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Increasing ecological awareness amongst consumers and realisation about the harmful effects of certain non-native species of vegetation on the local environment is driving the demand for less harmful plant species in gardens across the region.
Changing trends in the gardening and landscaping industry are being seen across the region and will be reflected in Garden+Landscaping Middle East 2010, the international trade exhibition for gardening, landscaping and out-door living industries.
Introduced plants and foliage in gardens, such as the quick-growing Eucalyptus, tend to be extremely draining on water resources and need a far greater use of fertilisers to encourage their growth. There is an increasing swing towards the use of native vegetation that has evolved over time to local conditions, in order to conserve resources and preserve the environment.
"Awareness is increasing about the harmful effects that some introduced species of vegetation can have on the Middle East's extremely sensitive envi-ronment," said Wilbert Heijmans, group exhibitions director at Epoc Messe Frankfurt, organisers of Garden+Landscaping Middle East. "While many non-native species may look good and take root quickly, they are often resource heavy. Increased use of regional, drought-resistant plants are now becoming more and more common here," he added.
New lawns require only a loose fraction of an inch of a fine-textured mulch to allow the grass to push its way through. Organic mulches decay towards the bottom where they meet moist soil. This benefits the soil through the release of nutrients and materials that help make the soil surface crumbly and receptive to moisture.
Garden+Landscaping Middle East 2010, which will be held at the Dubai Inter-national Convention and Exhibition Centre from October 31 to November 2, will bring together leading manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and professionals in the gardening and landscaping fields under one roof. This year the event will feature the latest trends, innovations and products that are currently the rage in the industry worldwide and will provide local professionals an opportunity to adapt these to the particular needs of the region.
On display at the exhibition will be products ranging from garden machinery, tools, furniture, water features, pond accessories and fertilsers, right through to swimming pools, landscaping tools, architectural landscaping and irrigation systems.
