Landscaping Decisions
There are times that adding elements to your landscaping can improve curb appeal, but there are other times when removing something is even more effective.
Landscape Lighting 
We've put this at the top because so many people save it for last and outdoor lighting makes such a big difference. Landscape lighting should be considered through-out the entire planning process. Landscape lighting
can literally shine the spotlight on your landscape design. In fact,
some aspects of your landscaping take on a special beauty at night, if
properly illuminated. Outdoor lighting also improves nighttime safety
and security, lighting up walkways and deterring burglars.
Native Plants
More gardeners are seeking out native plants and old-fashioned species, over the new and exotic. Native plants have adapted to their locale and require less outside
effort to survive and thrive. And gardening with natives could well
mean less invasive plants and insect pests.
Emphasis on Foliage
The focus has been on foliage, not just from the design perspective,
but from plant breeders as well. Colorful foliage, variegated leaves,
delicate, lacy leaf shapes and bigger, bolder shapes all help add
interest and structure to gardens without having to worry about season
of bloom. Many are plants we’re already familiar with growing. Of
course, there are ornamental grasses and sedges for every growing
condition. Breeders are having a field day with Coral bells (Heuchera
spp.) in wonderful colors from caramel to plum pudding. No container
gardener could go a season without a chartreuse or bronze sweet potato
vine. But don’t overlook the new releases in shrubs, like the dark
contrast of ’Black Lace’ and ‘Black Beauty’ Sambucus,
the bright golden-yellow of ‘Gold Hinoki’ Falsecypress (Chaemacypress
obtusa "Aurea") and the rosy pink of ‘My Monet’ Weigela. 
Organic Gardening Products
Organic gardening has always been wonderful in theory, but most home
gardeners who’ve tried to be organic know it’s not that easy to
accomplish in practice. Even in the best soils, with the healthiest
plants and the strictest adherence to integrated pest management, there
will be problems that leave you reaching for the spray can. Thankfully,
there are new botanical and organic products coming out all the time
that are truly helpful tools in having a beautiful, productive garden
without killing every garden visitor in sight. Products like Neem,
which causes minimal disturbance while treating diseases and pest
problems, Messenger®,
which triggers a plants natural response system and soil additives like
SoilSoup, which aid the growth of plants by adding living “good
microbes” to the soil.
Container Gardens
Container
gardening is more than potting plants. Container gardening give you a
chance to experiment with and hone your design skills. It gives you a
chance to play with tropical plants that won’t survive your winters,
tiny gems that would get lost in your borders, color combinations that
can be changed each year or each season, new plants you want to test
drive and old favorites you just like having around.
“Pot-scaping” or clustering groups of containers is a hot trend, but
equally popular is using containers to fill in holes in the garden
border or to create seasonal interest. Containers are the perfect
addition to outdoor rooms and entertainment areas, where you want the
luxury of plants without the major upkeep of a border. Gardeners with
limited space can make use of stairways, railings and stoops. There is
virtually nothing you can’t grow in a pot: trees, perennials, herbs,
vegetables...
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