Category: Flagstone

Top Landscape Trends For 2020

The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) has announced its official list of the top lawn and landscape trends for 2020. Crafted using the expertise of professionals across the country, NALP annually predicts design and maintenance trends that will inspire Americans to create healthy and beautiful green spaces.

“Foundational landscape elements remain on homeowners’ wish lists, but modern updates and technology are now a top priority. With a wave of design and technical innovations, our members report that ornate hardscaping, contemporary features, lush gardens, and smart irrigation are all trending and will influence landscape designs across the country in 2020,” says Britt Wood, CEO, National Association of Landscape Professionals. “This year’s trends showcase how homeowners of all generations desire a striking, custom and well-maintained outdoor space that benefits their community and the environment.”

The Five landscape trends that will define outdoor spaces this year:

Ornate, Geometric Hardscaping: 

Professionals are noting an uptick in requests for intricate hardscaping patterns including waves, chevron, lattice, and basket weave to sweep the country. From walkways and patios made out of flagstone or pavers to retaining walls and fire features, homeowners are looking to integrate popular home décor patterns into their hardscape designs.

Contemporary and Transitional Landscape Design: 

Boomers, gen Xers and millennials are seeking sleek, contemporary and simple landscape designs. Whether opting for an elegant outdoor kitchen, contemporary sculpture, or modern fire or water feature, professionals are seeing a shift towards simplistic designs. Multi-season functionality is essential as more homeowners are selecting elements that can survive a range of temperatures, such as native plants, heat lamps, and protective structures.

Bountiful Shades of Blue: 

Landscape professionals anticipate rich tones of blue to make a striking impact in 2020. With PPG naming Chinese Porcelain, a cobalt and moody blue, and Sherwin-Williams declaring Naval, a strong and calming dark blue, as their respective colors of the year, experts predict these tones will influence the design of outdoor spaces this year. To add touches of the hue, homeowners could consider a blue sculpture or water feature. To incorporate shades of blue into gardens, look to plants such as blue fortune, delphinium, hydrangea, globe thistle or grape hyacinth.

Your Style, Your Garden Design: 

Gardens serve as a relaxing escape for many across the country. From creating edible gardens for farm-to-table dining to planting gardens that produce favorite fruits, vegetables or herbs, homeowners are more aware of the options that exist for installing gardens that meet their personal needs. For smaller spaces, consider container gardens, vertical gardens and interiorscaping to create an outdoor garden oasis.

One-click, Remote Irrigation: 

Technology continues to be a staple of the lawn and landscape industry. In 2020, homeowner demand will contribute to a rise in high-tech irrigation systems that deliver just the right amount of water to a lawn or landscape, conserving water and saving money in the long run. The latest irrigation systems are controllable from anywhere with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and smartphone apps or your Alexa or Google smart speaker to help maximize efficiency.

NALP develops its annual trends report based on member surveys and the expertise of landscape professionals from around the country. Along with industry insight, NALP trends are influenced by popular lifestyle shifts and designs, and reflect Americans’ growing passion for healthy, well-designed green spaces.

Different types of Flagstone

So as the “Flagstone Specialists” we get a lot of calls regarding flagstone. The first thing people ask is: “how much does flagstone cost?” That’s tough to answer, and if I can use an analogy, its like calling a supermarket and asking “how much are your vegetables?”

Let me explain why.  Flagstone is a generic term for any sedimentary stone split into layers and laid as “flags” in a pattern on the floor. There are many types of stone that are typically quarried and laid in this manner.

I’ll list a few of the types of flagstone we carry:

Sandstone

This stone commonly found in the Southwest states, like Arizona, is a sedimentary stone formed by layers of sand.  The color patterns are soft pastels and range from beige to red.  Our Arizona Sandstone comes in colors called “Buckskin” which is a gold, “Bucksin” which tends to go from gold to peach, “Rosa” which is a deep pink, and “Red Sedona” which is a terracota red.

Pros: Tends to stay cooler in summer, holds up well in most applications: driveways, walk ways and patios. Very cost effective.

Cons: Very porous and tends to absorb water which can cause damage in colder climates. Due to the porosity it can absorb oil and grease easily. So we recommend good sealing after installation. Some colors can be soft and flaky.

Quartzite

This flagstone commonly found in mountainous areas of Oklahoma, Idaho and Utah, is a form of metamorphosed rock with a glossy smooth surface.  It looks like it has speckles of silver, called mica. The colors are generally greys to golds or a blend. There are some reds, pinks and greens as well but are not as common.  We stock Idaho Quartzites in “Silver”, “Charcoal” and “Gold” at our stores.

Pros: This is a very hearty stone, resistant to wear and tear.  Holds up well in cold weather or rain and stands up to chemicals.  Its a great non-slip surface and is more resistant to staining than sandstone.

Cons: Because it is a hard stone, it is harder to shape and isn’t as easy to form with chisel and hammer.  It also requires a bit more maintenance, regular cleaning and resealing, due to the rough, textured surface.

Bluestone

This stone which comes from the Northeast, usually Pennsylvania and New York, is a blue-green sandstone but denser than the variety found in Arizona.  Colors range from blue grey to khaki to purple. Our Pennsylvania Bluestone comes in three varieties: Blue Blue, Full Color (which is a blend of all three colors) and Lilac. It’s also very popular in cut patterns or Ashlar pattern, which is a combination of squares and rectangles. We also carry treads for stairs and pool copings.

Pros: This is a tough, dense paver with a nice grip for a non-slip surface.  It holds up well in the cold climate of the Northeast.

Cons: Must be sealed to preserve its color, resist any chlorine or saltwater in pools or spas, and to protect it from scratching or staining.

Slate

This stone is commonly found in the Northeast, the most common from Vermont.  Most of what we carry here is from India or China.  Slate is a metamorphic rock that is layered with clay like minerals.  They common in a multitude of colors and are often multicolored.  You can find slates in every color of the rainbow from green to blue to red.

Pros: This easy to work with stone can be shaped and formed with no problems. Its ideal for wall cladding as well as for flooring.

Cons: Easily splits and is not usually found in large slabs.  It requires sealing for stain resistance and to reduce efflorescence.

Limestone

This light colored stone from the plains of Texas and Indiana is a sedimentary rock composed of calcite. Its a natural split surface that can be polished.  The colors tend to lean towards the creams, beiges or greys. We carry a stunning Limestone from Texas called Classic Cream.

Pros: This stone which can be found in ancient Greece and Rome, is long lasting and weather resistant.  It holds up well in most climates and is easy to work with.

Cons: Its very heavy and susceptible to acid.

Travertine

This variety of limestone is found in some Western states, like Texas and Oklahoma.  But most of what we sell here is from Mexico, Turkey or the Middle East. Travertines tend to range from whites to beiges to golds.  The surface can be pitted or have tiny holes, which are good for grip when used outdoors. Or they can fill those holes and have a very smooth finish or be polished and used inside for kitchens, bathrooms or other interior floors and walls.

Pros: Durable, higher end stone. Stays cool for indoor surfaces. Can be very cost effective.

Cons: Can be difficult to maintain if surface is very pitted.

I hope this has helped explain a few of the differnences you’ll need to know when selecting the right type of flagstone for your next landscaping project.  And if you have any other questions please feel free to contact one of our 4 Los Angeles area stores.