After a long and grueling 2020, the new year is bringing some fresh insight into the lawn and landscaping industry that could revolutionise the way we operate. These trends are designed to get the most out of your lawn, big or small, while adapting to the changes we’ve had to make in the last year. With this in mind, we’ve compiled what we believe to be the most beneficial trends to make sure your lawn is in perfect condition, regardless of the fluctuating state of the world.
Multi-Season Greens
Multi season and evergreen grass species are becoming increasingly popular worldwide as a more cost-effective and low maintenance alternative to their seasonal counterparts. For various reasons, these species have garnered favour in recent years. Now more than ever, the need for grass that requires less seasonal maintenance throughout the year has increased to accommodate commercial industries as well. Multi season and evergreen grass species remain green throughout the year and do not require as much maintenance to retain cover. It has also been reported that these species stand up better to damage and recover quicker from heavy traffic. Another pro is that these species are indigenous, and are a beautiful dark green, giving your lawn a rich, healthy appearance year-round. If maintained correctly, these species do very well in both sun and semi shaded areas, and suit a wide range of soils. They do require more water than the Kikuyu or Bermuda grass, but they are a lot less susceptible to diseases and the elements.
Autonomous & Robotic Mowers
Not the kind of trend you’d expect, but one that we are very interested in. Moving into the future may mean seeing the rise of autonomous and robotic lawn mowers to replace those old school, cumbersome models. Particularly suited to larger fields and open landscaping spaces, these mowers reduce the need for hundreds of hours worth of manual labour. Using advanced technology and an electrical boundary wiring system, varying models also come suited up with a number of extra features, such as onboard navigation systems to create custom mowing patterns, sensors to detect barriers or obstacles, as well as remote controls for your convenience. Not only that, but these devices are easy to store and require very little space. They’re also quiet, drastically reducing noise pollution and ensuring no one is disturbed by maintenance. Safety is a priority when it comes to autonomous technology, and robotic lawn mowers are equipped to detect the presence of animals and children that may stumble into its operating path. Almost all models currently available on the market are also designed to power down if lifted off the ground, making them safe and anti-theft. While there are some cons, such as the once-off price and difficulty in locating parts for a few models, robotic mowers are definitely a trend to keep an eye on this year.
Sustainable Landscaping Initiatives
Perhaps better suited to parks and public gardens that don’t require perfectly manicured lawns, sustainable landscaping initiatives aim to protect ecosystems and forests which provide important services while providing social and financial benefits. This is often achieved by looking at the way land is used and optimising these uses across the entirety of the landscape. Basically, existing parks and recreational gardens can achieve sustainability by limiting the frequency and intensity of their maintenance, allowing the ecosystem to flourish in a controlled and protected natural environment. Typically, these initiatives are funded and headed up by government branches and non-profit organisations dedicated to agriculture and nature conservation. But that doesn’t mean you can’t help on a slightly smaller scale. The incorporation of these initiatives provides so many benefits to both the landscape and socio-economic growth. They’re ensuring the survival of our precious ecosystems for decades to come.
Covid-19 Changes
The pandemic has forced the world to rethink how we do things, from everyday tasks as simple as going to work to how we run our businesses as a whole. Many of these changes have negatively impacted economies across the globe, causing the mass shutdown of companies both new and old, and the loss of millions of jobs.
But it’s true what they say: the grass is greener on the other side, and 2021 is the other side that the world has been waiting for. It’s taken a global pandemic for the population to see the value of nature and all the good it brings.
Following lockdowns, quarantines and capacity restrictions, businesses have seen the opportunity in outdoor spaces and how they may be able to keep their livelihoods while operating in the midst of Covid-19. The provision of outdoor spaces has allowed for an increased capacity as well as an increase in foot traffic, while adhering to strict policies. Not only has the addition of these spaces helped businesses remain open, they’ve also provided a much-needed increase in mental health care. Meaning your customers would be getting more out of visiting your business than just the provision of goods and services. In a time of stress and uncertainty, a stroll on the grass has uplifted their mood and overall well being.
Other businesses, those that have the capability, have opted to roll-out remote working solutions as a means to keep their full staff complement safe and onboard as well as their clients. The impact of working remotely has been profound, particularly for the environment and its conservation. Traffic congestion has been greatly reduced in a number of regions with the amount of people working from home or engaging in designated office days. The amount of office waste has also been substantially lessened, thanks to many companies making the decision to go digital or ‘paperless’. Not only has working remotely helped keep people safe and employed, it’s also helped many businesses go green.
This year, we want to look at the positives that these challenges have brought about, using what we’ve learned to improve daily life as well as sustain commercial life. We’re looking forward to seeing how our local industries adapt to this new world, and hope that 2022 is even greener.