Garden Trends to Try in 2017

December 14, 2016 | By webadmin

It’s fun to observes garden trends we see as we work around the Dallas area. While definitions of beauty are always evolving, and there is no need to follow every trend, there's plenty of inspiration to be found in taking note of current ideas.

Outdoor decor

Alongside recent enthusiasm for houseplants and terrariums is an interest in decorating outdoors. People looking to their outdoor spaces as an extension of their home are creating comfortable spots for dining and entertaining. Homes with clean modern lines appreciate the sculptural forms of succulents and agaves, not to mention the many benefits of these stalwarts that thrive in the hot summers and variable winters in our area. Sleek, modern containers as well as doors, furniture and fences provide bright blocks of color to set off these wonderful organic shapes.

Pollinator and Wildlife gardens

Along with lifting our spirits with aesthetic beauty, awareness of how our landscapes are part of the larger environment has spurred an interest in pollinator and wildlife habitat gardens. People understand that their yards can be more than just something pretty to look at. 

Typically planted in a loose, informal style, wildlife gardens feature lush perennials and shrubs whose flowers, fruits and seeds feed birds, bees and butterflies. Trumpet shaped flowers attract hummingbirds. Water features and bird baths provide a drink to creatures large and small. Everyone delights in the sight of a beautiful butterfly and much of the focus is on the migrating monarch, whose populations have suffered in recent years. In addition to flowering nectar plants, butterflies rely on host plants on which to lay their eggs. Various types of milkweed provide food for monarch caterpillars. Herbs like rue, parsley and dill host swallowtail caterpillars. Many grasses and trees are the hosts of numerous moths and other pollinating insects, so a diversity of species is important to help as many as possible.

5 Tips to Creating a Beautiful butterfly garden that will entice these winged beauties to make your garden their oasis HERE.

Mix herbs, such as the white flowering chives on the right, and other pollinator plants into the landscape to attract birds, bees and butterflies.

Localism and Native plants

As our modern world becomes more homogenized, regional plantings that are specific to a particular location take on a larger significance. With concern for sustainable concepts and a focus on reclaiming wood and sourcing stone and other construction materials locally, natives continue to gain in popularity. Everyone benefits from plants that survive in the challenges of their own climate and soil. Natives have the added advantage of celebrating a look unique to each place. Municipal water restrictions have many looking for lower maintenance alternatives to traditional lawns. The environmentally conscious landscape of the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas uses a native turf grass mixture in combination with trees and other prairie grasses, much like what grew in the area before it was developed. Just as supporting local business boosts the economy, a similar effect occurs with plants, allowing health and natural beauty to thrive in regional landscapes.
 

Desert Willow is a tough Texas tree perfect for small urban landscapes. It blooms purple-pink flowers through summer.

Inspire yourself with favorite garden trends you’d like to create in your own backyard. Take a look at Pinterest and Houzz for endless ideas.