Gardening Tips: general plus specific to east-central Vancouver Island
for specific advice on lawn care and pruning, go to:

January
	Happy New Year! We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season.      January may not be our best month for working in the garden, but there are still a few things to keep in mind.      Any leaves and debris should be cleaned up off the lawn to prevent killing the lawn below. If you had a new lawn put in late last year, the minimum amount you walk on it the better, as that will cause depressions in the lawn if it is wet.      After heavy winds or snowfalls, deal with any breakage and damage done to shrubs and trees as soon as possible to prevent further damage. All breaks should be given a clean cut with pruners or a saw to prevent water buildup causing rot, and to prevent disease from attacking a weakened plant. Wind also tends to fill the house gutters up with debris, so it's a good idea to check gutters regularly and keep them clean.      If we get snow, it's a good idea to brush fresh snow off your plants to keep the weight off them and prevent damage. Do not remove snow from a plant if it has had a chance to freeze, because you will cause more damage then you'll prevent.      Try to stay dry and warm, and start planning for spring. It'll be here soon!
February
	Now is a great time of year for simple garden maintenance, pruning and planning for the upcoming season.      Cutting back and cleaning up perennials, cleaning dead needles out of conifers (especially pines), and general garden clean up will get the garden in shape for spring. Spring bulbs and early perennials are starting to bloom and grow and a clean garden makes them easier to enjoy. It's also a good time to clean out the shed, sharpen and clean tools and get any repairs done that may be needed on lawn mowers, weed eaters etc. Eaves troughs and downspouts should be cleaned if they haven't been already.      Many pruning tasks can be done now. For more information on what and when to prune, go to General Pruning Tips. Also, to get a jump on spring lawn care go to Lawn Care Tips.      You should also be planning any changes for your garden now. Seed catalogues and gardening magazines will have lots of great information and ideas for the spring garden, and watch your local papers for 'Seedy Saturdays' and garden shows. It is already that time of year for us lucky people in our area of Vancouver Island, so get ready 'cause spring is right around the corner!      Happy Gardening!
March
	For information on lawns go to Lawn Care Tips. Perennials and Bulbs      Cut back perennials and ornamental grasses that have been left over winter. Divide and move perennials if necessary, and incorporate new plantings as needed. Fertilize bulbs with a slow release fertilizer, and now would be a great time to top dress the perennial garden with fish compost, or other organic product of your choice. Bare root perennials and summer bulbs are coming available now at garden centres, as well as pansies and primulas for early spring colour. Also new plants are starting to arrive, so go shopping! Vegetables      Incorporate organic materials (compost, manure, peat, lime etc.) into the vegetable garden before planting new crops. Seed cool season vegetables such as lettuce, peas, spinach and Chinese greens, radishes, turnips and onions. Trees and Shrubs      For tips on what and when to prune go to General Pruning Tips. Check spruce trees for first signs of aphids, and spray if necessary. Your local garden centre staff can help you with pest problems - be sure to take a sample in a sealed container or baggy with you to help them determine your problem.
April
	For information on spring lawn care go to Lawn Care Tips. Trees and Shrubs      Early flowering shrubs such as forsythia, ribes and heathers, and flowering cherry trees can be pruned back when done flowering. Evergreen hedges are about to put on new growth, so you might as well wait until early summer to prune.      Everything can be fertilized this month. You can do this by topdressing with organic materials such as fish compost, manure or composted soil, or by using fertilizers available for specific plant requirements. Your local garden centre staff should be able to help you with all of your options.      Be sure to watch for aphids on the new growth of your trees and shrubs. Spruce trees are particularly affected by these little critters and can do a lot of damage. Another favorite of aphids is roses, so be sure to check these plants carefully. There are many organic and non organic products available to deal with these pests - I recommend Safers products, but you may need something stronger for the spruce. Make sure to speak to a knowledgeable salesperson when purchasing products to deal with pests. Perennials and Bulbs      Perennial gardens should be cleaned up and fertilized. You can still be dividing and moving perennials if necessary and lots of plants are becoming available now to purchase. Stakes or cages should be put on your perennials now before they get to big. I find the simplest way to deal with floppy perennials is to use tomato cages or peony rings for support - if put on early enough, the plants will grow into them and eventually the cages disappear.      Bulbs should be fertilized now with bone meal or bulb food. Keep them deadheaded, but allow foliage to die back naturally so energy goes back into the bulb. If they are getting messy, just gather up the foliage and tie it up to keep the garden tidy. Make notes or take a picture of your garden so you know what bulbs should be added in the fall. Summer bulbs can be planted or potted up now.      Start watching for slugs now, before they start damaging new growth on plants. Slugs can be controlled by store bought baits, or small cups of beer in the garden. Another option is rolled up wet newspaper - in the morning you will find them hiding under there and you can dispose of them.      The other pest showing up now is those nasty weeds. Stay on top of the weeding, because they will come up with a vengeance for the next couple of months and you don't want them to get out of hand. A once or twice a week sweep of the garden will prevent them from flowering and spreading. Vegetables      Yeah it's time to start the veggie garden! I love getting the veggie garden started, because it's one of the few areas I seed and it's fun waiting for seedlings to pop up.      Last fall I top dressed the gardens with fish compost and covered them up to prevent weeds and to keep my cats from using it as a litter box. I uncovered them, added some bone meal, lime and organic fertilizer then cultivated everything into the soil. Everyone seems to have a preference as to what organic fertilizer to use, whether it be steer, mushroom or chicken manure, or fish compost or sea soil. All of them are good. Use what you like and what works for you. The important thing is to use something that will add nutrients to the soil. Most veggies prefer an alkaline soil rather than acidic, which is why I add the lime. If you're not sure what kind of soil you have, you can buy Ph soil test kits that are simple to use.      Once your beds are ready, you can plant cool season veggies such as beets, turnips, asparagus, lettuce, spinach and other greens, peas, radish, green onions, rhubarb, broccoli and cauliflower, leek and potatoes.      Most root vegetables do best from seed, or are available as seed potatoes or onion starters. Asparagus and rhubarb are available as roots, and are hard to find after mid April. Also available now are blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, grapes and kiwi.      Be sure to protect your garden from quails and other animals with netting. One year the quails completely cleaned out my garden right after all my seedlings appeared. It was very disheartening, and I've netted my gardens ever since. It also keeps those nasty cats of mine out of the garden! Well that's it for now. Hope you have a wonderful April filled with sunshine and seedlings! Happy gardening.
May
	Well, we are finally getting some sunshine - just what our gardens were needing, not to mention ourselves. This should speed things up a little in the garden as some things have been waiting for some warmer weather to get moving.      Along with the flowers we've been waiting to enjoy, the weeds will also be loving the warm temperatures and will come on with a vengeance. Now is the time to stay on top of the weeding duties, while the weeds are actively growing, `cause if you ignore the weeds this month, you'll have a real mess on your hands next month.      Also, I know we are used to having all that rain, and probably haven't gotten into the habit of watering yet. It's time to get your irrigations systems turned on and the hoses out ready to go. Watering season has arrived. If you are lucky enough to have irrigation, make sure everything is working properly. Turn it on manual, and tour your garden to make sure all sprayer heads etc. are working, and covering the areas their supposed too.      A helpful hint for watering - Many perennials and flowering shrubs will get fungus problems from overhead watering. If you are watering by hand, water at the base of the plant rather than the foliage and this will help prevent fungus problems. Also, there are many suggestions for the best time to water your garden. I think the best time is early in the morning, so that everybody is watered and ready for the day. Mostly I do my extra watering when I have the time, or if it's absolutely necessary. The important thing is that they get watered as regular as possible. Strong, healthy plants will resist pests and disease better than a poorly cared for plant.      Keep an eye out for slugs in the garden, particularly if you have hostas or other such yummy, leafy, fleshy perennials emerging from the ground. If you have them, they will come, so get out your slug bait or beer dishes and deal with them now before they start to multiply! Also, watch for aphids anywhere and everywhere because they'll be around too. Annuals      Since annual season is upon us, we should talk about transplanting and hardening off of tender annuals and vegetable starters.      Hardening off is the process of climatizing plants coming from a greenhouse or protected area, to be planted out in the garden. In the early part of May, start by moving your transplants outside during the day, and back in under cover at night. Put them in a dappled sun area, not in direct sunlight. Closer to planting time, the hardier annuals like alyssum and bedding petunias can be left outside at night with some protection (like an eave). Annuals shouldn't be planted outside until mid May, and the more tender ones like impatients shouldn't be planted out until the later part of May when night time temperatures have really warmed up. Tomatoes, peppers, zukes and cukes should be protected at night until early June before planting out. If you plant out too soon, your plant will be stunted, and will take longer to recover than if you had just waited another week or two.      Tomatoes and peppers can be potted up and grown in a cold frame so they are a nice size when they get planted out. Make sure to plant your tomatoes and peppers deep, to the bottom of the lowest leaves, to encourage root growth along the buried stem. All annuals and vegetable starters should be watered in with liquid transplanter solution, which is available at your local garden centre. This will give the roots an immediate boost, and better your chances for strong plants. Also, if your plants have matted roots, massage the roots to loosen them before planting, and they will happily grow into the soil you have provided. Hanging Baskets      When purchasing hanging baskets, don't buy anything smaller than a 12" basket. A smaller basket will dry out too quickly, and are generally over planted. Most baskets that you buy already full at this time of year, will be pretty much spent by mid or late summer. Also, many are for sale way too early for them to safely go outside at night time. If it's at all possible, make your own. It is so much fun, and is really quite simple.      Start with a 12" or larger hanging basket with drainage holes. I use green plastic because they are inexpensive and protect from drying out as much in the wind. Do not use a tray with your basket, or you could end up with rotting problems. I use a soil mix of 2 parts peat and perilite to one part composted soil. I add bonemeal and organic fertilizer in my soil mix, and also a little lime. You can also purchase bagged basket soil mixes, but I generally like to add some soil to these because I find them to peaty. Choose your plants carefully according to your sun conditions and preferences. Plant something with some height in the middle, and a combination of trailing and filler type plants around the outside. I generally use one or two centre plants, and five or six trailers or fillers in a 12" basket. Water in well with liquid transplanter, top-dress with slow release fertilizer and you are done!      I make mine and hang them up on the third weekend in May. They only take about a month to fill in and cover the pot, look awesome all summer, and last until the end of October. I dead head the flowers and liquid fertilize every two weeks with Miracle Grow®. Vegetables      If you haven't already prepared your vegetable patch and started planting, you had better get busy. See April's gardening tips on information on prepping the garden beds and what to plant. Those of us who have started, can be sowing seeds for the second harvest of radish, peas and other cool season vegetables. Thinning may also be necessary, weeding and regular liquid fertilizing every two weeks. Wait until early June to plant out tomatoes, peppers, zukes and cukes Perennials and Bulbs      Deadhead finished bulbs and early perennials. Fertilize spring bulbs with bonemeal or bulb food if you haven't already. If you are still moving and dividing perennials, do it on a cloudy day and water them in well with liquid transplanter. Staking should be done before plants get to big, and keep the gardens weeded. Add new perennials and summer bulbs in the empty spaces, fertilize every two weeks with liquid fertilizer, and watch your garden grow! Trees and Shrubs      Dead head early flowering shrubs when they are finished blooming. Pruning of hedges can be done now or in June, and conifers should be pruned in late May or early June. If you haven't yet fertilized, then do so using organic fertilizer or fertilizer specific to your plant needs. Watch for tent caterpillars and other pests and if problems arise, deal with them immediately. Your local garden centre can help you if you don't know what to do.      For information on spring lawn care go to Lawn Care Tips.
June/July
	So here it is, the first day of summer, and it's a beautiful day outside. I apologize for not having my June tips done until now, but my world has been a little crazy this month with work. Since I'm so late, I am combining June and July tips.      June is the month for roses and peonies, and watching the perennial garden grow by leaps and bounds. Every night my garden walk provides me with something new to admire, as I watch plants fill in and start to bloom.      To keep everything growing and healthy, perennials, hanging baskets and flowering shrubs should be getting fed with a liquid fertilizer such as Raingrow® or Miracle Grow® every two weeks. Make sure to keep annuals and perennials dead-headed to promote more flowers, and stake tall plants to keep the garden looking tidy. Most of us should be at the stage of enjoying and maintaining our gardens, now that the major planting season is coming to an end. Keep up on the weeding, and keep an eye out for pests and diseases and treat problems as soon as they arise.      Roses in particular are prone to aphids and fungal disease, and should be treated immediately to prevent the problem from spreading. Black spot and powdery mildew are the main culprits with roses, but can be controlled by organic sprays such as Safers Defender®, which is a sulphur based spray, or make your own spray by mixing one litre of water with 2 tbsp of baking soda and a squirt of dish soap. If you find you can't get a handle on the problem with organic sprays, you may have to use a stronger fungicide such as Funginex®, which is available at your local nurseries. Make sure you get all the proper use and handling information from the salesperson before using products that are not considered organic. Feed roses monthly with a slow release fertilizer made for roses, keep them well watered and dead-head finished blooms regularly, and your roses will reward you with beautiful blooms all summer. There is an excellent article in the June issue of Gardens West magazine on pruning and care of roses for those of you who would like more detailed information.      Pruning can be done on shrubs that have finished blooming, and hedges can be clipped to tidy up new growth. Keep trees and shrubs fertilized and watered. Be careful to water only if necessary, and check out plants individually, as some may get more or less water than others depending on rainfall and irrigation. We have experienced some problems this spring with root rot from fall plantings. If a newly planted tree or shrub sits in very moist soil that doesn't get a chance to dry out, chances are the roots will rot before they get a chance to grow. We have had a wet winter, and spring has been cool as well, so some areas of the garden may be holding moisture more than others. Once our temperatures rise and we get some sunshine, watering should become more regular.      The lawn should be mowed weekly, and I suggest that you bag your grass clippings. Leaving grass clippings on the lawn to mulch it will only result in thatch problems. Fertilize with a summer fertilizer and weed regularly. Water deeply 2 or 3 times a week or as needed.      Tomatoes, squash, zukes and cukes should have been planted out in early June. Keep tomatoes staked and well watered, being careful not to splash water on the foliage. This will help prevent fungus problems on tomatoes, squash and cucumbers. I usually seed my carrots in June, and don't seem to have any problems with carrot rust fly. Second plantings of lettuce and green onions can be done. Fertilize every two weeks with liquid fertilizer and keep the garden evenly watered.      Have a nice summer, and don't forget to stop and smell the roses!
August
	What a heat wave July gave us - WOW! I love the sun and heat, but I enjoy it more when I'm on the beach, not when I'm working in it. The garden also takes a bit of a beating in the heat, so there are always some plants that need the extra water in the really hot weeks of summer. We have also had some wind, which just adds to the problem. Hanging baskets and container plants especially will need extra water. Shade trees and Japanese maples should be watered deeply 2 to 3 times a week. If they get too dry the leaves will brown and dry, but established plants will usually be fine once watered, if not left too long. The lawn is also going to dry out, so take advantage of your watering days with a little extra on the lawn. Make sure to water in the early morning or late evening if you are using sprinklers. Most of the water evaporates in the sun if you water during the day.      This week I took down all my hanging baskets and deadheaded, took out a few casualties, sprayed for whitefly and fertilized with miracle grow. I seem to have a whitefly problem this year, particularly on my trailing petunias and verbena. I treated it with Safers Endall®, and will monitor for results. If you have some plants in baskets or containers that are looking tired, now is a great time for some cutting back. The plants will grow back quickly, and last well into late fall. I love that about the West Coast - we can leave our baskets out until early to mid November, and they still look good. I also did some heavy pruning in the perennial garden. Mine is over-planted, of course, so it requires a shrewd hand at the end of the pruners. I used to hate to cut back the plants that were crowding others, but now I just put the cuttings in a vase and put them in the house, and the garden looks much better. Never be afraid to cut back a perennial, because they will come back full and lush, and maybe even flower again. Continue to fertilize perennials, annuals, flowering shrubs and baskets with liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks.      The vegetable garden is filling up with peppers, squash and tomatoes. The tomatoes, cukes, zukes and squash will all want more water and food right now while producing these wonderful luscious beauties for us to enjoy. Give them what they want, and you will be rewarded. Hot peppers prefer to dry out slightly and then get watered deeply, but I find the sweet peppers do better with regular water. I am envious of those who still have full vegetable gardens, since some of mine is done. But the peas were great and the salads abundant while it lasted! Now we can enjoy the tomatoes!      So there you have it. August is a month for holidays and fun, and to sit back and enjoy the garden. All our hard work in spring is paying off now, and I hope you all enjoy your gardens as much as I enjoy mine. See you in September.      p.s. Don't forget to water!
September
	Well, it's another glorious September on the west coast in the sunshine. I know it's been a long hot summer, and although it hasn't cooled off much yet, the September feeling is in the air.      We don't seem to be getting much rain yet, so don't forget to go out and water those thirsty plants. I'm sure the small amount of rain we did have will have been used up quickly by plants, and we keep watering until the regular rainy season starts. Deadheading and liquid fertilizing the baskets, annuals and perennials will keep them blooming as long as possible. Roses will also continue to bloom well into November if you keep them deadheaded and fertilized. Now is a good time to remove the finished flowers on hydrangeas, and do the final pruning on broad leafed evergreen hedges and shrubs.      Spring-flowering bulbs are appearing everywhere for sale, and now until the end of September is a great time to buy, because you'll have the best selection. Don't plant out until late October or they will start to grow, so for now store them in a cool, dark, dry area. Make sure the bulbs you buy are firm and have no mould on them.      The leaves are already falling, so keep them raked off the lawn to prevent damaging the grass. If you are planning on doing any lawn maintenance, this is the month to get the seeding done if you want decent germination. I know most people want to wait for more rain before they seed, but you also need warmer temperatures for germination, so I recommend you have your seed down before the end of the month. Also, if you are planning to spray for weeds one last time, now would be the time as you also need warmer temperatures for it to work. Most other maintenance such as liming, aerating and fall fertilizing can wait till October.      The harvest should be great in the veggie garden right now. Tomatoes, squash, cucumber and peppers are all having a party in my garden, and I love it! Some of you may also be harvesting root vegetables such as carrots, turnip, onions etc., and good for you. Don't forget to keep fertilizing the crops you will be harvesting into fall, and make sure to keep everything well watered.      The harvest should be great in the veggie garden right now. Tomatoes, squash, cucumber and peppers are all having a party in my garden, and I love it! Some of you may also be harvesting root vegetables such as carrots, turnip, onions etc., and good for you. Don't forget to keep fertilizing the crops you will be harvesting into fall, and make sure to keep everything well watered.      Pruning can be done now on stone fruit trees such as cherry, plum and peach. They are less susceptible to fungal diseases if pruned before winter. Most other fruit and ornamental trees (except birch which should be done now) can be pruned during dormant season. If in doubt, check pruning tips at top of page, and/or phone your local garden centre for information on when to prune trees.      Well, that's all for now. Enjoy the garden this month, and get ready to do some more work in the garden next month. Talk to you then!
October
	Lawns      Lime lawns with dolopril® if you have moss problems. Liming raises the pH, making the soil conditions unfavorable for moss growth. Also, this is the time to feed lawns with a winter/fall fertilizer, which is higher in phosphorus and potash, building roots and promoting disease resistance for the winter months. Your local garden centre will have a fall fertilizer available. Rake leaves from lawns to prevent die-back and fungus problems. Perennial and Roses      Cut back perennials as they finish flowering and start dying back. Move perennials around, and divide if necessary, adding new perennials for next year. If you have newly planted perennials from this year, don't cut back the foliage until next spring. The plants will benefit from the energy going into the roots as the foliage dies back, as well as the extra protection from winter temperatures. If you haven't done it already, plant your bulbs soon, so they can start growing roots while it's relatively warm.      Deadhead your roses, and remove diseased leaves from the plants and from around the plants. If tended to, roses should flower until the end of November, or until snowfall. Trees and Shrubs      Water shrubs that are under roof lines, under the canopy of a large tree, or in any other sheltered location. These areas are not receiving rain water like the rest of the garden. Keep leaves and debris cleaned up to prevent pests and disease from overwintering in your garden.
November
	This is one of the absolute best times to work in your garden so GET YOUR RAINGEAR ON, GO OUTSIDE AND HAVE FUN! Oh… and invite a friend.      Now is a great time to transplant shrubs and perennials and add new plants to your garden. They will have all winter to start rooting, and be in their new home early in the spring when they really start to grow. Wait until all leaves have fallen from deciduous trees before you move them, and always use bonemeal and liquid transplant fluid with rooting hormone with all your transplanting and planting. (I really mean it when it's underlined!) Oh, and guess what? Bare root season is upon us and very soon our local garden centres will be selling bare root fruit and ornamental trees. I am so excited - what a great time to wander around the garden centres and find some new treasure for the garden. Also, balled and burlap hedging cedars are now available, so if you've been waiting to plant a hedge, do it now. Make sure the salesperson you are dealing with is aware of your conditions, e.g. deer, water availability, space etc., so they can sell you the right product. Most fruit trees need pollinators, so make you choices wisely. Your friendly garden centre salesperson should be able to help you with all your questions.      Once your fall clean up is finished, top dress your trees and shrubs with fish compost. If you need to re-mulch this fall, use fish compost instead of bark mulch for mulching your beds. It is an organic fertilizer for your plants and is a beautiful dark colour that does not fade and is esthetically pleasing. For more information on this product go to www.fishcompost.com.      Get those bulbs planted now! The selection is already starting to get much smaller in the stores. If you do this one thing for yourself now, I promise you will be really happy in the spring when you see those first flowers appear. Daffodils are the first sunshine in my garden every year, and I love them. They are also one of the only bulbs deer don't eat.      Keep the leaves raked up, especially off the lawn. If you have a big leaf maple in your yard that sheds in your neighbor's yard, you could be really nice and help him clean up too.      My roses are still blooming and looking good, so I'm not going to prune them yet. If yours are starting to look not so good, then you should clean them up. Prune them back enough to tidy them up, and get rid of all the leaves from around the plant (do not put diseased leaves in your compost). In March the harder pruning should be done. Check back for tips on rose pruning then. Doe's suggestions for this month:      Give a friend in need an early Christmas present - spend some time helping them in their garden. If you're really lucky, they may return the favour!      Do something nice for yourself - add something to your garden, whether it be something someone shares with you that is leaving their garden, or perhaps is getting divided, or something you purchase. Don't forget, it's bare root season!      If you love your garden and haven't spent any time in it lately, then make some time. The 'feel good' feeling is worth it!      If you need professional pruning, call now and get your name on the list for the upcoming pruning season. The phone number for Doe and Brian at Mystical Images is 756-9974.      Thanks for taking the time to visit our website. I will have more tips next month, and more information available on our website soon.
December
	Well, since we've already had snow here in Nanaimo, it is hard to encourage people out into their gardens. After all, Christmas time is here and I'm sure we all have other things on our mind, like shopping and baking etc. On that note I just have a few things to say this month.      When it snows go out and shake off your plants. We have many broadleaved evergreens that like to hold on to the snow and eventually it can get to heavy and cause breakage. The important common type plants would be rhodos, choisya, and especially cedar hedging. If the snow on a cedar hedge is left and has a chance to freeze, your hedge may never be the same shape again. Even deciduous trees should be shaken (especially Japanese Maples) because the build up of wet snow just gets to heavy for them.      Don't forget about plants that are under your eaves, they need water too. If the plants are dry and get a bad freeze, you may experience damaged or lost plants in the spring.      When Christmas shopping, don't forget your local garden centres for gift ideas. Most will have lots of fun things like bird baths and statuary, seasonal plants and indoor flowering plants, and there is always a gift certificate which is any gardener's ideal present.      Most of all this month, you should concentrate on your family and friends, because sharing time with them is what Christmas is all about. We wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday season.