outdoor experience.
