The landscape materials industry is similar to other product-based businesses – they are always coming out with new products, sometimes just for the sake of looking new. We always keep our ears out for innovations in design, plants, materials, etc. This exploration is the reason Elizabeth and I take our summer expeditions to other nurseries and gardens. Everyone brings their own vision to landscape design, plant propagation or material development. We gain inspiration from seeing these new ideas! Unfortunately, we were not able to travel this year, but we are already making plans for next summer. Still, we do have some new landscape materials that we have discovered and loved over the past few years.
New Landscape Materials: Gator Base
I have talked about this new patio support system in some of our project highlight blogs before. It is one of my favorite new landscape design tools because it offers a win-win for both myself and our clients. Gator Base provides a secure yet floating base for patios, which simplifies installation and extends the life of the design. There is less excavation, so our clients save money on labor and disposal. Also, the large format pavers that have become popular over the past few years are much easier to maneuver with Gator Base construction. The system’s floating design means that when a chipmunk decides to dig a tunnel underneath the structure, the patio is still supported. Finally, nature loves to spit most edging out of the ground over time – since it is attached to the underlying system, Gator Base edgings stay in place. The project installs faster, looks professional and lasts a long time – hence why we love this product!
Exterior Porcelain
Exterior porcelain is another innovation in landscape materials that has had a huge impact on the look of outdoor living projects. It truly brings the indoor look to an outdoor space since it come in similar formats, shapes, colors and textures as the indoor tiles. Reading Rock has a great collection to choose from and it can be installed just like a paver or stone patio, or placed over a traditional deck system. We installed exterior porcelain in our backyard as a base for a pergola sitting area and loved it. The tiles can come in a wood plank style, allowing our clients to get the look of wood without the maintenance and pesky rot that can happen over time. That longevity is a big plus, and many of the tiles offer an elegant look, similar to natural stone but without the cost.
Exterior Lighting
I was instrumental in bringing an early form of low voltage exterior lighting to the Indy area over 35 years ago. It was not very good at the time, and the innovations over the last 20 years have led to a vast improvement in both the functionality and look of exterior lighting. With the home design trends moving toward creating highly functional outdoor spaces, the ability to light something well has become even more important. It has been interesting to have been a part of this technological evolution – the industry keeps improving the LED options, improving the diodes of the fixtures themselves. There are now many high-quality and beautiful options for our clients.
Plant-Based Mulch Dyes
While the environmentally safe and pet-friendly dyes have been around for a while, they have truly transformed the look of landscape design. Prior to this innovation, natural mulch would not hold its color, looking fabulous and fresh for a few weeks and then turning into drab and sad. The new mulches stay rich and colorful for a full season an come in many varieties.
As our clients and social media followers know, we have a huge garden at our home. It is a reflection of our love of landscape design, but it also serves as a testing ground for new landscape materials. We do not use our clients as test subjects! The pursuit of better materials, interesting plants and new designs helps us stay creative and knowledgeable – things our clients expect from us. Have you discovered a new landscape material or plant that you love? Let us know!
