With 2025 coming to a close, I've been thinking about how I want to shake up my garden next year. More specifically, I've been searching for fresh inspiration around landscaping – the framework and layout of the yard. And there are plenty of promising 2026 landscape design trends on the horizon.
It can feel overwhelming to sift through the endless garden ideas out there and it can be even harder to know which to invest time and money into. That's why I turned to the help of landscape and garden designers to find out which ideas they expect to see everywhere next year. Their answer? Longevity, precision, and sustainability will prevail over short-term, immediate impact.
From foundational planting that provides year-round interest to clever ways to turn your outdoor space into an extension of the home, the designers share their top five 2026 landscape design trends right here.
5 uplifting landscape trends for 2026
Landscape design encompasses everything from hardscaping, to planting, and even seating. It's essentially the way in which a yard is laid out and designed to bring together aesthetics and functionality.
The below five 2026 landscaping trends provide plenty of inspiration to give your yard a refresh in the new year:
1. Expressive entrances
According to garden designer Laura Janney, CEO of The Inspired Garden Masterclass, 2026 is the year for gardeners to give more attention to the front yard landscape.
'Homeowners are really upping their game of transforming the front entranceway as an extension of their interior,' she says.
'While container gardens set the stage, it’s the addition of seating, decorative sculptures, and other elements that create a standout moment,' she explains.
There are lots of ways to put a personal touch on front porch ideas, from artistic accents, like this abstract garden sculpture from Wayfair, to outdoor seating that allows you to grab a moment of calm with your morning coffee.
'My tip is to not overdo it and use organic materials, like wooden planters, mixed in with living plants and flowers,' Laura says.
2. Quiet pockets to escape to
Laura shares another trend she expects to see more of next year relates to how we use our backyards.
'With the continuous chaos in the world, homeowners are wanting to create sacred spaces to escape and connect with nature,' she says
'It's about creating a retreat surrounded by lush plantings, a seating area, and elements to awake all of the senses,' Laura adds.
Even if you only have a balcony space, there are lots of ways to create an urban oasis. For example, you can fill a raised garden bed (like this from Amazon) with trees and lush foliage of woodland plants to screen an urban backdrop.
Landscaping with ornamental grasses can also work well for creating natural boundaries and different garden zones, as well as structures like this wooden trellis from Amazon.
3. Biophilic features
This 2026 landscape trend is all to do with designing a space full of natural elements for individuals to connect with and reap wellbeing benefits from.
'Biophilic design is not a new concept. It's rapidly growing in popularity as homeowners care more about holistic, eco-friendly design, and lifestyle choices,' explains landscaping expert Joe Raboine.
'When you can really use your senses to taste, smell and hear the design choices, you can have a much larger impact. Edible landscapes, raised garden beds, water features, and unique textures are all different ways this can be achieved,' he says.
As Joe notes, there are plenty of ways to incorporate eco-friendly garden ideas in your yard's landscape for a biophilic design. This includes the idea of foodscaping and growing plants for both ornamental and edible value.
4. Smart garden design
AI in gardening is still very much a growing idea, as gardeners navigate the increasing technology available to them.
There are plenty of sustainability opportunities within this, with many advancements making it more convenient to make greener choices in the yard.
For example, smart irrigation systems (from Amazon) can help reduce water waste in your yard.
Gardening apps are also becoming increasingly popular, offering smart garden assistants that can provide advice personalized to your yard and plants.
These tools all tie in with precision gardening, a trend named in the Garden Media Group's 2026 Trends Report.
It's the idea of making informed decisions in the yard for long-lasting results, for example by examining your soil type (with this soil kit from Amazon) and choosing plants that will thrive in it for many years.
5. Foundational planting for year-round interest
Another key 2026 landscape trend is establishing foundational planting that you can rely on for interest through all of the seasons, notes Catherine Trudeau from The Outside Design Studio.
'With more homeowners seeking plantings that deliver dramatic color, we prefer a long-view approach of selecting varieties that look beautiful throughout the year and truly shine as the seasons shift,' she says.
These are plants that create beautiful seasonal transitions and refresh your yard's landscape throughout the year.
'Some of my top picks include dogwood trees, known for their deep-red and purple tones, hydrangeas which bloom brightly in the summer and move to soft, dusty-rose hues in the fall, and service berries which offer a vibrant color,' Catherine says.
Mixing together evergreen trees and deciduous trees for fall color is another way to achieve this, creating a beautiful backdrop of greens and oranges for your yard as the seasons change.
FAQs
Which landscape trend is out for 2026?
Gardeners are becoming more concerned with longevity and sustainability, meaning short-term aesthetics are out for 2026. Rather than choosing plants that will only thrive in your yard for one season, choose hardy, native plants that establish a more permanent landscape to enjoy for years to come.
Even if you have an unusual outdoor space to work with, like an awkward-shaped garden or triangular shaped garden, there are plenty of ways to incorporate these landscape design trends. Investing in some high-quality garden accents can be a good starting point:
This concrete planter can be used indoors and outdoors. It measures 13.4"D and it has a drainage hole to aid moisture management.
