Tips to bring on the color in your garden

It’s planting season, and gardeners are getting ready to stock up on greenery.

From tiny urban gardens to rolling landscapes in the suburbs, here are nine hot trends for 2019, according to horticultural experts.

■ No space? No problem: The biggest issue for most gardeners this year figuring out how to tackle a small garden. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 80 percent of Americans live in urban areas, which leaves little to no room for outdoor greenery.

According to the experts at plant supplier Proven Winners, consider opting for fastigate shrubs.

Fastigate plants are those that grow with branches sloping upward, nearly parallel to the main stem. These plants save on space by growing upward instead of outward. According to Proven Winners, bushes and shrubs that fit the bill yet offer a splash of color and interest include Hibiscus purple pillar, Rose of Sharon, Japanese holly, or elderberry.

Climate change gardening: Sue Townsend of the Society of Garden Designers said creating gardens that can deal with extreme temperature swings will be a key trend this year. The designer suggested that gardeners should have the right plants that fit the condition of the garden, store water and allow excess water to be collected then dissipated through the soil. Think plants labeled drought-tolerant, cold tolerant, etc.

Save the pollinators: Pollinators vital to keeping the world’s crops thriving are under major threat from disease, loss of habitat and other stressors. Gardeners are encouraged to grow plants that support pollinators, such as like Sonic Bloom reblooming weigela, single-flowered roses like Oso Easy Paprika and Oso Easy Urban Legend.

■ Landscape friendly natives: Planting shrubs or trees that are native to a particular region or ecosystem can provide enhanced habitat for wildlife as well as natural beauty, said the Michigan State University Extension. In addition, native plants help the environment by reducing the amount of water used and less need for pesticides and fertilizers. For gardeners who do not want to take on too much work, natives can be low-maintenance.

■ Perennial Power: The Home Depot’s blog, the Garden Club, said a trend that started in Europe called the New Perennial Movement is making its way to the United States. The movement’s primary characteristic is “layers of perennials that evolve through the seasons.”

Build a Meadow: Another space-saving tip for green thumbs is creating a meadow, which can be maintained from April to late November with little upkeep.

■ Yellow Flowers Rule: Yellow is this year’s hot color, according to Home Depot. Use flowers such as yellow tulips, forsythia shrubs, daffodils, pansies, dandelions, marigolds, daylilies, black-eyed Susans and daises to liven up their spaces. In addition, Proven Winners named its annual of the year to be sedum “Lemon Coral” due to its glowing yellow foliage.

Patterns are big, too: Variegated foliage, with different colors and patterns in its leaves, are hot this as well, according to Home Depot. Consider adding plants such as coleus, geraniums and begonias for variety.

■ Crazy paving, log walls: Looking to landscape this year? Crazy paving — walkways using irregular patterns and sizes of stones — along with gabion walls and, charred timbers all are expected to be popular choices for gardens.

Townsend also foresees a rise in porcelain paving since its non-slippery surface is useful for “shady areas and around swimming pools.”

Bring a rustic element to the garden by installing log walls.

“They can act as a feature wall, a boundary or a screen while providing a necessary habitat for insects and a wide range of wildlife,” said Samitier. She also predicts metals will be used in green spaces since it is a “versatile material.”