From organic produce to reusable grocery bags, concern for the environment is having a BIG impact on countless aspects of life. 

Due to this eco-friendly emphasis, an interest in eating healthier, and efforts to reduce wasteful spending, the gardening world is getting a face lift!

The lawn and garden industry has become the third most profitable market, bringing in around $58 billion annually.  But it’s not stopping there! 

Garden Media predicts that this number will continue to steadily increase on a global scale.

One big reason gardening will continue to grow is due to the growing number of DIY gardeners. Below Garden Media dishes on how the DIY gardening trend will keep growing in 2014--and how your garden business can capitalize.

Social media has changed the way garden brands interact with their customers. One-way dialogues are out, and two way conversations are in.

With this change, brands have the opportunity to ask for more from their customers.

In 2014, Garden Media's Garden Trends Report sees "demanding brands" as a big home, garden, and lifestyle trend for the new year.

Below are marketing tips to show how and why your garden business should be a demanding, eco-superior brand in 2014.

Family dynamics are changing big time in 2014, according to Garden Media's 2014 Garden Trends Report, and it’s time for your garden business to catch up. 

Men are taking on equal roles as the homemakers in many households, which means they're getting their hands dirty in the garden too!

Men love to get physical and create with their hands, and what better way to do that than gardening? 

The traditional ‘mom role’ is becoming more gender netural, which means women are not the only ones interested in the gardening world anymore.

Introducing:  Mr. Mom, the newest gardener to target in 2014. 

With this change comes a new challenge. Keep reading to learn how to get your garden business noticed by Mr. Mom.

A huge garden and home trend for 2014 is that the newest growers and gardeners of 2014 will be hitting the market: the millennials.

Millennials are those between the ages of 18-34, and they currently make up 23% of the US population. That means that 23% of those with spending power in the upcoming year will be the hard-to-reach, upcoming gardener.

Below are the top marketing tricks and tips to connect, engage, and convert millennials  from budding to devout gardeners.

Holiday-themed campaigns and real-time marketing are a big trend right now.

And, this year, spooky flowers and garden accessories are hot, too. They're popping up everywhere, from Urban Gardens to Sunset magazine.

It's a natural fit though. Halloween is about things that go bump in the night, and what better decorations than those that are ALIVE! 

Below are 9 garden plants and products that will add something unexpected to your Halloween décor this year for a unique, spooky twist on the typical.  Because we know- you’re anything but typical.

Inspiration for garden trends pours in from every inch of the globe.

Across the world, different countries are blending their regional culture and personal style with local gardening habits to put a spin on gardening.

Just as Paris and Milan "Fashion Week" defines trends globally, there are three international garden shows that shape garden, home, and lifestyle trends.

It is at these shows that the trends Garden Media predicts for 2014 begin to form. From here, landscape designers, artists, and breeders all find inspiration and make it their own.

Read on to discover the 3 international shows that influence Garden Trends the most each year.

This Trending Thursday, we're looking at 2014 to see what social media trends are coming over the horizon.

Some networks are here to stay and will continue to grow while others are already stale.

With Garden Media's 2014 Guide to Social Media Trends, you can begin to see where to budget your time in the upcoming fiscal year.

Without further ado, here are the top 5 social media trends of 2014.

In 2001, Garden Media predicted that vegetable gardening would regain popularity. We noticed a trend of 'gardening for the greater good.' Basically, gardening for the earth and our wallets- reminiscent of the Victory Gardens popular during WWII.  

In 2005, we noticed there was still a demand for fresh, local, affordable fruits and vegetables.  But this time, young men were taking up the mantle, emulating their grandfathers and growing their own.

By 2009, 43 million U.S. households planned to grow their own fruits, vegetables, herbs and berries, up 19% from 36 million households in 2008, reported the National Gardening Association.

"As in previous recessions, we've seen increased participation in and spending on food gardening as people look for ways to economize," explained Bruce Butterfield, research director for the NGA. "That said, these results suggest the interest in food gardening may continue to increase, even after the economy improves."

Flash forward to 2014.  Was Bruce right? Has the interest in food gardening only increased or did farmers markets become the backyard vegetable garden?  Read more after the jump to find out.

Mark your calendars for today at 2 p.m. EST to talk 2014 Garden Trends with Suzi McCoy on our e-Book Google+ Hangout.

Now is your chance to hear directly from the Trends guru herself about how your garden business can implement Garden Trends to boost sales.

Come armed with questions about the 2014 Garden Trends Report, and be ready for an online e-book club meeting all about the upcoming year's garden, home, and lifestyle trends.

R.S.V.P. here to make sure you have all the details about the e-book club hangout.

But, in case you're craving more, below there are detailed instructions about how to join our Google Hangout and a play by play of what you'll learn about the 2014 Garden Trends Report all in less than an hour.

Since 2001, Garden Media Group's annual Trends report has become the go-to guide for breeders, manufacturers, growers, vendors, retailers and media.

The report helps them learn where and how they can best meet consumers’ needs in the garden and home industry.

In the last 13 trends reports, Garden Media’s predictions have been spot on. From the rise of Made in the U.S.A. and the ‘buy local’ movement to men getting in the garden, growing vegetables and a renewed interest in organics, Garden Media has kept the industry ahead of the curve.

But, how the heck does Garden Media predict the hottest trends, year after year?

Below we have an exclusive interview with Garden Media's founder and Queen Bee Suzi McCoy on how she and the Garden Media team spot garden trends before anyone else does.