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Valhalla Gardens
is located on Mayne Island in the Gulf Islands of British
Columbia, Canada. The maritime growing conditions have a hardiness
rating of Zone 8. (See www.mayneisland.com for more information about Mayne
Island.)
Even in the warmer zones where it is possible for the die-hard
gardener to continue working in the garden through out the winter,
most of us take this time to pause and reflect upon the successes
of the year that has past and begin plans and dreams for the new
garden to come.
The following is a list of suggested gardening activities
and chores for the current and up coming months:
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March
Garden Bulbs
Begin planting summer bulbs and corms such as lilies,
crocossmia, acidanthera and gladiolas as the ground warms up.
Pot up over-wintered or new tuberous begonias.
Plant lilies.
Vegetables, Fruits and Herbs
Sow tomatoes indoors. Sow annual herbs and tidy up established herbs.
Feed rhubarb and berry plants. Plant new berry plants.
Train vines and climbers as they begin growing. Tie branches
or canes to wires or supports.
As weather permits, begin planting cool weather vegetables such
as lettuce, peas, broad beans, spinach, Chinese vegetables, radishes,
turnips and onion sets.
Annuals
Sow tender annuals indoors and hardy annuals directly into the
ground.
Perennials
Uncover tender perennials, roses, and delicate plant material.
Compost the mulch.
Good time to plant most nursery stock.
Start cuttings from over wintered pelargonium and fuchsias.
Trees and Shrubs
Prune early flowering deciduous shrubs when they have finished
flowering. Prune roses, any winter damaged evergreens and complete
winter pruning of fruit trees.
Mulch evergreens with compost or well rotted manure.
Shop for flowering trees while they are in bloom
Lawns
Begin lawn care or seed or sod new ones. Repair damaged areas,
aerate, edge and lime establish lawns. Water and fertilize
Pest Control
Check for slugs and snails and destroy them. Remove weeds.
Spring clean the garden.
Start a new batch of compost.
Containers
Freshen up containers containing spring bulbs; remove any tired
winter materials that might be in the container. Add spring flowers.
Keep pansies deadheaded and compact.
Remember to warm up your muscles before you begin any heavy work.
You don't want to ruin your springtime enjoyment with the miseries
of a sore back.
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April
Garden Soil
Pay attention to your soil. Have you been feeding it regularly?
If not, enrich it with compost, seaweed or rotted manure. Add soil-building
additives such as kelp, bone, fish or canola meal for nitrogen and
rock phosphate for minerals. Check reference books for a good organic
fertilizer recipe. If your plants have been performing poorly or
you are uncertain of what the soil needs, have it tested. Garden
centres can recommend tests or local testing labs.
Pest Patrol
To ensure healthy productive plants, keep the garden clean
and free of insect pests and diseases. Use environmentally friendly
preventative measures.
Remove weeds. Dig out dandelions before they flower
Search out and destroy tiny, newly hatched slugs around the crowns
of susceptible plants. Check for aphids on the new growth of roses.
Rub them off or spray with an insecticidal soap.
Trees and Shrubs
Many of our flowering trees and shrubs are beginning their
peak season. Purchase new additions for your garden now while you
can see them in bloom. Before you buy, take a look at the size of
the mature plants (in parks or public gardens). Is there room for
what you want in your garden? Are dwarf varieties of your favourites
available?
Prune early flowering shrubs immediately after they finish
blooming. Next year's flower buds develop on wood that grows this
season. Consult a pruning manual or basic gardening reference guide
for instructions on how to prune your plants.
Add mulches to the soil under trees and shrubs but do not
put the mulch right up against the trunk.
Clip coniferous hedges to maintain their size and shape. Shear
winter flowering heathers. Fertilize cedar hedges with 30-10-10
Bulbs
Prime time for your annual spring bulbs is underway. Make
detailed notes of groupings that work well and of areas that need
improvement. Write it down - trust me you will forget by next fall.
Mark areas where new plantings of bulbs can be made without fear
of digging into established bulb plantings. Deadhead spring bulbs
as they finish flowering. Leave the foliage until it turns yellow.
Bulb beds can be fertilized once flowers have faded.
Deadhead narcissus and tulips as they finish blooming. Leave
the foliage until it turns yellow and dies back.
Plant summer bulbs and corms such as lilies, crocossmia,
acidanthera and gladiolas. Begonias should be underway indoors or
in the greenhouse.
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411 Village Bay Road, S1 C90
Mayne Island, BC V0N 2J0
Phone/Voice Mail: 250-539-2598
Fax: 250-539-2598
Email: trishhoff@gulfislands.com
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