If you like bold and beautiful colors in your garden you’re in for a real treat this year. The trends have changed. Instead of using the pale pastels of years past, this year brings hot colors of orange, red, and creamy yellow into the garden.

Horticultural experts have taken their cue from the fashion runways and seed catalogues and garden centers are sporting plants in bold and dramatic colors such as fuchsia, electric yellow, orange and lime green. Garden hardware has also gone wild, bedecked in colors of turquoise and green. These latest wild hues are available on balcony tables, hanging lanterns, terra cotta planters, porch swings and terra cotta planters. Wherever you look, garden colors are hot.

Plants

There are new varieties of coneflowers, hostas and poppies available in the new color trends and people are snapping them up as quickly as they arrive. North America plant breeders have brought many new plants onto the market. Old standards such as day lilies, hostas and liatris now bloom longer, or bloom more than once during the growing season. Canna lilies, caladium, dinner plate dahlias are gaining popularity as focal points in gardens. Hostas are very popular this year, especially hosta guacamole, which has large textured lime green leaves.

Low maintenance is the key word this season. After all, who wants to work when they could sit on the porch with a glass of their favorite drink and listen to soothing water trickling in a nearby fountain or water container? Nurseries are finding that the sale of annuals is declining more each year. Perennials native to the area, ornamental grasses, ferns, mosses, violas and viburnums are what’s becoming hot. These plants demand less water and thrive in less than perfect conditions. They aren’t fussy on the type of soil they are planted in and a little drought never hurt any of them. If they wilt a little, a good watering will bring them back to life in no time. Another appealing feature these plants bring to the garden is a wide variety of wildlife, such as birds, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Ground covers are also popular. Try planting Canadensis, which has small red leaves and grows tiny berries. Trillium that could only be found in the forests at one time is now being cultivated for garden centers and nurseries. The have beautiful flowers that bloom in mid to late May.

Tropical Plants

Many tropical plants are finding their way into gardens in northern states as potted plants. Place a banana or olive tree on your balcony. Though these cannot stand the harsh winters of the northern hemisphere, they can be brought inside during the winter and placed in the garden when spring arrives the following year. Just be sure to wash the plants well before bringing them into the house to rid them of all insects.

Plant fig trees, kumquat, lemon and lime trees in terra cotta plants to give your balcony or veranda a Caribbean look. Tropical plant and trees are also being planted in gardens in the northern hemisphere. Researchers and horticulturists are practicing “garden denial,” as are gardeners in the northern states and Canada. It is not unusual to see banana trees, caladium and papyrus in gardens right next to a focal point of a garden ponds and waterfalls to create a tropical look.

If you’d like a little added atmosphere in your garden, hang lanterns, or place solar lights along a path. Hurricane lights and candles are also hot for outdoor gardens, patios and porches. They add enchantment and magic to the garden’s atmosphere. This is a great place to entertain with the soothing trickle of water coming from a nearby fountain, container water feature or pond.

Hot Plants

What’s hot in plants this season? Big Sky coneflower, also known as Big Sky Echinacea, in both Sunrise and Sunset shades is very popular. These hail from the state of Georgia and are an extreme change from the traditional pink Echinacea varieties. These plants are stunning and make a profound impact on all who visit your garden. Sunset is glorious in vibrant shades of orange with the chocolate brown center, while Sunrise grows approximately three feet high and has creamy yellow blossoms with a lime green cone.

Another popular plant this year is the “Magellan Coral” zinnia, which won the 2005 All American Selections Award. It grows approximately sixteen inches in height and produces coral-rose blossoms between four and seven inches in diameter. These zinnias are far different from the traditional zinnia and love rich soil, full sun and slight watering. If you chose to plant these, be sure to dead-head them to encourage blooming for an extended period of time.

Add wooden chairs, old wooden wheelbarrows, statuary or a metal bed frame painted with rust proof paint to your garden as a focal point and then plant flowers in shades of blues, purples and sun yellow to give your garden impact. Whimsical items bring fun and laughter into your garden, while antiques bring memories of childhood. Use your imagination to bring life, peace and tranquility into the garden and make it a stress-free environment.

Pest Control

More and more gardeners are turning away from harsh chemicals and using organic solutions for both fertilizer and pest control. Tea is a great way to get rid of garden pests, beer added to water will kill slugs, and vegetable oil will take care of those creepy earwigs. To keep pesky mosquitoes at bay, plant Tai lemon grass. It looks great and mosquitoes won’t come near it. Three or four containers of Tai lemon grass around the area where you like to relax will create a mosquito-free zone.

A natural way to fend off flying pests such as bees, bugs, mosquitoes and wasps is to plant marigolds throughout your garden and around your yard. Plant several in containers near the deck, patio or verandah to help ward off uninvited guests.

Garden pest hate nicotine and caffeine. Dump old coffee grounds around the plants in your garden or break up some chewing tobacco and spread it among your plants. You’ll be amazed at how many garden pests avoid the area.

Use paprika in areas where you see ants. They also dislike lavender and garlic. Cats and squirrels dislike the fragrance of coleus, so be sure to add a few of these colorful plants to your garden. Spiders like to spin webs and though there is nothing prettier than seeing dew in a spider’s web, some people don’t appreciate them in the garden. They do kill flies and other insects that can do damage to your plants, but if you want to keep them out of your garden, sprinkle cloves among the plants.

Natural products will keep pests away and keep your garden alive with splashes of color to ensure you have a bold and beautiful garden this season.