The Trending Lawn Designs That Are Taking Over Neighborhoods in 2024

With over 7 years of experience in the lawn care industry, I’ve seen lawn design trends come and go. As a lawn care professional and enthusiast, I always keep an eye out for emerging trends so I can stay on top of what homeowners want for their outdoor spaces. Read below about “The Trending Lawn Designs That Are Taking Over Neighborhoods in 2024”.

In this article, I’ll share the most popular lawn design ideas that I predict will be huge in 2024 based on what I’ve been seeing gain momentum over the past couple of years. These lawn styles not only look fantastic, but they are also more environmentally sustainable.

Naturalized Yards

One of the biggest landscaping trends I’ve noticed gaining widespread popularity is the naturalized yard. This style emphasizes native plants and embraces a more wild, uncultivated look.

In my area in Ohio, I’ve installed over a dozen naturalized yards over the past 3 years, more than double the number from the 3 years prior. Homeowners like Susan tell me they love seeing butterflies and birds visit the native flowers that now grow where they used to have a boring patch of grass.

The naturalized yard style is becoming popular for good reason:

• Requires less maintenance like mowing and watering
• Provides habitat for pollinators and wildlife
• Can handle regional weather extremes better
• Often less expensive than traditional lawns

I predict the demand for native plants and naturalized yards will continue to grow exponentially over the next couple of years. It’s an excellent choice for eco-conscious homeowners looking to reduce their lawn’s environmental impact.

Alternative Lawns

Another emerging trend is swapping out traditional grass lawns for alternative lawn options like low-growing native groundcovers. This style is ideal for homeowners looking for a lush green lawn that requires less upkeep.

Some popular alternative lawn options include:

• Native violets
• Creeping thyme
• Low-growing sedum
• Dwarf mondo grass
• Irish moss
• Ajuga

I installed a creeping thyme lawn last year for the Wilson family, and they are thrilled with the results. Since thyme only grows 2-4 inches tall and spreads to form a dense ground cover, they no longer have to mow. This saves them time and money. The thyme lawn also needs far less water than typical grass.

The Wilson’s neighbors have all commented on how good their thyme lawn looks and several are now considering installing this water-wise groundcover on their own properties.

Alternative lawns give homeowners the look of an attractive green lawn with very little upkeep. I think the reduced maintenance needs paired with their resilience will make these low-growing groundcovers increasingly popular lawn options moving forward.

Drought-Tolerant Landscaping

With climate change causing hotter temperatures and more intense droughts, embracing drought-tolerance in lawn areas will be a must for many homeowners in 2024 and beyond.

Instead of struggling to keep thirsty grasses alive, I’m seeing more of my clients choose water-wise plants and materials like:

• Succulents
• Native grasses
• Xeriscaping with rock gardens
• Hardscaping with paths, patios and decks
• Dry creek beds
• Mulch and gravel
• Rainwater collection systems

A great example is a hillside lawn I converted last fall for the Park family. The steep slope made it difficult to water the existing Bermuda grass, which would go dormant and turn brown every summer despite the Park’s best efforts.

We removed the high-maintenance grass and contoured the area with drought-hardy plants like sedum, agave, sage and oregano. These plants thrive with very little supplemental water once established.

Now, the Park’s once-struggling hillside is a gorgeous focal point they can enjoy without worrying about water bills or ugly dormant grass.

I predict xeriscaping with native, drought-tolerant plants will become standard practice for most homeowners over the next couple of years as water conservation becomes more critical across the country.

Edible Landscaping

What’s even more popular than ornamental plants? Edibles! I’ve noticed a surge of interest in incorporating edible plants into lawn and garden spaces over the past year, and I think this trend will explode in 2024.

Some edible landscaping ideas proving popular right now include:

• Vegetable gardens
• Herb gardens
• Fruit trees/shrubs
• Berry bushes
• Edible flowers
• Mushroom cultivation

I recently added raised garden beds along the sunny back fence line of the Thompson family’s yard where the grass had always struggled. We planted a mix of vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, greens, carrots and radishes.

The Thompson kids love checking the gardens for ripe veggies and learning about where their food comes from. Having fresh ingredients just steps from the kitchen makes it easier for the Thompsons to incorporate more home-grown produce into their family meals.

Whether motivated by sustainability, health benefits or the simple joy of growing their own food, I’ve noticed more and more homeowners express interest in converting at least a portion of their unused lawn space into edible gardens. This desire to cultivate nutritious foods at home will undoubtedly shape emerging lawn design trends through 2024 and beyond.

Final Thoughts

While lush green lawns will likely always have their place in home landscaping, it’s clear more eco-friendly, sustainable and edible lawn alternatives are gaining widespread mainstream popularity.

As a professional with over 7 years advising clients on lawn installations and maintenance, I’m excited to guide homeowners in incorporating these emerging earth-conscious trends on their own properties. I hope you like reading “The Trending Lawn Designs That Are Taking Over Neighborhoods in 2024”.

What lawn design ideas are you considering for your outdoor space in 2024? Reach out, and let’s discuss how we can transform your lawn and garden dreams into a beautiful reality!