Calgary Garden Coach

espaliered apple trees in 'England' - check!

Things don't happen very fast around my garden.  Last week-end I finally got around to putting some wire up, and starting to espalier these young, dwarf apple trees along the side of the edible garden area that my family calls 'England' (I know, you can barely see them!  They'll look better when they're leafed out.)  But my point is, this was a long time coming:

3 years ago in March 2009, I posted this sketch showing my idea for espaliered trees and raised beds along the fence:

Then in August 2010 we built some raised beds in the middle of the area, which is a former RV parking pad:

...and last summer we had our first real veggie garden since we moved to this house, and finally I planted the little baby dwarf apple trees last fall.

You can go to the Edible Gardens section of this blog and scroll down if you'd like to see how this garden has progressed over the years. I still have several things to get done, including building more raised beds between the trees against the fence, planting more groundcovers around and between the stepping stones, and maybe even adding a decoration or two to the fence. 

So my second point is, if the idea of transforming your yard into a place of beauty and bounty is feeling a little overwhelming, remember that you don't have to do it all in one year.  But it is good to have a plan!

 

pansies - first flowers of the year!

I was at the garden centre over the week-end and couldn't resist picking up a few pansies to put on my front and back steps.  These annuals are super hardy and once hardened off, can be left outside at this time of year.  Hardening off means gradually acclimatizing these soft, greenhouse-accustomed plants to the outdoors by starting to put them outside on a relatively warm day in a sheltered spot for short periods of time, and gradually increasing the exposure and amount of time.  The afternoons should be fairly warm starting tomorrow so I'll ask my kids to put them out for a half hour or so starting tomorrow afternoon. 

I love seeing flowers on the step when I come home from work!  It's been too long!

things to do while you're waiting for spring

Play with your kids' garden Playmobil!!

So, I haven't actually got around to any of the spring cleaning I suggested I might do in a my March to-do list.  Let's face it, it may never happen.  But I did get the curtains finished.  And the raspberries pruned.  And I have lots of healthy seedlings growing in the basement under lights!

What are you doing while waiting for spring?

Down to Earth Week and Seedy Saturday

There are lots of interesting events starting tomorrow, for Down to Earth Week, and the annual Seedy Saturday is this week-end, which I highly recommend as a great event for gardeners!

I'm sorry to say I'll be out of town.  OK, not really too sorry.  I'll be in Vancouver for work, but soaking up a little moisture and greenery on the side.  Have a great week!

my March 2012 Calgary garden to-do list

Sorry, I'm a bit late for this post.  I've been busy.  To tell the truth, for me, March and April are all about getting something else done before gardening season starts in earnest.  I should really clean out those kitchen cupboards.  And the storage room.  And probably the laundry room.... And hang those curtains in my daughters' room that I've been working on for a year... you get the idea!

But I do have plenty of seeds already growing in the basement and will be starting tomatoes in mid-March.  And I do not kid myself.  Whenever the weather is nice and the snow is gone, I will drop all my indoor chores for the chance to putter outside.  The kitchen cupboards may never get cleaned, but here are some things I might get done in the garden this month:

 PUTTERING OUTSIDE

• Some tidy-up pruning of trees and shrubs could still be done this month, and I like to get this job out of the way before things get busy.  Don't prune lilacs and other spring-blooming shrubs though, or you will remove this year's flowers!
• Prune and thin raspberries
• Stay on patios and stepping stones as much as possible (don't muck about on wet soil, walking on it will compact the soil)

from the archives:

• February (and March) are good times to prune.

• I don't get the prune-shrubs-into-a-ball-shape thing.
• On thinning and rejuvenating shrubs.

SEEDS and VEGETABLES

• It's still too early to start most vegetables inside this month, but I have already started some ornamentals in February and others in early March, and will be starting tomatoes in about a week.
• For the seeds I've already started, I'll be pinching them back to just above the first pair of true leaves this month to keep them short and strong.

from the archives:

• My seed-starting setup - This post describes what I do to start seeds, and the how and why of it all.  There are also lots more links on the bottom of the post.
• Vegetable gardening in Calgary 101, and
• When to plant vegetable seeds in Calgary
• How to winter sow - an alternative, zero-energy, low-maintenance way to start seeds.

HOUSE PLANTS

• They still don't need too much watering, but an occasional half-strength fertilizing wouldn't hurt, if you do nothing else.  I put my worm castings in my house plant containers so I rarely use synthetic fertilizers any more.

Are you thinking about gardening yet?

If you would like a beautiful and successful garden that nourishes your body and soul, view My Services for consultation details.

well, I don't need to bother writing about design anymore!

I first bumped into Sue Gaviller after I wrote this post about a beautiful front yard garden that many of my own friends and clients had commented to me about.  Turns out she designed it, and she even wrote me a very detailed description and explanation of the plant choices for that garden (click on the link above and then scroll down).  In all of my subsequent encounters with Sue, she has displayed the same professionalism, attention to detail, and high quality work.

I have since taken a couple of garden design classes from her, and then had her over to help me with my own garden design.  I had specific problems in the back yard I wanted advice on, but she gave me great advice for my front garden too.  I've been totally impressed.

Now she is starting her own blog.  I'm sure it'll be great.  You should follow it.

January and February 2012 garden blog round-up

The problem with gardening in Calgary is that a lot of information that's available out there is just not appropriate here.  We're "special"!  ;-)  So I have sorted through the last two months' gardening "news" and here are the posts that I think have useful information pertinant to our Calgary conditions.

If you follow me on facebook you would have seen these in "real time", but just in case, here are some links to check out while you're dreaming and scheming for spring. 

from Garden Buzz:

The American Elm -I used to live on an elm-lined street in West Hillhurst that looked like the first photo in this article. I do miss those big beautiful trees!

The Inevitable Schubert Choke Cherry - Common for a reason, the Schubert choke cherry is a nice tree for a small yard.

The Iconic Maple, eh? - Manitoba maple 'Baron' is a good choice for a shade tree in Calgary.

The Unpopular Poplar - Some good information here on appropriateness of different poplars in different situations, plus why topping a tree is bad, plus a plug for the new Paskapoo poplar!

from Digging:

Grasses liven the winter garden, so back away from the pruners - So true! Calamgrostis (feather reed grass) and helitotrichon sempervirens (blue oat grass) are some suitable grasses for Calgary.

from Blogs and Blooms:

Falling in Love - See, I'm not the only one thinking about gardening already: some seed-ordering tips and a heads-up for Seedy Saturday in March!

What Not to Plant in Calgary - Summary: don't try to grow eggplants, peppers, okra and artichokes in Calgary. Instead, try carrots, parsnips, potatoes, onions, beets,and the lettuce family. Note: I also grow tomatoes every year, even though they don't thrive here. The taste of a freshly picked tomato is worth it, though, IMHO.  I also know people who have grown tomatillos, no problem.

from the Calgary Horticultural Society:

Announcing the CHS Perennial Plant of the year - Helenium autumnale 'Mardi Gras' (Helen's Flower)

from Flowery Prose:

Flowery blurbs, volume 6 - More gardening news from another Calgary garden blogger: new poplar tree variety, Calgary Hort society's perennial plant of the year, vertical farming, and online plant id lecture.

from Black Walnut Dispatch:

Lessons from the Winter Garden (of my discontent) - A practical and honest take on "winter interest"!

from Grounded Design:

Perennials to Interplant in Grasses - Everybody's talking about grasses!  Do you like the meadow look?

from A Way to Garden:

Seed-shopping tactics -Love this cartoon!

from Gardening Gone Wild:

Garden on a Windowsill - Here are some ideas for some easy indoor flowers, in case the weather these days is getting you down!

from Houzz:

Great Design Plant: Redtwig Dogwood -Dogwood is a great shrub for winter interest and looks especially good in front of evergreens. Some varieties are more drought tolerant than others - Bow Point nursery sells a good Calgary-friendly variety!

Old School Green Design: Add Texture with Grass - Are ornamental grasses "an acquired taste?" I don't think so!

Checklist: What to do in the garden this month - Most of these ideas I like! Can't see myself ever making decorative plant markers, though!

Great Design Plant: Golden Creeping Jenny - I use this plants in containers for the summer, then plunk it in the ground in fall. It makes a great, colourful groundcover so I usually leave it in place the following year, although I could dig it up for more pots again in spring. Either way, it is a very useful plant!

In the News:

Is tap water killing your soil?  The experts weigh in - A case for using rain barrels whenever you can.

How to eco-fit your garden - Here's a beautiful re-design of a small, rectangular backyard. 

5 Good Reasons to start your own seeds - from organicgardening.com