Everything is in

Working at a garden center, I’ll bet you get the question, “What’s the next big plant or garden trend going to be?” regularly. I get that question a lot too, and lately, the answer I’ve been giving is ‘everything.’ And while it sounds a bit of a cop-out, I really do mean it. I think everything is going to be big this year.

Houseplants are here to stay, veggie plants are really taking off, pollinator-friendly plants are still hot, groundcovers are replacing lawns … I could go on.

Gardening is a little like fashion in the sense that plants go in and out of style. Landscape designs or themes may wax and wane in popularity too as tastes change. But just like fashion, there are some classics that never go out of style.

Different cuts and washes of jeans go in and out of style, but denim is here to stay. Different colors and sizes of poinsettias come and go, but they’ll always be popular holiday décor. There are so many options for spring bulbs that cycle in and out of popularity, but tulips will always be a sign of spring. And shrubs will always be a staple of the landscape.

Shrubs can do a lot with a little. Requiring much less care than annuals, shrubs can attract wildlife, create a sense of privacy, add color, soften hardscapes, fill out landscapes and provide a backdrop for annual stunners. They can be formal like sculpted English garden hedges, tropical like hibiscus, classic like roses or versatile like boxwood.

There are endless opportunities to show your customers what these higher price point plants can do for their backyard oases. By showing consumers what shrubs can do through vignettes in the store or photos on signage, they can start to imagine the perfect additions to their yards — not to mention the long-lasting, low-maintenance benefits of woody plants.

But do your customers know about all of the things shrubs can do for them or how versatile they are? Are you hiding your shrubs in the back of the nursery? In this month’s cover story, you’ll find tips from suppliers to make the most of your shrub stock.

That’s not to say that there aren’t some exciting new things on the horizon, of course! If you want a sneak peek and the newest plants hitting the market, see our California Spring Trials preview. Offering a mix of old and new can be a great way to appeal to all kinds of customers. We hope you find what you’re looking for in this month’s issue!

Kate Spirgen kspirgen@gie.net