How to Add a Lived-In Look to Your Garden

Trendspotters such as Garden Media Group are seeing a move toward lived-in gardens — casual, comfortable places to relax and connect with nature. Whether they're open to the public or in our own backyards, these gardens are lovely, tranquil and timeless. Surveys show that younger gardeners, like millennials and Gen Z, are influencing this style, which is more personal and eclectic than the formal, traditional gardens past generations grew. The appealing, lived-in garden look is about more than aesthetics. Home buyers want instant beauty and privacy; Virginia Tech researchers found that a well-landscaped home could see up to a 12.7% increase in property value — think as much as $38,100 on a $300,000 property — with large trees adding $1,000 to $10,000 each. It's easy to embrace the lived-in trend and enjoy a seasoned garden that doesn’t demand a lot of fuss and bother. Read on to learn how.

Alex Betz, Plant By Number landscape designer, says "Lived-in gardens feature plants (that look) as if they have been growing there for a long time, with elements evolving gradually." Instead of being highly manicured, "they emphasize a sense of comfort and casual beauty where everything feels natural rather than perfectly trimmed or structured." This hillside garden with large, flat rocks and terrraces offers visitors a place to sit and enjoy a variety of low-maintenance flowers and foliage. The plants spill effortlessly over the rocks and spread naturally into cracks and crevices.

If you don't already have a garden, or yours seems too formal, there are shortcuts you can take to get a more natural style. "You can cultivate a lived-in feel in one season," says Linda Vater, Southern Living Plant Collection garden designer. "Start with ‘good garden bones.'" These are things that give structure to your garden and remain after the flowers and foliage have finished, like mature trees and shrubs. They can also be walls, paths, pergolas, boulders, gates, arbors, garden sheds and other kinds of hardscaping. "Elements like larger caliper trees, trellises and fencing instantly add dimension, texture and privacy," Linda adds.

Once you’ve identified or added some structural elements, it's time to plant densely. "Fill every nook and cranny with shrubs, perennials and annuals of various sizes" for a lived-in look, Linda says. "Use a mix of tall trees, medium-sized shrubs and low-growing plants to create depth and a more natural look. Try combinations of shrubs like 'Sunshine' Ligustrum, Firechief Arborvitae and Suntastic Peach Abelia to provide an evergreen backdrop filled with layers of contrasting colors and textures." When designing landscapes, Alex creates lush layers with taller plants in the back and incorporates a variety of species to enhance visual interest and promote biodiversity. This small entryway garden has a multi-level tapestry of color that looks good in all seasons. Japanese maples, sentinel yew and evergreen clematis add height. The colors of the tulips, wallflowers and 'Crimson Queen' Japanese maple echo the home's burgundy trim.