Landscaping Trends for 2018
The American Society of Landscape Architects
(ASLA) recently released its 2018 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends
Survey, which was fielded Feb. 22 through March 8.ASLA says that residential design is the
largest market sector for the landscape architecture profession. Most of that
work, ASLA reports, consists of single-family homes but it also includes
multi-family and retirement communities.ASLA says flexible outdoor spaces for activities like yoga and
outdoor movie nights, as well as charging stations for mobile devices entered
the top 10 project types for the first time.The top 10 project types with the highest
expected consumer demand are as follows:
- Native plants – 83.3 percent
- Native/adapted drought tolerant plants – 83.0 percent
- Low-maintenance landscapes – 80.0 percent
- Flexible use space (for yoga classes, movie night, etc.) – 74.2 percent
- Drip/water-efficient irrigation – 72.4 percent
- Permeable paving – 74.0 percent
- Rain gardens – 71.2 percent
- Reduced lawn area – 70.8 percent
- Food/vegetable gardens (including orchards, vineyards, etc.) – 70.5 percent
- Charging stations (mobile devices) – 70.0 percent
This year, wireless/internet connectivity was
grouped with movies, video theaters, stereo systems and TV, which received 48
percent of the vote in the outdoor design elements category.
A newer answer choice added to the outdoor
structure category this year was enhanced railing systems, which includes those
with cable or glass. This category ranked first at 51 percent and was followed
by pergolas at 48.3 percent and decks at 42.8 percent.
ASLA says the hottest sustainable design
elements include native/adapted drought tolerant plants at 83 percent,
permeable paving at 74 percent and drip/water-efficient irrigation at 72.4
percent.
For 2018, the top three types of outdoor
recreation amenities include dog-related recreation areas at 68 percent,
designated areas for other outdoor recreation at 61.5 percent and bocce courts
at 42.5 percent.
