Garden Design Trends
Stick a shovel in your garden and rejoice! This is a fantastic year for the gardener!

The huge green movement that took hold in 2009 will continue to have great impact on gardening practices in 2010. Outdoor gardening and entertaining spaces will have more importance as people enjoy, relax, entertain, exercise and connect with nature in their outdoor spaces. People are staying home more and want spaces in which to enjoy their time at home. What better place for that than in the garden?

People are craving low maintenance and ecologically friendly landscapes. Native plants will be seen in bigger numbers this year, replacing the less drought and insect tolerant non-native plantings of yesteryear. Organic and natural solutions for lawn and garden problems and pests are becoming more the norm. Chemical fertilizers and treatments are as out as the last millennium.

People will be converting more yard space to edible landscapes and vegetable gardens. Vegetable gardens are “in.” As part of the grow-your-own, know-where-your-food-comes-from trend, edible gardens are exploding in popularity. Perennial herbs and edibles together with annual vegetable plants will supply kitchens across the country. In addition, you’re likely to see more edible fruit trees and berry bushes being used in place of more traditional ornamental plantings.

Awareness of water resources is increasingly important. Captured rainwater through the use of rain barrels is gaining momentum. Better to use rain water in your garden than to see it run into a storm drain!

Outdoor rooms continue to be part of a home’s floor plan. More emphasis is being placed on entertaining and relaxing spaces as part of a home’s overall design and use. As the size of homes have shrunk, these spaces have become increasingly important. Improve your enjoyment of the out of doors with decorative elements such as wind chimes, outdoor sculpture, trellises, fireplaces, gazing balls and garden ornaments.

Awareness of the environment extends to our feathered and furry friends too! One way in which to increase enjoyment of the out of doors is through properly placed and maintained feeders and baths for animals with whom we share the out of doors.

Every one of these trends is strong for 2010. However, it is expected that these “trends” have become less trendy and instead, have become more of a way to eat and live this year and in the years to come