Time travel with us for a bit. Our destination is the Great American Backyard circa 1945, post-World War II. We see a large lawn for games, a bland concrete patio with a stained picnic table may also appear, and if we are lucky, a charcoal grille serving up well-done burgers.
Hold on tight as we fast forward to the early 70’s when Unilock introduced concrete paving stones to the United States. Now the cracked concrete patio has transformed into a paver patio and the charcoal grille has been upgraded to a gas grille.
Hold on until your knuckles are white as we leap 50 years to the present day 2025. We have arrived in the bone-chilling winter of 2025, and it is cold, cold, cold.
While it is cold outside, let us think of warmer times and discuss a few Hot Trends for the new year.
Hopefully, we can all agree that Outdoor Living is about getting people outside by blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors and bringing indoor elements to enhance the outside environment. Outdoor living allows the individual, and their friends and family to always gather and interact with nature regardless of time of day or the season.
At Hummel’s Landscape, Inc. (HLI), we sat down and talked about what we see as being new and novel for this year. We decided to introduce a few products that will help us accomplish that goal of increasing and enhancing our clients’ experiences… you deserve those lasting memories.
1. Experience and Memories
2. Earth tones
3. Texture and
Patterns
4. Extended Outdoor Living
5. Pollinator Gardens
1. Experiences and Memories
Any outdoor space can create experiences and memories whether it be that 1970’s charred burger or gathering on that new paver patio after the old patio cracked apart. Plunge Pools date back to ancient times for therapeutic reasons, but also for the social aspect of gathering people together.
Soake Pools, based in Pembroke New Hampshire, is at the forefront of bringing plunge pools into the mainstream. Do not be misled, these are much more than just a recessed hot tub. A Soake unit is high-end both in terms of quality and aesthetics. The concrete shell is hand-tiled in-house with high-end porcelain to last a lifetime, as opposed to competitors in the market.
Being a company founded in New England, Soake is committed to providing pool experiences for a wide range of conditions even by New England standards. Cool off in Summer and Warm up in Winter. Countless hours went into the pool’s design, construction, and overall system and controls to allow these pools to function seamlessly year-round with minimal upkeep.
Redwood Outdoors, based in Kent, Washington, offers a wide array of outdoor saunas. The benefits of a Sauna for the mind and body are plentiful. Having your private outdoor oasis, including a Sauna allows an intimate space for you or others without requiring a gym membership. These units are aesthetically pleasing and can fit any style of home or outdoor space. Most units have varying window placements allowing panoramic views of your outdoors while you recuperate or just relax. Keep in mind, Washington state is home to the best timber in the nation, so you know the material and craftsmanship in a league of their own.
Soake Pools and Redwood Outdoors understand the benefits of contrast, and both offer the option for cold plunging. Long used by athletes for recovery, everyday individuals now utilize cold plunging to ease muscle strain, boost immunity, and reset the mind. Alternating from a Redwood Sauna or a Soake Pool to a cold plunge may be a way to improve your overall health. There is a ton of information on their respective websites and on the web in general. Check it out and let us know if either of these systems sounds like the right fit for you. Of course, consult your physician, especially if you have any underlying medical conditions.
Believe us, these two options are incredibly interactive and will create countless Experiences and Memories for your family and friends, but most importantly for you.
2. Earth Tones
There is no doubt that grey has been the dominant color scheme for many years. Recently, we have seen that tastes have changed, and the market has decided to give the grey tones a bit of a break. Earth tones are not only becoming in vogue but are in high demand, whether it is pavers or decking. Grey by no means will go away without a fight, so if grey is for you, do not fret it will always be a staple in any manufacturing product line.
Take decking for example, TimberTech has been and is the leader in deck material. They offer so many Earth tone colors you would be hard-pressed to not find an earth tone color you love! From Espresso to Pecan, they offer everything in between.
The same trend can be found in many of the popular high-quality concrete paver product lines notably Unilock or Techo-Bloc.
Of course, no material is better than the real thing. This is where Marmiro Stones comes into play. Marmiro Stones have been mined in Turkey since1959 and through the dedication of Moe Arpacilar, his family, and his team these amazing stones are available to you. Their product line features many earth tone colors and greys. The best thing to know and understand is the material is the real thing. Tried and true there are no concerns about their products’ rich colors fading. If you think this sounds expensive, it is. However, you deserve the best – this investment will stand the test of time as these materials will truly last forever, or until you decide to change the color scheme.
Moe has studied all shipping routes to make the pride of his family available to you in Pennsylvania. Depending on your project’s size and scope, HLI will buy directly from the Arpacilar family. We can even arrange for their mobile showroom to come to you. This allows you to see and feel this wonderful material in person before deciding if it is right for you.
3. Texture and Patterns
Whether it is deck material, paver material, or natural stone. The most standout way to make your project authentically yours is through utilizing patterns. Remember this is not the 70’s anymore when we had one thing to pick. The catalog has grown, and we can source materials to show you what is available to you so you can feel and see the product in person.
There are so many shapes and sizes available in 2025, it can be a bit overwhelming when attempting to take the first step. Thankfully, we pride ourselves in collaboration and will work with you to see how best to mix and match multiple materials to deliver a space that is truly yours. Other contractors’ chief concern is signing a contract as quickly as possible. HLI’s pride is taking the time to figure out what will make your project truly shine.
Whether it is creating an intimate space, crafting areas within other areas using borders, or angling the orientation of materials, we would love to talk about what would make your project stand out from the norm.
If you really want to push the bounds, we can use multiple materials and stitch them together seamlessly so one type or size material blends into another creating a unique effect.
Oh, and this does not apply strictly to horizontal spaces. Patterns on walls are possible, and it does not need to be your typical stone veneer anymore. There are a wide variety of porcelain materials or thin stone available that can turn any wall into an outdoor focal point. In the same realm of thought, every great outdoor space needs a ceiling to make it a true representation of bringing the indoors outside. Pergolas create a ceiling and are a fantastic way to add patterns with natural shadows. Let the sun filter through creating a moving tapestry of pattern.
4. Extended Outdoor Living
Your outdoor environment’s design and installation should consider off-season utility. You do not need to wait for Memorial Day to go outside and you should not put your outdoor furniture away right after Labor Day. Let us help you extend your season using several types of heating systems and structures to allow you to be outside despite what the weather forecasters may say.
A rainy day is no problem for Hideaway Screens, a Canadian Company that specializes in all types of landscape screening options. They now offer their Titan Cover louvered pergola, which utilizes adjustable slats and louvers to fully control the amount of sunlight entering your outdoor space. From fully open to fully closed and any increments in between. Impending rain, simply close the louvers for an intimate setting. A clear night with stars overhead, open the louvers for an unimpeded view of the night sky.
The trend for structures is moving towards a more sleek, modern look. We believe that Hideaway has you covered, quite literally. Their structures’ remote-control operation adds functionality. Forget to close the louvers before a night-time shower, a simple click of the bottom ensures your outdoor furniture does not get soaked. Morning, noon, or night, you can extend your outdoor living space with a Hideaway Titan Cover.
But, what about the heat, you ask? Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces are great and have been around for a long time. These features are ideal for a narrow radius. However, sometimes you do not want to huddle around having to reposition, so the smoke is not blowing in your face. Wind will always be an issue with gas or wood-burning fires.
The solution is properly designed and implemented radiant heat. Your outdoor space will be much more usable during the off-season or even some of those brisk summer evenings that require an outer layer. The one thing to remember with radiant heat is that it is not heating the outside air itself. That is impossible. Think in terms of radiant heat warming objects whether it be people or pets. Proper sizing, planning, and placement are all considered to ensure your system will keep you comfortable regardless of the season.
The other type of heating system is used to allow you access to some of the areas we introduced earlier namely the Soake Pool or a Redwood Sauna. Let us imagine, that the Soake Pool or Redwood Sauna has become an integral part of your daily routine, but the location is not ideal with the frigid winter weather.
You can see it, but your path is buried in snow. It seems silly to put on boots to plunge or relax in the sauna. Do not worry, we can easily create a pathway that takes you right there, no shoveling or boots required. Heat mats, provided by ProLine have you covered. Any patio, walkway, or driveway can be heated saving both time and the back-breaking task of shoveling. If the current electrical system allows you extended use of an outdoor area, we believe leveraging ProLine products is a worthy investment to enhance the usability of your outdoor spaces.
5. Pollinator Gardens
Pollinator Gardens have nothing to do with you but focus on the insects, butterflies, and bees we can attract to your garden. Okay, it really does have everything to do with you. Creating a lush and colorful landscape to enjoy is all for you. Attracting pollinators is simply a bonus. Of course, these visitors are fun to watch, so everyone wins. Here are our top four plants for attracting pollinators to your garden.
- Euphorbia – Martin’s Spurge
- This plant has a ton to offer, click the link above to learn more.
- We love it for its’ all-season interest and its’ resemblance to Daphane odoratum (which does not fare well in our climate).
- Agastache ‘Rosie Posie’
- Anise Hyssops (all varieties are great for attracting pollinators and they tend to attract hummingbirds, too).
- Allium – Ornamental Onion
- We love it for being adaptable to part sun or full sun, but mostly because the bumble bees love it and who does not enjoy watching a Bumble Bee buzz from bloom to bloom?
- Eupatorium purpurea – Joe Pye Weed
- These tall perennials attract a whole host of beneficial pollinators and with a later bloom time, it provides food when little else is available.
- Keep in mind the straight species can get rather tall, but plant breeders have you covered with Little Joe Pye Weed
- Dwarf Butterfly Bush
- No list would be complete without a butterfly bush however, we would like to introduce the Pugster varieties which are dwarf (Maure height 2′ x 2′). We all know other varieties can take over and become unsightly without proper care. Pugsters are well-mannered little plants that you and the butterflies will enjoy.
If you are specifically looking to have Butterflies, you can always order them online at Clearwater Butterfly. These kits are great for educational fun with kids or grandkids.
If any of these hot trends appeal to you, give us a call and we would be happy to talk about how we can incorporate them and enhance your Outdoor Life.
Best,
Hummel’s Landscape Inc.
Jeff Hummel, 717-554-6209
Ryan Longenecker, 717-480-6283