9 Garden Trends That Landscapers and Gardening Experts Say We'll Be Seeing This Year

Unlike fashion and interior design, the trend cycle for your garden moves at a slightly slower pace, making it easier to keep up with. However, don't mistake this relaxed pace for meaning that our outdoor areas are exempt from the ever-turning wheel of style.

Each year, we see standout styles emerge within trending backyard ideas, taking center stage at major events like the annual Chelsea Flower Show, then trickling through onto our social media feeds, before eventually popping up in the gardens of our families and friends.

Luckily, it's far harder to grow tired of the undeniable beauty within the natural world than it is of a factory-made micro-trend. This means you can safely experiment with styles without worrying that they will look outdated within a few months. But, what styles to experiment with? Well, our experts are here to answer that question. We've rounded up their favorite trends set to take over our gardens this year, with plenty of inspiration to be picked.

1. Regenerative Gardening

"This isn’t just another buzzword. Regenerative gardening is about designing gardens that heal—soil, biodiversity, and even us humans. It’s where ecological integrity meets proper horticulture," says Nic Howard from We Love Plants.

A trend that aims to do good, regenerative gardening focuses on maintaining healthy soil that promotes biodiversity in your garden, creating a diverse ecosystem that benefits local fauna — sometimes called wildlife gardening. By adopting techniques that improve the health of your soil, you'll create a garden that gradually improves year after year.

"We’re talking wild-ish schemes rooted in tough, adaptable planting. Think gravel gardens, perennial meadows, edible edges, rain gardens, and compost bins that aren’t hidden in shame," says Nic.

2. Multi Functional Spaces

From lying out in the sun, to a spot for the kids to play, to hosting summer-time drinks, there are so many functions we want our garden to fulfil, and there's no reason it can't do them all.

"One of the most influential trends I see continuing to evolve in 2025 is the rise of multi-use outdoor spaces - gardens designed not just for looking beautiful, but for living in every day. Whether it’s a space to work, relax, exercise, cook, or socialise, people are looking to their gardens for more than just aesthetics," says landscape designer, Colin Boggon.

Don't be fooled into thinking this is a trend that will only work in large spaces; even small gardens can be designed to support all our different pastimes.

"It’s all about layers and flexibility- finding smart ways to zone a garden without sacrificing flow, beauty, or atmosphere. A dining area can double as a workspace; a corner seat can become a morning coffee nook or an evening storytelling spot for kids. It’s functional, but also deeply personal," Colin explains.

3. Indoor Outdoor Cohesion

Just one step above open plan living, this trend further embraces the freedom that comes from removing rigid boundaries within the home.

"We’re seeing a strong movement towards seamless indoor-outdoor living, with natural stone playing a central role," says Oli Webb, director of Cullifords, "In 2025, we expect to see textured, organic materials and tonal palettes dominate garden design — particularly in the form of large-format stone paving and outdoor kitchens, helping to blur the lines between nature and architecture."

Outdoor kitchens can be a particularly strong way to blur the lines between the interior and exterior, bringing a typically indoor space out.

"It’s the sense of continuity and tranquillity. Using stone in the outdoors, which complements the interior surfaces, will create a cohesive, considered look. We’re especially drawn to stones with soft variation and texture — such as Limestone, Quartzite and Marble — which reflect light subtly and feel luxurious underfoot without overpowering the setting," says Oli.

4. Embracing Native Plants

Similar to regenerative gardening, this trend actively embraces the natural landscape and aims to work with it, rather than against it.

"We want to take a move away from the more traditional plants used and replace these with native plants in our projects," explains landscape designer Rob Cooper.

"We feel that we can still create a similar style with shape and form and include the grasses into the mix to add to the garden with their texture and softness."

Not only can this style result in beautiful, dramatic designs, but it also helps to make a weather-resistant garden with drought-tolerant plants that will last throughout the seasons. It's not just about your flower beds, either; it applies to native plant lawns, too.

5. Cast Concrete Features

"Cast concrete is a favored choice for our clients (and for us) for outdoor kitchens," says Jennifer Hamilton, director of The Vawdrey House.

As outdoor kitchens of all sorts gain popularity, we begin to notice patterns in the materials chosen for these projects.

"Its industrial edge suits exteriors well, as we have found that anything too shiny looks out of place in gardens," she explains, "When using the concrete in the design, we love to turn it into a feature of the garden — with an integrated BBQ for example, but also doubling up as a planter or seat, or steps to different levels."

Poured and polished concrete are both increasingly popular options for garden design, offering a smooth, industrial feel.

6. Limestone Paving

While you previously may have questioned the benefits of natural stones vs concrete pavers, a clear winner has emerged, for this year at least.

"One of the biggest shifts we’re seeing is a growing preference for limestone in paving and hard landscaping. Clients are increasingly drawn to its timeless look and versatility, making it a standout choice for outdoor spaces," says Mark Latchford, the director of landscape design at HollandGreen.

The natural material is celebrated for both its beauty and durability, making it an ideal choice for your outdoor spaces.

"Limestone offers a warmth and softness that works beautifully with so many different types of homes. Its tones - ranging from buff and cream to beige, light browns, and pale greys -complement everything from traditional cottages to more contemporary builds," Mark continues, "Limestone is not only visually appealing, but also practical. When you choose a high-quality stone, it’s incredibly durable and long-lasting. What I really love is its flexibility - it works just as well in sleek, contemporary spaces as it does in traditional or rustic schemes."

7. Edible Gardens

Across social media, there is a clear longing for greater connection to the food we consume. Increasingly, people are looking for more sustainable ways to source their ingredients, and what could be more sustainable than growing it yourself?

"Growing food at home is no longer a trend —it’s a lifestyle," comments Larry Dominique, landscape architect for Hooks and Lattice.

Building an appreciation for the process of growing fresh produce allows you to develop a better relationship with food, and a layered edible garden is the perfect way to begin this journey.

"Homeowners are embracing edible gardens, cultivating herbs on windowsills and planting vegetables in decorative railing planters and patio pots. Meanwhile, communities are investing in shared orchards and garden spaces that promote connection and wellness through homegrown abundance," says Larry. We're even seeing front yard vegetable gardens emerge as an idea.

8. Low-Maintenance Architectural Designs

"I think the biggest trend I'm seeing is rigorous, architectural site planning for retainage and circulation, with loose native grasses, and native low-water drought-resistant trees and shrubs filling in organically," comments architect Laura Marion.

Bringing in architectural features that work to support your horticulture and adopting native plants work together to create an effortlessly self-sustaining, low maintenance garden.

"The appeal of this design is that it is both beautiful and requires no maintenance. The biggest investments of the design are permanent hardscape, and therefore no maintenance," says Laura, "The softscape, (the plantings) harken to the area's native state, which, once established, maintains and re-seeds itself."

9. Sustainable Gardening

"Of all the gardening trends I’m seeing for 2025 (wellness gardens with saunas, cold plunges and showers included, or all-green gardens with minimal flowers and tons of lush foliage instead) I think the biggest trend is climate-friendly and sustainable gardens using both native and strategic plantings that are geared towards handling weather extremes such as heavy rains and drought (depending on region)," says Kat Aul Cervoni, landscape designer.

Not just limited to garden design, we've been noticing a shift towards eco-friendly, sustainable materials throughout interior design, but this sustainability-centered gardening is certainly one of the most popular trends for the year.

"There’s a lot of love about this trend – since it’s working with a region's climate conditions instead of against them, it’s inherently more low-maintenance and requires fewer resources to thrive, and I find almost all my clients prioritize low maintenance with their garden designs."

The one thread running through almost all of these trends is our uniting desire to move towards a more sustainable approach to our gardens. There's no reason a beautiful garden cannot also mean an eco-conscious, self-sustaining garden, these things can be entirely compatible, especially with our tendency to lean towards less manicured, more wild, fairy tale gardens. Learning about the plants that are native to your area and embracing these within your design can help you create a garden that supports a more diverse ecosystem, while still being easy on the eye.