Every year brings along new hot gardening trends. While some people choose garden designs and accessories based on tradition -- and there is nothing wrong with that at all -- it is always nice to know what is expected for the coming seasons. Of course, until the purchasing actually begins to snowball, these anticipated trends are just that -- anticipated. But they are also based on the soundest market research garden product manufacturers and landscape centers can obtain from surveys and product tests. In fact, quite a lot of money is put into this research to determine what people really want and provide them with just those plants, items and products.

Accessories:

Mosquito Repellants: Once, keeping these pesky insects at bay required smelly sprays and candles. Today, electronic devices are available which really work quite well. During the coming gardening seasons, these will be among the hottest sellers on the market. In fact, these affordable electronic devices make great gifts for Christmas or birthdays and many will be sold well before the gardening season of 2010 begins.

Sparkle Garden Stakes: A few years ago, it was the gazing ball. Now, it is expected that sparkling garden stakes, sprinkled among potted or in-ground plants will be all the rage. They are whimsical and children love placing them in the garden. They are inexpensive pizzazz for a slightly ho-hum area in the landscape.

LED and Solar-Powered Lighting: Garden lighting will become even more popular because the prices have gone down significantly and the installation is incredibly simply and easy. The visual impact added to the garden during evening hours makes these affordable lighting options a must-have. New designs and shapes are highly anticipated. You'll find lilies and other flower-like lighting options new to the gardening scene.

Durable Metal Torches: The old-fashioned bamboo torches are out and stainless and other types of metal oil torches are in for outdoor cozy lighting. They are a bit pricier than the old bamboo torches but add elegance and panache to the outdoor setting.

Plants and Gardens:

Zen Gardens: Zen has been becoming more and more popular and in 2010 it will reach even higher peaks in popularity. The serenity and peace of these meditation gardens helps relieve stress experienced through the day and everyone is seeking ways to get rid of stress.

Organic: Everything organic will continue to grow in popularity. From compost to natural pest deterrents, people who have become conscious of the damage done to the environment by traditional fertilizer and pesticides continue to turn away toward natural solutions which often are much less expensive to use and certainly much safer.

Heirlooms: From roses to tomatoes, heirloom varieties will continue to soar in popularity. The beauty of heirlooms blossoms and taste of heirloom tomatoes make these choices not to miss out on.

Bigger is Better: As food prices have risen significantly and the economy changed, people will be growing vegetables that have never attempted kitchen gardening in the past. Even a few patio tomatoes can cut the grocery bill slightly and anyone who has the space and any available time is expected to delve into the pleasure and satisfaction of seeing their own vegetables grow from seedlings to mature plants ready to harvest.

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Gardening Trends for 2010: 'Smart and Green' - eXtension News

Horticulturist predicts six gardening trends. Released February 4, 2010. LAWRENCE, Kan. – Jennifer Smith starts each new year raking around and digging up what's likely to be “hot” in landscapes and gardens during the months ahead. ...

Publish Date: 02/05/2010 6:28

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This picture of a modern vegetable garden pretty much says it all: Homeowners are heading back to the basics. The latest report on garden trends for 2010 from the Garden Media Group of Kennett Square, PA, says there's a significant ...

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You might not readily associate gardening and landscaping with skin care. If you are not well versed in the subject, there are things you should know about skin care while working on garden landscapes in order to protect your largest bodily organ. These tips will help you ensure your skin remains in wonderful, glowing condition while you maintain your garden landscape in lush beauty.

The Sun and Gardening

Sunshine makes our garden landscapes grow and thrive but it also can harm our skin. Many cases of various types of skin cancer are directly related to unprotected sun exposure.

Just as the sun dries the rain from the garden leaves, it can dry our skin causing rough, scaly, ashy appearance. Over time, premature wrinkling develops causing the skin to make you look older than you real age. These are two of the most important things, second only to skin cancer, which you really must keep in mind about skin care while gardening.

Who should be most concerned about Skin Care and Gardening?

The answer to this question is: Everyone without exception. However, not everyone reacts to the sun exactly the same; some people are in greater danger due to sun exposure.

q People who are light skinned with red hair are usually very susceptible to sunburn and skin damage from the sun.

q Blue-eyed blondes should also be extra cautious about sun exposure when gardening and landscaping.

q People with olive skin and brown hair tend to sunburn less easily but still risk skin damage to a high degree.

q Those of Middle Eastern heritage with light brown skin and dark hair and eyes can stand slightly more exposure to the sun than those with lighter skin and hair.

q People of African-American heritage but light shades of skin are quite susceptible to sun damage while those with much darker skin tones can withstand slightly longer exposure without damage.

It is still a hard fact that every single person, regardless of heritage, skin color, hair/eye color, or tendency to burn in the sunshine, will experience skin damage and risk skin cancer if they do not protect themselves from sun damage.

Here are ways to care for and protect your skin while caring for your garden and landscape.

Apply Lots of Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a must-have when working on garden landscapes. Even if the sky appears to be cloudy, the harmful ultraviolet rays penetrate the overcast and can cause skin damage or even sunburn. Before leaving the protection of your home for the garden to perform landscaping, apply on a strong Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of a top-quality sunscreen. Optimally, use a waterproof sunscreen if you will be outdoors long enough to perspire significantly or if the day is especially hot or reapply the sunscreen frequently to renew the protection.

Wear the Right Gardening Attire

The most important accessory for gardening skin care is a good, wide-brimmed hat. Straw hates breathe well but the weave should be tight enough to prevent a great deal of sun passing through the straw. A sunburned scalp is extremely painful and you want the shade from the brim to protect your face and the back of your neck.

While in the privacy of the backyard, many men find it tempting to garden shirtless and women often wear tiny swimsuit tops. Do not do this even though it may be cooler than wearing a shirt. Because your back is often the most exposed area when bending over to garden, protect it with a cotton shirt. Cotton breathes and draws perspiration away from the skin, helping cool the body, while providing protection from the harmful UV rays.

Kneeling in unprotected knees is a sure way to cause rough, dry knees. Wear loose-fitting cotton slacks and, if you will be kneeling for more than a few minutes, invest in a set of knee pads or a yoga mat which provides softness for your knees. No one wants to build up unattractive calluses on their knees. If you feel you really must wear short pants for gardening and landscaping, be certain to apply lots of sunscreen to your exposed legs.

Wear shoes rather than flip-flops. You can choose garden clogs which have holes to allow the feet to breathe or canvas tennis shoes but you need to protect your feet from sunburn, dryness, and protect them from tools and equipment you may be using. It really hurts if you happen to drop a small hand implement on your foot if you are wearing shoes with no top protection. Save the flip-flops and flimsy sandals for the beach or poolside.

Gloves are an absolute must for garden and landscape skin care. Working in the soil will quickly dry out the fragile skin of your hands and the sun can cause wrinkles on the back of your hands which really make your hands appear aged quickly. Also, you'll prevent painful blisters and calluses when shoving or grasping other tool handles.

Skin Care for After Gardening and Landscaping

There are also things you should know about skin care after your have completed your work on your garden and landscape. The care of your skin doesn't stop once you leave the landscape; in fact, proper skin care after gardening is just as important as while working in your garden and landscape.

Skin Care in the Shower or Bath

Once you go indoors, you want to wash the soil and perspiration from your body. If you have only been exposed to the sun for a short time, less than one-half hour, wait 20 minute before jumping in the shower or bath to allow your body to absorb the Vitamin D generated through sun exposure.

When showering or bathing, use a very gentle soap or body wash for cleansing. Harsh soaps remove too much oil from the skin causing flaking and ashy appearance after the skin dries. Also, many people shower or soak in the bath for much too long. Skin care professions and dermatologists now recommend that a shower or bath should last only as long as required to cleanse the body, normally less than 10 minutes. Professionals also recommend that water temperatures be tepid, which means lukewarm, rather than hot since hotter water is more drying. Once, or at most twice, per week, exfoliate the skin with a gentle exfoliating puff. Avoid hard scrubbing.

The scalp is an important part of skin care too. Use a gentle shampoo and only lather twice if your hair has gotten badly soiled from your gardening and landscaping tasks. In most cases, lathering once is enough and reduces dryness. Be sure to rinse extremely well.

After-Shower Skin Care

At this point, you probably are feeling great having accomplished a great deal in your garden and landscape and having enjoyed a good, refreshing body cleansing. Your skin care doesn't stop just yet, however. There's just one thing you should know about skin care after working on garden landscapes.

Lightly dry your skin, patting with an absorbent cotton towel. Do not rub and do not try to get the skin completely dry; dry only so that you are not dripped water. Apply a slathering of your preferred skin moisturizing lotion to your entire body. Moisturizers which contain Vitamin E are especially effective. You may have a different moisturizer you prefer for use on your face and neck area; if so, use that product for facial care.

Proper Skin Care While Working on Garden Landscapes Pays Off

If you follow these gardening and landscaping skin care guidelines every time you garden, whether the day is sunny or overcast, you will experience a big pay-off in younger looking skin which glows. If you have a light skin color which tans, you will develop a healthy level of tanning without harmful over-exposure. If your skin is dark, you will prevent the extreme dryness often caused by the sun.

Your skin will feel soft to the touch and you'll both look and feel attractive. Your odds of developing sun-related skin cancer will be reduced. Do keep in mind, however, that not all skin cancer is sun-related and everyone should have regular check-ups so their doctor can screen them for suspicious changes in the skin.

Your skin care routine during and after working in the garden landscape will prevent premature wrinkling of the face and hands. You'll look younger much longer than those who fail to protect their skin from the sun.

Implementing these things you should know about skin care when working in the garden landscape and afterwards costs very little and the pay off is really big when someone compliments you on your garden and landscape and also on your beautiful complexion!

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Everyone wants to win the Yard of the Month Award. This coveted award is offered by many cities, towns, communities, and home owners associations for the yard in the area which has strong curb appeal, quality design, and has shown significant improvements over time. If your community has an available list of criteria which are graded for choosing the Yard of the Month, see if you can obtain a copy, but in lieu of that, this "cheat sheet" will get you well on the road toward earning this coveted award.

Curb Appeal

q Are grassy areas along sidewalks and driveways neatly edged? This is an absolute must. Carefully edged lawns look extra-neat and appealing. Do not scrimp on the time required to perform this task perfectly.

q Is the lawn cut too short? A lush lawn requires that the lawnmower blades be set to a medium to high setting. Grass which is cut too short appears sparse and also is susceptible to insect infestations.

q Are sidewalks, paths, and driveways free of trash and clutter? Nothing will count against you as much as having a bit of trash or clutter visible from the curbside. Remove any items not needed such as toys, buckets, trashcans which should be in the garage, or any other unattractive items.

q Are there weeds present? Be sure your lawn is completely weed-free. Just one dandelion sneaking into the lawn and blooming can ruin your chances of winning Yard of the Month.

Trees and Shrubs

q Is area around tree trunks properly groomed? If you have grass around the base of trees, you want to be certain to trim with a weed-eater for perfect grooming. If you have ground cover and borders or mulch under your trees, be sure the area is weed free and attractive. No matter the time of year, fallen leaves should be completely cleaned away.

q Are shrubs properly groomed? Shrubs can be trimmed into any style you like from topiaries to simple flat top shapes, but they must be neat and recently groomed. They must add to the landscape rather than detract from it. If shrubs are located under the windows, be sure they are not taller than the bottom window sill. Shrubs should be healthy and have no deadwood or yellowed leaves so groom these away.

Flowering Plants

q Are seasonal plants in bloom and properly groomed? The flowers which should be in bloom during the current season should be showing healthy, lush blooms. Any dying flower heads should be removed as well as any dead leaves. All weeds should be carefully removed.

q Are the flowering plants placed in attractive layouts? Design your flower bed so that the various plants are planted attractively. Taller plants should be in the back of a square or long flower bed with smaller plants in front. For a free-standing flowerbed, tall plants go in the middle and smaller plants toward the outside.

q Do the flower colors compliment one another and the home? Choose flowering plants so that the color scheme is pleasant and compliments the colors of the home. If your home is brick or white, any color scheme will blend well, but the flowers must still coordinate with the other flower colors.

Greenery and Decorative Grasses

q Are vines and decorative grasses well-groomed? Vines should be wound around arbors or other stands which support their upward growth properly, displaying them optimally. Decorative grasses such as pampas grass must be perfectly groomed; remove any yellowing leaves leaving only healthy greenery.

q Are decorative grasses used as borders groomed well? Often low-growing grasses are used as borders around flower beds or along walkways. These grasses also must be well groomed.

Lawn Decorations and Furniture

q Are law decorations such as fountains attractive and well-maintained? A water fountain can be beautiful and provide water for wild birds. But it must be algae, leaf, and debris free. Do not place too many decorative objects on the lawn. One focal item is sufficient. Using several lawn decorations gives a cluttered look and takes away from a single great focal point.

q Is lawn furniture neat and well maintained? If you have lawn furniture, benches, or even a porch swing visible from the front of the home, be sure it is in good repair and arranged attractively. In the case of a wooden swing, paint it if the paint is peeling or discolored.

If you follow the guideline in this How to Win the Lawn of the Month Cheat Sheet, your chances of earning the sought-after award are quite good. Skipping only one guideline can cost you the award, so be diligent and cover every base.

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