Minneapolis
The city's planning department has encouraged locals to install "boulevard gardens," or public gardens in front of their homes. Because of the long winters, homeowners favor hearty perennials such as black-eyed Susans and light-yellow moonbeam coreopsis flowers. Even more winter-proof: the locally crafted sculptures that have been steadily popping up in yards.

Greater Boston
Ornamental grasses are in vogue here, in a variety of colors, textures and sizes. Plus, in a colder climate such as this, these grasses don't take over the garden bed as they can down South. Two favorites: the low-to-the-ground sedge, which does well in the shade, and the late-blooming maiden grass, with narrow stems. In an effort to keep year-round color, some locals are also opting for dyed mulch, which keeps its reddish color longer than all-natural blends.

Connecticut and Westchester County, N.Y.
Native and naturalistic plants are showing up in plant stores more here, such as highbush blueberries, which have beautiful color, and viburnums, whose fruit attracts birds. Water elements are going natural too in the suburban New York area: negative-edge pools are very popular, as well as those with waterfalls. And in yards once victimized by munching deer, spruce, boxwood and daffodil are the pest-resistant plantings of choice.

Greater Atlanta
Once seen only on commercial property, computer-controlled irrigation systems are showing up on more residences; they can help regulate water use during droughts or bans. Home systems start at about $1,500 — that's about 10 to 15% more than a regular irrigation setup, but the systems will cut water use by about 25%. Locals are also eschewing disease-prone trees such as dogwoods or Leyland cypress in favor of cherry, redbud and cryptomeria, some of which are the same size and structure as the cypress.

Flagstaff, Ariz.
"Xeriscaping" is big here, thanks to the severe watering bans from last summer. That means drought-tolerant plants such as junipers, pi-on pines and the flowering "Purple Robe" locusts; gardeners use heavy organic mulch to preserve the ground's moisture. Also on the rise are rock gardens made with locally found stones.

Jackson, Miss.
Gardeners have been replacing their roses with hearty "Knockout" rosebushes, a hybrid that doesn't require spraying and won't fall prey to black spots. And while tropical plants — banana plants and hibiscus — are very popular here and in Florida, some nurseries are reporting a huge in.rease in requests for the sweet potato vine, which comes in bright colors, such as lime green and purple, and bears "fruit." Even though it's inedible, "once [homeowners] see it, they want it," says Green Oak Nursery owner Karen McKie.

Next: Turf Battles

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