My New Blog

The garden! A beautiful garden can enhance the value of your home. Here are the latest gardening trends from the American Association of Nurserymen:

Going Native. The use of native plants in landscaping is increasing. Why? Native plants—already accustomed to the environment in your area—grow better with fewer pesticides and less water.

Year-Round Interest. The best gardens have something interesting in them all year-long. Use of ornamental grasses, plants with colorful berries, and trees and shrubs with interesting bark or seed heads make up a year-round garden.

Water Gardens. New devices such as preformed ponds and water statues make it easy for homeowners to enjoy the tranquility of water in the garden.

Outdoor Rooms. Many homeowners are discovering the joys of dining, relaxing and entertaining in spaces landscaped especially for these purposes. A trellis or tree canopy becomes a ceiling, arbors or shrubs serve as walls for privacy, and ground covers suggest a floor.

Gardening for Wildlife. Many homeowners create gardens designed to attract wildlife. Butterfly gardens are very popular, and berries and pinecones attract a wide variety of birds.

Best of all, a beautiful garden says “buy me” to the next owner of your house.