It’s the time of year when ideas for gardens germinate and take root. Green shoots are pushing through the soil. Pollen counts are rising. It seems Punxsutawney Phil nailed his prediction of an early spring.
With the promise of warmer days, many of us are looking to spruce up our outdoor spaces. Interest in gardening has blossomed since the pandemic, says Joseph Richardson, founding partner of Arlington-based Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture. “People spend a lot more time at home as a result of going fully remote or to hybrid work,” he says. They want to be able to look outside and see something beautiful.
Whether your plantable canvas is a large yard or a small apartment balcony, you’ve got growth potential. Richardson shares seven trends that hold water.
Gravel Gardens
Looking for a low-maintenance option? Gravel gardens incorporate rocks and stones with plants that don’t require much tending or watering—especially native or naturalistic plants. (Native plants, including certain species of ferns, orchids and maples, are indigenous to this region, while naturalistic plants like boxwood hedges have adapted to our climate.) Richardson often turns to native shrubs such as inkberry holly, serviceberry and itea; sweetbay magnolia and American holly trees; and perennials like carex (an ornamental grass) and tiarella (a wildflower).
Ideal spots for gravel gardens include high-traffic side yards or areas that need ample drainage to prevent flooding. He recommends using a mix of river stone and boulders to create a pathway for water to follow during the heavy storms. “When it’s wet, it functions nicely to convey water, but when it’s dry, there’s a certain aesthetic to it,” he says. “It’s not just a muddy area or grass that’s struggling to live.”
Edimental Gardens
“Edimental” is a hybrid word for gardens that incorporate plants that are both ornamental and edible. In the Northern Virginia climate, that category includes herbs such as basil, lavender, mint, rosemary, sage and thyme. The caveat: They require at least six hours of direct sunlight each day.
Edible gardens also require a fair amount maintenance—particularly if you want to produce enough food to sustain yourself. But for those who only want to dabble, planting herbs and smaller vegetables in raised planters, pots or container gardens is less of commitment. (This approach is also ideal if your gardening space is limited to a small yard, porch or high-rise balcony.) Netting can prevent critters from noshing on your salad before you do.
“We typically start with a smaller installation,” Richardson says. “My joke is that if I come back in a year and you’re still keeping up with it and it’s not a weedy mess, we’ll give you a bigger garden.”
Wellness Gardens
Ever find yourself zoning out to the rhythmic sound of a trickling fountain or waterfall? Flowing water is a common element in wellness gardens because it nurtures a sense of calm. Research suggests that “blue spaces” (near water) have many health benefits, including decreased stress levels and the feeling of being connected to something greater.
You don’t need sprawling acres to introduce a water element. Even small green spaces such as apartment or condo balconies can have one in the form of a small, battery-operated fountain.
“It doesn’t have to be terribly large,” Richardson says. “We did one just recently for a row house in the city. It was just a small patio space [with] a little bistro set, a small water feature that provided a level of softening of the adjacent street noise, a specimen tree [in this case, a small Japanese maple] and some interesting lighting. It’s a very soft aesthetic.”
Careful placement of specimen trees (which serve as focal points) and other elements can also optimize a space’s feng shui—the Chinese concept of harmonizing people and their environment.
New Victorian
What’s old is new again, perhaps thanks to shows such as Bridgerton and The Crown. Ornate flower gardens are making a comeback, Richardson says, but they do involve a fair amount of upkeep. Plants such as boxwoods require regular pruning to maintain a certain form or shape, and blooming shrubs need weeding.
Fans of Victorian architecture may be particularly drawn to this aesthetic, he says, in that they may want a garden that matches the character of the house. (If the residence is a designated historic property, the owners may even be required to restore the gardens accordingly.) The style finds bursts of color and texture in plantings such as rosebushes, lilacs, hydrangeas and hollyhocks—blooms that complement the ornamental details in the architecture.
Of course there are plenty examples of mix-and-match aesthetics, too. “The gardens can be much more a reflection of the client’s taste rather than the architectural style,” Richardson adds. “They don’t always have to line up. Sometimes we do modern gardens for traditional homes and vice versa.”
Naturalistic Gardens
A naturalistic garden is the way to go if you want a look that mimics the self-seeding and spontaneous spreading of meadows and woodlands. “We have a growing list of clients who, from the outset, want to go almost entirely native or predominantly native with their plant palette,” Richardson says.
Aesthetics aside, an added benefit is that native plants tend to be relatively low maintenance and well-suited to Northern Virginia’s temperature and weather swings. They’re hardy and don’t need a lot of pruning or care to thrive. Examples include wood ferns, goatsbeard and spotted beebalm, according to Plant NOVA Natives, a treasure trove of resources on native gardening in our area.
Another bonus: Native plants support the local ecosystem by providing habitats for insects and caterpillars that then become food for birds and other creatures. For instance, spotted beebalm attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. By contrast, non-native, or invasive plants can throw off the balance of nature, putting the local environment at risk. See Invasive.org’s running list of plants to avoid.
Wildlife-Friendly Gardens
In an area committed to green initiatives, it’s not surprising that many homeowners want gardens that attract local fauna. “Deer love most varieties of hydrangea, hostas, yews and roses,” Richardson says.
Of course, not all gardeners are keen to invest time and money in what ultimately amounts to a buffet for deer. Ferns, astilbe, hellebores and boxwoods are natural turnoffs for the hoofed mammal.
Planting a pollinator garden is an idea way to support the native bees, butterflies and other insects that keep the local ecosystem healthy. “Perennials such as coneflower, milkweed, echinacea and Agastache are quite common in pollinator gardens,” Richardson says. “Shrubs such as butterfly bush, fothergilla (short, flowering shrubs), viburnum, clethra and winterberry are a perfect complement.”
Another reason these gardens are attractive: They’re low-maintenance and require fewer chemicals (or, ideally, no chemicals) compared with other kinds of suburban gardens.
Pergolas and Pavilions
Throw some shade on your backyard in the best possible way with a pergola, gazebo or pavilion. These open-air structures offer a great way to enjoy the great outdoors with a little protection from the sun and elements.
“Pergolas have been around for a very long time,” Richardson says. What’s new is the array of creature comforts and customization. “We’ve designed more elaborate pergolas that actually have mechanical louvres that open and close, so depending on the sun angle, you can choose how much light you’d like to let through.”
Clients are also adding lighting, fans and heaters that allow them to spend more time (comfortably) in their gardens, day and night. “A fan is there obviously to cool you during the warmer months,” he says, “but…having that fan on just a low speed also creates enough turbulence in the air to keep the bugs away.”