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Waking Up Your Garden Prepared by: Etobicoke Master Gardeners Presented at: Humber Arboretum Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 1 Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 2 Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 3 Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 4 Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 5 www.colourbox.com Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 6 Our Goals today: • Winter Warm-ups & the importance of garden assessment • Review garden clean-up & weeding • Discuss soil & soil improvements • Provide an overview of pruning techniques & what to prune when • Favourite tools & tool care • How to prepare your lawn • The finishing touches www.myorganicguru.com Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 7 • Importance of garden assessment • The 3 steps 1 2 3 • REVIEW the past • OBSERVE the present • PLAN for the future Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 8 • Did you keep a garden journal? • Did you take pictures? • Why every gardener should! • Journals & pictures help you to review and think about; • Which plants thrived and why or why not • Which plants may do better, and which should be moved • Assess pollinator activity • Track plant locations & identification • Determine which plants may need to be replaced • Allow you to compare your garden from previous years Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 9 • Observe the microclimates in your garden or lawn • Hot spots, or cooler zones • Windy areas • Effects of hardscaping Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 10 • Observe moisture patterns in your garden or lawn • Areas that are wetter after rainfall • Is there any pooling • Areas that are damp, or the last to thaw • Moss growth Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 11 • Observe the light patterns • Which areas are full sun; partial sun; full shade • What can be moved to change the light pattern • Light patterns can change • DON’T FORGET TO TAKE NOTES! Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 12 • Based on your review determine what you are changing • Prioritize your changes • Hardscaping • Trees & shrubs • Plant materials • Vegetable patches • Container gardens • Research plant materials • “Map It Out” - choose your plants and their locations • Plan companion plantings, and crop rotation in your vegetable garden • Plan for winter interest (structure, features) Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 13 • Encourage ‘air circulation’ and pull away the ‘sheets’ • Clean Up Non woody Perennials • Replant perennials that have been heaved out of the soil, exposing their roots • Prune Woody Perennials and Roses Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 14 • Consider dividing mature later-flowering perennials if necessary (overgrown clumps) • Divide perennials after growth has appeared • Candidates for spring division could include: Hosta, Daylilies (Hemerocallis), Ajuga, Daisies (Leucanthemum), Phlox Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 15 • Prepare Soil • Get a jump start on weeding • Empty your compost bins • Make plant tags for emerging plants • Plant Cold-Hardy Blooming Annuals and vegetable seeds indoors Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 16 • Get Containers Ready • Get irrigation lines blown out or turn your outside taps on • Pressure wash old worn looking pavers, outdoor furniture, and decks • Plan for next year, fall versus spring clean-up • Seasonal interest rarely applies to perennial plants Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 17 • Make/repair raised beds. • Weed and till the soil. • Add soil amendments (triple mix, bagged manure, organic compost – Note: not city compost!). • Choose your crops. • Plan the layout. • Start seeds indoors or buy seedlings. • Keeping a journal is important here too (note insect and disease problems). Community Garden near the San Francisco Civic Center – Mar 7, 2015 18 • Choose the site(s) • Choose the containers • Choose the potting medium – peat-based medium is light • Choose the plants • Make plans for watering and feeding Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 19 • Dandelion, Purslane, Ragweed, Burdock, Crabgrass, Canada Thistle, Garlic Mustard Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 20 • • • • • Weathered rock material broken down over many years Sand, silt and clay Micro-organisms Organic matter Water and Air http://foodstorageandbeyond.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/types-of-soil.jpg Etobicoke Master Gardeners Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca http://pnwmg.org/images/soilparticlesize.gif Humber Arboretum Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca www.humberarboretum.on.ca 21 • • • • • Temperature control during very hot/cold periods Oxygen that roots need to breathe Anchoring support to stay upright Water that roots need to drink Food, food and more food!!! Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 22 • • • • Reusing and recycling It’s natural – occurs in nature! Helps grow strong healthy plants Good for soil health and structure • • • • • Adds micro-organisms to root zone Reduces needs for synthetic fertilizers Helps improve water drainage in clay soils Helps improve water retention in sandy soils Helps clean up contaminated soil (remediation) Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca http://www.planetnatural.com Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 23 23 • Greens are high in nitrogen or protein. • Greens help microorganisms to multiply fast in the piles. • Greens help internal temperatures in hot compost piles. • • • • • Browns are high in carbon or carbohydrates. Browns supply the energy / food that soil organisms need. Browns also help stop odours. Browns help stop the nitrogen in the piles from leaching. Browns are essential in the faster formation of humus Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 24 • To maintain a healthy plant • To keep it from growing too large • To make it more beautiful, and alter form • Improve the quality or quantity of flowers, leaves or fruits • To renew or rejuvenate old shrubs groundeffectsinc.biz culvercitycrossroads.co m Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 25 • Clean, sharp tools are essential • Make the right cut in the right place at the right time • You prune a stem when you want to strengthen it, encourage or prevent flower bud formation and/or cause branching Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 26 • Stem pruning Thinning Heading www.ca.uky.edu • Removing bark • Root pruning Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 27 • Woody perennials • Roses • Flowering shrubs and vines • Fruit trees • Ornamental grasses • Evergreens Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca baetensnursery.com Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 28 • Some shrubby plants with woody stems need to be cut back each spring, because they only bloom on new branches Buddleia is one example. • Why pruned in the spring; • to limit winter damage • to encourage the plant to start sending out those new flowering branches • It's best to wait until danger of a hard frost is past • Other woody plants such as Lavender and Artemisia need to be pruned to maintain vigorous growth • Prune when the plants shows signs of opening buds on the lower stem portions or new growth at the base of the plants • Remove a third of the oldest stems from the base of the plant every year for 3 years Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 29 • First step - remove winter protection • Dig out standards or un-hill others • Roses should not be pruned until about April, to avoid winter damage • Once the leaf buds begin to swell on the bush, it is safe to prune • Pruning before the leaf buds open causes the rose bush to put its full energy into new growth • Hybrid tea, floribunda and shrub roses – prune • Climbing roses flower only on old wood and need little or no annual pruning, just clean up of very old wood Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 30 Etobicoke Master Gardeners Humber Arboretum www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca www.humberarboretum.on.ca 31 • If you left your ornamental grasses up for winter interest, you can cut back warm season ornamental grasses that have totally browned • Cut grasses to within a few inches of the ground • You don't need to wait for new growth • They'll come back up when they're ready Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 32 • Perhaps the most confusing group of plants, when it comes to pruning times • A general rule of thumb: • Prune summer and fall flowering trees and shrubs in the dormant season (late winter / early spring) - Caryopteris and some Spiraeas • Prune spring flowering trees and shrubs soon after their flowers fade – Forsythia, Lilac, flowering Quince • The confusion comes with plants like Hydrangeas , Roses and Clematis; some of these flower in spring, some in summer or fall, some flower repeatedly • Always prune away any dead / diseased/rubbing wood • Prune every year, so that plants are regenerated over time Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 33 • Fruit trees and berries will steadily decline unless they are pruned and tended • So if you are growing tree fruits or berries to harvest, pruning them should be given high priority • Pruning: • • • • promotes flower/fruit production increases sunlight into the crown to help ripening Removes less productive growth Shapes the tree into a more efficient shape • Most fruiting plants need to be pruned while they are dormant Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 34 • As a general rule, evergreen trees don’t need to be pruned • It is not recommended that you use pruning to keep an evergreen tree’s size in check • You will just stress and distort the tree • Choose a smaller, dwarf evergreen rather than trying to size down a large tree • To improve the fullness of the shape of the bush • this can be accomplished with well timed pruning. • It is best to do this while the tree is young Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 35 • Rakes – Flex or Fan Rakes - Straight or Rigid Rakes Hoes - Trench hoe or Fork Cultivator • Shovels, Forks and Trowels • Secateurs – Bypass, Anvil and Ratcheting • Loppers – plain and extended handle • Saws – folding, pole saw Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca thegreatestgarden.com Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 36 Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 37 37 Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 38 38 Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 39 39 Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 40 40 Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 41 41 Etobicoke Master Gardeners Humber Arboretum www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Etobicoke Master Gardeners Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca www.humberarboretum.on.ca 42 42 • Rake the lawn to remove dead growth and winter debris • Aerate/dethatch if needed • Cut grass long (2 1/2 inches) • Leave clippings on, water deeply and less frequently (1 inch of water per week) • Re-seed bare patches of lawn Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 43 • Rake bare spots firmly with a metal rake before seeding • Top dress to fill low spots and soil health • Sprinkle grass seed into a bucket of soil and spread evenly over the bare spot • Keep well-watered until seeds germinate and the new grass establishes • Pre-emergent herbicides such as corn gluten may be applied Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 44 • If you fertilize use composted manure or a balanced organic slow-release fertilizer Nutrients: N = Nitrogen • stimulates lush green growth of leaves and new shoots, promotes dark green colour blog.greatgardensupply.com P = Phosphorus • promotes development of strong healthy root system and setting of flower buds K = Potassium • aids in the overall strength of stems and roots and resistance to disease Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 45 • Mulching • Add mulch (or top up) to areas of exposed bare soil • 3” max thickness • Ensure mulch doesn’t touch crowns of plants and/or stems and trunks of trees • Mulch flower beds with compost or other organic materials • Use leaves, and organic mulch • Mulch open soil areas to minimize the spread of weeds Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca www.boxmaths.com Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 46 • Common mulch options include shredded bark, bark chips, and stone chips • Carefully consider which mulches you choose • Coloured cedar chips, attractive but carry dyes and chemicals • Wood mulches may attract ants • Peat moss acts as a wick and is an ecologically a poor choice • Cocoa bean shells, may encourage mould Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 47 • Edging • Reshape garden edges, and trim grass along edges • A clean edge improves the overall appearance of your lawn • Create ditch edges or a mowing strip along the edge Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 48 Etobicoke Master Gardeners & Humber Arboretum Thank you! Questions? Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicoke.mgoi.ca Humber Arboretum www.humberarboretum.on.ca 49