WASHINGTON — The American Society of Landscape Architects in D.C. surveys its members every year to see what’s trending in landscape design, and this year’s survey shows homeowners are taking a bigger interest in sustainable design.
The 2016 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends survey says the top trend this year is rainwater and graywater harvesting for use in garden and landscape irrigation.
The landscape architects who responded to the survey said they expected the greatest demand for outdoor living spaces that are environmentally sustainable, reduce water costs and are low maintenance.
Aside from sustainable landscape elements, the top three most popular outdoor design elements include fire pits, lighting and outdoor Wi-Fi.
Smaller lawns also make the list.
Here is the American Society of Landscape Architect’s Top 10 project types expected to have the highest homeowner demand in 2016:
- Rainwater/graywater harvesting — 88 percent
- Native plants — 86 percent
- Native/adapted drought tolerant plants — 85 percent
- Low maintenance landscapes — 85 percent
- Permeable paving — 77 percent
- Fire pits/fireplaces — 75 percent
- Vegetable gardens — 75 percent
- Rain gardens — 73 percent
- Drip/water-efficient irrigation — 72 percent
- Reduced lawn area — 72 percent
