The 2017 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects sheds light on what homeowners want.

The top five elements in the outdoor design category are illustrated above.

Consumers prefer sustainable—yet tech-friendly—design elements for their outdoor living spaces, according to the 2017 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). For the first time, wireless/internet connectivity entered the top 10 project types, suggesting that people want a backyard that allows them to enjoy both nature and connectivity.

Landscape architects were asked to rate the expected popularity of a variety of residential outdoor design elements in 2017. The survey was fielded in February and netted 817 responses.

The top landscape and garden elements include native plants (82 percent), low-maintenance landscapes (79 percent) and food/vegetable gardens (77 percent). Pergolas
(50 percent), decks (41 percent), fencing (40 percent) and arbors (39 percent) are expected to be the most popular outdoor structures.