It’s hard to believe we’re settling into the last few months of the year. And as the leaves begin to fall, it’s actually the perfect time to start thinking about your 2025 garden. To get inspired, we reached out to landscape designers from our Garden & Grace directory.
Jeff Boyum is the senior landscape architect at From The Ground Up, a Dallas-based company that typically works in zones 7A-8B. Adam Millhouse and Will Howell are the owners of Millhouse Howell Landscape Co. in Mountain Brook, Alabama. They typically work in zones 8A and 7B
Here’s what they shared with us.
What are the top features your clients are requesting right now?
Jeff: There is a growing demand for social front yards and courtyards at the front of homes and provide a more interaction with neighbors and guests. These areas often include seating, fire pits, and even small garden spaces to create a welcoming vibe.
In addition, Nantucket-inspired gardens remain popular for their charm and romantic appeal, often featuring curated plantings, meandering pathways, and cozy nooks.
Adam: The request for good design is inevitable, but also in conjunction with delivering a landscape that is practical to maintain. Clients often take inspiration from English-inspired gardens. To achieve such a look we’ll suggest climbing roses to soften walls, perennial plantings contrasting against a clipped hedge, and container groupings that feel as if they have been a part of the home for years.
For 2025, what landscaping trends do you expect or hope to see more of?
Jeff: For 2025, I expect to see an increased focus on multi-functional outdoor spaces that cater to both relaxation and social interaction.
Adam: During the peak of COVID pools and outdoor places to entertain small groups quickly became priorities. Moving into 2025, we believe — and hope — this trend continues. Creating functional outdoor spaces has proven to increase property value, and our favorite feedback is when clients tell us how much more time they are spending outside.
Is there anything people should do now to prepare their yards for spring? Is fall a good time to start thinking about your 2025 landscaping?
Jeff: Late fall and winter are actually the best times to plant new shrubs and trees. Start thinking about your 2025 yard now.
Adam: The fall and winter months are a great time to begin conversations about landscape opportunities for the upcoming year. It is not uncommon to underestimate how much time can go into the planning process, and starting early helps navigate potential challenges on the front end.
In regards to existing landscapes, our maintenance crews are applying pre-emergent to lawns to prevent winter weeds, performing very light pruning to shape plants before the winter months, and preparing to change out seasonal plantings for the upcoming season.
What are some landscaping features that never go out of style?
Jeff: Outdoor features like pergolas and arbors provide shade and add interest to any garden. Fountains, which create a tranquil environment and drown out surrounding noises, never lose their appeal. Fire pits and fireplaces complement any outdoor setting.
Plant wise, boxwood hedges are timeless for creating clean, structured borders. Their evergreen foliage adds year-round greenery and can be trimmed into formal shapes. Hydrangeas have large, showy blooms and thrive in various climates. Their ability to shift between pink, blue and purple hues depending on soil pH adds beauty to any garden.
Adam: Natural stone such as moss rock, bluestone, flagstone, and pea gravel are hardscape materials that evoke a timelessness to the environment.
Plant pallets that incorporate boxwoods, hydrangeas, azaleas, ferns, and a mix of understory and hardwood trees are always in style. To add seasonal interest to the landscape, we encourage the use of garden containers to create fun arrangements; this provides a big punch and is practical to maintain.
