Move over, minimalist patios—barkitecture is here, and it’s transforming outdoor spaces into canine paradises without sacrificing style. Leading the pack? Legendary British gardening guru Monty Don, who made history at the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show with the first-ever dog-inclusive garden design.
On this side of the pond, Trista Imrich from Wild Works of Whimsy landscape design and Southern Branch Nursery in Chesapeake embraces pet-friendly landscapes. “The most successful start by acknowledging how pets actually use a yard, not how we wish they would,” she says. “Dogs tend to create very predictable movement patterns, favorite running routes, and resting spots. When those patterns are respected in the design—by leaving intentional circulation paths and placing plants outside of heavy-traffic zones—the landscape becomes both more durable and more attractive.”
Barkitecture also means carefully selecting plants, assessing them not only for potential toxicity, but also for their capacity for accommodating natural pet behaviors, like running, digging, and withstanding dog waste. Imrich—native plant champion, a Virginia certified horticulturist, and Virginia Society of Landscape Designers member—looks at the big picture by balancing both beauty and functionality in her designs. “A well-designed pet-friendly landscape is safe, comfortable, and resilient. That means using stable, paw-friendly surfaces, providing shade and cooler microclimates, and creating open movement corridors so pets can run and play without cutting directly through planted areas,” she says.
The trend has gone mainstream—retailers like Lowe’s are now launching “PETio” product lines, offering everything from no-dig fences to stain-resistant rugs, making it easier than ever for homeowners to create pet-friendly paradises.
The message is crystal clear: Gardens aren’t just for people anymore. They’re for the whole family—wagging tails included.
R–L: Monty Don’s Golden Retriever Ned, his mum Mabel, and sister Isla relaxing at the RHS and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden at the ’25 RHS’ Chelsea Flower Show. Photo by RHS | Ollie Dixon
Barkitecture is just one gardening trend gaining traction this year. Others include:
AI-powered garden design: Upload a picture of your space, define your style, and receive a tailored plan.
Xeriscaping: This landscaping and gardening practice reduces irrigation to a minimum or completely.
Rewilding: A conservation approach that limits human intervention and allows nature to do its thing.
Eco-friendly gardening/native plants: Support local wildlife and reduce maintenance.
Low-maintenance gardens: This practice focuses on hardy perennials, shrubs, and native plants that return yearly with, you guessed it, low maintenance.
Evergreens: The ideal choice if you want year-long elegance, with lasting beauty even through the driest, coldest months.
Outdoor living spaces: From pergolas to patios and pavilions, enjoy the hard work you put into your garden by creating stylish and cozy spaces.
Heirloom plants: Varieties that have been passed down generation to generation—your granny’s zinnias, for example.
This article originally appeared in the April 2026 issue.
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