Groom & Bloom April 30, 2019

G roo m & Bloom

Pruning Time

Fawn Lawn Care

Slocan Valley

HOME HARDWARE

Lawn & Garden Tools

Wire fencing, posts, gates

Landscape Services and Materials

Flower & vegetable seeds, flats, inserts, pots, domes & more!

MANURES

E

MANUR

Buy 10 and save 12%

LAWN SERVICES:

Weekly maintenance, soil samples, clean up, aerate, de-thatch

• lawn seed • soil • manures

We have everything you need to maintain your garden!”

SEED POTATOES Animal Feed Coming Soon!

Ph: 250-354-7334 fawnlawn@gmail.com www.fawnlawncare.com

Early bedding plants from Four Seasons Greenhouse

Septic systems, sewer pipe 5763 Hwy 6, Winlaw 250-226-7771, Open 9-5 daily, Sundays 10-4

MATS GROWERS SNEAK PEEK WEEK May 8 to 10

 Buy 2 basket stuffers (2.5" size) & receive the third one free!

Visit us at the Nelson Garden Festival Saturday, May 11 on Baker Sreet

Celebrating 17 Years of Fresh Ideas for Growing Gardens 250-229-2131 sales@matsgrowers.com

Lots of Baskets this year and they’re looking great!

Keep up on what’s blooming around the nursery by liking our facebook page MATS Growers.

Check out our website for our product list matsgrowers.com 1247 Green Road, Balfour OPEN: Tues-Sat 9am-5pm

Spring Cleaning Time

CALL TODAY

is here

Secure your spot

AERATION AND DE-THATCHING

Lawn Care • Pruning • Hedge Trimming • Asphalt Maintenance Pennywise

250.368.7508

jason.pushsvcs@gmail.com

P USH SERVICES Apr. 30, 2019

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The essential basics:

G roo m & Bloom

What makes a yard the place you want to spend time in? A shady spot in summer, sure – a place to entertain friends, to barbecue out of the rain, a place to grow your own food, for your kids to play, a haven for birds, butterflies and bees, a burbling pond gilded with waterlilies and darting goldfish… If you are lucky enough to have a yard, you can design it to be just perfect for your family.

DRAINAGE: We do live in the inland rainforest, the second wettest area in British Columbia. The very first consideration of any landscaping plan is water flow: water must drain away from your home. The inexpensive things you can do yourself are to keep gutters in good shape and to ensure the downspout flow begins a few feet away from the foundation wall. If your basement is damp, it’s time to call a contractor.

ACCESS: A lot of neighbourhoods in the West Kootenay are pretty informal and a gravel driveway and walkway are common. If you’re thinking of laying your own stone or brick pathway, here are a few tips: Place your stone on the grass and using a drywall keyhole saw, cut into the turf around the stone. Dig out the hole a bit and put a 1-2 inch layer of sand in it. “Pop” in the stone!

CONTROLLING ACCESS: Maybe hedges will do to give you privacy, but if you have little kids or a dog you probably want a good strong fence. Then there’s the deer, who eat tulips like they’re candy. There’s some very unobtrusive black plastic mesh deer fencing available locally. Ask your local building or farm supplier or nursery to show you what they have in stock.

Bare patches in your lawn?

If your neighbour’s dog (not yours of course!) pees on your lawn, you probably have patches of dead grass. The cheapest fix is to scrape away the dead grass, then loosen up the top 2 -3 inches of soil. Water well, then sprinkle on grass seed. The key for success is the next step: put a loose layer of straw over the seeds. The straw keeps the grass seedlings protected and in no time the new green grass will grow right up through it.

Strawberries Blueberries Raspberries Seed Potatoes Shrubs Perennials Dahlia Bulbs Onion Sets Gladiolus Bulbs Onion Sets Veggie Starts So Much More!

NELSON FARMERS SUPPLY Serving the region for over 80 years

524 Railway St., Nelson 250-352-5375 PAGE 20

Apr. 30, 2019



Kootenay Biological Soils

www.kootenaybiosoil.ca www.boogie-brew.ca Would you like to maximize your Soil Biology?

Want to achieve gardening excellence, while growing vegetables, hops, cannabis, indoor plants, vineyards, fruit or orchids?

KBS can source any organic or biological products you might need. Nutrient rich peat based soils, endomycorrhizal root inoculants, single amendments, formulated dry top dressings and dry compost teas.

No farm too big or too small, we can service them all.

INLINE HOSE MOUNTED WATER FILTERS Remove: Chloramines, chlorines, fluoride, sediment, and

other contaminants. This filter works great for pets, ponds, salt water fish tanks, hot tubs, gardens, drinking water.

Bi-weekly growing classes for agricultural foods & cannabis (recreational or medicinal) For more information or to register for classes: Ryan 1.250.200.0445 855 China Creek Rd, Genelle BC V0G 1G0

www.boogie-brew.ca

• Worm Castings • Water Soluble Humic/Fulvic Acid • Epsom Salts • Zeolite •

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Soybean Hydrolysate • Amino Acids • Biochar • Kelzyme Element XX • Beneficial Mycorrhizal & Bacteria & More....

for your

Non Toxic Essential Oil IPM • Air Pump Kits • Aloe • Rock Phosphate • Fishbone Meal • Alfalfa Meal • Rice Hulls • Kelp

OUSE IS OP H N E E R G EN! R U O Come see US

TILLERS PLANTINGS: What trees to plant, how tall will they grow and how wide the spread of their branches? A tree or several trees define a yard. All kids who grow up with a yard will always recall their home trees like they remember their childhood friends. Trees are important to us in so many ways and there is a wide variety to choose from at our local garden stores.

ORNAMENTAL EXOTICS AND NATIVE SPECIES: NATIVE TREES require less maintenance than orchard trees or non-native species. Some of our native shrubs, like mock orange and other syringa, elderberry and mountain ash, are quite beautiful in shape, blossom and even fruit in the case of elderberry and mountain ash (a 4-season beauty that is not nearly celebrated enough!) Red osier dogwood is good for damp areas and has beautiful red twigs for a hit of winter colour. Asian dogwoods, like Cornus alternifolia, (pagoda dogwood) are prized for their floral displays. Some dogwood reprise their beauty in the fall with deeply coloured or variegated foliage.

JAPANESE MAPLES Some trees and shrubs native to foreign lands do very well in the Kootenay plant hardiness zones, for instance Japanese maples. There are about 20 types of Japanese maple you can buy locally. Some are airy and upright, while others are compact and domed. Their leaves can be lacy (the Shirasawanum types, which grow as tall as 20 feet) or more like a hand (the palmatum types), some types are vase-shaped and some are weeping, with branches that arch gracefully downward. All Japanese maples are lovely for fall colour in your yard and you can choose a standard variety that may grow as tall as 25 feet, or choose a dwarf cultivar that will only grow 3 to 6 feet tall.

TF224 The weight and size of this tiller makes it extremely easy to handle, maneuver, transport and store. This machine is perfect for homeowners who want to prepare garden patches and flower beds without using a spade. And that’s just the beginning, with this tiller you can do so much more. Powered by reliable, easystart Husqvarna engines, the TF224 is equipped with carrying handles for easy handling before and after use. $649.99

TR 317D One of the few dual rotating tillers on the market, the Husqvarna TR 317D offers the advantages of both a forward rotating cultivator and counter rotating deep soil tiller. The Husqvarna engine is powerful and able to handle the conditions a homeowner might experience. The TR 317D has a sealed transmission for long life and a sturdy frame. $1149.99

www.kootenayindustrial.ca

Kootenay Industrial Supply Ltd.

The West Kootenay’s #1 Husqvarna outdoor power equipment Super Store

323 Vernon St., Nelson 2181 Columbia Ave, Castlegar

250-352-5301

toll free 1-888-663-4KIS (4547)

250-304-2900

Let KOOTENAY CRITTERS

help you discover the Tranquil World of Ponds and Water Gardening What is Xeriscaping?

Quick answer is landscaping that reduces the need for supplemental water from irrigation once established.

nge of low water impact plant a r l l s Fu Perennials: Lavender • Peonies • Coreopsis • Phlox • Sedum

Ground Covers: Heather • Wintergreen • Cotoneaster • Barberry • Junipers

Shrubs & Trees: Butterfly Bush • Potentilla • Spirea • Forsythia • Lilac Maple ‘Autumn Blaze’ • Oak • Hawthorn • Ginko • Junipers

Products to help reduce watering: Soaker Hoses • Myke • Waterwise Grass Seed Landscape Fabric

OPEN EVERY DAY!

A short drive from Nelson, Castlegar or Winlaw at Playmor Junction,turn left behind the Credit Union

250.359.5926 www.diggardencentre.com

WATER GARDENING WET PETS & SUPPLIES

~ Koi & Fancy Gold Fish ~ Preformed Ponds & Liners ~Water Plants: Lilies, Marginal & Bog ~ Fountains ~ Pumps, Filters & Lights ~ Lawn & Water Ornaments Knowledgeable Staff

502 Columbia Avenue Castlegar 250-365-7370 Pennywise

Apr. 30, 2019 PAGE 21

IN THE ZONE? OR OUT?

At a nursery, and in seed catalogues, you will see plants described by the zone to which they’re suited. Known variously as Hardiness Zones, Gardening Zones, Growing Zones or Plant Zones, the reference number and idea is the same: certain defined geographic regions can support only specific plants, flowers and trees. The zones define a minimum range of temperatures that a plant or tree can survive safely. So a plant’s suitability to your yard is all about its ability to survive our winters.

There are 10 zones in the BC – the coldest winters are in Zone 1 and the warmest winters are Zone 10. In our West Kootenay neighbourhoods 3 zones are noted, but almost any plant that can survive in one town will do well in another. Our climate differences, even between Creston and Rossland, are not great.

Groo m & Bloom

Castlegar is the warmest gardening zone in our area.

It’s Zone 7b: 5°F to 10°F (same as Kelowna.)

Trail, Creston, Nakusp, Nelson and Salmo: Zone 7a: 0°F to 5°F Rossland : Zone 6b: -5°F to 0°F For comparison, Victoria is Zone 9a: 20°F to 25°F, and on the opposite side of the scale is Prince George which is Zone 4b: -25°F to -20°F www.plantmaps.com/interactive-british-columbia-plant-zone-hardiness-map.php

UNDERSTAND WHAT IS CONSIDERED SHADE You may see a tag on a plant at a garden centre that reads “part to full shade.” What does that mean, exactly?

Typically, light shade refers to portions of the yard that get (on average) between five to10 hours of sunlight. In a suburban yard, you’ll often see this right where the trees start to shade the lawn. Grass generally does pretty well in these areas.

Partial shade generally means your plants see less than five hours of sun each day. You’re closer to the trees, and grass gets thinner as the plants are competing with the trees for light, water, and nutrients.

Full shade means your plants receive less than an hour of direct sun, but they may still see some light filtering through the trees. If grass is present, it’s probably thin and patchy and (depending where in the country you are) it may be mixed with moss.

Deep shade means no sun reaches the ground. Think about a forest, or more relatably, the shady side yard between two large homes.

• • • • • • •

Fruit trees Trees & shrubs Seed potatoes Perennials, roses, vines Soils, manures, topsoil • Fertilizer Bedding plants, flowers & vegetables Growers of the finest fresh vegetables in the Kootenays: tomatoes, long English cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, peppers, eggplant. Pesticide-free and local.

Blueberries 1 gal = $12.95 Many varieties to choose from Friendly, knowledgeable advice backed by 34 years of growing experience.

Four Seasons

Greenhouse & Nursery 5531 SLOCAN RIVER RD, WINLAW 250-226-7254

Turn left at Mama Sita's Café, left off Winlaw bridge 1.5 km Only 45 minutes from Nelson or Castlegar

OPEN 9-5 DAILY

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Apr. 30, 2019

Funk Farm NOW OPEN!

Greenhouse open every day, 10am-5pm Bedding Plants • Baskets • Veggie Starts • Pots 143 Meadow Creek Road, Meadow Creek facebook.com/FunkFarmGreenhouse 250-366-4417

N

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G roo m & Bloom

Photo above: Showy Milkweed, our only native milkweed and a host for Monarch butterflies.

Milkweed seeds are available through KinSeed, which is affiliated with the Kootenay Native Plant Society. 20% of seed sales goes to support the work of the Society. Visit their website at kootenaynativeplants.ca

REWILDING:

A landscaping movement that is catching on globally is “Rewilding” and it’s certainly worth considering.

Rewilding the garden has benefits that extend beyond the plants themselves.

Native plants increase pollinator diversity; our native bees and butterflies recognize and flourish where high quality nectar and pollen are available. There is a co-evolution between our soils and the roots of West Kootenay species; if you want to restore mycorrhizal diversity, plant more native plants. Everything in your garden will benefit. Plant roots interact with fungi, bacteria, insects and other soil organisms in a complex underground network of interactions.

To learn more about rewilding visit kootenaynativeplants.ca

A SPRING CRAFT COMBINING FANTASY AND FUN Spring is a season of rebirth marked by flowers pushing through the soil and tender green leaf buds appearing on trees. As adults begin clearing away the vestiges of another winter, children also can get into the spring gardening spirit — with a touch of whimsy mixed in. A fairy garden is the perfect project.

Diminutive in size, fairies are often depicted as supernatural beings with magical powers who live in close proximity to mortals. Fairies tap into the imaginations of children, who may be enticed by fairies’ mischievous and/or magical attributes. A desire to capture fairies can inspire a great spring crafting project.

Fairy gardens can be constructed in just about any container and make an enchanting addition to a home landscape, patio or child’s bedroom. It’s easy to get started today.

Begin by collecting the materials needed. Materials will vary depending on each individual project, but some good suggestions include: • a container, such as a flowerpot, basket, wine barrel, or another vessel to hold soil • potting soil • stones, pebbles and glass baubles • pea gravel and twigs • small plants, such as clover, moss and succulents • miniature garden accessories and figures Arrange the plants as desired while still in their individual potting containers to get an idea of the layout. Now is the time when the whimsy can set in. The child can create a fairy home, a garden, walkways, and much more with natural materials. Gravel and stones can add color and extra appeal. Some peat moss or trailing Spanish moss can serve as the finishing touches.

Check out our plant section in our current flyer!

FIND YOUR HUSQVARNA AT

Bedding Plants are arriving May 3 & 4

www.kootenayindustrial.ca

Kootenay Industrial Supply Ltd.

The West Kootenay’s #1 Husqvarna outdoor power equipment Super Store

Great advice, great products, great selection. It’s all here!

Ace Building Centre Kaslo Hwy 31 250-353-7628 www.kaslobuilding.com

323 Vernon St., Nelson 2181 Columbia Ave, Castlegar

250-352-5301

N

toll free 1-888-663-4KIS (4547)

250-304-2900

= view picture of this item on our website: www.pennywiseads.com

Apr. 30, 2019

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