From water wise gardening to ditching lawns – 5 front yard trends garden designers say we will all be talking about in 2026

As this year’s growing season comes to a close, now is a great time to assess what went well, what didn’t go as planned and what changes you want to make in your front yard for next year. From planting plans to design schemes and driveways we will look at some concepts that are tipped to be front yard trends for 2026.

Keeping up with the latest gardening trends is not just about preventing your yard from looking outdated. It can also make it more sustainable and easier to manage in the face of climate change.

To find out what the front yard trends for 2026 will be, we consulted horticultural experts for their insights and opinions.

5 front yard trends designers say will be big in 2026

A well-designed and well-maintained front yard can make a significant impression on passers-by or visitors and help boost the curb appeal of your home and the local neighborhood.

However, with a myriad of design and planting schemes to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. If this is you, our front yard landscaping ideas are full of inspiration and advice on how to make your front yard shine.

Here are five trends professional landscapers say will dominate front yard design next year.

Swapping large areas of lawn in favor of more natives

Once revered and prized by homeowners, the lush green lawn might have had its day. Having gardened professionally for nearly two decades, I have had the privilege and delight of looking after some of the most aspirational and pristine lawns around the south of England.

When elevated with perfect stripes and crisp edges, there is something about a manicured, lush, green lawn, especially in a heritage setting. However, with rising temperatures and extended periods of drought, maintaining a perfect summer lawn is taking more and more time and resources.

In response, Andrew Bunting, VP of Horticulture for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and author of The Plant Lover's Guide To Magnolias, available on Amazon, predicts ‘that there will continue to be a trend to reduce lawn areas in front yards in 2026.'

As through ‘turning even just a small amount of lawn into garden space will reduce the need for fossil fuels, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides and create more biodiversity and space to attract pollinators.'

For example, even just slightly reducing an existing front lawn to form a new border would provide an opportunity to grow more native plants or include cottage garden stalwarts such as giant scabious (Cephalaria gigantea) or purple mullein (Verbascum phoeniceum), both high on the list of trending plants for 2026.

Andrew Bunting

Andrew Bunting is Vice President of Horticulture and leads the utilization of planting and design to promote environmentally sound gardening practices at PHS. Prior to arriving at PHS, Andrew worked at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Chanticleer Garden, and the Scott Arboretum for a tenure of 27 years, and has received many commendations for his work. In 2015, Andrew published his first book, “The Plant Lover’s Guide to Magnolias.” 

Firescaping in the front yard

The Californian wildfires of January 2025 were devastating and resulted in the loss of communities, homes and tragically lives. As a result, a new zone 0, developed by the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, will come into effect later this year.

The proposed regulations will stipulate that no combustible materials or items potentially ignited by embers will be permitted within 5 feet of any structures, meaning that those in high-risk areas might need to rethink their front yard designs.

Incorporating these regulations into existing and new designs could be a challenge. As Shireen Zia, an award-winning designer and principal of EcoGardens Landscape Design, says, ‘we will be moving away from flammable plantings close to the home and instead introducing fire-resistant plants and durable hardscape.

'The design will focus on creating defensible space that still feels inviting and beautiful. It’s a shift where safety, resilience, and aesthetics all come together in one vision.’

With the final details yet to be confirmed, the proposed zone 0 regulations will rule out the use of combustible landscaping materials and mulches, but still permit growing in small containers and pots.

Shireen Zia

Waterwise planting is going to be big

Another front yard trend tipped for 2026 by Andrew Bunting is that ‘with increased unpredictable and erratic weather patterns, there is a growing need to consider trees, shrubs, and perennials that are waterwise and drought and heat-tolerant.

Drought-tolerant yards and planting schemes are nothing new, but they are perhaps becoming more widely accepted as people become increasingly aware of climate change and the need to protect our valuable water resources.

However, by changing front yards to include drought-tolerant plants, shrubs and trees you will not only be saving water but the time it would normally take to water other moisture-loving specimens such as hydrangeas and ferns.

Further to Andrew’s thoughts, I believe that harvesting rainwater, collected generally off the back of a property, will extend to front yards as well. With the pressure to conserve water, we should be looking at collecting water from all parts of our homes, including the front and any garage structures.

With rainwater perhaps only previously collected out of view due to water harvesting vessels being unsightly, there are now many different rain barrel designs to complement any front yard design. For example, this Impressions Corsican rain saver from Walmart, with its curved shape and metal spigots, would not look out of place in most front gardens.

Hellstrip gardening will make a comeback

Often overlooked, hellstrip gardens, I suspect, will continue to make a comeback in 2026. Also called the boulevard, sidewalk strip, or meridian, this narrow no-man's land between the sidewalk and the street is typically neglected and just grassed over or left to the weeds.

Often compacted through being walked over, splashed with salt over the winter, defecated on by dogs and far from the nearest garden hose, hellstrips are far from the ideal piece of ground for growing.

However, with a bit of ground preparation and the right plant selection, hellstrip gardens can not only thrive, but provide opportunities for attracting pollinators, increasing biodiversity and when designed in keeping with your front yard, add extra curb appeal.

Furthermore, when cultivated, hellstrips can help absorb excess rainfall and prevent flooded sidewalks and streets.

However, the use of hellstrips is often governed by the local municipality and it is wise to check before designing a hellstrip to find out what restrictions might be in place and if any permit is necessary.

From cottage gardens that include drought-tolerant perennials to native planting to attract beneficial insects, a hellstrip garden can extend your front yard and if the hellstrip is right outside your house, potentially improve your view from inside as well.

Deer-resistant planting

Pests and diseases are one of the main bugbears of gardeners and have the potential to damage gardens to the extent that any would-be new gardeners might be put off.

That being said, the concept of living in harmony with the natural world is growing and there are many eco-friendly ways of preventing aphids, rabbits and slugs from destroying your precious plants.

Unfortunately, for farmers and gardeners alike, issues with deer persist and front yard deer-resistant planting is tipped to grow in 2026. As Andrew Bunting reports, ‘Deer encroachment continues to be a significant problem in many parts of the county. Deer browsing is especially a problem in unfenced front yards and gardens.’ As he suggests, ‘growing truly deer-resistant plants like mountain mint (Pycnanthemum), lavender (Lavandula) and threadleaf bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) will be necessary to have a pleasing garden.’

However, from my experience of managing deer as a professional gardener, keeping deer away from their favorite food sources is also key.

With roses and tree saplings being two of their preferred meals, creating a high fence around roses or using tree guards, such as these 48’’ Metal Tree Trunk Protectors available from Amazon, is also necessary to ensure their survival.

Just like garden design styles, plants and even house plants trend and subsequently rise and fall in popularity. From giant monsteras to trailing vines and hanging air plants, our top 5 indoor plant trends for 2026 will show you what is worth jumping on for next year.