Somewhere between 5,000 and 3,000 years ago, a fellow hoping to impress his lady love was the first to give a rose as a symbol of love. We can only imagine her response, but it was likely enthusiastic enough to make him think “Hey! Maybe I should cultivate these flowers.”

Flash forward to today, and roses remain the enduring emblem of love and romance. Fortunately, however, modern breeding has made it easier than ever to add roses to your garden and landscaping.

Traditional cultivated roses have always required a lot of work – pruning, deadheading, protecting them from disease and drought, and nurturing them in just the right environment to grow. Through careful breeding, easy-to-grow roses were designed to minimize maintenance and effort, and maximize beauty, hardiness and disease resistance.

In fact, the variety that revolutionized the concept of easy-to-grow roses, The Knock Out Rose, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

“I was hooked on roses by one plant in my parents’ backyard,” says rose hobbyist Bill Radler, developer of The Knock Out Rose. “Through the years, I figured growing roses should be fun with less work, so I looked for ways to eliminate maintenance demands and bred them out.”

Radler’s brainchild debuted in 2000 and was almost literally an overnight success, earning the year’s prestigious All-American Rose Selections Award. Rose hobbyists, designers, landscapers and virtually anyone who loved the look of roses, but not the work, embraced the easy-to-grow concept.

In honor of Knock Out’s 10th anniversary, landscape designer Susan Cohan, Association of Professional Landscape Designers, offers 10 easy ways to use roses in the landscape:

1. Add a spot of color to the landscape. Could your yard benefit from some pizzazz of color to create interest? Try groups of roses in a perennial planting, around the foundation or elsewhere to add color and texture. The constant blooms of bright showy colors work as a specimen plant or in groups of three to five plants for a big show of color.

2. Use as a problem solver. Have an unsightly spot to cover such as a garbage can, utility shed or pool pump? Cohan loves to plant a few shrub roses to hide these problems because she know in a matter of months the spot will be transformed into a mass of perky flowers creating a gorgeous focal point.

3. Create a “friendly” fence. Do you have a place in your yard where everyone cuts across, where you don’t want them going, or where you need to just keep them out? Colorful rose fences are lovely to look at while simultaneously deterring unwanted pedestrian and animal traffic.

4. Set the mood. Cohan recommends using color to create moods in the garden. For example, red and yellow, and pink and dark blue color combinations have a dramatic effect, while a variety of pink shades such as Pink Knock Out with pink geraniums and pink artemesia can create a soothing mood.

5. Provide a natural habitat. Gardening for nature is all the rage. Use landscape shrub roses to start creating a wildlife habitat garden. Roses provide friendly food and shelter for all wildlife. Thorns keep out predators and rose hips keep animals and birds fed during the harsh winter months.

6. Pot it up for patio or deck. Tired of replanting that container every spring? Pot them up instead with shrub roses and then under plant with vinca vines and ivy. This provides color and subtle fragrance without the work of planting in the garden.

7. Break the rules. Replace annuals with landscape shrub roses. Why plant geraniums or impatiens year after year? For all season, every year, a mass planting of shrub roses is a great alternative. Pick a color that will help showcase your perennials.

8. Paint a colorful backdrop. Too much green in your yard and not enough color? Shrub roses are also the perfect way to create a pleasant border or background in the landscape. Cohan likes to places bright red roses against a stone wall for maximum impact.

9. Pair roses with the right companions. Free your roses from the segregated rose beds and plant them with other shrubs, perennials and even annuals. Here are some great companions: Blue companion plants like lobelia, cornflowers, blue flax, bellflowers, veronica, ageratum and violet companion plants such as heliotrope are good with yellow, pink, and white roses.

10. Use as a tree on patio or deck. When is a rose bush not a rose bush? When it’s grown as a small tree. Known as rose standards, these mini-rose trees make a colorful accent in the corner of a deck or patio.

Not all roses grow well in the same environment. All seven Knock Out Roses, however, are heat tolerant throughout the U.S., and will need winter protection in only the coldest regions. They are available at your local garden center, and you can learn more about adding easy-to-grow roses to your garden at www.theknockoutrose.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Hydroponic lettuce cultivated in a PVC tube. Photo by Jeinny Solis S.

pH, the relative degree of acidity or alkalinity, is a vital component of a plant’s environment. As the pH changes the ability of the roots to absorb nutrients changes. But to understand how and more importantly, what to do about it, it’s helpful to have a knowledge of some very elementary chemistry.

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As summer approaches, visions of opening your backyard up to friends, family, and neighbors flood the dreams of most Americans. Playing catch with the kids, grilling with your neighbors, running with the dog, and relaxing in the shade with a good book are all great ways to make your lawn an enjoyable living space this summer.

Soft, thick green grass in your back yard should be the friendly surface you and your family frolic on. Don’t let those fun times be ruined by things like prickles in your toes or hard bare spots. Weeds and thin spots, the worst uninvited guests at the party, can stop the fun in its tracks but the feeling of bare feet in lush grass doesn’t have to be a luxury. Put these villains in their place so that you can relax in your outdoor barefoot-able space.

If you plan to turn your lawn into your living room this summer, here are some things you might want to consider:

* Thistles, clover and dandelions – Prickly plants aren’t friendly to activities like running through the sprinkler or rolling down the hill. There are quite a few varieties of thistle plants, and many can grow several feet tall. However, thistles that are located in your lawn get mowed down to size and can be much harder to spot. Don’t be fooled, mowing will not kill these plants. For that, you will have to take action. If bothered by the distinctive yellow blooms of the dandelion and purple or white flowers of the clover these need to go.

* Well fed lawns are strong and vibrant. In general, feeding a few times a year will build a lawn that is ready to stand up to the weeds, heat, and drought. If your grass is used for ballgames, Slip ‘n Slide or parties, your barefoot guests will appreciate the grass carpet and it will withstand wear and tear.

There are a lot of different ways to practice weed control but starting early in the season is an effective way to clear out unsightly lawn weeds. Scotts Turf Builder with Plus 2 Weed Control encourages your grass to grow stronger by improving your lawn’s ability to absorb water and nutrients, but still stops the weeds you want to take care of, including dandelions. This should only be used when the weeds are actively growing and should not be used more than two times a year. Stronger grass crowds out weeds, and when mowed longer (at 3 to 5 inches) actually helps prevent weed growth.

For small problem areas, there is no need to treat your entire lawn. Spot treatment will leave you with a lush lawn, while only tackling the unwelcomed weeds. The Ortho Weed-B-Gon Max controls more than 200 weed types (including crabgrass). The foaming consistency of this product lets you know exactly where you’ve sprayed, and if the rain starts falling even one hour after you’ve applied, you don’t need to worry. The foam will stick where you spray it and your weeds will show results in 24 hours. Ortho EcoSense Brand Lawn Weed Killer also makes a weed control product for the lawn which is derived from the natural element, iron, and takes care of weeds down to the roots within hours.

If your goal is to have a comfortable, friendly outdoor space for yourself and your family to relax in this summer, targeting the uninvited plants growing in your lawn is a great way to start. So open up your backyard to plenty of romping, rolling and even splashing with your children and invite the entire neighborhood over for some fun. By killing the pesky weeds, you’ll worry less about prickles or bee stings. Now all you’ll have to worry about in the back yard is having enough chairs for all of your friends.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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More and more people want to live a "green" lifestyle, and you can't get more local than picking vegetables right in your back yard.

Gardening is becoming more popular than ever, thanks to a number of converging circumstances, including the First Lady’s planting of a White House organic garden. Because of the sagging economy, people want to save money anywhere they can, and vegetable gardening is a great way to save money on foods that can be costly. Additionally, more and more people want to live a “green” lifestyle, and you can’t get more local than picking vegetables right in your back yard. Plus, when you start an organic garden, it’s even more environmentally friendly.

When you start on your way to growing healthy garden fruits and vegetables, keep in mind that tending an organic garden has special requirements and poses some different challenges than conventional gardens do. However, the increased popularity of organic gardening has led to some great innovative products that can help you maintain your plot without adding harmful chemicals.

Whether you live within city limits or in a more bucolic setting, it’s always fun to see wildlife – just not when they’re munching on your zucchini or stealing your strawberries. For most organic gardeners, the goal is to get rid of overly curious garden guests, but without forcing them to ingest poisons or other chemicals that can hurt them.

One of the most trusted ways to keep a strictly organic garden free from unwelcome animal browsers is with the Swedish-developed, garden pest repellent Plantskydd (pronounced “plant-skid” – a Swedish word meaning “plant-protection”). Sweden’s reputation as a rigorously green-minded country comes through in these non-toxic repellents, which were the first deer and rabbit repellents to be listed by the USDA-approved Organic Material Review Institute (OMRI), as “suitable for use in the production of food and fiber.” Plantskydd’s 100 percent organic ingredients make it safe to use around pets and children, but it’s also effective in that it won’t wash away in the rain, giving your garden longer-lasting protection.

Claude Boisvert, president of Tree World Plant Care Products, Inc., says Plantskydd does double duty as a garden pest repellent and fertilizer. “Because it’s a blood meal-derived product, it provides the nutrients necessary for plants to grow strong and produce abundantly, in addition to repelling garden pests like deer and rabbits,” Boisvert says. “It’s been lauded for its repelling effectiveness by forestry experts, the National Home Gardening Club, as well as soil and water conservation districts throughout the United States.”

Other ways to protect your garden include putting netting over the plants that birds, rabbits and other critters favor. Look for netting with small holes that you can spread over strawberry patches, or wire that you can circle around delicate vegetables.

When selecting solutions for feeding or protecting your garden, be sure to do your research and find out the true certification status of products you buy. As the move toward growing one’s own organic food becomes mainstream, some repellent manufacturers, who use non-certified ingredients, use terms such as “all natural,” or “environment friendly” on package labels in an attempt to associate their products with this “organic” trend. OMRI continues to be a good resource for learning about which products are truly safe and organic.

If you’re concerned about your family’s health and that of the planet, planting an organic garden is the way to go. You’ll not only be able to harvest delicious, nutritive foods right in your backyard, but you’ll also be doing your part to foster a healthier environment.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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The lovely melodies in the air and brightly colored plumage of birds bring your backyard habitats to life as warmer weather approaches.

Your garden says a lot about who you are. By carefully choosing and arranging plants, tilling soil, and caring for your flowers and vegetables, you bring a part of nature into your life. In addition to the visual appeal of the plants, gardens attract wildlife. Rabbits and squirrels, butterflies and birds all enjoy your garden, adding to the beauty.

Birds in particular bring great joy to a garden. The lovely melodies in the air and brightly colored plumage of birds bring your backyard habitats to life as warmer weather approaches; a reminder spring is returning once again. With this natural cycle of life come changing needs for the fine feathered friends you welcome into your gardens and hearts each year. Taking note of these necessities will not only increase the number of birds who visit, but will make these guests happier and healthier.

According to experts like John Robinson, chief ornithologist at Scotts, wild bird feeding is important year-round, no matter where you live. “Feeding birds in extreme northerly climates may increase the survival rates of some birds during unusually cold winters,” he says. “Even if you live in the South, remember that many of the birds wintering in your yard must change into their breeding plumage, migrate back north in spring, find a mate, build a nest and lay eggs.”

It follows that, as winter gives way to spring, gardeners should consider the birds that will soon be migrating back into their area. Essential elements for a great bird habitat include a fresh source of water, bushes and trees that offer birds a place to forage and/or nest while protecting them from predators, a variety of feeders or feeding stations, a brush pile for extra shelter when the weather is still volatile, and houses for those birds that nest in cavities. Make sure that any bird houses or feeders are clean and in good repair to provide your avian friends with a safe, welcoming backyard habitat.

If you want to continue to attract birds to your garden, make sure you’re offering fresh, high-quality foods on a regular basis. Once you establish your yard as a successful source of food, your feathery friends will continue to return. The experts at Scotts have a wide array of information about feeding wild birds available on their Web site, www.scottswildbirdfood.com. Here are some of the basics:

* Suet – Because of its high fat content, suet is a great source of high-energy nutrients for birds. It can be found in a wide array of flavors, ranging from plain suet to blocks enhanced with things like peanuts, seeds and dried fruit. It’s a favorite of many wild birds, including woodpeckers. Suet and suet cages are readily available in most home improvement stores and can be easily hung from any tree branch.

If you want to continue to attract birds to your garden, make sure you're offering fresh, high-quality foods on a regular basis.

* Thistle – This seed is perfect for attracting colorful, delicate finches to your yard. Because thistle seeds are so tiny, you will need a special feeder or ‘sock’ designed specifically for this type of seed. Hang a thistle sock outside a window, or in full view of your garden sitting area to get a good look when birds inevitably swoop in to pull out the slender seeds that are among their favorite foods. If you have had a problem with squirrels stealing your bird seed in the past, you’ll be glad to know squirrels aren’t particularly attracted to thistle and will most likely not bother a thistle sock.

* Wild bird food mix – A healthy mixed food, like Scotts Multi-Bird Blend with Fruit and Nuts, can be a bird-watcher’s best friend. With greatly varied ingredients appealing to a multitude of birds, you never know just who will visit your feeder. Keep the binoculars and cameras handy to get a glimpse of unusual species. Scotts now also offers a variety of other bird food blends that will attract specific species or types of birds (songbirds, colorful birds, finches, or cardinals for example) for enhanced bird watching.

Keep in mind that if you don’t have a feeder, you can easily make one or purchase an inexpensive pressed seed cake (often in the shape of a bell) that you simply hang outside. Children may enjoy making their own pine cone feeders using just a pine cone coated in peanut butter and bird seed. This quick, easy bird feeder provides birds with the nutrition they need in colder temperatures.

Feeding the feathery visitors in your backyards doesn’t just benefit the birds; it can also provide you with hours of entertainment and the feeling of knowing you are helping to keep such a beautiful part of nature alive and well.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Also, visit For the Birds for info on bird feeders and more!

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Orchids

Think orchids are just for those with green thumbs and garden aprons filled with gadgets and secret instructions?

Think again. Now there are no-fear orchids for everyone that will reward you with fabulous blooms for months on end.
“Orchids are really easy to grow,” says Justin W. Hancock, editor of Better Homes & Gardens online (BHG.com). “The array of varieties, spectacular colors and exotic shapes makes them the perfect decorative choice to add beauty and style to every home.”

According to Hancock, Phalaenopsis or “moth orchids” are the perfect choice for beginners. “Besides being the most popular, they are the easiest to grow, rewarding you with months of showy blooms with little to no effort,” Hancock says.

These brilliant blooming machines, which also come in miniature versions, make perfect “living gifts” for Mother’s Day, birthdays, housewarming parties and teacher gifts, and will bloom for weeks, even months. Plus, they are a great way to spruce up your home or office without breaking the budget.

Take the plunge

Orchids are a true attraction. Few can pass a display of these beauties without being captivated by their delicate petals cascading in graceful arcs, seeming to defy gravity. But many people are stumped about which variety to try, how to care for it and how to make it bloom again.

“Orchids are generally very forgiving, and it’s not difficult to keep them alive long enough to stumble upon the perfect combination that will reward you with a breathtaking floral display,” says Suite 101 garden writer Tami Port. “Don’t lose heart. The long-lasting blooms make every flowering orchid an economical bouquet. You can’t lose.” Easy care orchids come in a wide variety of colors in both 4-inch and 6-inch pots and are available at your neighborhood retailer.

Here are a few easy tips to grow orchids that will reward you with blooms for months:

Quick tips for success: easy as ABC

* Always wait until the bark or moss is almost completely dry before watering. The most common reason that indoor plants die is overwatering. Depending on the type and season, most orchids should only be watered about once a week. Allow them to dry out before re-watering. And never leave your orchid in standing water.

* Be sure to keep your orchid out of direct sunlight. Rather than moving them all over the home, place them in a well-lit area, but not in direct sunlight. If the plant gets too little light it will not bloom. Direct sunlight is a definite no-no for these plants. If exposed to direct sunlight their leaves will suffer sunburn and become unsightly with black splotches. Remember, the larger the leaf of your orchid, the less light it needs.

* Confidence that you will be successful in growing your own orchids

For more tips on growing these and other easy-care orchids or to find a retailer near you, visit www.costafarms.com/orchidsareeasy. And remember, orchids are more than just a pretty face. They provide oxygen and are great natural air filters that clean indoor air of carbon dioxide and many indoor toxins. And since orchids do their “heavy breathing” at night, they are perfect bedroom buddies. Learn more about the fascinating world of indoor plants at www.O2foryou.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Roses

No other flower can evoke romance in the garden like a rose. As America’s favorite flower, roses can be found adorning homes in quaint coastal villages to rural farmlands, modern cities to quiet mountain retreats.

“Anybody can grow roses, no matter where they live. If you can grow grass, you can grow roses in your landscape,” says James A. Baggett, editor of Country Gardens Magazine.

Whether it’s a prize-winning hybrid tea rose you’re after, the rich colors of shrub roses sprinkled throughout your landscape or containers full of blooms on your deck or patio, with a little know-how, you’ll grow roses that are healthy and beautiful and that you can show off with pride.

Stress buster
It can happen to anyone. Even experienced rose enthusiasts have lost a favorite rose to stressors like powdery mildew, drought, or extreme summer heat.

Now science has come to the rescue to give your plants the fitness edge they need to keep healthy and strong – no matter what unpredictable heat spell, cold snap or disease should hit.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned rose gardener, you can enjoy success with a good plant-strengthening spray like Jaz Rose Spray, new this spring.

This easy-to use, safe and biodegradable leaf spray was developed by plant scientists and endorsed by the American Rose Society.

Jaz Rose Spray (www.jazsprays.com) contains jasmonate, which naturally occurs in plants and helps to keep all roses strong and resistant to disease, pests, excessive heat, drought, cold and salt. It works by boosting your plant’s natural resistance to environmental stressors and encouraging vigorous roots, growth and blooms.

Simple tips from the experts
Renowned landscape designer Jon Carloftis plants shrub roses in containers. “I like to give them perfect planting conditions such as good drainage, rich soil and the addition of regular fertilizer that won’t be an overdose to neighboring plants,” he says.

Here are the basics for all those who are a bit rose-phobic and long for rosy success:

* Sunlight: Provide your roses with direct sunlight for at least five to six hours each day.

* Soil: Roses grow best in good soil with a pH ranging from 6.5 to 6.8. Till to a depth of two feet – adding a good organic compost or peat moss for healthy drainage.

* Location: Don’t plant roses too close to shrubs or trees that will compete for water, light and nutrients. Provide them with adequate space for air circulation.

* Water: It’s best to water rose bushes twice a week, thoroughly at the base of the plant. Avoid late-evening watering that can foster powdery mildew. Instead, water early in the morning to allow the leaves to dry before nightfall.

* Fertilize: Fertilize roses every one to two months starting in the spring with balanced fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Stop fertilizing in late summer or early fall to prepare them for dormancy.

* Drainage: Whether you grow them in containers or the ground, good drainage is necessary to prevent water from pooling at the roots. Improve drainage with tilling or raised beds and containers with drainage holes.

So grab a shovel and get digging in the dirt and get set to enjoy beautiful roses. To learn more about rose care from the experts and Jaz Rose Spray, visit www.jazsprays.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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“People want easy plants and products that are attractive and good for the environment and perform well in their gardens,” says Susan McCoy, garden writer and trend spotter. “And that’s what the new plants and products this spring will deliver.”

McCoy reveals a few of her favorite garden superstars for spring that will chase away those winter blahs as you get ready to get your hands back in the earth and garden.

Next big thing for small gardens
McCoy loves the newest Drift Roses from The Conard-Pyle Co., introducer of the famous Knock Out family of roses. A cross between full-size groundcover roses and miniatures, both Sweet Drift and Apricot Drift Roses offer delicate, double flowers and continuous blooming throughout the season. With exceptional disease resistance and winter hardiness, these low-maintenance beauties are the perfect choice for small gardens or along paths and walkways.

Drift Roses

Get a jump on spring
Looking to get a jump on spring planting? McCoy suggests FreezePruf – a revolutionary new spray from the Liquid Fence Company (www.liquidfence.com) – that may be the “holy grail” for gardeners. Developed by botanists, FreezePruf protects your lush flower baskets, veggies, herbs and favorite plants from late spring frost/freeze and ice crystal damage. This non-toxic spray can increase a plant’s cold tolerance from 2.2 to 9.4 degrees (depending on the plant variety and the length of the frost/freeze event) and give gardeners about two additional weeks of growing and harvesting in spring and fall. It’s almost like moving your garden 200 miles further south.

Tickled pink
Pink is the new blue. The first-ever pink blueberry (www.briggsnursery.com) – Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’ from Briggs Nursery – is one of the most exciting new plants McCoy has seen in years and is a must-have for your garden. ‘Pink Lemonade’ provides delicious, sweet fruit rich in anti-oxidants, plus four seasons of color: pinkish-white flowers in spring, bright pink fruit in summer, great fall color and dusky auburn stems in winter. Growing about 5 feet around, this showy ornamental looks great as a hedge border or stand-alone shrub with the added benefit of luscious fruit in your cereal or pies – or by the handful. For more information or where to purchase visit www.briggsnursery.com.

Go native, go local
Native plants are clearly the next big thing in gardening, and it’s easy to go native with American Beauties native plants (www.ABNativePlants.com). These native shrubs, trees, vines, grasses and perennials are hand-picked for their beauty and low-maintenance, making it simple to attract bees, birds and butterflies to a backyard habitat. The wildlife will appreciate the food and shelter, and when you purchase them, a contribution is made to the National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat program (www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife).

Catch daylily fever
Daylily fever is contagious and you’re likely to catch the bug as you fall in love with the new fire-engine-red daylily from Centerton Nursery. McCoy digs this new, hardy, early and repeat bloomer – Jersey Earlybird ‘Cardinal’- bred by world-renown daylily hybridizer, Dr. Darrel Apps. This easy-care daylily offers early-blooming great color and reblooms multiple times throughout the season. It’s pest- and drought-resistant and is perfect in beds, borders and containers. Check it out at www.centertonnursery.com and earlybirddaylily.com.

Smart and simple
Want to bring the outdoors in and grow fresh herbs (www.fertileearth.com) and vegetables in the kitchen or on the balcony? McCoy loves Simple Gardens, the innovative new plant system from Fertile Earth that comes with soil, seeds and a how-to guide packed in stylish square containers. Perfect for indoor gardens or to start seeds. They come in a variety of hip colors and make wonderful gifts. Now it’s a snap to grow kitchen gardens in any bright spot — just add water.

Simple Gardens, the innovative new plant system from Fertile Earth that comes with soil, seeds and a how-to guide packed in stylish square containers

Grow ‘em right
The new Organic Mechanics Planting Mix (www.organicmechanicsoil.com) is like having all the goodness of compost in a bag. At planting time, just mix in the nutrient-rich planting mix to revitalize your garden soil. It helps retain moisture and accelerates root-zone establishment for healthier trees, shrubs, fruits, veggies and flowers. Get it this spring in Mid-Atlantic garden centers and Whole Foods stores.

Outdoor designer decor
McCoy loves the latest “designer” doormats from Imports Unlimited (www.wholesaledoormats.com). Made from 100 percent natural coco and mainly recycled rubber, these environmentally friendly eco-mats come in array of popular designs and colors. With over 180 unique patterns to choose from, adding your own personal style, whether it’s formal, classical or whimsical, to your outdoor space is now easy and affordable.

"Designer" doormats from Imports Unlimited

All that jazz
For every rose lover, McCoy has discovered a new spray and way to keep roses healthy and strong. Jaz Rose Spray (www.jazsprays.com) naturally reduces damage from disease and common environmental stresses. This new plant-strengthening spray with jasmonate — which occurs naturally in plants – provides increased resistance to disease, drought, and temperature extremes. Recently endorsed by the American Rose Society (ARS), Jaz Rose Spray boosts your plant’s natural resistance to environmental stress and encourages vigorous roots, growth and blooms. For more information visit www.gardenmediagroup.com

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Do images of flowering trellises laden with yellow, pink, green and purple blooms dance through your dreams? You may already have a backyard full of blooming plants, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring some beautiful blooms indoors to brighten up your house. And if you don’t have a backyard, indoor gardening is the perfect opportunity to keep your thumb green.

Not only does bringing colorful blooms inside help brighten your home, but houseplants can also improve the quality of the air you’re breathing. A NASA study found that houseplants remove up to 87 percent of toxic indoor air inside a sealed chamber within 24 hours.

You can get started planting your indoor garden anytime. Imagine having herbs all summer long or vines keeping your house green well after the first frost turns the outdoors all brown. Here are some growing tips to get your indoor garden started:

* Use loose potting soil to promote root growth. Outside, worms and insects tunnel through the dirt, naturally breaking it up to help plants spread their roots. To mimic their effect indoors, use potting soil mixed with peat moss, vermiculite and perlite to create a light texture that won’t compact after a couple of waterings.

* Make sure the natural light is adequate. Some plants like direct sunlight and must be located near a south-facing window, while others prefer a few hours of indirect light. But to really keep your herbs and flowers looking strong all season long, consider using artificial light like the Grow Light Pro White from Wards.com, which can also help you get your garden started early. The Grow Light has four lights that can be turned on as a unit or individually, and it has an adjustable bottom shelf so you can alter the light level as your plants grow.

When plants don’t get the light they need, they start to appear thin and frail. As your plants begin to grow, make sure to rotate the pots so the stems grow straight, rather than bending unnaturally toward the source of light.

* Keep the humidity level above 50 percent with a humidifier. Not only will your plants appreciate the extra moisture, but so will you. When the humidity drops below 50 percent, most plants suffer from water loss through their leaves, and it’s difficult to regain that water balance, even with frequent watering.

* Really create a garden inside your home with beautiful pots and decorating accents. Visit Wards.com to find beautiful and creative birdhouses that not only are functional, but stylish enough to hang inside. Consider hanging a wire birdhouse in the shape of an acorn in the kitchen window, or using a set of two birdhouses as a unique decoration for your entryway.

* Mix art and fun together with some ivy. Ivy topiaries are very easy to grow, and there are many creative planters and forms you can use to support the ivy as it winds its way toward the sun. Are you a music fan? A guitar and music stand with little pots incorporated into the design can help brighten up your living room. Or maybe you prefer a vintage look created by placing a Madeline Dress Form over your vines, allowing them to grow and construct the skirt. Both styles are available at Wards.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Shoppers check out the American Beauties Native collection which supports the National Wildlife Foundation's Backyard Habitat program.

(ARA) – 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.

Landscape designer Margie Grace pots up an edible container garden.

“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.”

Try easy-to-care-for mini orchids, which come in an array of colors.

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.

* 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’.

Add long-blooming color to your garden with Jersey Earlybird 'Cardinal' daylily.

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.

Look for Rhododendron 'Trocadero' this spring at your local garden center.

Proceeds from The American Beauties Native Plant collection help support the National Wildlife Foundation’s Backyard Habitat program. Families are connecting with each other – and the earth – as purposeful gardening for wildlife catches on. For a complete GMG 2010 Garden Trends report, visit www.gardenmediagroup.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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