LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
Trial Garden program
Lillian Jojart checks in on the new container trial.
S E E S M A J O R E X PA N S I O N I N 2 0 2 0 By Rodger Tschanz Trial Garden Manager
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breeders and suppliers for this perennial trial include: Proven Winners, Darwin Perennials, Kieft Seeds, Benary, Jelitto Seed, Pacific Plug and Liner, Takii Europe and ThinkPlants. The species selection in the trial is quite diverse, but the larger genera groups include: hibiscus, salvia, coreopsis, achillea, echinacea, delphinium, sedum, baptisia and phlox. The mode of propagation for this trial is diverse as well, with entries arriving as seed, unrooted cuttings, liners or bare root. The floral presentation in the first year of planting could differ because of propagation method, but all varieties will be established, and on the same seasonal cycle in the second year.
he 2020 edition of the University of Guelph’s trial garden season will take place despite Covid-19. The trials at the Landscape Ontario site in Milton, Ont., have expanded dramatically this year, with the introduction of a container trial, a pollinator evaluation garden, and a large, herbaceous perennial trial. All this has been added to the ongoing annual landscape trial and ideas garden.
Large three-year perennial trial
In the past, the trial beds have always included a small selection of perennials, but what makes this year so different is the scale of that trial. At least 10 plants of each entry have been planted with consistent spacing and cultural care to be given within a species. Similar species from different breeders have been planted alongside each other to make comparisons easy. Over 140 perennials have been entered for the 2020 planting year, with the intent that the plants will be evaluated for three consecutive growing seasons. Participating
Pollinator research
The pollinator evaluation garden at the site is a continuation of some work done in previous seasons at the main Trial Garden site in Guelph, Ont. Sarah Jandricic, an entomologist from Ontario Ministry
Rodger Tschanz, trial garden manager (standing), gets planting help from Sam Wilson, Jessica Tan and Francis Jabile.
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