It’s normal for trends to come and go, but a common theme among landscaping trends over the past decade has been a marked shift toward embracing natural beauty. This has stemmed from a desire to be more environmentally friendly and reduce the cost of maintaining pristine yards.
This desire to rediscover the unrefined splendor of the outdoors can be seen clearly in the top five landscaping trends for 2025, from an experienced San Diego landscaper which all center around finding ways to spend more time outdoors to disconnect from the frenzy of daily life.
Landscape Trend #1 Rewilding
When it comes to residential landscaping, rewilding is a trend that has boomed over the last year, and we believe the movement towards low-maintenance spaces will continue to grow over the next few years. As people find themselves less drawn to manicured, high-maintenance lawns and hedges, environmentally conscious homeowners are turning to rewilding.
Also commonly referred to as Meadow Gardens or Wildflower Lawns, this trend eschews the typical precise green lawn for an untamed, fauna-friendly fairytale aesthetic. Meadow gardens can still be carefully planned and maintained while preserving an environment that encourages harmony between urban living and natural spaces that are friendly to bees, butterflies, and birds.
Inviting pollinator species into your garden can significantly boost dwindling populations. Bees are crucial to maintaining a livable planet and creating havens for them within cities and suburbs can impact the population of entire areas. Even small rewilding projects can support efforts to increase the numbers of vital insect species.
Landscape Trend #2 Vertical Gardens
With younger generations typically renting instead of buying, vertical gardens have become more popular due to limited outdoor space. Vertical gardens allow savvy gardeners to maximize small spaces by combining trellises, wall planters, and climbing plants to create a vertical oasis.
Spending time outside is crucial for maintaining good mental health, but for those living in cities and urban spaces, accessing the outdoors can be difficult. By utilizing vertical space, residents of tiny apartments can invite nature inside to create soothing green spaces.
Vertical gardens are not only aesthetically pleasing but also provide the eco-friendly bonus of absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen in areas with poor air quality. Renters can even plant fruit, vegetables, and herbs in vertical planters, which leads to our next top trend for 2025.
Landscape Trend #3 Fruit and Vegetable Gardens
While gardens can be beautiful, the desire for functional outdoor areas has increased. In the past, most veggie gardens were an afterthought and were typically hidden away in a back corner. However, we now see landscape planning incorporating edible garden spaces into the overall design.
Raised fruit and vegetable garden beds can be beautiful and useful. If you love using fresh vegetables in your meals, intentional harvesting spaces can provide a delightful small-scale farm-to-table experience. Also known as Kitchen Gardens, fruit and vegetable gardening can incorporate herbs, cruciferous vegetables, fruit trees, and root vegetables to create an accessible, affordable grocery store in your backyard.
Landscape Trend #4 Forest Gardens
Forest gardens turn the boring, flat-lay style of typical yards on their head. These lush gardens combine thick ground cover, shrubs, climbers, and trees to simulate diverse forest ecosystems. A forest garden consists of several perennial plant species that benefit each other in some way. Using native plants purposefully can save water and maintenance costs and ensure a thriving garden year-round.
Japanese forest bathing is an incredible practice that has gradually made its way to the US and has once again proven the benefits of spending time in nature. Sitting mindfully in a forest can have physical and emotional effects, such as lowering your heart rate and reducing the intensity of symptoms associated with depression and anxiety.
Forest gardens provide an escape for people with full-time jobs who may not have the time or energy to go hiking or wander around public gardens. With a forest space in your backyard, you can experience the therapeutic benefits of forest bathing from the comfort of your own house as soon as you arrive home after a long day.
Landscape Trend #5 Garden Living Spaces
While outdoor entertaining is not a new concept, garden living promotes the development of more intentionally designed spaces that bring the comforts of your home into your garden. One of the most popular garden living trends is building a fully functional kitchen outside, with a basin, fridge, and grill carefully laid out in a stunning entertainment area.
Garden living spaces combine the convenience of indoor amenities with the soothing effects of spending time outside. Some of the fantastic features of garden living include pergolas with glass ceilings, fire pits, outdoor showers, natural swimming pools, and sitting areas incorporated into the landscape.
Garden living aims to make spending time outside more appealing by merging what we love about our homes with what we love about our gardens.
Create an Oasis with The Top Landscaping Trends for 2025
Contact Intu Nature to connect with our passionate landscaping experts so we can turn your outdoor space into a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of urban living. Whether you want a complete backyard overhaul or simply want to update some areas of your garden, Intu Nature is driven to turn your dream into reality.
