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.