DENVER - The Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC), theprofessional trade association for Colorado's landscape contracting industry,unveiled its new Web site today while announcing the Top Ten Landscape Trendsfor 2009.

Therevamped Web site -www.alcc.com-is moreinteractive and content-rich than before. It is intended to be a one-stoplanding for homeowners and commercial property owners who want beautiful,functional landscapes and need to find qualified, professional help.

The newsite contains:

ØTheopportunity to sign up for a landscape Tip of the Week, emailed at no cost.

ØA placeto ask experts your difficult landscape questions.

ØA "finda professional" database that helps customers find a professional contractorfor landscape and sprinkler system design, installation, planting andmaintenance services.

ØHelpfuladvice on xeriscaping and water conservation.

ØTimelygardening and landscape maintenance tips.

ØA photogallery of award-winning landscapes-including gardens, hardscapes, waterfeatures, lighting, walls and decks and much more-to inspire visitors to createtheir own breathtaking landscapes.

Inaddition, the site showcases the Top Ten Landscape Trends for 2009.According to ALCC's more than 700statewide members, many of this year's trends involve maintaining the value oflandscapes while maximizing enjoyment of these outdoor spaces.

Top Ten 2009Landscape Trends

1)Grow your ownis growing! Kitchen gardens produce homegrownfruits and veggies.With the trend of buying more local produce, what ismore local than growing your own vegetables and fruit? Value-consciousconsumers also know that growing their own produce saves money. A kitchengarden of 600 square feet can yield a $500 return on an average gardener'sinvestment in seeds, plants, fertilizer and other garden supplies, according tothe National Gardening Association. Besides saving money, earth-ripened fruits and vegetables taste better.

2)Insert Your Address Here -is your mostaffordable vacation destination. Uncertainty with the economy is forcing manyAmericans to curb or cut vacation travel this year, making the cozy comforts ofhome foremost. This means improving outdoor livingareas.You don't have to travelthe globe to enjoy the tranquility of an Asian garden or the formality of anEnglish estate. Any back yard can become a personal oasis. With Colorado's 300+ days of sunshine,outdoor living areas can be enjoyed all year as places to kick back, entertain,enjoy and escape. Take inspirationfrom ALCC's website www.alcc.comto viewaward-winning landscapes and world gardens built right here in Colorado.

3)Homeownersare using curb appeal as a the competitive edge to sell their homes. High-quality landscape increasedhome sales prices anywhere from 5.7 to 10.8 percent, compared to averagelandscapes, according to a home sale study in theJournal of Environmental Horticulture. Research from the University of Minnesota shows thatevery $1 spent on landscape returns $1.35.Smart sellers know the best way to improve the firstimpression of a home is to improve its landscape curb appeal.

4)Get going ongoing green.Sustainable landscapes can be the most efficient because theymaximize available resources - water, light, the best plant combinations anduse of local products. Reduce/reuse/recycle is being applied to the landscapein ways like a compost pile for the veggies, recycling hardscape materials likeboulders or flagstone into new configurations and placing more wood mulch inbeds to cut water use.

5)Water-wiseawareness is mainstream. Being water-wise is budget and environmentallyfriendly, sustainable and just common sense. That's why homeowners arerenovating and upgrading sprinkler systems to cut water usage and costs.Popular items are rain sensors and ET controllers that halt watering when thesoil doesn't need it and updated sprinkler heads and nozzles that increasewater-efficiency even more. Ownersare also managing sprinklers smarter by setting clocks to water early morningor late evening and applying only the amount of water plants really need.

6)Therapeuticgardening is IN. Maintaining your lawn and gardennot only makes you popular with your neighbors, it is also beneficial foroverall fitness, stress relief and mental tranquility. Some gardens, like theone ALCC recently provided for theAnschutzCancer Pavilion in Aurora, are specifically designed to provide a healingenvironment for patients.

7)MotherNature's AC is A-OK.Trees are nature's canopies for providing shade. Theyare an investment that provides many returns including the cooling of ourhomes, reducing summer energy costs and improving our landscape aesthetics andcurb appeal. Questions to ask before planting a shade tree include: how muchspace is available for the tree, will tree roots affect your foundation, whattrees grow best in Colorado's arid climate and how long will it take for thetree to provide shade?

8)Nostalgia isjust as 'cool' as the latest trends.Getting back to basics this year means many people are recreating gardenmemories from mom's and grandma's gardening days using old favorites likepeonies and daisies. Ask your landscape designerabout new spins on old staples likepeonies, daisies, roses and iris, which are now available in more colorful andhardy varieties.

9)Light it up.Night lighting that highlights your house and landscape is one of thefastest-growing landscape innovations. Not only does it look great, but itincreases home security. And new fluorescent and LED lighting options meanusing less electricity. LEDs even come in multiple colors, adding variety toyournightscape.

10)A place for kids is top priority. Parents who are savvy about "nochild left indoors" want to help their kids get outside where they can enjoythe mental and physical benefits of interacting with nature. Theseparents are creating outdoor environments that attract butterflies and otherwildlife, that get kids growing veggies and flowers they can pick and that arelots more fun to interact with than indoor computer games.

With morethan 700 members across the state, the Associated Landscape Contractors ofColorado is the premier professional organization for Colorado's landscapecontractors. ALCC has been at the forefront for more than 40 years helpingColorado's landscape industry address Colorado's unique climate and promotingresponsible use of water and other natural resources. ALCC member firms providea wide range of landscape services including design, installation, maintenance,consultation and water management. To view photos of award-winning landscapes,Ask an Expert questions or find a qualified landscape professional, visit theWeb sitewww.alcc.com.

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CONTACT:

Chuck Montera

303-778-8355

chuck@siglerinc.com