Submitted by Joan Regan
Planting In The Rocks
AKA a Rock Garden. Lots of little pockets to plant in. Try lining the holes with some newspaper, plop in some soil and a plant and it will keep the soil in till the plants take hold.
Transplanting
Other plants in your way? Simply get a big old towel open it up and gently lift the plant back out of the way. The towel will hold it down without any damage to the plant.
Planting Perennials in Containers
Remember they are Perennials and they need the same soil they’re used to in the garden. Container soil is not going to work here. In my wheelbarrow full of good quality soil I will mix in a large shovel full of mulch and the same of homemade compost before putting into the containers. No fillers (plastic bottles etc.); if they cave in there will be a hole that could fill with water, then ice, and that could be a death sentence for your plants.
Sweet Woodruff
Love this little plant. It’s pretty in pots as well as in the garden. The soil will stay put on a small slope – it fills in between plants giving the garden a fuller look as well as discouraging weeds. It is also very pretty as a back drop for container gardening. Fills in quick come Spring so the garden doesn’t look so empty as it is coming alive.
Bears… and Other Critters
The one thing we don’t want are critters in our composters. Raccoons Porky Pines, and especially Bears. First of all, we do not want any wild critters around – we especially have to think of our neighbours with pets and small children. The most cruel thing we can do to any wild animal is provide a food source for them. It does NOT end well usually for the critters.
My composters are contained and the lid is always on. Every addition is stirred in and I also put the paper from my shredder in as well (it will keep the odour down). I also have a garden composter right there and will add this to the kitchen one occasionally.
Fertiliser
I like to fertilise the Annuals till late Summer, but don’t usually feed the Perennials – they get compost in the soil and that seems to keep them happy.
Plants Starting To Look Tired?
Not to worry. It’s just the “Summer Time Blues”… and we all know “There ain’t no cure for the Summer Time Blues.”
HAPPY GARDENING,
Joni
519 596 2389 jpregan@amtelecom.net
