NALP lists five landscape design trends for fall and winter

HERNDON, Va. — People sometimes mistakenly associate only the spring and summer with outdoor activities, but fall is also a prime season for landscape projects. With autumn only weeks away, the National Association of Landscape Professionals developed a list of the top landscape trends anticipated to receive increased interest and adoption by homeowners this coming season. The association foresees an uptick in landscape enjoyment and projects this fall, thanks in part to forecasts that predict a warmer-than-usual season in most parts of the United States.

“The outdoor entertaining trend has been gaining momentum over the past several years, and this year has seen a further desire to bring the indoors out,” said Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs at NALP. “In particular, the warmer fall months will lend themselves to increased attention on outdoor spaces, as homeowners look to extend the summer outdoor entertaining season and adapt their landscapes for enjoyment throughout the year. By working with a landscape professional, homeowners can learn how to implement the latest trends into their landscapes and discover the options that work best for their location and lifestyles.”

NALP forecasts the following as trends for fall and winter 2017:

1. Technologically advanced fire features. Fire features continue to be a top homeowner request. During fall, firepits and fireplaces are in high demand. In keeping with the home automation trend in the U.S., today’s fire features offer advanced technological capabilities, with the ability to be programmed to turn on and off at different times or to be controlled from indoors or with a smartphone. This automation trend also extends to irrigation systems, which is especially useful during the typically wetter fall season to prevent excess watering of lawns and landscapes.
2. Contemporary twists on classic fall plantings. Flowers, shrubs and trees that highlight the rich, warm colors of the season and reach their peak blooming time in the fall and winter months, such as chrysanthemums, boxwood and maples, are hallmarks of fall landscapes. Several classic plantings are now engineered to be longer-lasting. This season, expect to see the classics married with modern-day style, with plants arranged in contemporary groupings, and landscape designs reflecting clean lines and simple sophistication.
3. Increased focus on lighting up landscapes for safety. While developing landscapes so they can be safely enjoyed is always a top priority for landscape professionals, more design elements of landscapes, such as LED lighting, prioritize safety. Proper landscape lighting is especially important during the shorter fall and winter days, ensuring outdoor play areas are well-lit and walkways are easily accessible through the evening hours. Not limited to lighting, the emphasis on safety also plays a role in fall landscape maintenance, when it is important to preemptively evaluate and manage tree branches or overgrown roots that could become property hazards.
4. Low-maintenance, natural-looking materials. The latest hardscape materials mimic the look of real wood and natural stone without the associated maintenance. Porcelain tiles are quickly becoming a material of choice, as they are less susceptible to degrading from harsh weather conditions, an especially desirable quality during the fall and winter. Similarly, this trend includes faux finishes and materials on outdoor furniture, such as synthetics that look like real leather.
5. Stunning interiorscapes. During the fall and winter months, “interiorscapes,” or indoor landscapes, will become more prevalent as homeowners seek to bring the outdoors in. No longer limited to basic house plants, large living “green” walls, made entirely of greenery and other plants, create a dramatic focal point in interior rooms and courtyards, while tropical container gardens, such as arrangements of edible citrus trees, bring a taste of the island to properties in cooler climates.

Fall is prime time to plan landscape enhancements and complete landscape maintenance tasks to ensure a healthy, vital landscape come spring. Tasks that should be completed in fall include seeding the lawn, investing in proactive weed control measures and developing a snow removal plan.

NALP develops its trends reports, drawing from the expertise of landscape professionals representing various regions of the U.S. who are at the forefront of outdoor trends. The landscape trends are also influenced by broader lifestyle and design trends.