Find out the top summer trends for the ‘year of the backyard’

2024 is the “year of the backyard,” according to one technology company. 

Thumbtack conducted a May 2024 survey that revealed an increase in homeowners' interest in upgrading their outdoor space for summertime. 

More than one thousand homeowners were asked how they plan to use their outdoor space, with 29% saying they plan to spend up to $5,000 improving their yard this summer. 

Home gardeners, planting and expanding 

The influx of new gardeners from the pandemic years — between 15 and 18 million people, according to the National Gardening Association — are likely part of the group ready to reach higher and take on a new project in their yards. 

Thumbtack’s survey found that 62% of homeowners plan to tackle landscaping, which is also the #1 most completed task from the company's Curb Appeal Guide. 

Thumbtack’s findings align with the Axiom 2024 Garden Survey, which found that gardeners were willing to spend more time and money planting and expanding their gardens in 2024.  

Summer curb appeal trends, projects and eyesores  

Thumbtack found that people are perfecting their spaces by keeping them organized and tidy. 

 A few projects homeowners have on their summer to-do lists are outdoor landscaping and design, pressure washing, tree trimming and removal, exterior painting and weeding.  

• Lawn maintenance: Maintained lawns proved to be a make-or-break factor in this summer’s landscaping. A well-maintained lawn was reported as the top feature to boost curb appeal, with 69% of the surveyed homeowners saying it’s an important feature. An unmaintained or overgrown lawn was rated the biggest eye-sore for curb appeal.  

• Attention grabbers: 65% of homeowners say flowers and shrubs boost curb appeal, along with 47% saying trees and 43% saying decorated patios with chairs and tables. Eyesores to avoid include unmaintained or overgrown lawns (with 63% of respondents calling them eyesores), trash and debris around the property (59%), yard clutter (57%) and too many cars, boats or trucks parked in the yard (50%). 55% of homeowners say a well-maintained, clean exterior is important for positive curb appeal. 

• Sustainability: 28% of homeowners are prioritizing sustainability this summer. The Thumbtack research found that 40% of homeowners said they grow their own fruits and vegetables, 32% have installed energy-efficient outdoor lighting, 30% have added drought-resistant plants, 28% xeriscape and 24% have installed solar panels. 

With more than a quarter of homeowners prioritizing eco-consciousness, environmentally friendly exterior features are increasingly popular. Low-maintenance plants are also trending, and homeowners want fruits and vegetables that are drought resistant with little watering required. Tomatoes, zucchinis and strawberries fit into this category. 

Features of a dream backyard 

Tied for first place as people’s number one priority when thinking about projects are no/low maintenance and affordability.  

The curb trends report also includes what homeowners want in their dream backyard. A pool is at the top, followed by a hot tub. On the theme of sustainability, 40% reported wanting a vegetable garden.  

Also high on the list is a fenced-in yard for pets, followed by large trees for natural shade. The last two reported wishes are an outdoor kitchen and a well-manicured lawn. 

Homeowners that love their outdoor space can still get stressed when trying to maintain a perfect yard; 54% said their yards cause them stress, 47% get stressed when dealing with weeds, 30% reported feeling stress about keeping grass alive and 28% get overwhelmed choosing maintenance projects on a budget. 

Cities with the best backyards 

Specific cities have taken their curb appeal to the next level. Thumbtack looked into which cities were investing the most in their outdoor spaces. Here are the top 10 cities with the best backyards: 

Floridians have been pressure washing their outdoor spaces to keep them clean and maintained. With two cities in the top 10 from the Sunshine State, pressure washing has been a top project.

In Arizona, people are battling the summer sun by installing pools in their backyards. Pheonix was the only city to have swimming pool maintenance in its top three projects.  

Thumbtack used a SurveyMonkey online poll for this research, conducted between May 14–15, 2024, among a national sample of 1,028 homeowners who were age 18 or older. Respondents for the survey were selected from the nearly 3 million people who take surveys on the SurveyMonkey platform. The modeled error estimate for the survey is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.