Happy new gardening year! What will be in fashion for 2011?

Garden trends are fun to predict. Some trends in gardening are coming from lifestyle choices. We want safer foods, so we grow our own veggies or buy more locally. National surveys show vegetable gardening is up almost 20 percent and community gardens up 60 percent over last year.

Chattanooga is a city in transition. It is becoming a cleaner, healthier and prettier place to live. Many of us want to help speed this trend along. Local gardeners are transforming school rooftops, community-center yards and church lands into green and productive spaces. They are acting as backyard conservationists.

Other trends are occurring throughout the country. Let's see if any of these national trends are spreading to Chattanooga.

EMERGING TRENDS

Each year national garden writers come up with a list of trends based on their observations. They travel around more than most of us. They can compare trends from different parts of the country and even the world. The Garden Media Group outside Philadelphia usually comes up with a well-thought-out list of trends. This organization has issued its 2011 predictions. I will cover a few of their ideas now and more later.

The No. 1 trend members see is gardening with a purpose. This means that people are planting gardens to feed themselves or to provide food for the poor. A recent report showed that half of those surveyed said they have gardens in their backyard. The same report said more than one-quarter now have gardens in their front yard.

The gardens could also have the purpose to attract more birds, butterflies or bees. Native ornamental grasses may be used to offer shelter for wildlife. The garden may consist of edible ornamentals such as blueberries. Herbs and colorful lettuces may be planted along the borders where annual flowers normally were used. Native plants are planted for conservation issues such as soil erosion prevention.

GREEN TRENDS

Rain gardens may be the hottest continuing trend. This type of garden is composed of deep-rooted wildflowers and grasses. Natives are used when appropriate. This garden is built like a shallow pond, but it only holds water for less than a week. This provides opportunity to filter out pollutants before the water runs into the lake or river.

Other trends include growing edible plants in containers. Try strawberries in a hanging basket.

Using more drought-resistant plants will continue to be a trend for us. The drought has lasted the better part of the last 10 years in our area. Try using more succulents, especially in rocky, dry areas.

There will be urban farming around cities. These are small farms growing fresh produce to serve the closest city. Chattanooga farmers markets have a lot of potential. We must support and encourage more small farmers.

WAVE OF THE FUTURE

LED or light-emitting diodes are on the verge of replacing all other kinds of lighting in the next 10 years. Many people are now using LED landscape lighting because it uses very little energy and has a very long life. All of the solar-powered landscape lights available on the market use LED lights. It provides a pure clear light. The lights are initially expensive but will last a lifetime. Installation is easy, even after the plants are in place.

Comfortable, weather-resistant outdoor garden furniture has taken great strides. These products give homeowners and garden designers many more options for outdoor garden rooms. Spending more time outdoors in the garden is always a good thing.

GET ON BOARD

UT Extension and the Master Gardeners will certainly take note of these trends. They will offer numerous classes in the spring. Look for classes on garden art, herbs, natives, bonsai, rain barrels, composting, vegetables and more. The first seminar for the year is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Chattanooga State Community College, 4501 Amnicola Highway. Every gardener should come to hear about the latest and greatest gardening trends.

For more information, call the UT Extension office at 855-6113.

Contact Tom Stebbins at 423-855-6113 or e-mail tstebbins@utk.edu