Gardening is making a popular comeback

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:53:15 +0000

Change has come to America. The pop culture phrase “show me the money,” boiling throughout business and industry, has cooled down and is forcing people to take a hard look at what is really important in life.

“Just look around you,” says Susan McCoy, trend spotter and outdoor living expert. “Our relationship with money has changed. Hard work, common sense and a return to small-town values are causing a shift in priorities from boardrooms to backyards.”

According to GMG’s 2010 Garden Trends Report, “The rewards of growing your own – from basil to berries to flowers – are boundless,” says McCoy.

Here is a glimpse of what McCoy and her team of trend spotters see for 2010.

* Edible gardens are in. Lawns are out.
Growing your own groceries is hotter than ever and is transforming homes and communities. A recent survey by the National Gardening Association shows a 19 percent burst of new hobby country farms and urban edible gardens over last year.

“It’s time to reclaim our land for our greater good,” says Margie Grace, the 2009 International Landscape Designer of the Year, awarded by the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. “Take that food-producing garden from the back 40 and put it wherever we want. Reunite the ornamental with the edible – roses beside tomatoes, beds edged with herbs, and veggies used as annuals.”

Grace is one of many wanting to “de-lawn” America. Front lawns are being transformed into vegetable and rain gardens. “Hell strips” – the patch of high-maintenance lawn or dirt between the sidewalk and street – are being planted with sustainable flowers, grasses and shrubs that need little to no care.

Gardeners with limited space are finding ways to have fresh herbs and vegetables in their kitchens. Innovative plant systems like Fertile Earth’s new Simple Gardens come with soil, seeds and a how-to guide packed in stylish square containers that make it a snap to grow kitchen gardens in any bright spot. Just add water. You can start gardening earlier in the year with a portable greenhouse.

* Slow gardening is in. Instant gratification is out.

With the rising demand for locally-grown food, organic and energy-efficient products, people are gardening for the greater good. According to Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability, (LOHAS) seed sales are up 30 to 50 percent and canning saw a whopping 45 percent increase. Along with vegetables, people are planting and picking fruits and berries – especially blueberries and raspberries – for their nutritional value and ornamental good looks.

Many new products on the market are designed to help sustain the environment. Revolutionary technology saves gardeners time and water. Aqualok, a sustainable hydration system from Costa Farms, allows you to grow healthy plants with less water and fertilizer plus reduces your watering needs by more than half.

For the do-it-yourself gardeners, add just a little GeoHumus, a new soil additive made from volcanic rock combined with state-of-the-art super absorbents, to all your containers and new plantings. It stores water and releases it to the plants on demand.

* Eco-boosting is in. Chemical-dependent gardens are out.

Demand is up for earth-friendly, sustainable and organic garden products, like the first OMRI-listed compost-based premium blend potting soil from Organic Mechanics Soil Company. The caviar of potting mixes, the all-purpose premier blend is easy to use for all your planting needs.

For all-natural garden products and animal and insect repellents that are environmentally safe for people, pets and plants, turn to innovative companies like The Liquid Fence Company. The company just released FreezePruf, a revolutionary spray that helps plants withstand fall frosts and spring frosts, extending the growing season by a couple of weeks in fall and spring.

* Multi-tasking is in. Single-purpose gardening is out.
Roofs are no longer just for parties. Green roofs are springing to life in cities and small towns, transforming barren space into lush gardens that help cool buildings, absorb rainwater, filter air pollutants, and create wildlife habitats.

Folks are bringing the outdoors in with houseplants. Mini orchids from Costa Farms are affordable, easy to care for, and come in a wide array of colors that are perfect for decorating rooms and gift-giving. Indoor plants are living art accents that provide oxygen, and remove carbon dioxide and harmful volatile organic compounds, 24/7. Check out these natural air-cleaning machines at www.o2foryou.org.

* Perennials and shrubs are in. Divas are out.
Sustainable landscapes, water conservation, perennials and small edible shrubs are hot as gardening with natives attracts needed pollinators and birds, critical for the balance of nature. Consumers are looking for plants that are easy care, have great color, and are pest- and drought-resistant, like the new hardy early and repeat blooming daylily – Jersey Earlybird ‘Cardinal’.

Demand is up for sustainable hybrids like rhododendrons and grasses that provide great impact with little fuss. Look for a new hardy hybrid rhododendron and the first-ever tri-colored Hosta from Briggs Nursery. Rhododendron ‘Trocadero’ is a compact grower with bright red trusses and Hosta ‘Trifecta’ is a drought-tolerant stunner that helps shape landscapes with striking good looks and easy care.

Gardman 5 Tier Heavy-Duty Greenhouse

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:22:38 +0000

GARDMAN
2 Reviews
5 Tier Greenhouse
Heavy Duty
$53.76
Sturdy and robust construction. Extra tall for better accessibility.
Get It Now

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars GARDMAN 5 Tier Heavy-Duty Growhouse, August 19, 2009
By F. Malmgren
This is an excellent Product. It is very sturdy on level surface. It slants a bit after some heavy sun exposure on an uneven surface. However, no ventilation when zipped up brings the rating down from five to four. Anybody purchasing this product should consider adding a fan to avoid mold. I would also add two holes at the top covered by insects netting to allow some moisture to escape. The frame also allow for adding your own automated mist system which makes the product self maintaining.

I’ve grown 12 different types of hot peppers, cabbage, cucumber, onion, tomatoes, corn, and everything sprouts in matter of days.

Gardman R688 Walk-In Greenhouse

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:07:54 +0000

Gardman

Walk-In Greenhouse
Model R688
$99.65
Construct a temporary greenhouse right in your own backyard.
Get It Now

Extend your growing season with a Gardman Complete Walk-In Greenhouse Kit. A greenhouse offers the plant enthusiast the advantage of earlier blooms and crops. Its controlled environment will allow your plants to thrive in a more even temperature and is perfect for cheating the weather. This kit includes everything needed to construct a walk-in greenhouse. The innovative polycarbonate glazing is safer than glass, offering no danger to children or pets.

The glazing’s twin-wall design is excellent for insulating and diffuses light to prevent scorching of young and delicate plants. The galvanized steel frame and aluminum frame are coated after drilling to leave no untreated edges behind. The steel base bolts together securely to form a stable, level foundation, while its thick metal creates five extra inches of head room. The Gardman Complete Walk-In Greenhouse will form the perfect safe haven for your plants. Install this greenhouse on a level surface to ensure proper assembly.

Outdoor Storage » Greenhouse

Gardening is making a popular comeback

Gardman 5 Tier Heavy-Duty Greenhouse

Gardman R688 Walk-In Greenhouse