These 5 Garden Trends Will Take Over This Summer—and They All Have One Thing in Common

Beautiful gardens and landscaping around your home don't just add to its overall curb appeal, but they also provide more opportunities to connect with nature. Tending to your yard can offer mood-boosting effects, provide light exercise, and teach you a lot about plants—including what works (and doesn't) in your area. And these days, many home gardeners are also learning that the way they used to think about their landscaping isn't so sustainable in today's current climate and weather conditions. That's why, as evidenced by Houzz's summer trends report, so many homeowners are focusing on gardening and landscaping options that are more sustainable and use less water.

Here are the study's findings and the five water-wise garden trends people will prioritize this summer.

Succulent Gardens

If you live in a sunny location in a warm, dry climate, then succulent gardens are a great way to establish low-water landscaping in your yard that requires very little maintenance. Depending on where you live and how often you get rain, you may never need to water your succulents once established. According to the Houzz report, searches for "succulent gardens" increased 300% year-over-year.

Mediterranean Gardens

Houzz also reports that Mediterranean gardens and landscapes are gaining popularity, with searches jumping almost 200% year-over-year. As the name suggests, Mediterranean gardens evoke the atmosphere of the Mediterranean region, but they're also characterized by their use of drought-tolerant plants, like agave, sage, lavender, and yarrow.

Decomposed Granite Landscapes

Another way homeowners are creating more sustainable landscapes is by using decomposed granite, which is a natural, finely weathered form of granite. According to Houzz, searches for "decomposed granite landscapes" are up 37% year-over-year. Decomposed granite can be used for hardscaping elements, like walkways and patios, but it can also be used for xeriscaping—a smart option for creating a garden or landscape that thrives on minimal water.

Drought-Resistant Plants

While it may go without saying, drought-resistant plants are another common way that homeowners are creating gardens that require less water. Houzz first started really noticing this trend in its 2024 U.S. Houzz Outdoor Trends Report—which showed that 45% of homeowners reported drought-resistance as a reason for choosing plants, shrubs, and trees—and the trend has remained steady this year.

Lawn Reduction or Removal

Along with the goal to use less water in outdoor spaces, more and more homeowners are reconsidering their lawns, with Houzz finding that 2 in 5 homeowners reduced the size of their lawns or removed them completely. Options like clover and creeping thyme are great alternatives to a traditional grass lawn—and in addition to requiring less water, they're lower maintenance and don't require mowing.