These Landscaping Trends Are Out This Summer, Pros Say
Landscaping changes just like fashion. What felt fresh and innovative a few years ago might now be overdone or hard to maintain. This summer, professional landscapers are urging homeowners to rethink some common outdoor choices that no longer serve today’s needs. With shifting weather patterns, water shortages, and changing design priorities, practicality is winning over high-maintenance looks. Here’s what the pros say it’s time to leave behind and what you might want to consider instead.
Overly Geometric Garden Beds
Perfectly squared-off beds with sharp lines are falling out of favor. While they look clean in photos, they often create wasted space and can feel too rigid or clinical in real life. Landscapers are moving toward more organic shapes that follow the natural flow of the yard. Curved borders and softer edges make a space feel more relaxed and inviting, and they tend to blend better with existing plants and features.
Fake Grass
Artificial turf became popular as a quick-fix for patchy lawns, but it’s starting to lose its appeal. Many pros now caution against using it across large areas. It traps heat, doesn’t break down like natural materials, and often smells unpleasant during hot months. There’s also little ecological benefit. Instead, many homeowners are switching to drought-tolerant ground covers, clover mixes, or even small wildflower meadows that are easier to care for and better for local pollinators.
Pea Gravel Paths and Patios
Pea gravel was once a go-to for paths and patios, but it’s proving to be more trouble than it’s worth. It shifts underfoot easily, makes walking uncomfortable, and tends to scatter into nearby beds or lawns. This summer, many are trading it out for more solid, stable options like compacted decomposed granite or poured concrete slabs that are easier to walk on and maintain, especially in high-traffic areas.
Boxwood Hedges
Boxwoods were once a landscaping staple, especially for framing walkways or adding structure. But pests, diseases, and weather extremes have made them less reliable in recent years. Landscapers now suggest mixing things up with hardier shrubs that offer texture or color changes through the seasons. Native species or flowering hedges can provide the same structure without the high risk of die-off or constant pruning.
Overcrowded Planter Beds
The dense, layered look of planter beds filled with dozens of plant varieties is being pared back. While it might seem lush in appearance, overcrowding makes plants compete for light and water and can quickly lead to overgrowth or rot. Now, people are leaning more towards cleaner, intentional plant groupings. Fewer varieties with more space in between not only look modern but are also easier to manage and healthier for the plants.
Monochromatic Color Schemes
All-green landscapes or single-tone planting schemes can look sleek when done right, but they often lack energy and depth. This year, pros are encouraging more contrast and variety in plant choices. That doesn’t mean going totally wild with color, but introducing different tones of foliage, mixed textures, and a few flowering varieties can make even a small space feel more dynamic and well-balanced.
Oversized Outdoor Kitchens
Big outdoor kitchens with built-in grills, refrigerators, and countertops took off in recent years, but they’re now being seen as unnecessary for most homes. They take up too much space, require constant maintenance, and don’t always get enough use to justify the cost. Smaller, modular setups or simple grilling areas are making a comeback, especially those that can be stored away or moved as needed.
Symmetrical Landscaping
Perfect symmetry in front yards or gardens feels stiff and unnatural most of the time. It does look very tidy, but it often leads to predictable, dare I say boring landscapes. Pros are now favoring more balanced but asymmetrical layouts. This style still feels intentional but leaves more room for flexibility and creative planting. It also makes it easier to adjust as plants grow or change over time.
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Just like inside the home, outdoor spaces benefit from personal, practical design. The trends fading away this summer are largely the ones that didn’t hold up over time or created more work than value. As you rethink your landscaping, focus on ease, resilience, and natural flow. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s creating a space you’ll actually want to spend time in. Let nature guide you more than the latest trend list.
Daniel Mitchell
