2013 Tulsa Landscape Design Trends - Low-Maintenance Landscapes, Outdoor Fireplaces

When the year comes to an end, we start to think of how the year went. What were some of the highlights? What did we accomplished? What were some of the trends? As for outdoor environments in Tulsa, let’s look at some of the biggest landscape design trends of 2013. Many of these trends will remain important in the 2014 landscaping scene, so Tulsa homeowners can also get ideas for how to renovate their landscapes in the coming year.

Low-Maintenance Landscapes
With green, sustainable living becoming more popular, low-maintenance landscape design is a huge landscaping trend now. Requiring less maintenance and often less water to remain healthy, these landscapes are great for homeowners with a busy schedule. But less maintenance doesn’t have to mean less color. Using native plants can create a more hardy landscape. Native and drought-resistant plants can often reduce your landscape’s need for water and maintenance. Ornamental grasses and succulents are popular, low-maintenance plants that are perfect for adding texture and style to a landscape. Part of low-maintenance landscaping is knowing how to group these plants together in way that will require less maintenance and maximize water conservation. With these landscapes, you can have a beautiful, vibrant Tulsa landscape with minimal upkeep.

Outdoor Environments
Outdoor living areas that become an really extension of your home are continuing to be a popular landscape design element. With stylish and comfortable dining areas and outdoor seating areas like outdoor sofas and tables, Tulsa outdoor environments are becoming more functional, more chic, and more of a complete outdoor living area where homeowners can relax or entertain much like they would in their indoor living room. Durable and trendy outdoor fabrics are making outdoor living much simpler. State-of-the-art outdoor kitchens are making entertaining outside a lot easier and a lot more fun. These outdoor kitchens look much like indoor kitchens with built-in sinks, grills, refrigerators, counter-tops, and more.

Fireplaces and Fire Pits
A popular aspect of many outdoor living areas are fireplaces and fire pits. These stylish outdoor elements are becoming very popular for homeowners, creating a fun and relaxing outdoor space. They can be designed in a variety of shapes and styles to complement almost any landscape. Installed seating adjacent to an outdoor fireplace creates a perfect spot for talking with friends. Lately, adding fire to a water feature has also become more popular, creating a stunning backdrop at night.

Water Features
Speaking of water, adding fire to a water feature is one element of this popular landscaping group. The relaxing sound of trickling water amid a garden can help soothe away the stresses of the day. That’s why decorative water features, whether portable or complete fountains, grottos, or waterfalls have risen in popularity in the landscape design world. These features add to the “green living” movement that has spread around the world, encouraging us to stay healthy in body and mind.

Edible Gardens
With an increased focused on healthy, organic living, many are now choosing to grow their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Whether in complete organic gardens or in container gardens sporadically placed in their outdoor environment, homeowners are growing a feast in their own backyards. Many of these edibles are being used as decorative plants alongside other gardening features, mixing them in with the rest of their garden foliage to produce a beautiful and healthful landscape.

Other landscaping and outdoor trends include adding splashes of vibrant color to outdoor environment elements, moving technology outside with complete entertainment centers, WiFi, and surround sound, as well as living walls of foliage and green roofs.

Tulsa homeowners want to get the most from their outdoor environments and these trendy landscape design elements furnish the practical and aesthetic value needed for the perfect "staycation," while also increasing your property value.