The Top Five Garden Trends of 2018

Spring is almost here, and it’s time to start thinking about how you can spend more time outdoors. If you have a patio or a garden, giving it a little refresh is time and money well spent. Make your outdoor living space more functional (and beautiful!) by incorporating the top garden trends of 2018.

1. Small gardens are at the top of 2018 garden trends

As an intimate outdoor space, this small garden exemplifies the biggest 2018 garden trend. Image: Jarrett Yoshida Design

Whether you’re working with a small patio area, a side yard, or a large open space, it’s all about creating cozy, intimate spaces in 2018. Got 150 square feet to work with? Then make it the loveliest small garden ever! You can still have a seating area, a water or fire feature, and plenty of greenery in the form of potted plants.

If you have a large, open area, this is the year to consider breaking it up into smaller spaces. Some ways you can do this is by:

• Creating a sitting or dining area with fieldstone
• Adding an arbor and vines, creating the illusion that you’re entering another world
• Creating an outdoor dining spot under a trellis
• Setting up a spot with chairs and a firepit

The key is to enclose the space a bit with potted plants, hedges, trees or vines, creating intimate settings that flow from one to the other. Check out these ideas, for inspiration:

This larger garden utilizes walls, structures and varying landscape to create smaller, more intimate outdoor settings. Image: Abhiland Architects

A small patio features a dining space with a cedar privacy wall and modern landscaping, including boxwood in raised planters and stone. Image: Robert Hughes Garden Design

An outdoor terrace in San Francisco was converted into a small rooftop garden, featuring plants and citrus tress. Image: Siol Studios

2. Vertical gardens are hot right now

We’ve been telling you this for awhile now: the living wall, or vertical garden, is a beautiful way to add some life to a wall. Here are a couple of ideas on how you can add one to your garden:

Limited on square footage? Then go up! Two large frames hold plants that grow vertically on the wall. Image: Eco Walls

A wall of low-maintenance succulents in a wood frame adds a fresh, new look to this small garden. Image: Bright Green Landscapes

3. Eco landscaping is one of the biggest garden trends of 2018

Color and texture are achieved using a variety of grasses and flowering herbs. Image: Coffman Studios

Low-water landscaping saves you time and money. They require less maintenance and less watering. They’re also quite stunning. It’s all about geometry and architecture; for a striking effect, consider adding gravel, stone or rock among the eco-friendly plants like grasses and succulents.

4. Fire pits were last year, water features are this year

This water feature is designed to collect water and recirculate it. The pots have small ledges where birds, or other wildlife, can perch to drink. Image: Teserra Outdoors

We’re still a huge fan of fire pits: check out this roundup of fire pits and you’ll understand why. But this year, the top landscapers and designers are opting for water features instead.

The water feature revival is likely due to the fact that nature-friendly, eco gardens are popular. And providing water for birds and wildlife, while enjoying the soothing look and sounds of flowing water, make the garden water feature both beautiful and practical.

5. Garden to table

An outdoor garden, featuring tomatoes and vegetables. Image: Fenton Roberts Garden Design

Our favorite of the 2018 garden trends has got to be the edible garden. Regardless of what size your space is, you can probably manage room for a potted fruit tree, or a raised bed with veggies or lettuce, or even a small herb garden. Want to take it to the next level? Add some chickens for fresh eggs! Just be sure to check you local zoning laws first. Here are some ideas:

If your garden is all concrete, or you have poor soil, you can add raised beds to grow your veggies and herbs. Image: Aloe Designs

This garden gives new meaning to the term, “free range chickens!” Image: Southern Living

2018 is all about enjoying your outdoor space. Decide what works best for your lifestyle and needs and keep it simple and natural. Here’s to outdoor living!

Have a great garden design tip of your own? Leave a comment and let us know!

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Cynthia Bowman via Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Magazine http://bit.ly/2HF5WwU