Trends Influencing the Gardening World.

• Position: SPRING PLANTING

Pitch perfect pines, garden tribalism, and the impact of soil regeneration science on the home garden all are top trends for spring, according to Monrovia Nursery Inc., Azusa, Calif., a grower of garden plants.

'This year the garden will be both a haven and a laboratory as gardeners seek a respite from a stressful world, and also dive into the flood of new plant choices they're seeing in garden centers and on social media," says Jonathan Pedersen, vice president of Business Development.

'We're also seeing more interest in flowering shrubs as time-crunched gardeners seek to simplify and, while we're still seeing lots of color--especially ice-cream hues--patterned foliage is the story for 2018.

"Overall," he adds, "gardening is seeing huge growth, with an estimated 6,000,000 more people nationwide taking up the activity last year Eighty percent of those are millennials.

The top trends for 2018 include: Roses and rhodies renaissance. "It's back to the future as the lure of insta-worthy posies, year-round beauty, container compatibility, and tales of low-effort/big rewards are making gardeners take a second look at old-timey shrubs in general, and the next wave of fuss-free roses and rhododendrons in particular."

Garden tribe. "Always on the leading edge of mindfulness, home gardeners are creating a new type of tribalism where the shared experience of gardening inspires a leafy sort of group therapy. Seeking to find community, the garden not only has become a place of refuge and comfort, but a way to define one's world view."

Pitch-perfect pines. "After years of being overshadowed by boxwoods and birches, this compelling conifer is on the comeback trail. Notably fuss-free problem solvers, which also offer a distinct personality in the landscape, pines feel fresh and wowworthy. A new generation of gardeners will use them in inspiring ways."

Soil matters. "Collectively, home...