If you’ve been to any home improvement store, you know that landscaping and outdoor spaces are big business. Here are 5 trends we are loving this year!
1. Supporting Wildlife and Native Plants
Your backyard shouldn’t be a haven just for you and other humans. It should also welcome wildlife (of the non-human kind). To attract birds, bees, butterflies, and beautiful insects, it’s important to consider trees, shrubs and plants that are native to our area as they have the best chance of surviving.
Choosing native plants is always a good idea as these species have already adapted to the area. Plants indigenous to southwestern Indiana require little maintenance and upkeep. According to The Southwestern Indiana Master Gardener Association, the best pollinators in our area include these 7 perennials:
- Swamp Milkweed – fragrant clusters of flowers ranging in color from soft mauve to pink to reddish-violet; attracts butterflies, especially monarchs
- Butterfly Milkweed – bright orange-yellow; 2017 Perennial Plant of the Year; attracts butterflies and bees
- Dense Blazing Star – lavender, pink, purple; attracts birds, including hummingbirds
- Little Bluestem – ornamental grass with blue-green stems in season and mahogany red with white in the Fall; the seeds attract cardinals, buntings, finches, butterflies, and more
- Mistflower – blue, purple; attracts bees and butterflies
- New England Aster – large and showy blooms of lavender, pink, and purple; attracts bees, butterflies, blue jays, goldfinches, cardinals, and hummingbirds
- Gray Goldenrod – a member of the sunflower family with golden yellow blooms; attracts butterflies
Try planting a couple of these this year. Add a couple more next year. Your new small friends will love you for it.
2. Bringing the Indoors Out
Outdoor kitchens, pavilions, pergolas, outdoor fireplaces and fire pits are all expected to remain popular as homeowners seek a seamless transition from the home to the yard. Some of these spaces can even be made far more extravagant with outdoor TVs, refrigerators and full kitchens. No matter the budget, though, providing nice areas for family and friends to come together, relax, and enjoy the beauty of nature isn’t going out of style any time soon.
3. Backyard Birding
The past two years and working from home have helped us all realize there’s more to see and love outside of the four walls of our offices and cubicles. The Audubon Society reported increases in birdseed and bird feeder sales, resulting in landscapes rich with food, shelter and more bathing spots for our furry friends. As already mentioned, birds are attracted to seeds, grasses, flowers and fruit. Planting the perennials mentioned above will provide a new haven for red-winged blackbirds, purple finches, morning doves, eastern bluebirds, woodpeckers, hummingbirds and more!
4. Growing Food
Another offshoot of the pandemic: The increased desire among homeowners to grow more of their own food. Not only does growing and consuming your own food provide more health benefits, but it’s easier on your wallet as well. In times like now where prices are increasing every day, this alternative seems more feasible. And when done correctly, even the smallest backyard plot can provide plenty of produce and probably even a significant savings to your grocery bill.
Consider your diet and your usual meal plan to figure out what would make the most sense for your family and you. Do you purchase green peppers every time you shop? Are you a potato lover? How about munching on cucumbers or carrots? Consider putting some seeds in the ground or create a raised vegetable garden bed, which would be much easier on your knees.
5. The Color Purple
When choosing your landscaping plants and decor, think of these two colors: Clover Green and Pantone’s 2022 Color of the Year, Very Peri, which is a rich periwinkle. And while there IS a plant aptly called Periwinkle, tread lightly with it. If ingested by humans or dogs, it can cause side effects. The Dense Blazing Star, Little Bluestem, Mistflower and Aster would be safer options.
For all of the latest information on our local real estate market in Southwestern Indiana, you can always trust the professionals at F.C. Tucker Emge. Our agents have superior training and resources at their disposal so they can better educate you about the road to homeownership. Even if you are 6-12 months (or more!) out from making a change, there is a lot to learn about the home buying and selling process, and our agents can help you learn what you need to know so that you can be confident in your decision and have a smooth experience when the time comes. Let’s Talk!
