What Will We Want in Our Landscapes in 2023?
Read 8 trends landscape designers predict for home gardens and outdoor living spaces this year
Amanda Pollard
February 21, 2023
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Drier summers, wetter winters, a renewed interest in cutting gardens and a desire to spend more time outdoors — these are just a few of the things that could influence outdoor choices in 2023. Here, landscape designers on Houzz share eight gardening and landscape design trend predictions for the year ahead.
Roxy Designs
1. We’ll Continue to Welcome Wildlife Into Our Landscapes
“Clients are increasingly looking to more naturalistic plantings and plants that will support wildlife through food sources and hibernation options,” says Peter Reader of Peter Reader Landscapes.
“More and more people want to encourage visitors that were once considered pests,” says Claudia de Yong of Claudia de Yong Garden Design. These include wasps, which she explains are an important predator — eating flies, aphids and slugs, and helping with the recycling of decaying organic material.
“Rewilding areas of the garden — mowing lawns less and planting more diverse species — will almost certainly be in vogue,” she says.
Landscape Pros Share 10 Favorite Native Trees for Their Projects
1. We’ll Continue to Welcome Wildlife Into Our Landscapes
“Clients are increasingly looking to more naturalistic plantings and plants that will support wildlife through food sources and hibernation options,” says Peter Reader of Peter Reader Landscapes.
“More and more people want to encourage visitors that were once considered pests,” says Claudia de Yong of Claudia de Yong Garden Design. These include wasps, which she explains are an important predator — eating flies, aphids and slugs, and helping with the recycling of decaying organic material.
“Rewilding areas of the garden — mowing lawns less and planting more diverse species — will almost certainly be in vogue,” she says.
Landscape Pros Share 10 Favorite Native Trees for Their Projects
Koffka Phakos Design
2. We’ll Spend Even More Time Outdoors
Reader says the desire for indoor-outdoor living that was boosted during the pandemic will continue. “By spending more time in their [yards], people rediscovered their beauty and benefits as places to be and also valued them more,” he says. “This generated the desire to have carefully designed outside spaces that could function as an additional room to the house.”
He points to an array of outdoor features that have become popular due to this trend, including comfortable, fast-drying outdoor furniture; fire pits; and tilt-and-slide waterproof pergola roofs.
Jane Ashley of Jane Ashley Garden Design agrees. “Many people want desirable features, such as lighting, sunshades and waterproof canopies, all of which greatly extend the hours of use and enjoyment of a [yard].”
Ashley believes the demand for backyard offices will continue, given how working from home — at least part-time — has become the norm for many. “There’s something special about taking a gentle stroll down the garden to get to your desk in the morning,” she says.
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2. We’ll Spend Even More Time Outdoors
Reader says the desire for indoor-outdoor living that was boosted during the pandemic will continue. “By spending more time in their [yards], people rediscovered their beauty and benefits as places to be and also valued them more,” he says. “This generated the desire to have carefully designed outside spaces that could function as an additional room to the house.”
He points to an array of outdoor features that have become popular due to this trend, including comfortable, fast-drying outdoor furniture; fire pits; and tilt-and-slide waterproof pergola roofs.
Jane Ashley of Jane Ashley Garden Design agrees. “Many people want desirable features, such as lighting, sunshades and waterproof canopies, all of which greatly extend the hours of use and enjoyment of a [yard].”
Ashley believes the demand for backyard offices will continue, given how working from home — at least part-time — has become the norm for many. “There’s something special about taking a gentle stroll down the garden to get to your desk in the morning,” she says.
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Rodwin Architecture & Skycastle Homes
3. Drier Climate Will Affect Our Choices
“I’m finding that people are worrying much more about how their gardens can defy drought conditions after the experience of last year’s drought,” Ashley says. “So I’m sure we’ll see more use of drought-tolerant planting and also the right kinds of irrigation systems.”
Ashley says that for those installing a new garden, “[drip] irrigation is likely to become increasingly popular to help plants establish in the first year, partly because an appropriate [drip] system is often allowed to continue functioning during [water rationing].”
35 Home Design Trends on the Rise in 2023
3. Drier Climate Will Affect Our Choices
“I’m finding that people are worrying much more about how their gardens can defy drought conditions after the experience of last year’s drought,” Ashley says. “So I’m sure we’ll see more use of drought-tolerant planting and also the right kinds of irrigation systems.”
Ashley says that for those installing a new garden, “[drip] irrigation is likely to become increasingly popular to help plants establish in the first year, partly because an appropriate [drip] system is often allowed to continue functioning during [water rationing].”
35 Home Design Trends on the Rise in 2023
The Garden Builders
4. Wetter Conditions Will Also Affect Our Selections
“With heavier downpours over shorter time periods [becoming more common], some clients are looking to design solutions to manage these challenges,” Reader says. “Good examples include the rise of ‘water gardens,’ which contain features such as green roofs, which slow the flow of water to the garden, and swales, which can hold the water in temporary pools, allowing it to gently disperse rather than rapidly flow away creating damage.
“The planting in these swales tends to be more naturalistic in its appearance and has to be carefully considered so it can cope with both the extremes of wet and dry,” he says.
4. Wetter Conditions Will Also Affect Our Selections
“With heavier downpours over shorter time periods [becoming more common], some clients are looking to design solutions to manage these challenges,” Reader says. “Good examples include the rise of ‘water gardens,’ which contain features such as green roofs, which slow the flow of water to the garden, and swales, which can hold the water in temporary pools, allowing it to gently disperse rather than rapidly flow away creating damage.
“The planting in these swales tends to be more naturalistic in its appearance and has to be carefully considered so it can cope with both the extremes of wet and dry,” he says.
Broadhurst + Associates
5. We’re Searching for Cheaper Ways of Gardening
“More people are looking for good value and for ways to bring color into their garden on a much tighter budget than in recent years,” Ashley says.
“Adding color through growing from seed can be a very economical way of adding long-flowering, colorful plants if you’re willing to spend a little time getting them going at the start,” she says. “It’s also satisfying to see seeds turn into beautiful flowers, and a great way to get children involved in the wonders of gardening.
“The plants you can grow cost a fraction of those bought in garden centers, and there’s something delightful for all styles and tastes,” Ashley says. She recommends growing sunflowers (Helianthus annuus), sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus, USDA zones 6 to 11; find your zone), tobacco plants (Nicotiana spp.), cosmos and foxglove (Digitalis spp.) from seed.
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5. We’re Searching for Cheaper Ways of Gardening
“More people are looking for good value and for ways to bring color into their garden on a much tighter budget than in recent years,” Ashley says.
“Adding color through growing from seed can be a very economical way of adding long-flowering, colorful plants if you’re willing to spend a little time getting them going at the start,” she says. “It’s also satisfying to see seeds turn into beautiful flowers, and a great way to get children involved in the wonders of gardening.
“The plants you can grow cost a fraction of those bought in garden centers, and there’s something delightful for all styles and tastes,” Ashley says. She recommends growing sunflowers (Helianthus annuus), sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus, USDA zones 6 to 11; find your zone), tobacco plants (Nicotiana spp.), cosmos and foxglove (Digitalis spp.) from seed.
Find out how Houzz Pro software can help you manage your schedule, stay organized and work efficiently
Gabriel Holland Interior Design
6. Cut Flower Gardens Are on the Rise
“Flower farming has certainly been on the rise and looks set to continue,” de Yong says. “With a return to, and a love of, traditional crafts such as flower pressing, which has become increasingly popular, what better way [to acquire flowers] than to grow your own at home.”
6. Cut Flower Gardens Are on the Rise
“Flower farming has certainly been on the rise and looks set to continue,” de Yong says. “With a return to, and a love of, traditional crafts such as flower pressing, which has become increasingly popular, what better way [to acquire flowers] than to grow your own at home.”
Hommes and Gardens
7. We’ll Grow and Eat Our Own Vegetables
“As clients have linked with their outside spaces, they’ve discovered gardening and a desire to grow their own food,” Reader says. “The joys of seeing your plants grow and then deliver something you can pick and eat is very addictive.”
He believes this food-growing trend has prompted a rise in outdoor cooking. “Increasingly, sophisticated, kitchen-style developments are now very popular with clients aspiring to cook proper meals, rather than just burgers and [sausages], and to deliver their whole evening’s entertaining in the [yard], rather than the house,” he says.
7. We’ll Grow and Eat Our Own Vegetables
“As clients have linked with their outside spaces, they’ve discovered gardening and a desire to grow their own food,” Reader says. “The joys of seeing your plants grow and then deliver something you can pick and eat is very addictive.”
He believes this food-growing trend has prompted a rise in outdoor cooking. “Increasingly, sophisticated, kitchen-style developments are now very popular with clients aspiring to cook proper meals, rather than just burgers and [sausages], and to deliver their whole evening’s entertaining in the [yard], rather than the house,” he says.
Floret
8. We’re Looking for More Ways to Support Soil
De Yong believes gardeners are starting to turn to natural methods to build healthy garden soil. “Comfrey and winter bean crops will be grown and used more as soil conditioners, along with seaweed as a feed and soil improver,” she says.
De Yong has also noticed an increased interest in the no-dig method of gardening. “This benefits the soil by reducing weed growth, erosion and [the need for] watering, and helps the soil retain carbon,” she says. “Not to mention, it’s good for your back!”
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8. We’re Looking for More Ways to Support Soil
De Yong believes gardeners are starting to turn to natural methods to build healthy garden soil. “Comfrey and winter bean crops will be grown and used more as soil conditioners, along with seaweed as a feed and soil improver,” she says.
De Yong has also noticed an increased interest in the no-dig method of gardening. “This benefits the soil by reducing weed growth, erosion and [the need for] watering, and helps the soil retain carbon,” she says. “Not to mention, it’s good for your back!”
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Browse millions of photos for inspiration
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with your peers in pro-to-pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
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All very nice if one has a flat property. I (and I suspect others) would like to see what can be accomplished on hillsides. BTW, nothing I have tried (which amounts to EVERYTHING SUGGESTED ON INTERNET) solves gopher problems. The plants (poisonous) are not very useful if pets or children are about. Nix cages, sound techniques, expensive exterminators, traps that gophers mostly avoid by digging around, etc. The only option I know WILL work is to move away or put concrete over the entire landscape. Sorry option!
My Forest in northern Wisconsin was hit by a wind shear 3 years ago. I lost 70+ count park like trees including oaks, maples and pine. I have spent the last three years rebuilding—everything. This spring I will be planting. My arborist’s highly recommended native fruit trees. Fragrant, beautiful throughout the seasons, food resource, no worries about home damage with future storms and they attract great wildlife. I’m fond of cherry and apple trees but I’ll include a variety.
Lovely article full of very useful information, thanks