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Saturday, July 05, 2008 • 05:56 am |
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So far this summer, we've had a mere two days of 30 degrees or more on record and on recent early mornings it felt more like early October than mid August. The first signs of fall – for now unobtrusive – are becoming noticeable; the first back to school ads are here, stores like Canadian Tire have started to dismantle their garden centres and for a lot of us "holiday" is a thing from the past. No need to fret yet; we still have a few more nice months ahead of us and this is a good time to reconsider our gardens. Are we happy with the look of our garden or is it time for a change? By now, mistakes we made this spring or last fall have become evidently clear and rather than wait until after the winter, galvanize into action now. Grab your notepads and pencils; we are about to start our lessons in design basics!
As mentioned before in this column, the first secret to successful gardening lies in knowing your garden. Just like you, your garden is unique and has character. It is this character, a distinctive set of conditions that work together, which determines what you can grow successfully. Understand your garden’s character and you are well on your way to becoming a great gardener. The second secret is too look after your soil well; pamper it by adding compost or any other organic material on a regular basis and it will reward you year after year with a splendour of flowers and crops. Spending money on plants without being aware of their habitat - the set of conditions they need in order to thrive – is useless. Sun exposure, soil type, moisture and wind are the key factors that determine whether a plant thrives or struggles. Assuming you have done the groundwork and know what your garden is capable of, the next step is to determine which of the plants you can grow are plants that you find attractive, that go well together etc. Regardless whether you start a new garden from scratch or redesign an existing garden, the first thing to do is make a wish list. What are features you would like to see in your garden, is there a need for a kids’ play area, does the family dog needs a patch of grass to do the things dogs sometimes do, do you entertain a lot, do you like to eat outside, and is there a need for storage? The list can be long and it is unlikely that you will see all your wishes come true, but don’t let that discourage you. Also, don’t let an existing feature dictate your new garden, unless you have no alternative but to work around it. You may be limited as to what you can do about a large tree or a garage, but a path, a flower border or even a patio don’t necessarily need to limit your new design. Once you have written down all the features you would like to see in your garden, you should divide your list into three categories: items that are essential to you, those that are important and the ones you find desirable. Everyone has different preferences, but defining the things that are a priority to you should ensure that the most important features are included. While designing your garden, keep in mind the features that are listed under “essential”. Try to incorporate as many of them as possible without overdoing it in the space you have. Remember, it is much better – and less expensive – to make mistakes on paper rather than in the garden. It will die at the first signs of frost, but that is no a reason not to grow this beautiful plant on our patios and decks. It is a shrub that can easily reach 10 feet height, though confined in a pot it will stop growing at about 4 or 5. The flowers – seemingly a cross between hollyhock and Hibiscus flowers – range in colour from red to yellow and white, and randomly appear throughout the year. Theoretically, the Abutilon flowers from April to June, but as you can tell from the picture (that was taken on 10 August) it has a mind of its own when it comes to showing off its blooms. This particular plant was kept indoors during the winter in a light
room (though protected from direct sunlight), where it merrily started
to flower in January (and hasn’t stopped since). The Abutilon
likes filtered sun and can be pruned to the desired height and/or shape
in early Spring or late Fall. Happy Gardening! René Trim Your feedback About René
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August
11 , 2004
Native
to more tropical places like South America, the Abutilon
(also known as flowering Maple or Chinese bellflower) is anything but
hardy in the Ottawa Valley. 
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