Garden Trends for 2008

The practice of blending indoor with outdoor living spaces continues into 2008 with even more glamorous additions. You’ll see outdoor kitchens, bars, propane heaters, showers, sound systems, built-in seating, fire pits, and barbecue-ranges, decorative wall-fences complete with waterproof artwork and furniture with weather-resistant coverings.

Container gardening remains strong and there is a new appreciation for foliage such as elephant ears, ornamental grasses, and coleus. Space-challenged and physically challenged gardeners have taken to planting vegetables and small fruits in containers. This is something I plan on attempting next spring with strawberries - digging up runners from the beds in early spring and potting them up for bloom and harvest.

More people will be growing their own salad greens this year because of the E. coli scares in 2007.

Water gardening has regurgitated. This time it’s not so much large dug ponds but self-contained fountains or “pond-less” waterfall systems that operate in small spaces or even a half-barrel or large urn.

The desire for native plants continues to rise and you’ll have easier access to those like Serviceberry and Viburnum Cassinoides.

Trailerloads of new introductions are being snapped up eagerly each spring by gardeners as they take advantage of plant breeding successes that have brought longer blooming, hardier varieties with a wider range of colours onto the market. Hot colours this year include warm tones like orange, gold and mango.

Some of the new varieties include landscape roses and other flowering shrubs that provide loads of color and interest throughout the season. ‘Knock Out’ shrub roses have become a landscape workhorse, showing nonstop color from spring through fall with no maintenance. There’s also a new ‘Drift’ series of shrub roses, ideal for containers.

Pansy lovers will want to try out ‘Snow Angel’, a new series bred for optimum performance – including overwintering.

For those installing new beds this spring, think ‘flowing lines’ rather than square. Landscape lighting is also becoming more important and helps to extend the length of time our gardens can be enjoyed.

Chemically dependant gardens are becoming passe. And if you really want to make an impact this season think big – plant large-leafed wonders like cannas, giant rhubarb, and castor beans.