Looking back at 2020 brings back reminders of a year many of us would prefer to forget: long lines outside stores, shortages of toilet paper and hand sanitizer, closed restaurants and venues, gathering restrictions, and the steady count of Covid-19 cases. There was real pain and loss, and even now, it can be difficult to put that year into words.

At the same time, 2020 also changed the way many homeowners thought about their outdoor spaces. Across the green industry, there was a noticeable rise in vegetable gardening, home improvement projects, garden center visits, playset installations, and backyard upgrades. Families who were suddenly spending more time at home began looking at their properties differently.

We saw increased interest in new patios, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, greener lawns, seasonal color, privacy plantings, and full-property renovations. Some of those patterns may have been tied directly to the moment, but others reflect a deeper shift in how homeowners value the landscape.

Here are three trends from that period that we hope continue.

Key Takeaways

2020 changed how many homeowners viewed and used their outdoor spaces.
Gardens, patios, fire pits, outdoor kitchens, and privacy plantings became more important as families spent more time at home.
Vegetable gardens, container herbs, and edible plantings helped reconnect homeowners with the land around them.
Well-planned outdoor spaces can add daily enjoyment, flexibility, and long-term value to a property.
Many of the best landscape trends from that time remain relevant for Boston-area homeowners today.

Getting Outside and Getting Dirty

There is no better way to say it. The pandemic brought many people outdoors simply because there were fewer places to go. Families found walking trails, went on day hikes, explored their own neighborhoods, and rediscovered their gardens.

For many homeowners, this created a renewed appreciation for the small details of the landscape: butterflies, worms, seasonal flowers, trees, shrubs, birds, and the quiet pleasure of watching a garden change from week to week.

That connection is worth keeping.

A property does not need to be completely redesigned to become more engaging. A few thoughtful updates can make a meaningful difference:

Annuals for cheerful seasonal color
Perennials for reliable flowers year after year
Trees and shrubs for fall color, fragrance, structure, and shade
Pollinator-friendly plantings that bring movement and life into the garden
Outdoor paths or seating areas that encourage more time outside

Whatever the scale, the lesson remains valuable: the connection to the outdoors is more important than many people realized.

Investing in the Property

It may sound obvious that a landscape design and maintenance company would want homeowners to keep investing in their outdoor spaces, but there is a practical side to it as well. A well-planned patio, fire feature, outdoor kitchen, pool area, or garden renovation can extend the way a home lives.

Outdoor spaces had been gaining importance long before 2020, but that year made their value much more personal. A patio was not just a patio. It became a place to gather safely, eat dinner outside, spend time with family, or see a few close friends when indoor gatherings were limited.

For Boston-area homeowners, that idea still holds. Outdoor spaces can provide flexibility, comfort, beauty, and everyday use. They also contribute to the overall impression and value of the property when they are thoughtfully designed, well built, and properly maintained.

The strongest outdoor improvements are rarely one-off additions. They work best when they are planned as part of the larger landscape, with attention to circulation, drainage, privacy, lighting, planting, and long-term care.

Vegetable Gardens

Vegetable gardens also saw renewed interest, and it is easy to understand why. They became a source of food, education, routine, and satisfaction at a time when many households were spending more time at home.

There is something deeply grounding about knowing where your food comes from. A vegetable garden does not need to be large or complicated to be worthwhile. Even a simple 4-by-6-foot raised bed can produce tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, herbs, lettuce, or beans when properly planned.

For homeowners with more space, kitchen gardens can become a beautiful and functional part of the landscape. They can be designed with raised beds, gravel paths, fencing, irrigation, trellises, herbs, edible shrubs, and seasonal plantings that feel attractive as well as productive.

Good options include:

Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and cucumbers for summer harvests
Lettuce and greens for cooler parts of the season
Beans, squash, and zucchini where space allows
Blueberries, raspberries, and other fruiting shrubs
Herbs in containers, raised beds, or sunny garden edges

The details matter. Soil composition, drainage, sun exposure, irrigation, pest protection, and wildlife pressure all influence success. A productive garden should be designed with the same care as any other part of the landscape.

Why These Lessons Still Matter

A difficult year changed daily life in ways few people could have predicted. But it also reminded many homeowners that the landscape is not separate from home life. It can support connection, comfort, food, play, rest, privacy, and time together.

Some outdoor improvements can be learned through books, online tools, or trial and error. Others benefit from professional guidance, especially when they involve grading, drainage, hardscape construction, planting design, irrigation, or long-term maintenance.

The most important takeaway is simple: a well-designed landscape can make home feel more complete.

Make More of the Space Around Your Home

If your outdoor space became more important to you in recent years, or if you are ready to rethink how your property supports daily life, the a Blade of Grass team can help. From patios, fire features, outdoor kitchens, and privacy plantings to vegetable gardens, seasonal color, and long-term maintenance, we design and care for landscapes that are beautiful, functional, and built for how homeowners actually live.

Pandemic, Patio, Vegetable

a Blade of Grass

a Blade of Grass is an award-winning landscape design, construction, and property care firm serving Greater Boston, MetroWest, and Cape Cod. Drawing on more than 30 years of residential landscape experience, the team shares practical guidance on garden design, planting, hardscaping, irrigation, lighting, seasonal care, and long-term maintenance. Their work has been featured in Martha Stewart, New England Home, Design New England, and The Boston Globe.