10 Outdated Garden Trends We’re Saying Goodbye to in 2024

Gardening might seem like a pretty low-drama activity, but there are plenty of hot topics, controversial opinions, and crazy suggestions when it comes to the “latest trends.” I checked in with four Western landscape designers to chat about the materials and plants you might want to take a pass on for upcoming projects. Whether you’re plotting a full landscape redesign, looking to update your outdoor entertaining space, or just adding a few new plants—these are the 10 garden trends we’re ready to say goodbye to in 2024.

1. Non-Permeable Hardscaping

While rain gardens and water barrel capturing systems have thankfully become a new normal in backyards, there’s a better way to harvest water during precipitation events. Traditional hardscaping causes unnecessary runoff into the street, while permeable options allow for water to slowly absorb back into the ground where it’s needed most. Molly Sedlacek, principal at design Studio ORCA, wants to see fewer concrete driveways in 2024. Great alternatives to solid non-permeable surfaces are gravel or pavers which not only capture rainwater, but also allow for the earth to move and shift without cracking. Similarly, Sara Brunelle and Katie Smith, the design duo of  Lu — La Design Studio, suggest using other organic materials such as locally quarried stone, reclaimed stone, and urbanite instead of poured concrete, which is a huge CO₂ producer (said to be responsible for 4-8% of the world’s CO₂ emissions).

2. Swath-Planting

Swath-planting, also known in farming as monoculture, is a landscaping technique where large numbers of the same type of plant are grouped together in a single planting bed for visual impact. Lu — La Design Studio points out this old-school planting method doesn’t view plants as part of a whole ecological system. In this planting style, groups of blooms come across as more of an object, rather than an active buddy in the garden. They suggest trying matrix planting instead, where a variety of plants differing in height, texture, and color form a plant community, which is important for resilient and happy landscapes, big and small (bonus points for using as many natives as possible).

Speaking of natives and mono-planting, Nate Dickman of Huge Safari adds we need to re-think “milkweed mania” adding, “the messaging around these plants has people thinking they’re meaningfully contributing to the survival of monarch butterflies by adding a few to their planting strip or small beds.” By focusing on plant communities, not just single plants, we can provide for a larger range of insects and animals, monarchs included.

3. Non-Native Trees

We love an olive tree, we really do! But the designers at ORCA want to challenge us to consider native trees first before adding another Mediterranean shrub to…