Sunset Nursery GARDEN CENTRE & GREENHOUSES
SPRING 2019
Lemon Coral – Beautiful,Versatile & Easy Ž
Lemon Coral sedum lights up the garden all season with its spiky-yet-soft textured, glowing chartreuse, succulent foliage that just begs to be touched. It pairs effortlessly with all kinds of sun and part shade loving plants in containers and landscapes. Forget to water for a few days? No one will ever know. If only everything in life was so easy! Find this award winner at www.nationalplantoftheyear.com.
CONTENTS 7
Featured Products
10
Millennials Use Plants to Turn Houses Into Homes
12
Fascinating Ferns
14
Trees & Shrubs for Small Spaces
16
"Growing" Good Garden Dogs
18
Your Perfect Lawn: Easy as 1-2-3
20
"Mix it up!" when it comes to your containers
22
Specimens & Focal Points - Oh My!
24
Strawberry and Avocado Chicken Salad
Photo - Proven Winners
31
Spring Into Fashion!
This publication may not be reproduced, all or in part, without written consent from the publisher and Sunset Nursery. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all content in the publication, however, the publisher will not be held accountable for omissions or errors. Note that products may vary between retailers and regions, and supplies may be limited. Pricing is subject to change and is not valid with any other offer. A selection of photos in this magazine provided by Proven WinnersÂŽ.
Everything you need to maintain
Photo - Proven Winners
your perfect garden. Comfort Bypass Loppers • Gear transmission • Total length 20 inches • 1.45" opening for twigs and fresh branches
Classic Pruner Loppers • 27 inches • 2 component handle • Soft component for better grips
Boxwood Hedge Clipper • 6.7 in blade • GEL handles for comfortable prolonged use.
Bypass Vario Pruner • 2 hand size setting for great comfort • 24 mm cutting diameter • Stainless steel bottom blade
Colourwave Thumb Control Nozzle • Thumb control 9 Pattern nozzle • Heavy duty construction • Easy to use thumb control
Colourwave Nozzle • 7 pattern spray nozzle
Professional Thumb Control Ergo Nozzle • Thumb Control 8 Pattern Metal Nozzle • Water flow is fully adjustable • 8 spray patterns
Premium Polymer Hose • • • •
5/8" x 50' All season flexibility Drinking water safe Lightweight and kink proof
This year we are experimenting with new product placement and presentation to enhance our customers experience in our store. We welcome any comments on how we can make your visit more enjoyable. Our professional staff is here to take the mystery out of gardening. Their countless years of experience ensure that they are able to solve your gardening challenges with solutions that work. Ladies in the area continue to rave about Karisma fashion boutique inside Sunset Nursery. This is an oasis of exclusive fashion lines that are both trendy and affordable.
From the
W
Owner
elcome to the Spring Edition of Sunset Nursery Home & Gardening Magazine. Spring is a wonderful time of year when plants get a fresh start and a new beginning. All these plants we forget about during the winter burst into a fireworks of colour and new growth. I love to watch our staff when all the new varieties and products arrive. Their excitement is infectious and they can’t wait to share their new discoveries with you.
Besides growing all our annuals fresh in our own greenhouses, Sunset Nursery is the Valley’s largest supplier of trees, shrubs, perennials, vines, fruit trees and bushes, as well as all your gardening needs. New visitors to our facility are amazed at the numerous products that are available. These include garden statuary, puzzles and games, kitchen gadgets, diffusers and essential oils, wall art, tropicals and more! Let us help you create the home and yard you dream about. We look forward to hosting your visit.
Ross
SPRING 2019 • 5
SPRING 2019 at Sunset Nursery KIWANIS CLUB OF PEMBROKE PRESENTS SPRING FASHIONS ON KARISMA RUNWAY
KARISMA FASHION BOUTIQUE BIG SAVINGS EVENT
Wednesday, April 3rd at 6:00 pm - at Sunset Nursery
Saturday & Sunday - June 22nd & 23rd
Join us for a night of fashion and fun as we welcome the spring season. Hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, wine bar and door prizes will be available. Receive 20% off regular priced fashion items. Ticket discounts expire Saturday, April 6th. Tickets are $20.00.
BIG fashions come with BIG savings and here at Karisma we want to show you how much you mean to us! Buy two regular priced pieces of women’s clothing and get the third one of equal or lesser value for FREE.
SPRING OPEN HOUSE Friday to Sunday - April 26th to 28th Calling all gardeners! Ever wonder what beauty lies behind the glass in a greenhouse? It’s a great time to come and view the new varieties and colour schemes for 2019.
MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND Saturday & Sunday - May 11th & 12th Celebrate Mom this year and give a gift that lasts all season a hanging basket or a patio planter. Don’t forget that gift cards make the perfect gift! Our gift cards don’t expire and are good anywhere in the store and come in any denomination! This weekend only at Karisma, buy any regular price clothing get 20% off.
DISCOVER THE WORLD OF EDIBLE GARDENS Saturday & Sunday - May 25th & 26th Featuring an array of edible options including ready to eat herbs, vegetable seedlings and more! Experts will be on hand to help you with ideas for small container gardening or large format vegetable and fruit gardens. Buy one vegetable plant from our greenhouse and get one 50% off of equal or lesser value!
FATHER'S DAY TREE & SHRUB FESTIVAL Saturday & Sunday - June 15th & 16th
SUMMER PERENNIAL PARTY Friday to Sunday - July 5th to 7th Summer is here! Start off your perennial garden by filling in any empty spots this weekend with our Perennial sale! Buy 2 Perennials get the 3rd FREE!
CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAYS Saturday & Sunday - July 20th & 21st We wouldn’t be here without you! We want you to know that we appreciate each and every one of you. So everything on the property is 30% off!* *Excludes new fall Crocs and sod.
PERENNIALS, TREES AND SHRUBS Keep your eyes open for weekly specials throughout July and August. Check our Facebook page and website for current in-store specials and more detailed information on events!
Watch for our
CHRISTMAS DREAMS BARN
Celebrate Dad this year! Don’t forget that gift cards make the perfect gift! Our gift cards don’t expire and come in any denomination! See our many in-store specials. 6 • SUNSET NURSERY - 613-638-4107 - WWW.SUNSETNURSERY.ON.CA
Opening Oct. 2019
www.sunsetnursery.on.ca @sunsetnurserygardencentre
FEATURED PRODUCTS COHASSET WOODEN CHIMES
MOLTEN GLASS ARTWORKS
Molten glass bowls and vases are made by Cohasset Gifts & Garden. Each piece is carefully hand crafted and moulded with fire to create beautifully stunning unique pieces that can be used for planting small tropicals, keeping air plants, creating mini world fairy garden scenes, fish bowls or anything else you can dream up!
SCRAMBLE SQUARES
Take the Scramble Squares 5-Minute Challenge! Unscramble the nine 4” x 4” square pieces by perfectly matching the beautiful illustrations on the squares’ edges, while forming a 12” x 12” square. Sound easy? It’s not! Can you unscramble the nine squares without scrambling your brain? See why Scramble Squares are “Easy to play, but hard to solve!”
These bamboo wind chimes are handmade in Bali from sustainable bamboo that is cultivated for its acoustical properties. After achieving the ideal moisture content, they are cut to length and then each tube is hand tuned to a gentle sound. Many designs feature hand crafted wood carvings that are combined with the wind chimes to make a truly unique gift.
PEBBLE ART
by Sharon Nowlan Sharon Nowlan’s collection transforms a mix of composite pebbles and other materials into inspirational designs, from angels and devoted friends to sentiments such as “Celebrate life,” and “Follow your heart." These fine artisan reproductions capture the joy and emotional experience of relationships, depicting couples, family, friends and individuals. A meaningful gift for the special people in your life - on special occasions, or "just because".
SNAILS OF TOAD HOLLOW
In the deepest recesses of “Toad Hollow” you will find the most adorable bright-eyed and bushy snails. Let these whimsical characters decorate your garden, they promise not to eat your foliage!
SPRING 2019 • 7
EXCITING New Plants Hydrangea – Summer Crush
Echinacea – Green Twister
With a profusion of big raspberry red or neon purple blooms, this variety brings floral quality blooms to your garden or patio container. Not only is it drop-dead gorgeous, but it is compact so you get a neat, tidy look throughout the summer. Fill a patio container with Summer Crush for a stunning look all season long. Summer Crush will make your outdoor living space the talk of the neighborhood.
One of the more popular perennials, Echinacea or “cone flowers” form a mound of green leaves with taller stems bearing daisy-shaped blooms. Green Twister offers a unique colour combination with the outer edge of the petals a yellowgreen colour that bleeds into a pale lilac-pink in the centre, surrounded by a bronze cone. A magnet to butterflies, coneflowers are ideal for sunny borders and the flowers are great for cutting.
Height: 18-36" Width: 18-36" Exposure: Full sun to part shade Zone: 4-9
Gingko – Mariken Also known as a “Maidenhair Tree”, this dwarf deciduous shrub is adorned with thick spreading branches, densely packed with fan-shaped, green leaves. Foliage turns brilliant golden yellow in the fall. This Gingko biloba is perfect as an accent for locations requiring smaller trees or for containers. Height: 2-3' Width: 7-8' Exposure: Full sun Zone: 5-9
Syringa – Flowerfesta White This dwarf lilac shrub stays compact to just 4' high which is an excellent plant for small gardens and balconies. This variety produces an abundance of white flower panicles that spread a lovely sweet fragrance. Repeat blooming means it flowers in early summer and again in autumn! In addition to container gardens Flowerfesta is also suitable for mass planting and as plant borders. Height: 3-4' Width: 3-4' Exposure: Full sun to part shade Zone: 3-7
Lonicera – Coral Star With precious apricot coloured flowers that spread a tropical perfume, this climber can shine like a true star in your garden or on your balcony. Flowers bloom in early summer and the foliage is a healthy, dark green. Coral Star can get up to 10' tall and can be used as a climber as well as ground cover. Height: 8-10' Width: 5-6' Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Zone: 5-8
Available at Sunset Nursery
Height: 35-39" Width: 13-14" Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Zone: 4-9
Hosta – Orange Star Hostas are among the most popular when it comes to perennials for shade. This mid-sized hosta has bright yellow leaves with dark green margins and an orange glow from the centre. Lavender flowers sprout on long stems from the centre in July. If grown in the morning sun, the thick leaf centers will be orange in spring that will fade in fall and when grown in shade yellow leaves will be apparent throughout the season. Height: 8-12" Width: 16-20" Exposure: Full to part shade Zone: 2-9
Sempervivum – Plum Parfait This Hens & Chicks has unique plum foliage. Consisting of one large rosette (the “hen”) and many smaller rosettes (the “chicks”) which can be pulled up and replanted elsewhere to start new plants. Collect several chicks and create a table top planter, perfect for patios, desks, or in a bright location in your home. Succulents are perfect for the gardening expert as well as for the beginner gardener. Height: 2-3" Width: 12" Exposure: Full sun to part shade Zone: 3-9
Heuchera – Forever Red This lovely, fast growing Heuchera has the reddest leaves ever, a great crown, and it is a vigorous grower. The leaves are cut and somewhat ruffled and reddest in the spring and fall when the temperatures are cooler. The 14" spikes with white flowers in mid-summer compliment and contrast with the foliage. Height: 6-8" Width: 12-14" Exposure: Full sun to part shade Zone: 4-9
8 • SUNSET NURSERY - 613-638-4107 - WWW.SUNSETNURSERY.ON.CA
ENCOURAGES VIGOROUS GROWTH • ORGANIC BASED FORMULA • 2X MORE VEGETABLES, FRUITS, AND BIGGER BLOOMS • SUITABLE FOR ALL CROPS AND PLANTS
PROMIXGARDENING.COM
ACHIEVE SUPERIOR GROWTH IN THE MOST POWERFUL AND NATURAL WAY POSSIBLE. • ENSURES ABUNDANT PRODUCTION • REDUCES WATERING NEEDS • ENHANCES RAPID GROWTH DEVELOPMENT
USEMYKE.COM SPRING 2019 • 9
MILLENNIALS use plants to turn houses into
homes By Leah Ruehlicke
R
ecently, #byage30 was trending on social media. This tag was utilized by millennials to illustrate what age 30 actually looked like vs what we thought our lives would be by this age. My favourite one went something like this;
By age 30 you should have: $3 in savings $5,000 in credit card debt a favourite spoon one plant you feel incredibly attached to because your mom keeps asking for grandkids but you’re not ready, and you thought this plant would be a good place to start. 10
It was hilariously relatable. I did have credit card debt. I certainly had a favourite spoon (it was wooden, and the handle was quite literally the perfect size). And I had one plant I felt incredibly attached to for that same reason: it gave me a small taste of feeling like I did, in fact, have a purpose. It gave me something to care for. And it made me feel like maybe, maybe, I did kind of have my life together. I was keeping a plant alive, wasn’t I? Anyone who spends any time on Instagram can see that millennials and plants are a hot thing right now. Our living spaces are filled with plants. The trendy coffee shops catering to the plaid, hipster crowd have vines crawling across the walls and potted cacti on the shelves. We bring succulents to keep on our desks at our open-concept workplace. And whether or not there’s a scientific explanation as to why plants have made our millennial lives seemingly so much better, I can at least speak to my own experience as to why, #byage30, having a plant has seemed so essential.
It’s an easy (& affordable) way to make my apartment look nice Instead of investing time and energy into painting my living room (not to mention most landlords don’t let you do that anyway), a great way to add a splash of colour is simply hanging up a shelf and stacking it with plants. They’re pretty, they liven up the room, and they look great in photos. Which leads me to the next point:
Instagram Yes - I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a sucker for photos of plants. If I’m perusing Airbnb for my next destination, for example, and happen to come across a home showcasing a sunny, airy living room full of white containers spilling with plants, I’m in. Booked. If my friend posts a photo of her novel and coffee mug beside her bright green succulent, I immediately want her life. Plants are inviting. Plants look nice. And let’s be honest, all we really care about as millennials is make sure our lives look as nice as we want them to be.
Plants make me feel like a proper grown-up All kidding aside, plants give me a sense of being in control of my life - even if it doesn’t feel that way behind the scenes. I might owe [a lot] in taxes and might have skipped the gym again and might feel insanely behind at work, but if I’m successfully keeping a plant alive and allowing it to brighten up my home, then I must be doing something right. Plants make my home feel put together, which makes me feel like perhaps my life is too.
They’re therapeutic Especially during those dark winter days. Bringing the outdoors in is a total moodbooster, making me feel calmer and more connected to nature. It’s also the one thing in our lives that requires no technology. Spending the majority of our day in front of a screen (be it phone, computer or television), having something natural in your space is a nice way to feel disconnected. And so, despite my credit card debt and $3 in savings, I’m proud to say that #byage30 I not only have a favourite spoon, but have found so much genuine joy in something as simple as a houseplant. I suppose I’m doing something right after all.
SPRING 2019 • 11
FASCINATING
FERNS By Sarah Pell
F
erns have become one of the most popular plants in the last few years. Their lacy fronds and wonderful textures work well in any setting. In addition to their beauty, lush green tropical ferns are also easy to grow. They have low light requirements while generally having moderate watering needs. Tropical ferns do very well in patio containers, hanging baskets, window boxes and virtually any other vessel you like that has drainage. Hanging baskets allow the fronds of Boston ferns to droop and cascade accenting their true beauty. The more vertically inclined Kimberly Queen fern thrives in larger containers set on a porch or patio. The Maidenhair fern has fine details and colour contrasts in the stem that make it a hit in mixed annual containers. Another option is to attach a Staghorn fern on an organic object like a piece of driftwood and hang it on the wall. It grows rapidly and makes a dramatic presentation. The possibilities are endless! Perennial ferns are equally as beautiful in the garden, adding wonderful texture to any shady spot. Deciduous ferns, such as Ostrich fern and Painted fern show their fronds a little earlier in the season and look their best through late spring. As summer hits, a deciduous fern will go dormant (like a trillium or bleeding heart) and rest in the soil until next spring. Once dormant, prune the broken fronds down to the crown and mulch well. Perennial evergreen ferns, such as Autumn fern, Christmas fern and the unique Crested Hart's Tongue fern wait a little bit longer to produce new growth, however, they will have a solid structure and texture year-round. No different than a rhododendron or yew, they need fertile soil for the best growth. Prune lightly to remove the fronds that are dead, dying or broken in the spring. By planting a combination of annual, evergreen and deciduous ferns, you ensure lush texture, and graceful fronds will fill your garden and outdoor living space all year long!
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Staghorn Fern
Boston Fern
One of the most effective houseplants for removing air pollutants. These ferns enjoy morning sun and shade for the afternoon. Will benefit from being outdoors during the summer months.
Kimberly Queen Fern
Low maintenance and easy to grow, they are great for adding tropical texture and can grow to 3 feet (90 cm) tall.
Staghorn Fern
Unusual fern that requires no soil. To water, simply dunk the entire arrangement into a bucket of water, drain well and rehang!
Tropical Fern Care: • Ferns do best in indirect or filtered light. • Mist the air above the plant regularly to maintain the humidity ferns need to survive. • Maintain evenly moist soil, without sitting the plant in water.
Perennial Fern Care: • Mulch with organic matter to encourage consistent moisture. • Plant your fern with the crown flush with the surrounding soil. • If your fern is evergreen, thin old fronds in spring as new growth appears. • Cut back deciduous ferns in the summer. • Divide your fern every 2 to 3 years to share with friends or add to your garden. NOTE: Some ferns require additional or special care. Always refer to the fern care tag or ask your garden centre professionals for advice.
Maidenhair Fern
Does best in terrariums indoors or in the shade garden outdoors. Requires high humidity and constant damp soil.
Ostrich Fern
Perfect perennial for the shade garden, with fronds that resemble the fluffy tail of an ostrich.
Painted Fern
Ostrich Fern
Colourful ferns that brighten shady areas and are great companions for other shade perennials.
Christmas Fern
The name is derived from the evergreen fronds that are often still green at Christmas time. It can adapt to drier soil conditions when required.
Painted Fern
A
s our living space gets smaller on the inside, so do our gardens on the outside - some properties may be limited but planned right, a tiny house or tiny garden has all of the comforts of modern living minus the space. Your garden will look its best and flow most effectively when the basic building blocks of design (proportion, order, repetition, focus and unity) are used. Once all the building blocks are considered, choose plants based on texture, overall size, flowering time and other seasonal interests. Provide order in your garden to balance the shape and sizes of the plants, making everything cohesive. Repetition will provide order! Place your favorite groundcover and mid height plantings in familiar patterns to evoke a more pleasing composition. Masses of 3 or 5 are easier to maintain and make the space feel bigger and more unified.
TREES &SHRUBS for SMALL
SPACES By Jeff Bokma
Photo - Proven Winners
14
Create unity within your small space by having a structured and proportioned planting. First locate the largest specimen plant as a showcase to bring focus to the overall space. Compliment the focal point with a middle layer (when we design annual planters, we call these fillers). The middle layer of flowering or edible shrubs will help fill in the space through the seasons and bring a sense of colour and proportion to the area. Plant shorter plants or even groundcovers as a spiller to utilize and soften the edges and provide scale within the vertical space. When we think about proportion in the garden, make sure the overall size of the plant fits the size of the space. It does not make sense to plant a tree that will grow to 40 feet tall in a townhouse yard! Finally, having a colour scheme in your garden will compliment your home and create a relaxing sanctuary. Collectively, the colours and textures you select will bring your design together. For the best luck in creating a layered small space garden; check out our favorites (available at your local independent Garden Centre) to ensure great colour, shape and proportion in your garden year after year.
Big Bang Spirea Photo - Proven Winners
Big Bang Spirea: Move over Goldflame Spirea, this cultivar is here to stay! Part of the Double Play series by Proven Winners, this dwarf plant is colourful all season long. Bright new leaf growth gives way to reblooming pink flowers overtop yellow and red leaves. Requiring little to no maintenance, growing 2’ to 2 ½’ tall and wide, Big Bang also makes a great hedge or mass.
Sonic Bloom Weigela Photo - Proven Winners
Little Gem Spruce
Sonic Bloom Weigela: One of the newer series of Weigela, these dwarf plants produce red, pink or pearl trumpet shaped flowers in late spring, blooming off and on all summer! A great attractant for hummingbirds, these midsized shrubs grow 3’ tall and 3’ wide. Little Gem Spruce: A small, slow growing, flat topped evergreen, 2’ tall and 2’ wide. Available as a shrub or a small grafted tree on top of 3’ tall stem, it will provide a strong design element and great habitat for small birds all year long. This dwarf growing evergreen also works well as a focal point in a winter worthy planter too!
Compact Burning Bush
Ivory Silk Lilac Ivory Silk Lilac: A compact urban tolerant tree that is tried and true! Creamy white flowers in June fill the garden with the scent of lilacs. With no real pest or diseases, this easy maintenance tree grows 15 to 20’ tall and 10’ to 12’ wide. Bobo Hydrangea: One of the best sun loving Hydrangeas on the market! Blooming on new wood, Bobo grows to 3’ tall and 3’ wide and flowers from the top of the plant, right to the ground. The flowers change to a beautiful pink midsummer and dry on the plant, lasting through fall. DeGroot’s Spire Cedar: More reliably hardy than the typical Emerald Cedar, this narrow specimen can make a tight privacy hedge or when placed in a group of three, a strong focal point. Growing 10’ to 12’ tall and only shoulder width, this sun lover will also provide much needed bird habitat in the winter. Blueberry: Who doesn’t love farm to table when the farm is 20 feet from the table! Highbush varieties such as Blue Crop or Blue Ray grow 5’ tall and 5’ wide, while lowbush varieties like Chippewa grow 18” to 24” tall and wide. White flowers in spring, yummy berries in late spring/early summer and beautiful fall foliage rival a Burning Bush! One sun loving plant will provide berries but 2 or 3 plants produce bigger, sweeter berries to top your ice cream at dessert! Compact Burning Bush: A true dwarf, growing slower than its larger siblings. In full sun, this plant does not disappoint and will turn a brilliant red in the right soil. The fall colour is less intense in full shade, but this dwarf variety still grows 4’ to 5’ tall and 4’ to 5’ wide, with some beautiful winter twig appeal too!
SPRING 2019 • 15
“growing” GOOD
GARDEN DOGS by Mary Fran McQuade
D
ogwoods, even dog roses, are welcome in the garden, but what about real four-legged dogs? “Horrors!” you say. “Big, clumsy creatures that dig, scratch, pee and poop. Not on my Heuchera!” It doesn’t have to be that way. Yes, some dogs do rampage through the garden. So do some kids. (And let’s not even contemplate what cats do to fresh earth.) The similarity between dogs and kids isn’t superficial. Canadian canine expert Dr. Stanley Coren of the University of British Columbia says dogs are about equal in intelligence to a two-year-old child. Our four-legged friends do have some animal instincts, but we smart humans can make that work for us. Keep these four points in mind, and you’ve got the foundation for a great doghuman-garden relationship.
Dogs are pack animals. They like to know their place and have a leader to follow.
Dogs are creatures of habit. Once they get in a groove, they tend to stay in it.
Dogs are clean in their toilet habits. They don’t like to mess in their homes.
Dogs can learn – with time, patience and persistence on the part of their owners. 16
Leading and Learning Dogs are naturally social and accustomed to obeying the alpha or boss dog. So, unless you want an obnoxious toothy terror running around, you have to be the alpha in your little pack. Doggy minds are simple, so make it very clear what you expect and what isn’t allowed. One owner of a showplace garden uses the same “no chew” command in the garden that she uses in the house. And she’s never lost a plant to him, she says proudly. Of course, my friend spends lots of time with her dog, and he’s not left unsupervised in her storybook garden of roses, clematis and other perennials. That’s what most happy dog-loving gardeners say. They spend time with their animals, teach them to obey and the magical human-animal bond develops. Lane White, head trainer at Who’s Walking Who obedience school in Toronto, explains: “My dogs have a great deal of respect for me. I have a relationship with my dogs and that’s not something you can teach other people. You can teach the commands, but relationships are ongoing. A good dog owner is training his dog 100 per cent of the time in what’s appropriate, what’s expected. It comes from repetition, and you must be consistent every time.” Happily, dog training in recent years has become an enjoyable activity. Grim orders aren’t the style de jour. Instead, today’s owners use happy voices and food rewards to manipulate their dogs into doing the right thing. And once the beasties – bless their furry little hearts – discover what gets the goodies, they keep on doing it.
Habit Forming With the right treats and several short training sessions a day, your dog can learn to sit even at a distance from you. He’ll learn to back away from things, stop barking, stop digging and stay out of the Japanese painted ferns (or whatever you treasure). Unfortunately, habits work the other way, too. Let him make a misstep a few times without correction, and it becomes a habit that’s hard to break. Dogs like straight lines, for example, so if you have lovely curved paths, walk through them with him close beside you a few times. Help him remember by putting up visible barriers at first – low lattice fencing or even whitepainted rocks. If you have especially precious or valuable plants, protect them for a time with wire fencing or tomato cages.
their pets. Do it by taking the dog there every single time he needs to relieve himself, perhaps giving a command like “potty.” Praise for performance and keep the area clean and you’ll have a dog trained for life in a couple of months.
Troubles and Remedies YELLOW SPOTS Playfully called female dog spot disease, these lawn spots are made by males too. They are actually a sort of fertilizer burn from nitrogen in the urine. Folk remedies abound, but one tested solution is to flush the area with water within eight hours. You can use commercial patching formulas or feed your dog canned food (its higher water content dilutes the urine concentration). But your best bet is to train your dog to a potty area. DIGGING Digging is usually caused by canine boredom. Dogs are bright critters, and they need something to occupy them. The easiest solution is lots of exercise – outside the garden. “A tired dog is a happy dog” is an old trainer’s maxim. Teaching your dog tricks, indoors or out, will also focus his attention and tire him out. Use bits of food to lure him into a spin in front of you and he’ll soon learn the command “twirl.” If you have space, throwing a ball is easy on you and a good run for him. Likewise, you can always try distracting him with favourite toys. BARKING Dogs are territorial and will bark at passing people and other dogs if they can see them. It’s a frustrating situation for everyone. Avoid it by using solid fences that your dog can’t see through. Distracting him with another command (“sit”) and a reward also helps prevent the habit from taking hold. Dogs and their behaviour are endlessly fascinating, and behaviourists are learning new things every day. The payoff for all the effort is when you see a secure, contented dog grinning under a flowering apple tree – a picture you’ll carry in your heart forever.
If you spend time outdoors with your dog, he’ll come to think of the garden the way he thinks of your home indoors – that means less doggy doo scattered around. Many gardeners like to set aside a toilet area for SPRING 2019 • 17
YOUR
PERFECT LAWN EASY AS 1-2-3 By John DeGroot
W
e place a significant amount of value on our lawns; a good lawn adds great curb appeal to our property providing a frame to our landscape. Growing good turf is not as difficult as it might seem.
STEP 1 GOOD BEGINNING
STEP 2 MAINTENANCE
Choose the right seed that is best suited to your yard. Your local garden centre can help with this. Most grass seed blends contain a mix of three ingredients: Kentucky Blue Grass, Ryegrass and Fescue. When shopping for grass seed, be sure to look for certified Canada #1 perennial grass blends.
Fertilize your lawn with a slow release, high nitrogen blend, which feeds your lawn over months rather than weeks. This means that a fertilizer application 3 times a year is sufficient; spring, summer and fall. Use an organic lawn fertilizer with pH balancer to reduce the impact of the uric acid from dog spots.
Over seeding bare and weak patches starts by raking up debris and scratching the surface with a stiff garden rake. Next, spread a thin layer of good soil over the area. Sow grass seed at a rate of one pound of seed over 250 square feet (1 kg over 50 sq. m). Lightly rake the seed into the new soil. Apply starter fertilizer and add water. When establishing new seed, water lightly and frequently, as often as once a day. In a few weeks, your lawn will be ready for the mower.
Water once a week and only once a week in times when rainfall is low. It is far better to water your grass for at least an hour rather than a quick sprinkling every day or two. Light frequent watering causes grass roots to become lazy and remain near the soil surface where there is ample moisture. Allowing turf to dry out forces roots to go deep in search of moisture.
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Cut grass faithfully and frequently. Keep the lawn mower at its highest setting, with at least 2 inches (5cm) of height. Mowing
the lawn short causes soil to dry out quickly and invites weed seeds to sprout. If grass has become dry and you can hear the blades crunch when you walk on it, wait with mowing until growth resumes. Avoid the use of chemical pesticides in order to promote healthy microbial activity where beneficial insects, worms, and microorganisms will thrive. Leave the grass clippings on the lawn to decompose and become self-sustaining.
STEP 3 TROUBLESHOOTING A “weed”! The gardener's “four-letter” word! In most parts of Canada, traditional chemical herbicides have gone out the window, so now, more than ever, your best defense against weeds is a well-fed, well-maintained lawn. If you keep your
grass healthy, weeds will be kept at bay. Fertilize regularly, add water if necessary, and mow faithfully. Natural herbicides like corn gluten, will keep new weed seeds from sprouting. Use it for crabgrass and dandelions. Be careful not to use with new grass seeding. Consult your garden centre for timing recommendations. Iron, available in liquid form, will work well on broadleaved weeds. If you find you have brown or bare patches starting to appear, you may have grubs. Grubs are the larva stage of Japanese Beetles and will eat grass roots in spring and fall. Your best defense for grubs is an application of earth friendly nematodes which are tiny organisms that search for young grubs. Apply nematodes in early May to June or in mid-September to October when grass is damp and grubs are feeding. Following these simple steps will take your lawn to a whole new level and make you the envy of your neighbours. Lawns, easy as 1-2-3.
SPRING 2019 • 19
“Mix it up!� when it comes to your containers. By Paul Zammit
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Photo - Proven Winners
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ardening in containers offers many benefits. Doing so opens the possibility for any and all individuals to have their own personal garden, be it on a patio, balcony or roof top. They are potentially moveable, resulting in portable potscapes, allows for changes from day to day as well as some freedom and experimentation from season to season. A planter can be used to temporarily hide a bare spot and/or become a focal point to provide a much-needed splash of colour or architectural interest. To begin with, I feel it is important to first understand what defines a container for the purposes of this article. The most important criteria to remember, is that any vessel for consideration must be able to hold the growing media, support the plant roots and critically, that there must be some form of drainage holes, or the ability to make them. If the vessel you are considering does not have drainage holes, it is not a container but rather a pot cover. Avoid the myth of putting a layer of gravel on the bottom your pot to substitute for drainage. Just don’t do it! Either carefully drill holes in the bottom or use a pot within a pot technique. That is, plant up your plant combination in another pot (with drainage holes) and sit that on top of a layer of gravel in the chosen pot cover, the key is to keep the soil from maintaining constant contact with the water that collects underneath. Accumulated water can then be poured out by removing the inner pot. Personally, I look at containers as an opportunity to add additional character, charm and beauty to a garden space (both indoors or out). The options and possibilities are great so I encourage you to allow your imagination to run wild. Have fun with the hunt and selection of your containers. I believe, containers should be considered an investment. In the words of one of my garden mentors, Thomas Hobbs, “You have to love your container before you can begin to fill it”. These wise garden words continue to influence me today. I have come to believe containers can be decorative and attractive garden features even if left unplanted. For me, the plant materials I decide to pot up into my choice container, are often inspired by the beauty of the planter; its shape, history, character, colour, composition and size.
independent garden centre, know where the designated planter is going to be situated on your property and be aware of how much or how little sunlight it will receive. It is also important to be aware of wind exposure. Strong winds can determine how quickly a planter dries. Wind can also tear and damage the foliage of large leafed plants. I often remind the public, when it comes to selecting plant material, be honest, and think about the level of care and attention that they are capable and willing to do for their pots. For example, if you have a challenge keeping up with the watering of your planters in full sun, think about planting your pots with succulents which are a bit more forgiving and tolerant of drying out in between waterings. All containers need to be regularly monitored for water needs. As containers often require frequent watering, nutrients are easily leached from the root zone, hence, regular fertilizing is necessary. Always follow recommended rates. For me, a container combination, is much like a garden in miniature. A beautiful garden is made up of a mix of annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, tropical plants and vines all arranged to offer a variety of heights, forms, textures, colours and possibly fragrance. So mix it up! Select a variety of plants that like similar light and moisture conditions to create your own personal eye-catching combination. When creating planter combinations, I tend to put a strong emphasis on foliage for texture, colour and even fragrance (herbs). When dealing with any level of shade, two of my immediate go to plants are Rex begonias for their vivid and bold coloured foliage and ferns to add a soft and delicate texture. In the past few years I have also been using more and more Rieger begonia’s (Begonia x hiemalis) both for their adaptability to a variety of sunlight levels and their constant show of blooms. In the world of tuberous begonias (Begonia x tuberhybrida), in addition to the stunning large and vivid blooms, I am also always on the hunt for selections with rich dark foliage. These are perfect for a pop of colour and or contrast to your planting combination. Happy container planting!
Once you have selected your planter, the fun and magic begins by choosing the plants. Before heading to your favorite Photos - Proven Winners
SPRING 2019 • 21
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Specimens Focal Plants
Oh My! By Tanya Olsen
Standard Tricolour Willow
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hen designing an interior room, we often use a focal point to build the design around and provide a sense of purpose within the space. When we design our landscapes, we use a Specimen Plant to provide that same sense of purpose. Quite simply, a specimen plant is an ornamental plant you feel deserves centre stage in the yard. Made to feel important because the plant is grown in a prominent location (ie. centred on the family room window or in the middle of your favorite planter), they grow on their own rather than in a mass. In planter terms, a specimen plant is a thriller. Landscape
Designers rely on specimens to provide an attractive flower, striking branching structure and unique leaves. In smaller spaces, a specimen plant should supply at least three seasons of interest, as overall plant choices may be limited.
V.I.P. (very important plants) that steal the show
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To find a unique specimen plant, look no further than your local independent garden centre, where you have a great selection and a knowledge bank to help you if you need it. Some of our favorite specimens are ones you may be familiar with as a shrub, but not realize are available as small trees suitable as a focal point in the garden or weather resistant planter on a balcony.
Standard Tricolour Willow • Also called a Dappled, Japanese or Hakuro-Nishiki Willow • Fast growing soft pink to whitish leaves fading to green and white for the summer • Smooth red bark for winter interest, provides texture and movement in the landscape • Head grows 8’ tall and wide, on top of a 4’ to 5’ tall trunk, suitable for full sun • Prune annually in late winter but will also tolerate a lighter pruning in the beginning of June to bring the leaf colour back
Variegated Euonymus
Standard Dwarf Korean Lilac • Hardy, pest resistant and easy to maintain • Prolific fragrant purple blooms attract butterflies and hummingbirds in spring • Beautiful burgundy fall leaves • Great in a planter or garden, as a cut flower, deer and rodent resistant • Very hardy, this compact tree has a head 5’ tall and wide, on top of a 3’ tall trunk, suitable for full sun
Dwarf Korean Lilac
• Will tolerate pruning (but not necessary) immediately after flowering as Lilac set their flower buds a year in advance
Standard Juniper •
Options include Standard Gold Star Juniper, Standard Blue Star Juniper, Standard Blue Rug Juniper (a Weeping variety) and more!
• Short-statured evergreens are easy care and provide a unique colour year-round. • Perfect for either side of the steps, the rockery or the centre of a weather resistant planter • Deer and rodent resistant, providing good habitat for small birds • Grows 3’ to 4’ tall, including a head approximately 2’ tall and 2’ wide, suitable for full sun • No raking or pruning required
Standard Variegated Euonymus •
Depending on variety can have green and white leaves (Standard Emerald Gaiety Euonymus) or green and yellow leaves (Standard Canadale Euonymus)
• Small statured evergreen, easy to care for, unique berries in the fall • Grows up to 8’ tall including a head 4’ tall and wide, suitable for full sun to full shade • Can be pruned formally into boxes or balls (but is not necessary)
SPRING 2019 • 23
Strawberry and Avocado
Chicken Salad
with Crispy Fried Goat Cheese Recipe Author: Kevin from Closet Cooking, www.closetcooking.com
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n warm summer days I often appreciate a nice light meal, like a salad, for dinner. Strawberries are one of my favourite summer food and they are amazing in savoury dishes like salads, especially when combined with bacon and avocado as they are in this recipe. What really makes this salad a meal is the grilled chicken which is marinated in the same honey lemon Dijon dressing that is used on the salad. The star of this show has to be the crispy fried goat cheese, best enjoyed fresh from frying while the cheese is still warm.
INGREDIENTS For the honey lemon dijon poppy seed vinaigrette: 1/4 cup lemon juice 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons honey 3 teaspoons Dijon mustard 3 teaspoons poppy seeds 2 cloves garlic, grated or minced salt and pepper to taste
For the fried goat cheese: 8 ounces goat cheese, either sliced into 1/4 inch thick discs or formed into small balls 1/4 cup flour 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (or breadcrumbs)
For the salad: 4 strips bacon 1/2 pound chicken breasts 6 cups baby spinach 1 cup strawberries, sliced 1 avocado, sliced 1/4 cup red onion, sliced 1/4 cup almonds, sliced, slivered or chopped
DIRECTIONS For the honey lemon dijon poppy seed vinaigrette: • Mix everything well.
For the fried goat cheese: • Dredge the goat cheese slices/balls in the flour and coat in egg followed by breadcrumbs and fry in oil over medium heat until lightly golden brown before setting aside on paper towels to drain.
For the salad: • Cook the bacon and set aside on paper towels to drain before crumbling. • Marinate the chicken in half of the vinaigrette for 30 minutes to over night before grilling over medium-high heat until cooked and slightly charred, about 2-5 minutes per side, and setting aside to cool and slice. • Assemble the salad, toss with the dressing and enjoy! Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Serves 4 NUTRITION FACTS: Calories 612, Fat 43g (Saturated 14g, Trans 0), Cholesterol 91mg, Sodium 560mg, Carbs 37g (Fiber 7g, Sugars 12g), Protein 22g 24
NEW Varieties for FRESH Ideas Sedum – Lemon Coral Proven Winners annual of the year is a tough as nails filler for hanging baskets, troughs, combination containers and landscapes, this beautifully textured succulent is very vigorous and drought tolerant. Who wouldn't want a plant that's so worry-free and has such vivid colour? Its lime green to chartreuse foliage pairs well with other vigorous sun loving varieties. This easy-care annual can take heat and drought like a champ, is grown for foliage and is an overall garden work horse. Height: 3-10" Spread: 14-14" Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com
Imara Impatiens
Trinidad Scorpion Pepper Trinidad scorpion peppers are among the hottest peppers in the world, with 1.03 million Scoville heat units. The plants usually reach between 24 and 36 inches tall, while the peppers are between 1 and 2 inches and have a wrinkled appearance. Trinidad scorpion peppers require at least six hours of sunlight per day and regular watering for moist soil. They fully mature in 90 to 100 days. Height: 24-36" Exposure: Full Sun
Coleus - Electric Slide What could be better than an easy to grow Coleus that is equally at home in a bed or a hanging basket? With a strong, canary-yellow background, shocking red veins and a ruffled emerald edge, it's hard to keep your eyes off. Naturally neat and compact, very shy flowering with short violet blue flowers late in the season. Height: 23" Spread: 36" Exposure: Full to Part Shade
Since the widespread outbreak of downy mildew in 2011, the impatiens market has drastically declined. However, after many years of testing, Imara Impatiens have been developed to offer disease resilient Impatiens! Imara promises to reinvigorate the market by putting a consumer favourite back onto the shelves and offers performance that fights back with reliable flowering all season long. Imara is guaranteed to flourish in gardens until the first frost, performing well in sun and shade, come rain or shine.
Osteospermum – 4D Violet Ice
Height: 6-24" Spread: 6-24" Exposure: Full to Part Shade
Height: 8-12" Spread: 12-24" Exposure: Full Sun
Violet Ice has a profusion of pale icy violet daisy flowers adorned with a festive rosette of darker violet quilled petals in their centre. Unlike most Osteospermum varieties that close at night, Violet Ice remain open all day and night. These beautiful flowers will produce a long-lasting display from spring to frost. A compact habit and attractive round shape, it is a great addition to sunny borders and containers where the remarkable blooms will bring a terrific splash of colour!
SPRING 2019 • 25
Roy
Available at
Available at
Joys of Spring! Cleaning Brushes Provide a clean and safe food source for hummingbirds in your backyard by using Pinebush hummingbird feeder cleaning brushes. Easily clean inside ports and bottles using the 2 brushes included in the set.
- Built-in ant moat. - Base comes apart for easy cleaning. Capacity: 20 oz. / 591 ml 88164
79250
feeding the birds with new ideas™
WELCOME SPRING! By Sherri Christodoulou
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here is a freshness in the air… With the warm weather fast approaching, we are all looking into our closets and are eager to put away our coats, boots, hats, mitts, and cozy sweaters until next fall. It’s time to shed layers and lighten up. What better way than going straight to one layer. The dress… this season’s must have is the wrap dress. The bold prints and beautiful colours will inspire you. It is easy to wear, flatters all body types and is suitable for all occasions. But let’s not forget the maxi dress, sun dress, fit and flare dress, slip dress, bodycon dress, shirt dress, A-line dress, skater dress, kaftan dress, shift dress, and many more. With so many different styles to choose from, it will be easy finding your personal favorite and making a statement this year. Casual comfort remains important in fashion this spring. What could be more cool and comfortable than bamboo? Yes ladies, you can still wear your bamboo capri leggings available in bright bold colours or stick with the neutrals. Show off your own personal style and flair by pairing them with flowing tunics, billowy blouses or the crisp clean lines of linen or cotton shifts for an easy stylish look that will take you from work to play with ease. Don’t forget the matching tank tops!
This season’s must have is the wrap dress.
The pant silhouette for this spring has many options. Jeans of all lengths are still a staple. Wide leg pants as well as straight leg pants continue to be excellent choices and you see them in a variety of wonderful fabrics, prints, colours and lengths. Linen, bamboo, cotton and Tencel will keep you cool. For finishing touches don’t forget to accessorize. Handbags, jewellery, scarves and hats complete your outfit and show off your personal style. Try using different accessories each time you wear an outfit. By doing so, it will look like a new outfit each time you wear it. The same goes for your footwear. Shoes, sandals and booties can change the look of any outfit from casual to dressy. Don’t be afraid to mix and match to create your own unique style.
Courtesy of Fashion Village; this wrap dress features stretch fabric with adjustable domes in the waist for perfect fit and an effortless drape.
SPRING 2019 • 31
Fire Light® Hydrangea: DRAMATIC COLOR, HARDY, STRONG STEMS, LONG BLOOMING AND LOW MAINTENANCE
2019
Before they reach your garden, our flowering shrubs undergo years of trials and testing for color, quantity of blooms, cold tolerance, foliage and ability to thrive with ease. Only a few prove they’re worthy of the #1 plant brand.
provenwinners-shrubs.com