Just as many early to mid summer plants start to look a bit tired, the lavender bushes send up their beautiful blue spires with their unmistakable old-fashioned fragrance to lift the whole garden out of the doldrums. What a treat this plant is, easy care and totally reliable, it is also extremely drought tolerant which [...]
Final Thoughts: “Shrubs in the garden, perennials from seed and garden surprises” by Mala Gunadasa-Rohling A nice surprise greeted me one morning a couple of weeks ago – I looked out the window at the weeping willow that hangs over one corner of our garden from the neighbours (a very nice ‘borrowed’ plant) and saw [...]
June In-Depth How-To: Increase your vegetable production with Succession Planting Many beginner gardeners plant their crops in the spring, harvest the vegetables, then clean up the garden and wait till next year to start all over again. It is very easy to get more enjoyment, not to mention more production out of your garden. Try [...]
Summer Book Review: “Perennials for British Columbia” by Alison Beck & Marianne Binetti. Lone Pine Publishing ISBN 1-55105-258-X Softcover. 352 pages. $21.95 CAD Suggested Retail Price This new book from Lone Pine Publishing is the Canadian (British Columbia to be precise) edition of the gardening guide ‘Perennials for Washington and Oregon’, launched at the Northwest [...]
It’s official – summer is here, although the rainy and cold weather that we’ve been having so far in Vancouver (and also in England if Chelsea coverage is anything to go by) wouldn’t let on to that fact…still, there is lots to do in the garden now, so out you go! Start to sow quick [...]
Even experienced gardeners can benefit by using some seedtapes – this is a super easy and fast way to sow seeds that are the perfect space apart every time (no more thinning, which is great for people like myself that can’t bear to remove perfectly healthy seedlings just because they are too close to another [...]
Air layering is an easy technique to bring those too-tall houseplants back into a manageable size. This method basically causes the plant to produce roots high up on the stem, then the top part can be severed and replanted as a shorter, compact plant. Here’s how to do it: 1. Choose the right candidate: This [...]
“Don’t be in a Hurry with your Seeds!” by David Tarrant February is often the month when we get carried away and start to sow annual seeds too early for the season ahead. The key factor to think about when sowing seeds is to count how many weeks it will be before it is safe [...]
“Late December Decisions” by ??? As I sit writing this journal entry to close to the dreaded Y2K, I stop and think we may not have to worry about pruning or seed ordering in a few days. If things collapse next week I can be sure of one thing – the bamboo jungle in front [...]
by Linda D. Harris, Horticulturist, Ferry-Morse Seed Company Winter covers the ground everywhere north of Zone 8. Right now your next garden is still a dream. Begin now to make the dream real. Start planning on paper. Then begin thinking about which seeds to start for the next garden’s flowers, herbs and vegetables indoors. Growing [...]