Thumb through the pages of garden magazines published a decade ago through to today, and you can’t help but notice dramatic changes in how people present their gardens. Like most things, gardens go through trends. The type of garden you prefer today might not even be the type you would have chosen for your property just a few years ago.

Out of curiosity or a desire to transform your yard, you might be eager to know what’s on the horizon for 2024. Allow us to fill you in on some of the most popular lawn and garden trends for 2024 and beyond.

Naturalistic Planting

Naturalistic planting describes arranging plants in an area to simulate a natural environment. You might grow grasses in gravel or ferns in a woodland-like setting. There are no twines, stakes, or any signs of intervention. You just let your garden…be.

Naturalistic planting isn’t for everyone. Essentially, you’re giving up control to Mother Nature and letting her do her thing. It’s an organised form of chaos that can take some getting used to.

But let us be the first to say that naturalistic planting has its place. You’re free from constant maintenance. You can let your plants go to seed and enjoy the many insects, birds, and bees that choose to call it home. You can also enjoy peace of mind knowing you’re doing your part for the environment. Pollinating insects and soil can live their best lives.

Easy Maintenance

We lead busy lives. When we’re not busy working 40 hours a week, we’re running errands and trying to make memories with our families. That can leave little time for home maintenance. That’s why many families are choosing to design yards that require minimal upkeep.

Hardscapes are now taking up more space in our yards than ever before, and some homeowners are even opting for fake grass rather than having natural grass they have to mow. Of course, time-poor nature lovers still have the option of outsourcing lawn mowing to a lawn care company.

Lighting…Everywhere

Gardens have always been something we’ve enjoyed during the day. At night, they’re essentially off-limits. It’s not exactly easy to enjoy something you can’t see.

That’s perhaps why one of the latest trends has been garden lighting. It also doesn’t hurt that there have been some incredible advancements in solar technology. You can illuminate your garden with an array of fairy lights, path lighting, and post lights without having to wire them into your home’s power supply. Now, homeowners enjoy their yards at all times of the day and night.

Native Plants

There is such an incredible range of non-native plants that suit our regions beautifully. We don’t think twice about buying plants that don’t even originate here. However, many people now realise how easy-care, robust, and beautiful our native plants are. It’s now not uncommon to explore the average well-manicured garden and see a selection of NZ native plants.

From phormium species flaxes that take centre stage in a modern garden to Corokia that will withstand harsh conditions like frost, wind, and drought, you’d be surprised by what we have available right here in little ol’ Aotearoa. New Zealand libertia species iris is also popular in exposed places, while hebe thrives in sunny, free-draining soil.

Organic Gardens

The average proud homeowner can face many challenges when it comes to garden and lawn health, like fungal diseases and pest insects. It’s only natural to reach for the first pesticide or herbicide you can find, but moods are changing.

We are becoming less quick to buy the first product we see and more quick to start researching the best options for our soil, plants, and environment. More importantly, we’re learning how crucial it can be for us to reduce our environmental impact and how harmful the average insecticide and weed spray can be for soil, water, grass, and vegetation.

Fortunately, there are a number of organic products on the market featuring natural ingredients. They still perform the task of eradicating pest insects or fungal diseases but without the same environmental impact.

Battery and Electric-Powered Tools

On the average sunny Saturday morning, it’s not uncommon to be awoken by someone mowing their lawns in the distance. Lawn mowing is a standard part of our weekend chores. But it’s starting to look a little different.

Instead of hearing the roar of a petrol-powered mower coming to life in your neighbourhood, you’re more likely to spot someone mowing the lawns with an electric or battery-powered mower. They’re so quiet that it can sometimes look like they’re mowing with the engine turned off.

Battery and electric-powered tools for lawn mowing and yard activities are more common than ever. It also doesn’t hurt that many power equipment companies are now creating batteries that you can swap between line trimmers, lawnmowers, and hedge trimmers.

Jump On This Year’s Trends

Some of the most common lawn and garden trends for 2024 are proving to be some of the best yet. Enjoy a more convenient, beautiful, and easy-care lawn and garden by trying out some of these trends in your own yard!