Spring has sprung, and I'm loving it!

Earthlings office garden with Plum in full bloom!
(Just waiting for annuals... can't wait! )

Tulips

There are many plants that make the garden sparkle this time of year.  Because we have long winters, spring flowers seem to be the most anticipated, and can be incorporated in your landscape plan.

Spring bulbs give color almost immediately once the ground begins to thaw. 

Ornamental Onion

Some favorites are grape hyacinth, daffodils, and of course tulips. Planting these bulbs in the fall will give color in the spring and fill spaces in the landscape until the perennials and shrubs start coming in.

Bonfire Cushion S

Spring color comes from perennials too. These perennials such as Cushion Spurge, Moss Phlox, Bergenia, Siberian Bugloss, Prairie Crocus, Snow Drop Anemone, and Iris really pop in the spring.

This time of year Apples and Mayday trees are in full bloom and fill the air with their sweet fragrance. Some of my favorite spring flowering shrubs are spireas. The Bridal Wreath Spirea has long arching branches covered in white blossoms. Lilacs are another spring favorite with many varieties blooming from early to late spring.

Share your spring flowers this spring on our FACEBOOK Page – Earthlings inc. – 

I would love to see what’s blooming J

Happy Gardening,

Kirsten Hironaka

It is hard to imagine those hot summer days at this time of year. When the heat does arrive, watering can be time consuming, costly and sometimes wasteful.

Water smarter by trying these simple techniques:

Install water collection systems that collect water from downspouts. There are many rain barrel options. Remember that collection is the first step and usage is the second. The more difficult the rain barrel is to use the less likely you will use it.  Having multiple water spigots and mosquito mesh are great features. Place rain barrels next to areas that might need extra watering such as planters or pots.

When choosing plants, choose varieties that will thrive in our natural environment.

Group plants that have similar watering requirements together in your landscape. If you have a water hogging plant among drought tolerant plants you end up watering to the water hogger’s needs which can be very wasteful.

Use an automatic irrigation system and even install rain sensors. Let’s face it, putting a sprinkler out on the lawn and leaving it for hours is not an effective way to water. The result is over saturated soils and runoff. Drip lines and pop up heads that produce droplets reduce evaporation and overspray. Timing the watering of lawns to stop watering just before the point of saturation is ideal because roots still need oxygen and can be stressed in constant saturation.

Water deep and less often. This will help the roots of your plants stretch to find moisture deeper rather than relying on more frequent shallow watering.

Happy Gardening,

Kirsten 

The Colors of Autumn

There’s no reason for your landscape to look sad and tired this time of year.

      If you’re like me, you may not have been able to protect some of your plants from recent frost;

 Take my Dahlia's for example  :(

Many plants in local gardens look like they've given up the ghost after a great summer.

                      If you aren't quite ready to give up, too, here are a few suggestions to add a little life to your landscape.

In flower pots, try swapping out those tender plants with frost tolerant ones, such as ornamental kale, fall  chrysanthemums, and grasses. I also like to pop a few decorative gourds in to add a little more colour and embrace the fact that it’s fall.

Many plants go unnoticed the rest of the year, but they become the star of the garden when fall sets in and they start 

showing their “true colours”. 

Some plants that really pop this time of year. Have you noticed these showstoppers ?

winged burning bush (Euonymus alatus compacta)

Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina);

The one in my yard has just started to turn.... but turns a brilliant red when all through.

Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra)

I took this picture a few weeks back. This one sadly has no leaves anymore . The Ohio Buckeye tends to turn color early September and drop it's leaves sooner than most; but wow! 
when it turns.... it looks awesome.

 Amur maple (Acer ginnala)

Amur maple (Acer ginnala)

 Amur maple (Acer ginnala), which can be grown in tree or shrub form. This one we planted for a client and the one below is in my front yard.

I seriously wait all year in excitement :)

If your garden looks a bit under the weather, popping in some late blooming perennials helps, too. Black-eyed Susan, Autumn Joy Sedum, fall asters, and hardy mums are all great choices for fall interest.

Happy gardening,

Kirsten Hironaka

The Outdoor Fire

I lOVE the smell of roasting FOOD and the COMFORT of warming my toes near a fire during the summer.

With all the backyard fire options you can find at retailers these days, I’m convinced I’m not the only one :)




In the landscape design and construction business I have see the desire for them increase every year. A fire can draw people outside and can make a chilly night quite inviting.

If you’re planning to incorporate a fire pit in your landscape, the first thing to consider is whether your municipality allows for residential fires and what the regulations might be.

In the City of Lethbridge, you don’t need a permit for fire pits. A “fire pit” is defined as anything used for outdoor burning, such as a fire pit (permanently affixed receptacle), fireplace (enclosed receptacle with permanently affixed chimney or flue constructed of rock, brick, or other masonry), and a portable fire (fire bowls, tables, etc.).



A fire pit in Lethbridge must be 2m from a building, structure, or any other combustible material. They also need to be fully extinguished if left, not used between midnight and 8:00 a.m., and cannot be larger than 1m in size with flames no higher than 1m.

It should also be made of non- combustible material, and owners should not burn painted lumber, glue, resin, wet wood, yard waste, garbage, rubber, or plastic. The smells and harm that can come from burning these things is unpleasant and probably won’t make for very happy neighbours.

You can find more information regarding the City of Lethbridge fire bylaw in Bylaw #5431 at lethbridge.ca.

You can also decide whether you want to use gas or wood to create the fire (gas will require a city permit and inspection) and whether you want to cook food on the fire or just enjoy the warmth. This will help you choose what style of fire receptacle would work best for you.

One suggestion I make to clients is to use a portable fire, especially if you have only one patio or gathering space. Installing a permanent fire pit definitely limits your options. It’s handy to be able to move the portable fire aside when not in use to set out an extra table or two for larger gatherings.

I’m sure looking forward to cooking and gathering around the fire this summer. Have fun and be safe!

Kirsten

annuals, perennials, and more!

It’s spring! I know you’ll be ready to hit the garden centres soon.  I thought I would share some info in order to help any beginner gardeners with the trip to the garden centre.

Typically in the garden centre plants will be divided in to three main sections: trees and shrubs, perennials and annuals. There are some variables to this but knowing this will help you navigate the best.

Annuals are plants that won’t over winter here in Lethbridge. Typically you’ll find them in a covered green house sort of space at the garden centre. They may grow all year round in other places of the world but here they just can’t make it.  Annuals are typically grown to add sparkle and continuous color to the landscape. They are used to fill in planting beds or in planter pots.  They are grown for one season then taken out.

Perennials are plants that will come back every year but die down to the top of their roots (crown) over the winter. They are usually planted in the ground but sometimes I use them in pots too :)The leaves from last year typically die and can be removed either spring or late fall as they will never come back. They come up in the spring from the roots and re-grow leaves and flowers each season. Typically they will grow larger from year to year and can be divided into more plants after 3 or 4 years.

 Trees and Shrubs are plants that, not only survive the winter, but they will leaf out from where they grew in years past and continue growing from that spot. Their stems become woody and are cared for by pruning. Trees and shrubs are really the backbone of your landscape. In order to maximize the space and use of your landscape your trees and shrubs need to be carefully planned because they will live the longest and grow the largest.

As a general rule your perennials, trees and shrubs need to be hardy to a zone 3 or lower in order to grow well in Southern Alberta.  Sometimes in sheltered location you can grow zone 4 plants, but if your not sure and don’t want to take any chances, try sticking to the Zone 3 plants.   MAKE SURE to read the labels. Remember: just because they are being sold here does not mean they will grow here!

Happy Gardening!

Kirsten Hironaka

Not only should your landscape be enjoyable ...

…. it’s an INVESTMENT!

There have been many studies that show landscaping can positively impact the price of a single family dwelling.

A Clemson University study found landscaping can result in more than a 100% return on investment. The report concluded that “Homeowners wanting to increase the value of their property will do well to consider the cost-effective, return potential of quality landscaping, and to safeguard their investments by hiring licensed, professional landscape contractors to perform the work.”

 

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A professional landscape contractor should be educated and certified to help ensure that your landscape becomes a long term investment not a potential liability.  Also, The installation of 10 $100 plants from a local garden centre  selling products suitable to our local  climate will go a lot further than 100 $10 plants from a box store.

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Hardscape features such as patios, decks, fences and trees will bring a greater return on investment.  A potential buyer typically looks for landscapes that is an extension of the home, not overly cluttered and looks easy to maintain.

Spring is here! Happy Gardening,

Kirsten

illuminate your landscape

It’s the time of year when our days are short and the nights are long. Why not try landscape lighting to illuminate your home? I have seen a trend to incorporate lighting into the landscape plan because my clients can see the benefits.  Lighting can do many things for your landscape. Although the benefits this time of year are obvious, landscape lighting can be amazing in the summer too!

My top 5 list of lighting benefits:

1. It will give visitors a visible path to your front door and helps with safety during those dark nights and mornings.
2. Extends the hours you will enjoy your landscape
3. Illuminates features in your landscape such as trees, shrubs and structures
4. Creates ambience for your outdoor entertaining
5. Creatively crafted lights can be decorative features in and of themselves

There are many different styles of lights available: up-lights, wall lights, path lights and down-lights, brick lights and even lights that can be submerged in water.

To make things easy low voltage landscape lighting can be installed with a controller that allows you to set the time of day that lights turn off and on.

In recent years LED landscape lighting has been added to the lighting options. This alternative significantly reduces energy consumption without losing the great effects that lighting brings.