Here is what gardening experts say to expect in your
garden next year:
Simple Chic Is In. Over The
Top Is Out.
According to Tres Fromme,
planning & design specialist of Longwood Gardens, (www.longwoodgardens.org)
the premier public garden in the world, the biggest trend in gardening today
is simplicity. “Simple means bringing the calmness and serenity of dramatic
uses of color and texture into the design,” Fromme says. He suggests picking
a color and sticking to it. Once you pick a theme, it’s easier to
visualize, plan and shop. An all white garden, for example, is very elegant
and lights up a shady yard. Blue can be very healing, and pink gardens are
cheerful. Or, work with similar colors, like pinks, lavenders and purples,
to create harmony and give a sense of peace. He suggests buying 10 - 12 of
one plant instead of two of 10 different plants, and then plant them in a
mass of color.
Harmony Is In. A Riot Of
Color Is Out.
Steve Hutton, president of The
Conard-Pyle Co., a leading nursery and grower of Star® Roses (www.starroses.com)
and shrubs, couldn’t agree more. Understatement is in. Think Japanese
gardens instead of English cottage gardens. “There is riot in everything we
do,” says Hutton. “The riot does not need to be in our backyard.” With
simplicity, comes more of an emphasis on texture and subtle shades of the
same color like green, purple or red in monochromatic schemes. Hutton
recommends a sweep of one plant or mixing shades of one plant, like a sweep
of the extremely popular Knock Out™ rose blended with the new Blushing Knock
Out™ and Pink Knock Out™, available this spring. Mass planting -- or color
blocking -- is a trend first noticed at the Dutch flower markets in the
1990s, says Elvin McDonald, garden editor of Better Homes & Gardens. “Single
sweeps of color create peace in a chaotic environment,” shares McDonald. He
says the homeowner has latched on to this concept because it is much easier
to create and maintain a few mass plantings, rather than to design a garden
around dozens of different plants and shrubs, each needing something
different.
Mono-Impact Containers Are
In. Mixed Containers Are Out.
The biggest trend this season is
mono-impact container gardening. According to McDonald, Americans are tired
of trying to put together mixed containers that end up looking overdone.
“Plants in too many colors and textures look as tasteless as wearing plaids,
stripes and prints together,” says McDonald. You have two plants that flunk
and the whole container fails. He recommends “one outstanding color, one
fabulous container” in the classic estate style of gardening -- simple yet
elegant. Jeff Gibson, marketing manager of Simply Beautiful® annual and
perennial flowers (
www.simplybeautifulgardens.com ), agrees. “Homeowners
want beautiful gardens with little effort,” he says. Gardeners easily grasp
the mono-impact idea because it’s easy to plan and plant. Put one color
flower in several containers or plant several identical containers with
different colors of complementary flowers -- say pink and purple, or yellow
and peach. If you want to mix up the texture in one container, plant
different flowers in the same color group, such as Lilac Colorcade®
geraniums, Whisper™ Lavender Pink diascia, and Lilac Double Wave™ petunias.
The trick is to stay in one color family per container for a peaceful and
classic look. Less is definitely more.
Extending The Planting Season
Is In. Planting Just In Spring Is Out
Gardeners are breaking the
rules. No longer are we waiting until we are “frost free” to plant. More
and more gardeners want color for three seasons of decorating. Shrubs that
provide all-season of color, like Knock Out™ and Endless Summer™ are big
sellers. And retailers are responding with cool weather annuals and
perennials that emerge in late winter or can be planted for fall color.
Early emerging bulbs have been around for years, but now we are seeing early
blooming, cool season biennials and perennials wintering over from the fall
and blooming early in the spring. Plants like Sorbet™ violas and Corona™
Cherry Magic dianthus are really hot. Planted in the fall, these cool
weather flowers bloom like a machines again in early spring. Retailers are
following suit with “cool” plant material, like Trick or Treat Pansies and
larger packaging sizes to match the gardener’s need for instant color.
Running Water Is In. Still
Water Is Out.
Water continues to be popular,
but because of the threat of the West Nile Virus, the trend is creating
environments with running water. Small ponds incorporating waterfalls, water
lilies and bright colored Koi are just one example. Water also creates an
eye-pleasing feature and an ear-pleasing sound to any outdoor corner, and
brings a little 'fung shei’ into the environment. The splashing water adds
tranquil background sounds or masks the noise of traffic. To keep it simple,
many homeowners are opting for fountains that easier to maintain than ponds.
According to Campania International, fountains are the easiest and most
elegant way to add a little splish-splash to the garden. The biggest
sellers predicted for next season are the ones with simple lines, with a
Zen-like appearance. Two great examples are the Falling Leaf Millstone and
a Mission Sphere Basin.
Spirited Colors are In.
Timid Colors are Out.
According to Pantone’s Color
Institute ( www.pantone.com ), colors next season reflect our desire for
simplicity. Summer 2004 ignores the ordinary. According to the The Color
Factory
( www.colorfactoryla.com ), cosmetics consultants, 2004 is the year to
“Dare to Be Bold” with colors that are playful, lush and spirited. Colors
found both in urban landscapes and in nature work perfectly together for
unique and vibrant looks. Both say vibrating reds is a hot color, like that
found in Simply Beautiful’s® new Hibiscus Luna™ Red. And, blues in all
tones are still very in, making a must-have for next season Endless Summer™
( www.baileynurseries.com ). This new mophead hydrangea blooms continuously
from summer well into fall. Transform the color of these gigantic blooms
from clear blue, to lavender, to cotton candy pink, simply be changing the
acidity of the soil. Be creative and change the acid level of the soil in
different areas so that the flowers gradually change from blue to purple to
pink - from one end to the other of a long sweep of flowers. WOW! Neighbors
will be clamoring to know your secret.
Green Revolutions are In.
Chemical Attacks are Out.
According to ABC News, there’s a
green revolution happening. People are in tune to good health extending
longevity and leading to a better quality of life. The quickest
illustration of this is the incredible surge in organic products. Americans
spent more than $30 billion on organic produce and cosmetics in the last
year, and more Americans are trying to garden the “natural way.” People are
seeking out alternatives to chemicals for their lawns and gardens. Rebecca
Kolls, Gardening Editor of Good Morning America, recently reported that
“organic gardening begins in the soil.” According to Ed Neff, founder of
SoilSoup ( www.soilsoup.com ) liquid compost, the organic gardening trend is
starting to really heat up, and more and more people want to take a healthy
approach to life in general. He says amending with natural products like
liquid compost adds life back into the soil. “We now realize we need to go
beyond chemicals and start thinking about restoring biological health and
balance to our plants and soil,” says Neff, whose company’s motto is
“Healing the planet one garden at a time.”
Technorganic Gardening is
In. Pest Destruction is Out.
This so called “mind-trend” is
towards using environmentally friendly technology coupled with organically
healthy foods and practices. An indication of this trend is the strong
movement among street cultures towards a vegan lifestyle. Call it holistic
gardening, but this natural trend is finding its way into the backyard with
products that work with plants to help them take care of themselves and get
off chemicals. Experts say you need to enable plants to grow healthier in
the first place, and not waiting until they are “sick.” Natural solutions,
like Messenger®
( www.edenbio.com ), help everyday gardeners become more
successful in growing healthy plants from the start. This natural harpin
protein combines bioscience technology from Cornell University with Nature’s
own secret weapon. Messenger® naturally boost the plant’s immune system,
and stimulates plats to grow bigger and faster and produce greater yields.
By changing the way we garden, we can grow healthier plants less dependent
on chemicals.
Yard Fun is In. Yard Work is
Out.
Imagine going out into the yard
and whacking away at the dandelions with a 9-iron! Weeding may not be that
much fun, but according to WOLF-Garten (www.wolf-garten.com
), Europe’s number
one brand of gardening tools -- going out to the yard and digging should be
therapy, not work. It should be fun to dig in the soil, plant and create a
beautiful outdoor living space. For almost a century, WOLF-Garten has been
studying what makes gardening tasks simpler and has come up with a line of
tools that makes the job easier. WOLF-Garten’s revolutionary InterLocken™
tools help to make gardening fun! Europeans don’t dig weeds, for example,
they scrape them off the surface of the soil with a draw hoe. Then get into
the cracks and crevices of your sidewalk with a “groove-y rake.” Gardening
should be fun and easy, not laborious.
Landscaping is In. Bathroom
Remodeling is Out.
According to the Wall Street
Journal, putting money into remodeling a new bathroom or kitchen is a good
investment. But investing in your home's exterior makes good sense, too!
According to The Associated Landscape Contractors of America (
www.alca.org )
a properly installed and maintained landscape gives homeowners a 100% to
200% return on their investment. Compare that with a reported 75% return on
investment for a remodeled bathroom. You can see how landscaping can pay
for itself when you sell your home. A Virginia Tech University study
estimates that “an attractive landscape increases the value of a home by an
average of 7.5%, and reduces the time on the market by five to six weeks.”
Not only will your home's value increase, but good landscaping also
increases your homes’ curb appeal and the buyers' attraction to the
neighborhood.
Decorating is In. Random
Planting is Out.
The yard is now regarded as an
outdoor room extension of our home, not just a place to put a few shrubs
around the foundation of the house. Like good furniture, you invest in
having several timeless pieces you plan on having forever. Think of trees,
shrubs and perennials as the backbone of your design. Now accessorize.
Consider your personality and interests. For a couture look, try a Chanel
color scheme using Simply Beautiful’s® Fiesta™ double impatiens in hot pink
and sizzling salmon. Or maybe you want a look that’s impeccably chic and
timeless. Accent your garden with Tidal Wave Silver™ petunias or Silver
Mist Helichrysum. Think of annuals as ready to wear fashion for your
garden. And don’t forget to use great garden art as key focal points.
Campania International (
www.campaniainternational.com ) has a line of
classically simple cast stone accents that give you confidence when using
them in any garden setting.
Luxury Products are In.
Commonplace Items are Out.
Consumers are shopping with a
more discriminating eye for the future. They are paying more for what they
perceive as value items and less for things identified as conventional,
according to the folks at Simply Beautiful®. Consumers are buying brand
names in bigger sizes for instant impact. For the homeowner, the luxury of
having an “instant” look is more important than spending less on smaller
plants and waiting for them to mature. Consumers are confident that a brand
name is worth the money when it is compared to the time and effort to
cultivate it. They know the research behind the brand gives them a better
edge, with greater success. Fromme says this applies to garden accessories
as well. He says buying three really outstanding containers, like one of
the new containers in the Longwood Collection from Campania, instead of 20
glazed pots in 20 different colors. Fill with Dragon Wing Begonias and
under-plant with Dichondra Silver Falls™ for a dramatic look.
Nature Outside-In is In.
Separating Space is Out.
"Outside-in" seems to be the new
motto in home design for the summer. Consumers are snapping up outdoor
furniture and using the items in family and living rooms. But it's not in a
low-budget college sort of way — where upholstered couches dot fraternity
lawns and folding deck chairs are in the living room. Campania cast stone
containers, such as the Mission Style Urn, filled with fruit are being used
as a centerpiece and the classic poly pots are used as ice buckets. This
look is sophisticated and trés chic. "You see the lines between
indoor-outdoor blurring," says Alex Bhattacharji, executive editor of Budget
Living magazine. "The splurge is an outdoor piece that you would really
want indoors."
Gardening with Others is In.
Gardening Just for Yourself is Out.
Gardening connects us with more
than just the earth. Grandparents are finding garden trains
( www.gardenrailways.com )
drawing their grandchildren into the garden, and women are finding the
oversized trains are pulling their husbands back into the garden. During
National Garden Month (
www.nationalgardenmonth.com ), the National Gardening
Association called for people to plant Unity Gardens with their neighbors as
a way of connecting with each other. Exploding in popularity, the Plant a
Row for the Hungry program is sprouting up all over America. Initiated by
the Garden Writers Association (
www.gwaa.com ), the Plant a Row Network gives
homeowners an opportunity to grow a little extra food in their gardens to
donate the excess to local food banks and soup kitchens, which are always in
need of fresh produce.
Flower Power is In.
Industrial Power is Out.
Fredrick Olmstead’s 19th century
City Beautiful Movement is back. Planners and leaders of the 21st century,
according to Newsweek, are reviving the greening of cities. Across the
United States, city leaders are discovering that greenery can change the
perception of cities, both for citizens and visitors. Flowers, according to
Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago, have a calming effect, so he planted them in
median strips on major streets to slow down traffic. Programs like America
in Bloom ( www.americainbloom.org ) and Cities Beautiful clearly work.
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