With warm weather beckoning us outside and cooler nights calling for family and friends to gather, Summer may just be the best time of year to enjoy your landscape! Make the most of the season by creating a landscape design fit for Summertime fun and relaxation. Here are 7 of our favorite Summer landscape design ideas:
1. Xeriscaping & Lawn-Free Landscaping
More and more homeowners are requesting less maintenance and environmentally-friendly landscape designs, such as lawn-free landscaping or xeriscaping. By removing or decreasing lawn areas, using plants that require less water, and mulching beds, you can conserve water while creating a low-maintenance landscape! Lawns can easily be replaced by permeable hardscapes and drought-tolerant plants, including those native to the Pacific Northwest, which are already acclimated to local weather extremes.
2. Patios & Outdoor Seating
One of the most requested landscaping features is a covered or uncovered patio to relax, entertain guests, and simply enjoy a warm Summer evening. Patio spaces are easily customizable to your tastes, the style of your home and garden, and your specific uses, and they can dramatically improve the value of your property. Use or create a level ground area, choose your preferred pavers or deck materials, and adorn with a table, chairs, plants, lighting, and a fire pit!
3. Fire Pits & Outdoor Fireplaces
A fire pit or fireplace provides a cozy gathering spot for friends and family, extending outdoor enjoyment well into the cooler months. It also enhances the ambiance of your backyard, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for relaxation and entertainment year-round. Contact our residential landscape designers for a custom-built fire pit that matches your home’s style!
4. Outdoor Kitchens & Dining Spaces
Whether you’re hosting an intimate gathering or a large party, an outdoor kitchen quickly feels like more of an essential element than just a nice addition. Instead of running in and out of the house to cook food, use the sink, and grab ingredients from the refrigerator, outdoor kitchens are immersive and often elegant. Combine your favorite appliances and counter space with a covered patio and you’re set! From grilling stations to prep areas and sinks, our outdoor kitchens are designed to enhance your outdoor living experience.
5. Water Features
Summer is a wonderful time to be in your landscape, but it can also get quite hot, as we all know. Adding a water feature to your landscape design can help cool things down a bit, whether it’s a pool with a waterfall, a koi pond, or a simple water fountain. Some other benefits of adding a water feature to your landscape include masking unwanted noise with the soothing sounds of flowing water, attracting wildlife to your garden, and, of course, aesthetic appeal!
6. Edible Gardens
Beyond saving you money and trips to the grocery store, growing your own food is a great way to eat more delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables! With visual appeal, convenience, and controlled soil conditions, raised garden beds are popular among novice and seasoned gardeners alike. Some popular vegetables to grow in the Summer include tomatoes, beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, melons, and squash!
7. Trees & Shrubs for Shade
When temperatures are in the 80s and 90s, trees provide critical shade and a cool spot to escape the hot sun. Neighborhoods and landscapes where trees are planted are measurably cooler than areas without trees—the presence of trees can even help reduce your home utility bills! Trees and large shrubs can also help anchor the landscape, whether you have a small outdoor space or a vast yard. They provide a backdrop to smaller plantings as well as privacy from the neighbors!
Looking to spruce up your landscape for next Summer? We’re here to help! Contact us today to get a free landscaping quote.