Gardening Trends 2012

The economy is influencing our thoughts, choices and trends across the board. From fashion to home decor and even gardening. That isn't necessarily bad news though. While the economic climate has been challenging, it seems the collective influence is inspiring a new awareness of conservation, nature, heritage and sustainability.
How will these trends influence the design and use of our outdoor space?
Color:
Pantone, the colour industry giant has pronounced ORANGE as the hue of the year in 2012. Shades of orange/red will be seen in many aspects of design including the garden where orange flowers and foliage will ignite the landscape with a blaze of color. Complimenting this hue will be are shades of blue found in perennial blooms. Plant breeders continue to develop new variations of blue blooms-the latest breakthrough being introduced to the cut-flower industry in November 2011-a rose cultivar "Applause". The "blue gene" found in pansies is inserted into a Cardinal de Richelieu rose producing a deep purplish-blue hue. This new rose may soon be available in plant nurseries and will be a stunning addition to the rose garden.
Exotics like Hibiscus, succulents and elephant's ear will make their way out to the garden-though they should be considered as annuals and inserted seasonally. New tropicals will be taking their place in retail garden shops too and the prediction is that there will be a continued interest in ornamental grasses. Ornamental grasses offer four season interest, are easy to maintain and give the landscape a natural look.

NATURALLY SUSSEX encourages you to select NATIVE PLANTS AND GRASSES for your landscape. Installation of plants and grasses native to your region improve your garden success rate (meaning less fuss and money) AND benefit the environment-offering natural habitat/food sources and shelter for the creatures that inhabit our garden spaces. Your best source for information and guidance when choosing your garden plants is your LOCAL nurseryman, farmer and growers. Sussex County growers and horticulturalists and Rutgers Extension  are great resources for NJ homeowners who are looking to achieve gardening success. Consult before you buy.
Flowering shrubs fill larger spaces and provide additional color to the perennial garden. Longer blooming-low maintenance varieties of some traditional favorites (azalea, hydrangea, forsythia and others will begin showing up in late 2012.
Sussex County's own Farmside Gardens adds an additional twist to the perennial garden-edible landscaping- integrating food producing plants to your shrub and perennial beds. Expert on growing just about anything in Northwest New Jersey, Farmside Garden can guide gardeners to the most successful pairings of food bearing plants to your existing or new landscaping. Adding a stand of green beans along the walk way adds a touch of creative interest and fun-especially for the kids as they grab a little snack fresh from the garden!

On the practical side: GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD
2012 will find a renewed interest in supplementing the family table with locally produced foods and foods grown and preserved at home. Beginning gardeners will trend toward adding veggies, fruits, grapes to their gardens. Throughout the region there has been an active interest in layer hens and bee hives as well. Community gardens, CSA's and hydroponic gardening will also see in increase in interest as people seek to reconnect to the earth and food production.

NATURALLYSUSSEX introduced its AT HOME HYDROPONICS unit to the market in 2011. The 18 plant unit is suitable for growing greens, flowers, herbs and veggies-is LOW maint. and EASY to operate. Visit our MARKET to learn more or place your order. Fresh, home-grown produce for busy people-NaturallySussex At Home Hydroponics!


Urban gardening-gardening in small spaces and alternative gardening will be hot topics in 2012. One solution will be "growing up"-vertical hydroponic units which take little floor space but produce a great crop of edibles. Some units are self contained while others are easy to install (though admittedly not so attractive) in the garden. *See the Alternative Gardening feature in Plant A Row for the Hungry at www.sussexcountyboardofagriculture.org

Container gardens, earthboxes, strawbale gardens and repurposed/recycled containers add function, production and interest to the homeowner landscape-whether that be patio, deck or stoop. Offsetting the rising cost of food and experiencing the pleasure of growing fresh foods at home without the expense and time investment of a traditional garden will inspire and empower consumers to hands-on food production-the key will be low maintenance gardening.  No one wants to be a slave to their garden!

2012 will also bring a return to the art of food preservation-canning, freezing, preserving home grown foods to sustain the family throughout the year will be a lost art revisited. With the abundance of food information available to the computer savy consumer, experts predict that home preserved will become part of the family dinner throughout the year in many households. *For information of canning, freezing and preserving see the Sussex County Board of Agriculture-Plant a Row-Alternative Gardening feature on http://www.sussexcountyboardofagriculture.org.

Finally, experts predict  a return to natural and sustainable gardening will be the trend in 2012. Installation of Rain Barrels, composting and other measures that conserve soil and water or reduce the amount of chemical fertilizers is on the upswing.
NaturallySussex reminds you that the best insurance for a healthy garden comes from testing the soil. Pick up a soil testing kit from your County Extension Service (Rutgers Extension in Newton for Sussex County residents). Extract individual soil samples from each area of your landscape and garden. Complete the requested information that comes with the kit, including what plants you would like to grow in each area. Forward the samples to Rutgers Soil Lab for analysis. In return you'll receive a report that identifies the type of soil, and recommendations for soil amendments that will help insure success. Soil analysis is affordable AND saves you a great deal of money, time and disappointment that comes from applying too much (or not enough) of the wrong amendments to your garden. Get the scoop on your garden before you dig in!














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