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October 18, 2012
Vol 1, Issue 11
Down The Garden Path
with Joanne Shaw 
Greetings!
Joanne Shaw
Fall seems like it is going too fast! Not only with the cool temperatures this week but just as soon as we top dressed and put the grass seed down on our lawn, down came the leaves off of our Ash trees and so very little germination took place. Oh well - we tried grass we tried! I am sure we will get another warm spell.  At least that is what I am telling myself since I still have a peony tree to plant and a few other plants I want to move around.

On that note, now is a great time to move things around... if one plant is not getting the right light conditions or is being crowded out by others, now is a great time to do your plant shuffling, your hosta dividing etc. I find it easier to do that in the fall because by the time things come up in the spring I forget what I wanted to do or where I wanted to put it!

Now is also a great time for bulb planting if you want to add some spring colour to your garden. Thanks to those pesky squirrels  I recommend alliums and daffodils... the squirrels won't touch them. Remember to dig large wide holes and place 5 to 7 bulbs in each hole. Bulbs that come up in groups make a better statement than having single flowers popping up throughout the garden. Check out my fall checklist for more tips.

Start planning now for any major projects for next year. I have already started working on designs for a contractor and his customers for next spring. If you are thinking of expanding your garden or adding a new walkway or patio get a quote now so that you can plan and budget for the spring. Most contractors start booking jobs now for spring and the customers that call in the fall are the ones that have their work done first. Are you looking for a spring install?  Call early!  February customers can expect install dates well into June.  Please give me a call if you need a design or quote this fall in order to get a jump on spring!

Enjoy the fall colours!

 
Warm regards,

Joanne Shaw
Landscape Designer
Down2Earth Landscape Design


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In This Issue
HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?
FEATURE ARTICLE
A LOOK THROUGH THE GARDEN GATE
TIP
Moving Peonies

The fall is the best time to move one of our favorite spring blooming plants. This is by far one of the most sentimental plants in the garden.  I have lost count of how many of my customers have shown me their peony bush that came from their mother or grandmothers garden. As they age, usually after at least 10 years in the garden, they begin to produce less flowers, partly because of age and partly because they are now being shaded by plants and trees around them.

pink peony

Now is a good time to move them... very carefully. The roots are very fragile and getting a large rootball out of the ground in one piece is challenging. If the clump is very large then it can be cut in sections as long as there are 3 to 5 red buds in each root clump.

moving peony

Once the new location with good sunlight and drainage is prepared with some fresh compost, set the root ball shallowly in the hole with the pink buds near the soil level.  It is very important that the buds not be planted too deep or else the plant may not bloom. Cover with mulch and water well until hard frost.  Now you are all set for spring blooms in your garden.


*Source: Gardenmaking Magazine


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For more gardening tips and informative articles, visit my Newsletter Archives page!

 

FEATUREARTICLE
Fall Checklist
checkmark     Time to plant spring bulbs. Remember, squirrels don't like Daffodils or Allium.

checkmark     Remove spent summer flowering plants from containers and replace with Fall Blooming Mums or Ornamental Kale.

Fall container checkmark     Dispose of any diseased or infested plant debris, to avoid overwintering the problem.

checkmark     Continue to remove weeds especially seed heads to prevent weeds for next year.

checkmark     Divide and move perennials.

checkmark     This is a great time to plant trees and shrubs.

checkmark     Keep an eye on rainfall; if it is low, make sure newly planted material and evergreens are well watered until the first frost.

checkmark     Protect young trees from mice damage by wrapping tree protector around the bottom portion of the trunk.

checkmark     Leave Ornamental Grasses for winter interest and keep blooms on shrubs like Hydrangea or flowers like Echinacea for added winter interest.

checkmark     Reapply mulch in gardens to help with moisture retention and weed control. 
 

GARDENGATE
A look through the garden gate...
 
Many homeowners have more of a challenge with maintaining curb appeal because of the cable or telephone boxes that end up on their property.  There is a fine line between "hiding" these boxes and drawing more attention to them.



Here are some photos of a 2 year old garden where I think we have successfully added curb appeal despite the small boulevard and the challenges that existed there.





 



Joanne Shaw is the owner and operator of Down2Earth Landscape Design. A graduate of Ryerson University in Landscape Design, Joanne has 15 years experience in designing gardens and a decade in landscape and related business, both for her own clientele and established local nurseries.

CONTACT
Joanne Shaw
Landscape Designer
Down2Earth Landscape Design
[email protected]
www.down2earth.ca
905.839.1597
905.903.2597