Here are 15 of the biggest landscaping trends we saw gaining traction in 2020, all of which will become even more important in 2021.

1. While the technology isn’t quite there yet for battery-powered OPE solutions to fully replace gas, the day is coming quickly where they will be able. Until then, they’re an excellent supplemental tool for professionals. As more and more government regulations come into place around noise and emissions, being prepared with supplemental battery-powered OPE solutions makes sense. After all, you don’t want your business to be majorly impacted by these potential restrictions.
2. If there’s one thing we’ve noticed over the years, it’s that people are choosing more and more native plants with every year that passes. Native plants provide a range of benefits.
3. If there’s one thing 2020 has instilled in us it’s the urge to do more outside. As we’ve adapted to socially distancing and safe socializing, many of us have turned to our outdoor areas as new living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, and play areas.
4. For many of your customers, the prim and proper style gardens are coming slightly undone as we begin to adopt more naturalistic elements into our landscaping plans, opting for wildly lush cottage gardens instead.
5. The days in which spring and summer were the only garden seasons to plan for! Now, there’s a new focus on trees, plants, and shrubs that offer either multi-season interest or tend to display their color, texture, fruit and flowers when we need a splash of color most—during winter!
6. Getting creative with food plants. Maybe as a selling point with a new front yard landscape you could through in a small edible garden on the side or backyard as an enticement to you landscape package offerings. Research data shows that the younger generation is adapting to growing at least some garden herbs and vegetables at home. Organic, home grown, how can you capitalize on this trend?
7. Pollinator Garden – Over recent years, we’ve begun realizing just how important our pollinators are and that even a small space designated for pollinator habitat can help provide for the insects upon which our food system relies!
8. Vertical Gardens – It seems like we’ve been growing up recently because vertical gardening is a trend everyone appears to be trying! If you’ve got a small space, this is one of the best landscaping trends for you! Don’t know where to start? Choose a wall, then build a frame. This is great for areas with small footprints of land to landscape or add features.
9. Smart Technology – We’ve come a long way over recent years and now technology isn’t something that’s limited to our phones, computers, and at home virtual assistants. We’re beginning to see the integration of smart technology into landscaping. From irrigation to lawn mowing, technology is here to stay.
10. Secluded Spaces – There has been an increased interest in transforming a corner of your backyard into a private, secluded slice of heaven.
11. Outdoor Lighting – Lighting has been a bright spot in 2020. Whether it’s hidden lighting that illuminates a path, a LED light channel underneath a patio, sidewalk, or trees, we’re beginning to see more lights used in new and improved ways.
12. On-Site Water Collection – As you’ve noticed, many of these trends have some element of sustainability. It’s clear that people have been adopting more environmentally-conscious landscaping ideas over recent years. One of the most common trends is the collection or use of rainwater.
13. Front Porch Living – Many of us are beginning to return to the front porch as a functional gathering space. Curb appeal is as important as making the front porch welcoming for friends and family members. This typically means that bright landscaping elements are chosen, comfy seating is added, and low maintenance bushes are incorporated.
14. Classic Blue – Let your outdoors be inspired by color. The 2020 Pantone Color of the Year, Classic Blue, will continue to trend for use year-round in outdoor spaces, as it’s reminiscent of summer. Incorporate blue into your design as a dominant garden color or accent in your landscape and planters. Several plantings can include Aster, Eryngos (Sea Holly), Muscari (Grape Hyacinth), Hyacinthoides (Spanish Bluebells), Hydrangeas, and more.
15. The Impact of Working Remotely on Commercial Spaces – As working remotely increased in 2020, we can’t help but question how this might impact commercial office spaces into the future. While there are some people still going to offices, the needs of commercial office parks may be changing as a result of that percentage of people who are still working from their homes.