Daydreaming about a glorious new backyard is fun pastime for many of us. The picture in our mind is usually of the completed project – not the heavy lifting needed in constructing one’s own personal paradise. As dreams turn to reality, homeowners find that there are several factors that effect the overall success of their project – not the least of these being factors such as droughts, flooding, maintenance, and more and more conservation and environmental concerns. At Heinen Landscaping we have seen a major shift in homeowners’ preferences in plants, grass, and hardscape materials. With the help of a recent Houzz.com survey, we completed a list of the latest low-maintenance backyard trends.
Out with the lawn and in with a flagstone patio. Or so say homeowners surveyed in the 2015 Houzz Landscaping & Garden Trends survey. Respondents in the May survey said they want a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape that supports relaxed outdoor living. And they are making substantial changes to achieve this. They’re adding paving and garden beds, renovating or building new structures, and redoing their overall yards. And, while plants that are attractive and easy to maintain are king in the Houzz landscape survey, environmental benefits are also driving gardening decisions.
The more substantial the project, the more likely the homeowner is to hire a landscape professional, with 59 percent working with a pro on major projects.
Three out of four homeowners are adding or updating structures. The top project (favored by nearly 45 percent), is a patio or terrace. The next popular updates are an arbor, a gazebo, a pergola or a trellis. Decks are the third most frequently cited project. Also, three-quarters of homeowners who are renovating are planning to add new outdoor living items — furniture and seating, grills and patio heaters are some of the most popular. Homeowners are also updating or adding new lighting systems, to allow outdoor lounging, dining and entertaining to extend well into the night.
Outdoor living space might top homeowners’ lists of the most valued design aspects, but homeowners still want to garden in their own great-outdoors. In fact, gardening is the second most popular use of outdoor space, just behind relaxing (many even said they garden as a way to relax). Homeowners are also gardening to “nurture nature.” More than 40 percent of homeowners said they plan to incorporate plants that attract butterflies, bees or hummingbirds, or are drought resistant or native
Additionally, homeowners across the country are thinking about how to deal with water — either too much or not enough. Drainage and flooding comprise the top challenge addressed during outdoor upgrades, with drought and water shortages being the second most commonly addressed challenge. What does this mean when it comes to landscape features? Nearly one in five homeowners who plan to upgrade an outdoor space will add some sort of rainwater harvesting device, and 29 percent will add or update sprinklers or irrigation systems.
(Excerpts courtesy of houzz.com)
Ready to start planning your now backyard paradise? Give Heinen Landscape a call. After all, The best lawns and gardens in Kansas City have relied on Heinen Landscape and Irrigation for over 25 years for quality lawn care, sprinkler and irrigation system installation, their custom landscape and outdoor living area needs, and much, much more. We’re proud of the beautiful custom landscapes we’ve created – and also maintain, year after year. And, our competitive pricing allows you to customize a personal landscape plan that meets your landscape goals – and your budget. Call Debbie at Heinen Landscape at (913) 432-5011 to schedule a complementary landscape consultation and a free estimate.
