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Saturday, July 05, 2008 • 06:01 am |
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Sun, sun and more sun…who needs Hawaii when we can have it all right here in Ottawa? The wonderful thing about mid-June is that most plants either bloom or are about to, while their leaves still look lush and fresh. Even the grass still looks green, clearly enjoying the sun rather than suffering from it. However, we have to keep in mind that, lately, “The Weather Network” has been pampering us. When you are a plant, showers overnight and sunshine combined with mild heat during the day is probably as good as it gets. However, June has entered its second half and with July lurking just around the corner, things have already begun to change. Steady rains are giving way to occasional downpours, and moderate warmth is evolving into burning, sticky heat that will scorch our gardens if we do not take the appropriate precautions. In an area like ours, where temperatures roughly vary from minus 35 in winter to plus 35 in summer, it is hard to make a garden look attractive all the time. Clearly, in winter this problem is almost non-existent, as everything is covered in snow (or burlap wrapping) and nobody is willing to stay outside long enough to even look at a garden. Come summer, however, the damage Mother Nature can do to a garden becomes evident. What precautions can we take to make our garden keep its fresh, spring-like appearance? The obvious solution is to water it. In part, this is true. However, water is one of our most precious commodities and we should be cautious using it. As always, the secret of successful gardening is to go with Mother Nature rather than trying to fight her. One way is to improve the structure of the soil, thus enabling it to retain moisture. Combine forking in compost - on a regular basis - with a layer of mulch and your plants will be better prepared for the long hot summer. An even better solution is to pick plants that can withstand drought and long hours of hot sunshine. Do your homework before you visit a garden center instead of buying on impulse. A plant that looks great on display will not necessarily become a showpiece in your garden. Even the hottest, driest spot in your garden can be turned into a real feature if you treat it properly. Hard landscaping, such as a paver patio, is a one solution as is a river-rock bed with some drought-resistant plants (such as yucca, artemesia, and select ornamental grasses). Try to establish a visual contrast between the stone elements and the natural planting, so that colour forms a major part of the effect.
Prevent your spring flowering bulbs from setting seed by removing their dead flower heads and give them an extra boost of energy by sprinkling some fertilizer. This is also a good time to fertilize your rose bushes to encourage the second wave of flowers. Divide your early flowering perennials such as Irises and transplant them into fresh soil; cut back the leaves to prevent the plants from loosing too much moisture, thus enabling them to recover from the shock quickly. Your feedback About René
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