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| Summer is Here |
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| Summer is
here. Is your garden ready to bloom all summer long? |
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If you are still looking to fill a
few spots in your garden with some colour this summer, we have something
for you. We still have a great selection of annuals, perennials, roses,
and other shrubs that will bloom for you this summer. So come in today to
see what you can add to your garden. |
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| Canna Lily |
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| How to attract Hummingbirds and
Butterflies |
| Watching butterflies and birds is one of the many rewards of
gardening. |
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There are many plants that attract
butterflies to your garden. Try planting a few and see how they work. Some
popular flowering plants that attract butterflies include:
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Annuals
· Asters
· Cosmos
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Heliotrope
· Snapdragons
· Sweet Pea
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Lobelia
· Verbena
Shrubs
· Abelia
· Buddleia
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Calluna vulgaris (Scotch Heather)
· Ceanothus
(California Lilac)
· Choisya ternata (Mexican
Orange)
· Hebe
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Lavendula (Lavender)
· Lonicera (Honeysuckle)
· Philadelphus (Mock Orange)
· Potentilla
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Rhododendron
· Rosemary
· Syringa (Lilac)
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Perennials
· Achillea (Yarrow)
· Agapanthus (Lily-of-the-Nile)
· Aquilegia (Columbine)
· Astilbe (False Spiraea)
· Coreopsis
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Delphinium
· Echinacea (Purple Coneflower)
· Erigeron (Fleabane)
· Gaillardia grandiflora (Blanketflower)
· Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy)
· Monarda (Bee Balm)
· Penstemon (Beard Tongue)
· Phlox
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Rudbeckia
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Astilbe ardendsii
'DrumNBass' |
Echinacea 'Mango
Meadowbright' |
Heliotrope |
Penstemon Mexicala Pikes Peak
Purple |
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| Summer
Blooming Shrubs |
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Summer flowering shrubs
are invaluable in our gardens. They bridge the gap between early spring
blooming and fall blooming plants.
The best summer flowering
shrubs provide us with a maximum amount of bloom for as long as possible
with as little care as possible. With those criteria in mind the following
plants have been chosen.
Abelia
Abelia is a
relative of the honeysuckle plant and is valued for its long flowering
period, dark glossy green foliage, and ease of care. It has vase-shaped
fragrant white flowers tinged with pink and blooms from July to early
autumn. It grows best in full sun but will tolerate light shade and
prefers an acidic, well-drained soil. Flowers are produced on new growth.
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Abelia 'Edward Goucher'
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Buddleia
Buddleias (Butterfly
bush) are generally best grown in full sun. However, they can be grown in
open shade as long as the plant gets about four hours of direct sunlight.
Buddleias are vigorous growers so top dressing the ground in spring with
compost or mushroom manure provides much needed nutrients to support the
growth. Buddleias flower on new growth. In spring when danger of frost has
passed cut back the plant to 1 to 3 feet above ground level depending on
how tall you want the plant to be when it
flowers.
They bloom in
midsummer when few other shrubs are in bloom, with flower spikes similar
to lilacs. They attract butterflies and as a bonus the flowers are honey
scented. There are many varieties to choose from. Some popular varieties
include:
· 'Black Knight' has rich dark
purple flowers
· 'Nanho Blue' has 4-6" mauve
blue flowers
· 'Nanho Purple' has very
fragrant magenta purple flowers
· 'Pink
Delight' has rich pink fragrant flowers
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Buddleia, Royal Red
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Hydrangea
No list of summer flowering
shrubs would be complete without Hydrangeas. It is impossible to resist
their huge, colorful, captivating flowers. The most commonly seen in our
coastal gardens is Hydrangea macrophylla (Big leaf Hydrangea.) Big leaved
Hydrangeas are best known for their massive mop-head flowers but are also
available as Lacecaps. Lacecap hydrangea flowers have a flat topped
cluster of small fertile flowers surrounded by a ring of sterile flowers.
Hydrangea macrophylla enjoys
moisture and semi-shaded locations. It blooms throughout summer, the color
of the flowers is determined by the acidity of the soil; blue flowers
result from very acid soil and pink flowers from alkaline soil (add lime
to acidic soil). When pruning remove one third of oldest canes at the base
of the plant each year, leave the remainder of the plant intact as they
flower on old wood.
Some popular varieties include:
· 'Endless Summer' - A new introduction that
produces mophead flowers all summer long as it flowers on both old and new
wood, it grows 3-5' tall and is hardy to zone 4.
· 'Blue Wave' - A lacecap type that has rich
blue flowers if it is planted in acid soil
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'Bluebird' - A lacecap type that has light blue flowers
· 'Kyushu' - A paniculata type that has large
airy white conical flowers, on upright sturdy stems
· 'Pee Gee' - A paniculata type with large
conical white flowers that fade to pink, it is has an arching habit
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Hydrangea macrophylla
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Hydrangea serrata |
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bailmer'
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Hibiscus
Hardy Hibiscus, or "Rose of
Sharon", is a beautiful long blooming shrub, covered with large showy
trumpet shaped flowers in white, pink, blue or red. It is a late bloomer,
beginning to flower in late July and blooming through October.
This is a versatile hardy
plant that prefers 4-5 hours of sun with bright shade the rest of the day
but will tolerate full sun. Left un-pruned it will grow to 8' tall; pruned
it can be kept at 4'.
Some popular varieties include:
· 'Collie Mullens' - Double purple lavender
flower
· 'Diane' - Large pure white single
flower
· 'Lavender Chiffon' - Large single
lavender flowers with a lacy centre
· 'Red
Heart' - Single pure white with a red centre
· 'White Chiffon' - Large single white
flowers with a lacy centr |
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| Make Your
Garden "Water Wise" |
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With the right planning
you can reduce the amount of water your garden needs. Reducing the
amount of water your garden consumes makes sense. Here are some tips
to make your garden "Water Wise".
· Group plants with
similar moisture requirements close together
· Place a layer of
mulch around the base of your plants using compost or shredded bark to
conserve moisture during the hot summer months
· Improve the
water-retention capabilities of your soil by adding lots of compost and/or
Peat Moss
· Plant those plants which require the greatest
amounts of water in areas that receive run-off from slopes or downspouts
· Place drought-tolerant plants in the garden so they can
shelter less drought-tolerant plants from the drying effects of the
prevailing winds
· Consider installing a water-efficient drip
irrigation system for watering your garden Make use of rainwater by
redirecting your downspout onto your garden or get a rain-barrel and drain
your downspout into it. Rain barrels are available from the City of
Vancouver at a subsidized price. Contact the South Granville Transfer
station on West Kent Avenue for more information
· Use native
plants that are able to handle the summer droughts
· Plant
trees and shrubs in the fall or early spring so that they have a well
established root system to cope with the dry summer months.
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To avoid excess evaporation, water your garden or lawn in the early
morning
· Do not water on windy days
· For a
healthier and more drought-tolerant landscape, water your plants only when
they need it and water deeply when you do water, to encourage deeper root
growth
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| Grow your
Own Vegetables and Herbs |
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There is
nothing better than enjoying fresh vegetables and herbs that you have
grown yourself. Whether you start them from seed or buy plants already
started now is the time to get your garden growing.
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Basil
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Mint |
Peas
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Rosemary |
Tomato |
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| Receive 20% Off |
When you purchase $200 or
more of Nursery Stock (Trees and Shrubs), Perennials, or Fruit Trees you
will receive 20% off the regular retail price of those items. *
*
This does not include bedding plants, soils, fertilizers, Christmas trees
and Poinsettias, or other items. |
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EVERY WEDNESDAY is
"GARDENER'S DAY"
10% off
ALL regular priced merchandise |
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Garden Tips |
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· very little planting
should be done during the summer months other than filling in spaces with
bedding plants, perennials, or shrubs
· you should water
periodically during hot dry periods
· it is best to water in
the morning to prevent the spread of fungal infections that might develop
if you water at night
· cultivate the top layer of soil weekly
to aerate the soil so that it can absorb water more easily
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remove any weeds that germinate and try to grow |
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· Water newly planted
trees and shrubs periodically to ensure that they survive the hot summer
months
· Watch for any insects or diseases to prevent them from
spreading |
| VEGETABLES,
FRUITS and HERBS |
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· Fertilize and water
regularly to ensure that crops develop and mature
· You should
be able to harvest crops all summer long
· Re-plant veggies
such as carrots, lettuce, and radishes for late summer crops
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Start fall crops such as cabbage, kale, or Swiss chard in early August for
fall harvest |
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· Enjoy the tranquil
soothing sounds of your fountain
· Watch your plants grow and
mature through the summer
· Ensure that your plants provide
enough shade for the pond and cover from predators for your fish
· Watch for algae blooms and other pest or diseases
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Starting a
New Lawn |
| Summer is not a good time to
start a new lawn. It is best to wait until fall when the cool fall weather
and rains provide enough moisture for the lawn to grow better.
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Watering your
lawn |
When watering your lawn it is
best to water early in the morning or later in the evening to minimize
evaporation loss. This also saturates the soil more thoroughly and
provides better absorption of the water. Watering your lawn less
frequently but more thoroughly encourages deeper roots that can withstand
drought.
Adequate watering ensures that your lawn has an
established root system to cope with the summer months. Newly planted
lawns need special attention. Water thoroughly and deeply. Watering
Restrictions are in effect from June 1st until September 30th. You can
still water your garden by hand but you can only use sprinklers on your
lawn during the following times:
· 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 7
p.m. to 10 p.m. only
· Even-numbered address: Wednesdays and
Saturdays
· Odd-numbered address: Thursdays and Sundays
Rather than getting up at 4am we have electronic water timers,
sprinklers, and soaker hoses to make it easy for you to adhere to the
restrictions.
For more information on "waterwise" gardening please
see the City of Vancouver website at:
vancouver.ca/parks/parks/vandusen/website/conservation/waterwise.htm
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Mowing your
lawn |
| Lawns should be mowed at
regular intervals with a sharp-bladed mower at the correct height. Lawns
should be cut every 7 to 10 days. A rotary mower should to be set at 2 to
3 inches for the season. Your lawn mower should be kept sharp at all
times. A dull mower tears the grass instead of cutting it, making it more
susceptible to diseases. You should use a catcher, or rake the cut grass
to remove the cuttings and prevent the build-up of dead grass. If you do
not remove the dead grass you should power rake your lawn on a regular
basis to remove the layer of dead grass (thatch) that builds up; this is
called de-thatching. |
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Applying Moss
Control |
| Summer is not the best time to
apply Moss Control to your lawn. The Moss has gone dormant and has
probably already spread the spores that will grow next year. You can rake
out the moss by hand or use/rent a power rake to do it more effectively.
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Fertilizing
your lawn |
· Lawns generally do
not need to be fertilized during the hot summer months
· If you
choose to fertilize be sure to do it in the early morning or late evening
when it is cool and be sure to water the fertilizer in well to prevent
burning your lawn
· If you reduce your watering or stop it
completely your lawn will go dormant, let it lie dormant for the summer as
it will rejuvenate in the fall when rains return |
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