Posts Tagged ‘design’

Magnolia tree in the snow, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, April 27 2010

Despite the return of winter in many parts of North America this week, many of us are looking forward to planting and enjoying our garden and balcony.  The key word here is “planning”.  Often, laden with enthusiasm, we leap into our shopping and end up having to do more “management” than actual gardening.

 Last year we posted a blog suggesting you take photographs to help you guide your decisions for this summer.  Now is a good time to visit those pics and see what kind of improvements or changes you’d like to make. Try to count how many plants of this type or that you will require, to better structure your purchases when you reach the nursery or garden center.

A good idea is to bring paper and pencil (and camera if you can) when you do your plant shopping.  Keen salespeople and beautiful show cases often inundate our mind with lovely design ideas that are quickly forgotten once we get back home.

Browse through past biofloris blogs  in the archive section and visit the biofloris pest encyclopedia and check what kind of ailments your garden suffered last year.  Plan your biofloris purchases now – this way you’ll be able to spend even more time outdoors once Mother Nature takes a turn for the better.

 Visit your local community center to find out even more about environmentally friendly gardening.  Check out web sites.  For example, this week Marjorie Harris published a Spring e-letter. Check it out:  http://marjorieharris.com/newsletter/2010/eletter27Apr2010.php. It provides many important planning and preparation suggestions.

 Also, keep your eyes open for part II of our nematode blog – to be posted real soon.

Terrie Greco, B.A.; HLT Dip.

Terrie Greco,  B.A.; HLT Dip.

 Using introduced plants instead of native plants is not wrong, it is a matter of preference. But gardeners should educate themselves and avoid the use of introduced plants with aggressive root systems, or plants that are prolific seeders. Plants such as Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacorus), Periwinkle (Vinca minor) and English Ivy (Hedera helix) are widely used non-native landscape plants that have escaped into waterways and forests and are crowding out native Canadian species.

Make gradual changes to your garden to increase native plant use. Ask yourself if some of your existing plants have not met your expectations – if you can think of a few right now – analyze why they don’t work.  If they are not thriving, then the choice is clear – select a native plant that is better suited to your garden environment!  If a plant does not meet your design objectives, then research native plants that can provide a more appropriate architectural form.  Avoid plants that are invasive or aggressive under any circumstances, and ensure that the plants are truly native. Accurate lists of native plants should come from a reputable source, such as a government agency, botanical garden or organizations dedicated to environmentally sound garden practices.  Here are a few great links:

http://nativeplants.evergreen.ca/

http://www.rbg.ca/cbcn/en/projects/invasives/i_list.html

http://nature.ca/discover/ntvplnts/ntvplnts_e.cfm

Native plant species will vary widely between ecoregions. The beauty of using native plants in your garden is that you will create a more natural habitat for indigenous wildlife, and have fewer ̏cultural̋ problems.

Attention all passionate gardeners! Canada Blooms, North America’s largest garden show opens its doors to the public from March 17^th to March 21^st in Toronto, Canada.  It’s well worth the trip to enjoy landscapes, floral displays, attend workshops and shop till you drop in the marketplace. The theme?  You guessed it – ‘Passions’. See you there! http://www.canadablooms.com/