Landscaping Trends for 2008
In the past few years we have seen the growth of the outdoor kitchen and patio accessories as the trend in landscaping. Not entirely a “patio” the area merged plant and garden options with the outdoor space.
Great Room Gets Greater
Space: For 2008 the home has incorporated the living room, kitchen and dining room into an exterior area. The outdoor space that had previously included just a cooking area now encompasses a grand living space that resembles a second home without the roof, expanding the home from 3000 square feet to over 4000 square feet without moving a wall.- Fireplaces: An interior pariah for so many years, these are now the focal points of these grand areas and are sometimes built with broad chimneys soaring higher than the home.
- Furniture: Outdoor furniture has been getting more plush as people spend more time outdoors. For 2008 the style emulates the interior models with, of course, waterproof cushions.
Gardens and Lawn
Due to watering restrictions and the awareness of the harm that fertilizers and pesticide runoff has on the environment residential and some commercial lawns are being phased out.
- Gardens: With more baby-boomers retiring the thought of spending time out in a garden is not as offensive as it was when they were scrambling to get kids up and through college. Working a large garden not only has a soothing factor to the gardener but its own rewards in organic vegetables and beautiful shrubs and flowers.
- Native Shrubs: For those who want to travel - or find working in a garden a waste of time - there is a trend to go back to the flora and fauna of the original landscape. Shrubs such as wild blueberries and blackberries growing amidst walkways ways of stone do not require watering or weeding and reward the owner with an annual crop of desert toppings.
- Patio Landscape: This is for those who definitely want areas of the yard that require no maintenance whatsoever. Flagstone pavers, pea gravel, water fountain, lava rock and adornments can transform a dandelion-ridden lawn into a clean, remarkable space.
Water: The Disappearing Element
- Rain: In many part of the country water from aquifers is becoming scarce and many counties are beginning to outlaw watering lawns for much of the summer. However, even in the driest parts of the country there is a modest amount of rainfall. With a proper “rain barrel” system water can be stored and meted out in “weeping” systems to keep a small garden going.
- Gray Water: This is the water from showers and sinks that can go directly into the garden or lawn. There are many plumbing and sprinkler services which offer wastewater management systems.
For more information on landscaping and to get help from landscaping professionals go to Renovation Experts
2 comments February 26, 2008
