Fads and gadgets come and go in the gardening world, but I would suggest worthwhile changes usually take place over time and are better characterized as movements rather than trends. Here are some picks for the coming year that will continue to gain momentum.

NEW PLANT INTRODUCTIONS

Black petunias, early blooming day lilies and a march of shrubs sporting new colours and more compact dimensions are all coming to the marketplace. Some will prove themselves over time and others will fall by the wayside, but whatever their ultimate benefit, yearly introductions are here to stay.

HASSLE-FREE PLANTERS

Plants, like ornamental grasses, succulents and other coddle-free offerings, (think no dead-heading, cutting back, heavy fertilizing or replacing) are now becoming the first choice for planters.

LAWNS CUT FROM FRONT GARDENS

Not the high maintenance cottagey gardens of the past, but nevertheless, homeowners continue to look for alternate ways to cover the ground in their front gardens. The lawn continues to shrink.

NATURAL FERTILIZERS, PESTICIDES AND HERBICIDE

More and more manufacturers are bringing alternative products to the marketplace. Fertilizers with seaweed and hen manure or lawn applications with corn gluten to inhibit weed growth are all on the rise.

BIODEGRADABLE, REUSABLE AND QUALITY GARDENING PRODUCTS

We're thinking twice before tossing things, choosing instead to reuse, repurpose, buy quality or return our efforts naturally to the earth.

URBAN FARMING

Visiting farmers' markets in town gives a glimpse of what's being grown on the fringes of the city. However, many resourceful individuals are turning vegetable growing into an urban business.

GREEN/LIVING ROOFS AND WALLS

Green roof technology has actually been around in Canada for many years, but it has only recently been catching on for residential applications. There are certain important considerations (i.e. roof pitch, load-bearing capacity, and maintenance provisions) but there are many energy, ecological and beautifying benefits.

CREATING AND MANAGING BACKYARD ECOSYSTEMS

We are increasingly resisting sanitizing our gardens. The result is that the vibrant cycle of life encompassing good and bad bugs, disease, visiting creatures and unpredictable weather is teaching us valuable lessons about backyard ecology and life.