Garden Tidbits
Here in the Maple Ridge area gardening tends to be....... challenging for some. Most of our soil has a high clay content, and with the Golden Ears mountains slowing cloud movement, we tend to have a higher level of rainfall. We have many waterways and forested areas. Closer to town there tends to be more rolling hills and sunny open areas. We have many different types and styles of gardens.
In our 'Garden Tidbits' we'll share some of our members successful secrets.
Have a Question? We'd like to see if we have answers for you!
Please email the club with ANY questions you have, and we'll do our best to answer them at the next available meeting.
Repeated questions will get the HIGH privlidge of getting posted HERE
to e-mail your question, click here
Oriental Lilies:
After a few years (4-5), if you find your lily blooms seem to be diminishing, it may be time to divide them. Another tale tell sign is multiple smaller stems (that lack bloom) popping up around the main stem. The optimum time to do this is in the fall, however; early Spring is acceptable..... if you work quickly. Dig up the area (dig deep to limit damage). Some people cut off the outer chunks of the artichoke looking bulb, but many have found this to be difficult. The best way we've found is to just replant the largest bulbs and relocate the smaller ones elsewhere in your garden (or pot them up to share). When replanting, mix in generous amounts of green sand, blood meal, bone meal and well rotted compost as lilies are heavy feeders. Good luck! Enjoy!!
Coastal Hummingbird
This photo of "Anna's Hummingbird" was taken by Jen Cloke on December 10th 2012!. The only known species to overwinter here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna's_Hummingbird
Are your Peonies turning black, and do your blossoms look like this?
That's a fungus. Peonies are susceptible to various fungi. Current year damage can't be reversed. Remove damaged leaves. In the fall, cut all stems to within an inch of the ground and burn them. Don't compost peony foliage or fungi will survive the winter. In the spring, spray peony stems as they emerge with a fungicide from the garden center, as directed. Two weeks later spray again at half strength. Two weeks later, spray a third time at the same strength as the second spray. This should take care of fungus problems for the season.
Marilyn's Organic Fertalizer Recipe
10 parts Canola Meal
1 part Kelp Meal
1 part Bone Meal
1 part Lime
Cyclamen have been a popular cultivated plant since Plato’s time, the 4th century. This great garden addition is often overlooked by new gardeners. There are a number of hardy cyclamen. Three of them are know to withstand prolonged freezing temperatures to as low as -22 F. Thats -30 Celsius!! They are C. Hederifolium, coum, and purpurascens. The hederifolium variety is what commonly sells in garden canters as both potted plants, and bagged. Native to woodland and rocky areas in the Mediterranean region.
Cyclamen are not picky about their soil quality, but to ensure success remember these two words DRY SHADE. Knowing this, the base of a large tree, or under a trimmed up shrub are ideal locations. When choosing a location, keep in mind that cyclamen are in growth during winter. Their need for good drainage makes them perfect container plants, which gives you the flexibility to showcase anywhere at peak performance times. You can also protect less hardy variety.
The depth of planting is less critical than the amount of drainage. Our climate in Maple Ridge is more forgiving than other area's and anywhere from 2-6” seems to work. Hederifolium will self seed freely and if left undisturbed will naturalize.
C hederifolium blooms from late August to October. The seeds mature over two months. The foliage remains as a spectacular green ground-cover through winter until spring, while most everything else is gone. Even if it never bloomed, the mottled foliage is a nice addition to the garden.
Japanese Maples do VERY well in our climate.
Click here to visit a website that is FULL
of information on how to prune
Japanese Maples
The linked website is also full of practically full of all information relevant to Japanese Maples!
Powdery mildew is the common cold of the plant world. A disease of opportunity rather than an indication of a sickly plant, it shows up whenever external conditions favour its development. Dry soil, moist air, overcrowding, shade and stagnant air all contribute to mildew. When all five conditions occur together – as commonly happens in early fall--mildew is almost guaranteed. Check these links out for more information.
Other tools for battling powdery mildew