BLog

Summer is the season Minnesota yards go from the place we dream about to the place we inhabit. We’re eating breakfast on the patio, gathering around the fire pit with friends, and reading in a the dappled shade.

This year, outdoor design is less about impressing and more about creating spaces that feel intentional, require less fuss, and support the life you want to live (and see) outside.

These are the outdoor summer trends we’re loving — and why they matter beyond just aesthetics.

1. Symmetry: The Clean, High-End Look

If you love structure, clean lines, and a curated aesthetic, symmetry is the trend for you. We’re seeing it everywhere this summer — especially in front entryways and patio spaces where hanging baskets and container gardens frame the entrance.

The idea is simple: create balance through repetition and color coordination. Go completely matchy-matchy with duplicated containers on either side of a doorway. Or create a tight color scheme that feels intentional and refined.

The 2026 trending color combo: Green and white. It’s clean, fresh, and impossibly elegant.

How to execute it

• Matching containers on either side of your front door or patio entrance
• Identical plants in each container (same varieties, same colors)
• Coordinated colors throughout (all whites, all yellows, all pinks)
• Hanging baskets with the same trailing plants

Why it works:
Symmetry creates a sense of intention and refinement. It signals that you’ve thought about your space, that it’s curated. For front entries, symmetrical plantings create a welcoming, finished look.

2. Native Plants: Not a Trend, a Transformation

Native plants are gaining serious attention this summer, and unlike other trends, they’re here to stay. In fact, this focus is reshaping the way we think about our outdoor spaces entirely.

This isn’t about following a trend. It’s about a new way of looking at gardens and green spaces — one where beauty and ecological balance work together instead of against each other. Joining in on this trend is really joining a powerful movement for a healthier future, one that gets stronger when we’re all involved.

Native perennials require less water, less fertilizer, and less maintenance. They support pollinators, birds, and our entire local ecosystem. They thrive in Minnesota’s climate because they evolved here. And beyond their stunning color, texture, and blooms – they welcome an abundance of butterflies and pollinators. Adding even more beauty to green spaces.

Why it matters:
Planting native isn’t just a summer thing. These are perennials that come back year after year, plants that get better and more established over time. More than just a beautiful garden this season — you’re creating a landscape that supports the planet for decades to come.

Where to start:
Purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, bee balm, blazing star, wild bergamot. Add a few native perennials to existing beds or create a native pocket prairie in a corner of your yard. Ask our staff for recommendations based on your sun, soil, and space.

3. Low-Maintenance Container Gardens: Getting Smart About Beauty

Busy summers call for low-maintenance gardens. With water conservation on everyone’s mind, choosing plants and designs that require less water and less fussing is both practical and responsible.

Low-maintenance container gardens are perfect for anyone juggling summer schedules, travel, or wanting to lower the water bill during summer’s peak.

What makes a container low-maintenance

Flowers that don’t need deadheading: Mandevilla, calibrachoa, some petunias, begonias, and many tropicals bloom continuously without needing you to pinch off spent flowers.

Drought-tolerant selections: Sedum, lantana, portulaca, lavender, ornamental grasses. These plants thrive on infrequent watering and actually prefer drier conditions.

Succulents and trailing options: Mix low-water blooms with beautiful trailing spillers like string of pearls for lush-looking containers that need minimal care.

Design strategy:
Group together plants with the same light and water needs. Don’t mix sun-lovers with shade-lovers in one container, and don’t pair water-hungry annuals with drought-tolerant tropicals. This is the secret to low-maintenance success — when every plant in the container gets what it needs!

Easy option:
Ask our staff to point out our low-maintenance ready-made container options, or build your own with our selection of easy-care annuals and containers. We’ll show you how to choose plants that work together and work in your space.

4. Outdoor Dining: Creating a Space to Savor

The outdoor dining trend this summer is less about fancy dinner parties and more about the al fresco experience. It’s about hearing the birds sing, smelling your favorite annuals, and savoring time outside with the people you love.

Outdoor dining spaces have become extensions of the home — places where you prepare meals, harvest homegrown ingredients, and where you’re present.

What you need

Furniture and tableware: Picnic clothe, bamboo dinnerware, elegant outdoor dishes. We carry everything from patio sets to decorated plates at Sunnyside Gardens and Trill Boutique.

Fresh herbs within arm’s reach: Basil, mint, rosemary, thyme planted in containers right near your dining area. Snip fresh herbs for cooking, cocktails, or just the joy of having them available. A beautiful herb garden becomes both decor and function.

Why it matters:

Outdoor dining adds incredible value to your home. It gives you a reason to be outside, linger, and gather. It transforms a landscape from something you admire to a space you actually live in. Talk to our Landscape Design & Build team to create the patio or outdoor kitchen you’ve been dreaming about.

5. Decor Accents: Where Function Meets Beauty

The final touch to any outdoor space is the decor that brings personality and polish. This summer, we’re seeing functional decor pieces that serve double duty — beautiful and practical.

Citronella reinvented: Gone are the days of clunky citronella candles. We carry gorgeous hanging incense coils and beautifully designed citronella candles that look like art pieces while keeping bugs away. Go the extra mile and create potted arrangements with our citronella plants!

Centerpieces and accents: Small decorative containers filled with succulents or trailing plants become tabletop focal points. A single arrangement can anchor your entire outdoor dining setup.

Textiles outdoors: Pillows and rugs designed for outdoor use bring comfort and personality to patios and seating areas. Green and white are trending, but jewel tones and naturals are having moments too.

The philosophy:
Your outdoor space should feel like an intentional extension of the home. That means textiles, decor, and accents that reflect your style and make you excited to be outside.

Putting It Together

The outdoor summer trends of 2026 are about creating landscapes that are beautiful, functional, and encourage you to spend time outside. Native plants that support the planet. Symmetrical plantings that feel intentional. Low-maintenance containers that don’t demand constant attention. Dining spaces where you linger. And decor that makes your patio feel like an extension of your home.

Together, these trends create outdoor spaces that aren’t just pretty — they’re livable. They’re spaces you use, enjoy, and spend time in.