March 13, 2013 at 2:28 am (Plant Bio Garden)
Tags: spring flowering bulbs
They need full sun and good drainage. The rhizome needs to be visible. If they are planted to deep it will encourage root rot and disease.
Be aware when planting iris’s that the blue and purple varieties are more vigorous. The stronger more dominant cultivars will take over the iris bed and edge out the other colours.
It is best to divide and move the iris’s in the mid to late summer.
March 5, 2013 at 1:32 am (Plant Bio Garden)
Tags: spring flowering bulbs
Daffodils grow and spread. They must be divided regularly or they become crowded and will not bloom well. Divide or plant your bulbs in summer or early autumn. It would be a good idea to mark where they are.
Some daffodil varieties are naturally more vigorous than others. If planted too close together the more vigorous type will crowd out the less vigorous. Yellow daffodils will crowd out the white daffodils.
Pests avoid eating daffodil flowers and bulbs. These spring-flowering bulbs will put a smiled on every gardeners face.
February 18, 2013 at 1:27 am (Gardens)
Using Herbs
The good thing about growing herbs is that they are always available for cooking. When picking the herbs, pinch out the uppermost growing tips. Pinching the tops helps to keep the plant bushy. You can use the herbs dried or frozen instead of fresh, or when the fresh herbs are out of season. To dry the herbs, gather them carefully before the plants are in full flower. Place the leaves in a warm, dry, airy place out of the sun. The leaves should be turned every day. They will dry in about a week. Another way is to hang sprigs of leaves in a warm, dry place. When they become brittle, store the leaves in tightly sealed jars. Be careful not to crumble them. When freezing the herbs, wash the leaves and then blanch them by placing them in boiling water for one minute. Pu the leaves in the freezer as soon as they are cold. You can use frozen herbs by cutting them and putting them straight into the cooking pot, without thawing.
Herbs can be used for more than just cooking. Sprigs of dried herbs, especially rosemary, thyme, and marjoram, produce a light fragrance that sweetens the air. Dried lavender flowers can be tied up in sachets and used as a freshener in your linen drawer.
Pot-pourries are made by mixing dried herbs, flower petals and spices. Place the mixture in bowls to scent the air.
Herbs are also used in bath salts. Similar to using the sachets for scenting. You can find different recipes for adding salts and using in your bath water.
Growing Herbs
Herbs like fertile, well drained soil. They like equal parts of soil, sand, and organic matter. The herbs should be kept just moist. Most herbs can be grown from seeds. Start them in small pots and transplant them into larger pots as they grow. When starting from seeds moisten the soil and cover with a plastic dome. Place in a sunny window. Thin out the shoots as they grow. It is best to grow each kind of herb in its own pot. This way you can move them around and use which ever one you want without disturbing the others
July 11, 2012 at 5:46 pm (Gardens)
Keep them interested, use quick sprouting plants, such as lettuce, radishes, nasturtiums, and marigolds. Let the children pick out a few bedding out plants, such as petunias. This will add instant colour.
Plant radishes or leaf lettuce in your child’s initials in the soil, if you have the space. They will be thrilled when the plants start to grow.
Plant easily to grow mint. When it is ready, you can make a batch of mint tea with your child. Fill a two-liter glass jar with water and a handful of mint leaves that have been rinsed off and tea bags to taste. Cover the jar with tin foil and let it sit in a sunny spot for two – three hours. Pour into glasses, add ice and a teaspoon of honey. Enjoy a nice glass of tea after you and your child work in the garden. It is a great way to admire the plants and build some good memories together.
Make a fun planter, use a sneaker or boot, try an old toy – dump truck, or a tea pot. Start by poking a couple of holes in the bottom or put a few rocks in the bottom for drainage. Fill partially with soil, then you and your child can plant something fun like hens and chicks. Firm the soil with your fingers when you are happy with the planting. Maybe petunias or violets in the tea pot. When finished settling the new fun planter into the garden amongst the flowers is all that is left to do.
If you have the space a fun project to try is planting sunflowers in a circle or square, leaving one end open so your child can enter, creating a secret room in the garden.
The best part of gardening with children is being able to see the world through their eyes. Follow their imagination when you can. Use the garden as a learning tool to teach them patience, and how to work with their hands, and to be gentle. It is also a good tool for learning how to create and the consequences of what happens when ….. The world opens up when you look through a child’s eyes. The wonder and amazement I love it.
July 26, 2011 at 6:49 pm (Plant Bio Garden)
I read this article in a magazine and thought it would be of interest to you. It was written by Stephen Westcott-Gratton.
As soon as the frost is out of the ground, dig a hole at least 40 cm. deep by 50 cm. wide. A sunny spot would be good. Add a shovelful of well – rotted manure and another of compost or peat moss. Add two handfuls of bone meal and several shovelfuls of the excavated soil; mix well. Mound up the mixture in the center of the hole to form a pyramid.
For best results, a bare-root rose must be planted immediately. Once the planting hole has been prepared, discard the packaging and plunge the rose’s roots into a bucket of cool water for no longer than one hour to rehydrate them.
1) Stimulate new growth by trimming off the bottom 2.5 cm. from each root if the rose has broken dormancy. Trim off any leafy white shoots to 5 mm. from the woody stems.
2) Gently spread the roots over the pyramid of soil, in zones 2 – 4 the union can be placed as deep as 15 centimeters. Adjust the height of the pyramid to position the plant at the appropriate depth.
3) Using one hand to hold the rose in position, backfill the hole with additional top soil until level with the soil surface. Firmly pack down the soil to eliminate air pockets.
4) Water the rose thoroughly using a solution of 10-52-10 transplant applied at half strength.
5) Hill up the rose bush with additional top soil, leaving just the tips of the canes exposed, to prevent them from scorching in the bright spring sun before the roots have begun to establish. After two weeks remove the excess top soil used to hill up the bush so the graft point sits at the appropriate depth below the surface. Add a 3-4 centimeter thick layer of mulch to help conserve water and discourage weeds. Healthy green shoots should appear in seven to fourteen days.
July 12, 2011 at 9:40 pm (Gardens)
When you see strange bumps on leaves of your grape plants, they are called galls, (wart – like formations). They are found on the undersides of the leaves. Galls are caused by microscopic insects, native to Eastern North America and Europe (daktulosphaira vitifoliae). It’s found on both wild and cultivated grapes.
The galls are unsightly, but harmless and are farmed as the female eats the leaves. She then lays the eggs in the galls.
If the insect’s population becomes large enough, the nyphs start to move down to the soil and then to the roots. There they continue to form galls. Severe root infestations can cause total leaf drop, retard stem growth and eventually kill the vine.
May 20, 2011 at 5:58 pm (Plant Bio Garden)
The foliage is great on these wonderful plants, it varies widely. The leaves may be smooth or rippled; they may be lanced shaped, oval, round, or heart-shaped. The colour of the foliage may be green, yellow, blue-gray, or variegated.
Flowers are showy. They would look great planted in a large group, not the same impact one alone. The flowers are predominately lavender or white.
Hostas prefer fertile, moist, well – drained soil. Though they are shade tolerant, they will do best if they receive morning sunlight.
These plants do well in Calgary and should be used as much as possible in the shady areas. They look great around the base of some trees, or under a balcony or deck that is built up high.
May 15, 2011 at 6:11 am (Plant Bio Garden)
There was a time when the strawberry was thought to be an aphrodisiac. Folklore said that if you cut a double strawberry in half and share it with a member of the opposite sex you will fall in love with each other. Wedding banquets in France made sure to serve strawberry-based soup to the newlyweds.
For over two thousand years people in Europe have been eating strawberries. This red berry is a member of the rose family. This is the only fruit that has seeds on the outside. Depending on the size and type, each strawberry can have as many as two hundred seeds.
There are four main types that strawberries are grouped into for growing:
1) June Bearing – Produces one crop in midsummer with larger fruit and more flowers and runners than all other types.
2) Day Neutral – Fruits several times a season.
3) Ever Bearing – Has a crop in summer and one in the fall.
4) Alpine – Sprouts marble sized edible berries throughout the summer.
Strawberries can be found in almost every part of North America. They are very easy to cultivate. Strawberries need a few things to be successful in growing; they need space, good sunlight, and well-drained, slightly acidic soil. You will want to prepare the soil by digging in a few inches of manure, compost or peat moss.
Some popular methods of planting are to plant in hills and in matted rows. Ever Bearing and Day Neutral types that have a few runners are best grown using the hill method. Make the mounds or hills approximately three inches high and twelve inches apart on all sides. Set the plants into the hills and spread the roots out. This method is good for a long-lasting site or if space is an issue. Using the matted row method makes for easier cultivation and care. The plants are placed eighteen inches apart and the rows are three to four feet apart. This method works best for June Bearing types; it is also effective if you’re planning to harvest the runners to set new plants.
The first year of growth is the most significant. Do not let the June Bearing type have flowers, fruit or runners the first year. Let all the energy go to establishing the roots of the plant. Remove flowers of Ever Bearing and Day Neutral strawberries until mid summer, allowing flowers to fruit and set in the fall. Remove extra runners from all plant types annually forcing nutrients to the “mother” plant making it stronger for the next year harvest.
Strawberry plants have a life cycle of about four to five years, and must be replaced to continue the supply of tasty berries. A good rule of thumb is to replace twenty-five percent of your plants annually starting in the third year.
Using plastic netting over the top of the strawberry patch will discourage the birds from getting the berries before you do. Plants need about an inch of water each week and should be mulched to help hold in the moisture, water in the morning. If you find there is a bug problem you can use insecticidal soap, spray thoroughly.
Strawberries are one of the most popular fruits. They are used in pies, jams, ice cream, cakes, etc. They are good for your completion and full of vitamins. So have fun with growing them and enjoy eating them.
March 7, 2011 at 7:09 pm (Gardens)
Tags: Gardens
In this fast paced life we live, it is good to have a hobby. Something to help us cope with our busy lives, the stresses of day-to-day living. Gardening is just the ticket to take your mind off your worries for a short time. You can dive into your garden as much or as little as you want. As a gardener here in Calgary I have all kinds of clients. Some people want to do everything, they just need to know what to put where. Some people need the spring clean up done so they can get to work with the planting, others want to work a small part of the garden and would prefer I work the rest of the gardens. Then there is my favorite, they want the garden to look pretty. They do not have time or energy to work the garden. They want to come home and just enjoy their garden.
There are several steps to making a beautiful garden. First start with the plans. I like to look at pictures, some from my garden last year others from gardens in magazines. I then decide what I want to keep, what to move, and what to get rid of. When you have made your notes and drawn your pictures, it is time to decide on the plants. Every year I pick a plant that I’m not familiar with and add it to my garden. I like to see if it’s going to work in my area, will I like how it looks, etc. Some I love and have kept, others I either do not like as much or they were poor performers in my garden.
When you plan your garden out use all your senses. Plant herbs or certain flowers for their smell, plant some flowers for their colour. I like to plant a few things because I like to touch them, like snap dragons (they can talk), or lamb’s ears they feel so fuzzy, etc. You know what I’m saying, we all have these plants that we like. Some I plant to draw in the birds or butterflies. Plant things that you like that make you want to stay in your garden. I have watched a bumble bee wake up on the head of an Allium. I can tell you all kinds of stories about garden life. I think gardens are wonderful, magical places, filled with all kinds of great stories.
After a hectic week at work, fighting traffic, meeting deadlines, etc. it is nice to have a place to retreat to for a couple of hours, filled with wonderful sights and smells. Learn to relax and enjoy the beauty in your own yard. As you work in your garden week after week you will notice when and where the flowers come up. Already you will be thinking next year I will move this plant over here and I will put that plant over by the other one that blooms a little later. You might also be thinking of colour and where you would like to see more or different colour. Gardening is a great hobby. Do as much or as little as you need to feel “right” with the world. What you do in life – at work and home is important. To be able to de-stress and relax makes it easier to move through the world touching all the lives we do in a daily basis. It makes you better at being you.
February 1, 2011 at 10:17 pm (Gardens)
Trees have a yearly cycle. They lose water all winter long. Calgary is hard on our trees, being in the heart of chinook country.
As soon as the frost leaves the ground you should start watering 1 -2 inches every 2 weeks. If you do not have a rain gauge try using a measuring cup to find out how long it takes to water. Do not forget to measure the rain and then water or skip accordingly.
If possible direct the water from your down spout to the trees. No sense in wasting water.
In Calgary you should water until the first week in October. Then give the trees a good “soaking” to get ready for winter. Probably twice what you normally water. Then leave the trees alone. Let them get ready for winter. It is important not to water after mid October. It may cause damage to the trees. They need time to adjust to the climate changes and get ready for their dormancy.
There is no sense to watering in the winter. The ground is frozen and any water will just stay on the surface and freeze. The roots will never get any of the water even with the Chinooks. It is better to wait for spring and all the frost is out of the ground. That way you will not “fool” your trees into thinking spring has come too early.
It is best to water your trees with a heavy, long single soak. This way the grass will get it’s water and the rest of the water will go below the grass roots to the roots of the tree.
The best time to water is early morning or late at night. If that is not possible it is still important to water especially if the temperature is in the high 20’s or 30’s.
Even though Calgary’s climate is dry and we have a lot of clay in our soil, it is still possible to drown the trees.
The most important part of tree care is watering. As with most plants watering too much or too little causes 80% of tree related problems.
When planting new trees let them sit for 48 hours after planting before watering. This will allow the tips of the fine root hairs to harden before being submerged in water. When you start to water, make sure to keep the tree well watered depending on the specific soil you have.
Your trees need more water than the grass. Every couple of weeks when you are out working in your garden or just enjoying the patio area, let the hose trickle into the tree wells. If you water deeply and infrequently you will promote deep root growth. This makes for healthier more drought – resistant trees.
During mid September to mid October you can harden off the more mature trees by watering them sparingly. Late October give them a good soaking just before you are ready to shut off your outside taps.
During the winter you can keep throwing snow over the roots and around the base of the trees.
New trees should not be pruned for a couple of years. Fertilizing is good for the first few years. Spikes are not recommended. They do not break down uniformly, and may burn the fine root hairs where they are inserted. Mulching is important. Put a layer of mulch around your new tree. Wood-chip bark is best. Mulch holds in moisture, slows weed growth, keeps soil temperature even. Helps to keep the grass from growing around the base of tree, adds organic matter to your soil, and helps stop surface roots from being exposed when first watered. Use about 4-5 inches of mulch.
Pathway to Plants 