Introducing Water into the Garden

There are few things in life more tranquil than the sound of running water. Gardening, for most, might be about flowers and trees, but introducing a pond, waterfall or fountain will make your outdoor living space that much more appealing. Your water garden can involve a grand feature that includes waterfalls, streams and ponds with lilies and fish or can be as simple as a wall-mounted fountain whose purpose is to drown out the urban noise around you.

The water gardening industry has improved in recent years with the availability of water garden supplies such as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) liner, high efficiency pumps, unique fountains, and a wide variety of decorative stone. These improvements have allowed home gardeners more options in the creation of their own back yard oasis.

 Your oasis may include a natural looking pond. A waterfall cascading into the pond will provide the sound of moving water. Gardens at the pond’s edge will allow plants to reflect in the pond’s surface, and fish and blooming water plants will complete the tranquil setting. If your ideal oasis includes a waterfall, but you find maintenance of fish and water plants daunting, consider a pondless waterfall. Recently introduced into the market, these low-maintenance features, which include a waterfall and enough water to provide adequate flow but have no exposed water surface, have become a popular option.

 Whatever water feature you choose, careful planning is important. One of the most important considerations is the placement of the feature. Firstly, ensure a safe electrical source is accessible and close by. Secondly, where possible, locate the feature close to the patio or deck and where it can be viewed from inside the house, which will extend your enjoyment of it. Where a natural looking pond is your goal, include gardens around the pond’s perimeter in your plan. If you prefer a free-standing fountain, shop around first. Countless options are available, including prefabricated concrete, iron or fiberglass pieces in many styles and colours. Many pieces of pottery or statuary can be modified and made into a fountain as long as it can contain water and accommodate a pump. Maintenance of free-standing fountains involves the regular removal of any debris that may clog the pump and the refilling of the container as the water evaporates.

 Whether you prefer a natural pond containing fish and lilies and surrounded by gardens, or a pondless waterfall or water cascading over a unique sculptural piece, a water feature can provide that finishing touch to your landscape. The tranquility that water creates will encourage you, the birds and butterflies and other local wildlife to enjoy your outdoor living space even more.

 Good luck and good gardening

Steve Check

Spring Time Tips for your Lawn & Garden

 

Spring really is just around the corner and with such beautiful weather the grass will be green and the flowers will be blooming in the gardens in no time.  This is certainly a nice change from last year when we saw record amounts of snow, it made for an extremely wet spring.  This years lack of snow is going to allow for a great start on your lawn and garden, I want to share a few tips with you that will allow you to enjoy this spring and summer in your own backyard, with the right look and proper maintenance program you won’t need to drive anywhere to escape.

Let’s start with your lawn. Everyone wants to have that beautiful lawn like their neighbours, thick green and weed free but with the ban on pesticides how are they doing it ? There are a few things you need to know that has proven results in giving you the lawn that you desire and without the use of pesticides.  The first key to a healthy lawn is great soil; you must have a good ph balance in your soil to ensure optimal growth for the root system and a thicker green appearance. 

The first step this spring is to de-thatch your lawn. Thatch is that tough layer of dead organic matter between the lawn and the soil. When thatch becomes too thick, it blocks water and nutrients from getting to the soil. Aeration is also essential to reduce thatch problems.

You’ll also want to aerate your lawn. Aeration is the process of removing plugs of soil from your lawn. This creates spaces for air, water and nutrients to penetrate into the soil and promotes the growth of beneficial microorganisms. It also increases water absorption and reduces surface runoff.

An important step is to fertilize in the Spring & Fall.  This Spring you want a fertilizer that has a high (N) Nitrogen number because that is what’s needed to stimulate leaf growth and will give you a green lawn.  (P) Phosphorus is the second nutrient and that’s associated with strong root growth as well as stores and transfers energy. (K) Potassium regulates the water movement in plants and activates enzymes that are associated with disease resistance.  Purchasing the right fertilizer for the season is a very important part to having a beautiful lawn that can also handle the stresses of our Canadian winters.

The last and maybe most important step is to top dress and over seed, this can be done together. Topdressing involves spreading good quality topsoil or compost on top of your lawn. This adds organic matter and improves the condition of the soil. Overseeding is the process of adding grass seed to your lawn to make it thicker and able to crowd out weeds. Choose high quality lawn seed that assures fewer weeds and poor grass types for shady areas, be sure to pick a blend that is labeled for shade, and sun for the brighter areas avoid buying “all purpose” grass seed a mixture of grass types (perennial ryegrass, fescue, bluegrass) is more resistant to weeds and pests. 

Now that we have your lawn all ready for summer and that first cut in May let’s look at what you can do for your garden.  Every season it is very important to remove all dead plant material and any annuals you may have planted, you want all the water and nutrients to make its way into your perennials for spring. Removing all weeds by hand is the best way to ensure they are completely out root and all. Creating a new clean edge around your garden beds will help to keep weeds and grass from creeping back into your garden, at least 5 inches deep and on an angle to retain water and mulch. The number one key to maintaining a weed free garden bed is to mulch, mulch, mulch, mulch.  A thick layer of organic mulch around plants will help to control weeds, conserve soil moisture, and add nutrients to the soil. There are many different kinds of mulch you can purchase in bulk or by the bag, for large gardens it’s recommened to order in bulk as it will save you money.  Nature’s Image also recommends the Gro Bark in Cedar or Pine, both have a great long lasting look and smell as well as holding in the water nutrients better than the dyed mulch.  If weeds are a serious problem, lay down landscape fabric before mulching.

Wether you are are a weekend warrior who likes to tackle everything yourself, or you just need to know what services you need to book for your lawn this season, I hope I’ve given you some helpful information to get this Spring off to a great start for your lawn & garden.

Tracey Conrad