Dear Helen: When is the best time to mulch around plants?
G.K.
For enhanced moisture retention and fertility in the soil, the best time for applying a nourishing compost mulch layer is in the spring, once the soil has warmed and after a substantial rainfall or a deep watering.
Clean the ground around the plants, cultivate lightly, water, and mulch. Give special attention to drought sensitive and mildew prone plants like summer phlox and roses. Rhododednrons benefit from a post-bloom cleaning and mulching.
At around this time I weed, water and mulch the pea, onion, carrot and beet rows as well, to give them a nutrient and moisture-retention boost as they are developing rapidly.
听
Dear Helen: I鈥檓 curious to know, from your own observations, what are the most common mistakes made by home gardeners.
S.T.
It鈥檚 very common to see the results of a lack of attention in matching a plant to a site 鈥� especially in regard to size. We鈥檝e all seen huge bushes obscuring half the area of front room picture windows.
Gardeners find it extremely difficult to resist the wiles of alluring plants at garden centres. More than once I鈥檝e found myself wandering through the garden, newly purchased plant in hand, searching out a congenial spot for it.
The ideal is to shop for plants with their sites in mind. Nursery clerks will often come up with brilliant suggestions for a particular site you wish to fill.
For a happy plant-location pairing, check labels for a plant鈥檚 eventual height and spread and also for its preferred sun exposure and soil type needs. It鈥檚 not a听bad idea either to inquire about a plant鈥檚 maintenance requirements. We don鈥檛 all have the time or inclination for tending to the needs of super-fussy, high-maintenance darlings, however winsome, of the plant world.
Another common mistake that I鈥檓 surprised to keep coming across is a failure to prepare the soil prior to planting. Unless a site is exceptionally endowed with a naturally fertile, adequately drained, consistently friable loam, a bit of plumping up with additions of compost and fertilizer dug into the soil is needed. In our climate, except for potatoes and acid-loving ornamentals, liming is also beneficial. In most or our coastal soils, generous liming is also needed for growing beets and spinach successfully.
It鈥檚 a shame that many people are put off gardening because of sheer discouragement when nothing seems to grow for them. The secret to successful growth lies in the soil. It鈥檚 so worth while to spend the time incorporating into the soil luscious organic materials that plant roots and beneficial soil organisms revel in lustily. The actual seeding or transplanting takes little time. Most of the time taken for any planting project should be used in getting the soil ready.
听
GARDEN EVENTS
Government House plant sales. On听Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to听12听p.m., from June 13 to Aug. 31, the听Government House Plant Nursery will be open for plant sales. Proceeds go听into the maintenance and enhancement of the gardens at Government House, 1401 Rockland Ave.
听
Summer show. The View Royal Garden Club鈥檚 summer show is on Saturday, June听17, from 1 to 3 p.m. in Wheeley Hall at Esquimalt United Church, 500听Admirals Rd. Admission of听$5 includes door prize tickets and refreshments served from 1 to 2:45. The event also includes sales of baked goods, plants, and garden items.
听
HCP workshops. The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd. in Saanich, is offering the following workshops. To听register call 250-479-6162. hcp.ca.
听
鈥� Plant Identification and Culture. The next session in this monthly course (can be joined at any time) will be on Saturday, June 17, 1听to听4听p.m. In each session Diane Pierce introduces 25 new plants, with descriptions, preferred growing conditions, landscape uses and maintenance. Cost to HCP members per session is $35, others $45. Cost for 12 sessions: members $350, others $450.
听
鈥� Grow Your Own Cut Flower Garden, Sunday, June 25, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Commercial flower grower Eiddwen Thomas will discuss roses, peonies, and听other flowers for cutting in June, and what can be planted now for next year. Participants are invited to bring examples of blooms from their gardens, for group discussion. Members $45, others $60.