From enthusiastic horticulturists to casual garden tenders, homeowners across New Jersey want their yards and gardens looking beautiful and well maintained. Although we are still in throes of winter, it is never too early to start planning your garden for the warmer weather or consult with a landscaper. For those who are looking to update their homes with contemporary garden design ideas, there are plenty of popular garden trends emerging in 2019 that you can incorporate into your own yard.
ADAPTABILITY FOR EACH SEASON
In New Jersey, we are lucky that we get four distinct seasons every year. It also means that an enormous range of plants can grow in our area throughout different times of the year. Take advantage of that by creating a garden that looks beautiful all year round.
How to do it: Throughout your yard, incorporate plants that do well during different times of the year. Planting bulbs that will begin to sprout at the start of spring will get your garden going as the weather starts to warm up. Adding evergreen shrubs and topiaries will ensure that your yard has some green in it during the winter, while a tree that will showcase fall colors will highlight your yard in autumn. Finally, adding decorative flower pots throughout your yard can make it easy swap out plants to reflect seasonal colors and themes.
CREATE FOCAL POINTS
Focal points in and of themselves are not necessarily a new idea when it comes to landscaping and gardening. However, the latest trend is to come up with creative and unique items to showcase a particular area of your yard. The more imaginative you can get, the more spectacular your garden will be.
How to do it: We often pick beautiful trees or fountains as the focal point of a garden, but we’d encourage you to think outside the box! Spruce up a tool shed with a fresh paint job and some accenting plants and shrubs. Surround a comfy hammock or bench swing with colorful flowers and decorative boulders. Even your child’s playground or pup’s dog house can be the main feature with a little work. Take your creative focal points to the next level by installing alluring light fixtures to illuminate your yard’s centerpiece.
SUSTAINABILITY
When we talk about sustainability, we’re referring to adding elements that can promote the health and longevity of your garden without direct intervention. Not only does this help with the workload of maintaining your garden, but it can also save you some of the expense. Sustainable elements can also offer a variety of benefits to our local ecosystem.
How to do it: Think of ways to be environmentally friendly! Choose a landscape design that promotes healthy water flow or install an irrigation system. Plant vibrant flowers to attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Incorporate decorative bird baths or bird feeders to encourage wildlife to visit your garden. Consider building structures to house compost, firewood or other yard debris that can be repurposed in your garden.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
You don’t need to be a master gardener to have a visually pleasing yard. With a little planning, you can create beautiful garden accents around your home that increase your home’s elegance and are simple to maintain. In 2019, it won’t be uncommon to see a “less is more” approach to gardening – especially in busy households.
How to do it: In New Jersey, there are plenty of plants that are easy to care for and will flourish in the area’s climate. For a garden that doesn’t require consistent re-planting year after year, we suggest filling your garden with a variety of perennials. Other good options are large leafy plants, such as coleus, plantain lilies, and ferns, which take up more space and therefore eliminate the need for additional filler plants in your garden. If you can, build an automatic sprinkler system to help save some time watering your plants. Finally, don’t be afraid to add non-living elements to your garden that don’t need as much attention, such as decorative boulders, structures, and patios.
Using a little inspiration from these 2019 garden trends, this year can be the year that you make your home and garden the peaceful and relaxing space you want it to be.