Water Conservation, Food Gardens Top List of 2016 Landscape Trends

It comes as little surprise to say that sustainability is in. And the landscape architecture industry, long criticized for its water-intensive love of lawns, is increasingly turning trend into practice.

The Demand for Less Demand

According to the 2016 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), residential consumers are clamoring for outdoor spaces that are environmentally sustainable. Specifically, respondents were interested in rainwater/graywater harvesting (88%), native plants (86%), drought tolerant plants (85%), permeable paving (77%), rain gardens (73%), and water-efficient irrigation (72%).

This growing desire for water-focused landscaping elements makes sense, given the years of drought in the west coast. According to Nancy Somerville, executive vice president and CEO of ASLA, “Water issues are hot topics for many communities, and many people are turning to landscape architects for creative green infrastructure solutions.” Consumers across the country are demanding that their landscapes demand less water. That’s great news!

Food, Not Lawns 

Three-quarters (75%) of respondents indicated an interest in food/vegetable gardens, including orchards and vineyards. Indeed, that meme-able mantra of “Grow Food, Not Lawns” does not seem to be a passing fad. 72% of those surveys indicated that they would like a reduced lawn area. After all, tomatoes are a bit more appetizing than grass…

It’s Not Just Homeowners

From the increasing number of restaurants sourcing their ingredients locally or from their own farms, to the rise of sustainable fibers in the fashion industry, to LEED certification becoming the de facto standard for new building construction, seemingly every industry if finding ways to fold environmentalism into business practices. And the fact that homeowners, too, are hopping on board is all the better.

So what are you waiting for? Schedule a consultation to get started growing your own backyard garden!

Start My Farm