10 Landscaping Trends That Only Look Good in Magazines

Some trends are designed for photo shoots, not real yards. They look sharp on Pinterest or in a glossy spread, but they fall apart fast once the weather, weeds, and daily life set in. These are the landscaping looks that usually disappoint once they’re out of the magazine and into your backyard.

Gravel Everywhere

A full gravel yard might look sleek in photos, but it’s a pain to live with. Weeds still grow through, it gets hot in the sun, and gravel ends up scattered everywhere.

Unless you love the crunch underfoot and constant upkeep, gravel-heavy designs usually aren’t worth the mess.

White Rock Borders

Those bright white stones lining every bed look great until they start collecting leaves, dirt, and algae. Then they turn gray, patchy, and stained.

They’re hard to keep clean, and once they get messy, they make everything around them look worse—not better.

Perfectly Trimmed Topiaries

Sculpted bushes look cool in a designer yard, but in real life they’re hard to maintain. One missed trim and they start looking wonky fast.

Unless you’re out there with shears every few weeks, they lose their shape quick. It’s a lot of work for something that doesn’t give much payoff.

Black Mulch in Full Sun

Black mulch photographs well and makes plants pop—for about a week. Then it fades to gray, gets crusty, and absorbs heat that can stress your plants.

It breaks down faster than you’d expect, and it’s hard to keep looking fresh without reapplying constantly.

Raised Deck Planters

Those pretty wooden planter boxes built into decks or patios look sharp at first. But they dry out fast, get root-bound, and often rot or warp.

They also make watering more difficult. It’s a pretty look, but one of the highest-maintenance ways to grow anything.

Ultra-Modern Concrete Slabs

Big square pavers with clean lines and gravel between them are all over design blogs. But they shift, collect debris, and are hard to mow around.

Without professional installation, they rarely stay level. It ends up looking messy faster than you’d think.

Tight Grid Lawn Patterns

Cutting your lawn into squares or diamonds with precise lines might look cool once, but one week of growth throws the whole thing off.

It’s a time-consuming look that needs constant maintenance—and if your mower isn’t dialed in, it won’t look sharp for long.

Ornamental Grass Walls

Those tall grass walls look dreamy in photos, but in real life they flop, spread, and go brown at the tips.

Most people don’t cut them back properly, and after a storm, they’re laid flat. They rarely keep that clean vertical shape for more than a season.

Empty “Zen” Corners

A few stones, a raked gravel patch, and maybe one bonsai tree—it looks peaceful in pictures but ends up looking forgotten in a real yard.

They attract weeds, lose their shape fast, and don’t hold up to pets, kids, or wind. You’ll be maintaining it more than you’d think.

Oversized Planters With Minimal Plants

Those huge modern pots with one tiny sculptural plant are made for staging, not long-term use. In real life, they dry out fast and don’t age well.

You’ll either be replacing the plant often or dealing with a massive pot that’s always half-empty. It’s a look with way more upkeep than payoff.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.