Lee Valley Garden Tools Catalogue Feb. 2013

There are not many catalogues that I read cover to cover - except the Lee Valley Garden Tools edition.

Here are items that caught my eye:

Lee Valley's Potmaker
Great way to make little seedling pots for random seeding needs.
Reuses materials and will always come through in a pinch.

Lee Valley's Hanging Plant Rooter
I love this idea. I constantly use my small drinking glasses in order to root on some of my house plants.
The suction cup enables it to be hung directly on the window.

Lee Valley's Flower Well
In the past, I've just lined my wire baskets with a layer of plastic. It's not ideal, but this well enables enough to be stored for dry periods and prevents all the water from draining too quickly.

Lee Valley's Soft Rubber Tie
I bought this last year. Found it to be great. Easy to cut and is gentle on the stems of my plants.
Reusable too.

Lee Valley's Brass Siphon Mixer
I use this at work. It's a great way to water in fertilizer without having to mix several batches.
The larger the siphon pail, the less you have to mix.
Great for organic compost teas. Just make sure the siphon mixture is free of debris.

Lee Valley's Bug Blaster
Yay - I am pleased to see this product. So many times, the use of chemicals are encouraged to treat plants that have insect infestations. When all that is necessary, is a blast of water. Love it.
Would work wonders on dislodging scales too, during their in-star stages.

Lee Valley's Tree Banding Kit
This is a tree's best friend. If your tree struggles from insect infestations year after year, this is your solution.
 Tanglefoot and this tree banding kit works wonders against the Gypsy Moth caterpillar and other insects.

Lee Valley's Upside Down Sprayer
I usually have to hold my plant way up high to reach the underside of its leaves. But this spray bottle lets you leave the plant where it stands. Great idea!

I could showcase more, but then again that's what the catalogue is for. Order one for yourself here. Or have a look at their online catalogue.

Christmas Gifts for the Gardener

If you are looking for a gift for the gardener in your life, here are a few ideas:

a) Gardeners Hand Recovery Cream - great for cold days working outdoors
b) InteraTarp - trunk and hatch back liner for gardeners who schlep a lot
c) Badger Balm - great for when your cuticles and knuckles crack due to winter temps
d) Gardeners Journal- gardeners help-mate; when your memory fails ;)
e) Leatherman MultiTool  - great tool for the garden shed; you won't have to run to the garage as often
f) Copper Plant Tags - copper tags weather green and never decay
g) Felcos - enough said: or parts like replacement blades and coil - they all are great stocking stuffers
h) German Garden Clogs I enjoy wearing these all the time, even in winter

Limited Space Vertical Gardening

Humber College Urban Homestead Display

At Canada Blooms earlier this year, I got a glimpse of some interesting vertical gardening techniques.  Living walls and stacked containers demonstrated you can still garden even though one might not have a large area to work with.

Lee Valley's Stacking Pots

 Lee Valley has these wonderful stacked containers which I think are ideal for herbs.

Stacking Pots and accessories

Having little pots scattered about would reduce space and increase clutter - this idea lets you get a totem effect. Each stackable pot has 3 exposed planting areas, with a shared centre chamber, ideal for roots to spread and for adequate water retention.

Or how about this Wall Garden method: 

Lee Valley Wall Garden Container

Plant stands are also ideal. I've refurbished a stacked arrangement of sorts from reused items. I found this old plant stand at the end of someones curb, put out for garbage. I took it home, sanded the worst of rust away and spray painted it with rust-proof Tremclad. Functional waste diversion ;) Now it holds some of my herbs.







Even in shade I manage to grow tomatoes. Here I placed my grape tomatoes in a moveable pot (on wheels) to maximize sunny spots (which move through the summer). I also extended the tomato cage with bamboo hoops. Now the tomato stands over 6 feet, and currently over 8 flower batches are in the progress of maturing to fruit in the next few weeks. Yay for vertical growth!

I added more obelisks to my containers and trellises to my garden, in order to achieve more height.

There's a lot of creative ways to maximize space.

Favourite Tools

I was asked which gardening tools I use, or better yet, which garden tools I couldn't part with.

I've inherited several of my tools from my parents. They invested in good quality and I've been very happy with their longevity and durability.

Let me go through the list:

In no particular order...

1) Tree Spade: this is ideal for transplanting shrubs and trees. Having a smaller blade, it easily allows you to get into dense root systems without damaging them too much.

2) Hard Rake: Ideal for leveling soil, raking soil through turf, or it's back-edge is great for scraping sidewalks and paved areas.

3) Spade: The sharper the better. I use this most often.

4) Hoe: This was my father's and I have not seen its equal in stores. It eases the combat against annual weeds and is easy on the back.

5) Garden Fork: Ideal for weeding perennial borders to rid deeply rooted perennial weeds. Great for aerating too.

6) Lawn or border edger:  Ideal for large bed construction.

7) Soft rosette spray watering can: sometimes a can of water is the only way to gently water in newly establishing plants.

8) Fertilizer siphon: ideal for water soluble fertilizers.

9) Knee Pad: I plan on keeping the knees I've got.

10) Felco's: enough said.

11) Loppers:  must be sharp and have sturdy handles. Takes care of any branch too thick for my felcos.

12) Sheers:  I rather use these than any gas powered version. The sharper the better.

13) Broom: Leaving the site in better condition that when we arrive is the key!

14) Steel toed boots: great ankle, toe and foot protection. Reduces foot fatigue.

15) Hand Saw:  Cuts anything the loppers or felcos can't.

16) Dandelion flicker: After a good rain/soak - this works like a charm. This was Dad's best tool.

17) Atlas Rubber Lined Gloves:  Saved my fingers endless times.

18) Garden Tub: Several functions -- acts as a refuse bin, great transplanting transporter, water jug, soil schlepper....

19) Shallow Garden Tub:  Ideal for potting up plants. 34" diameter.You fill with potting compound and then place your plants/pots inside without getting your work area messy.

20) Hand Trowel: This one has a sturdy shaft and rubber gripped handle. Planting tons of annuals goes fast and easy with this tool.

and lastly...

21) Spray bottle: great for making your own homemade pest/disease remedies.

There are more, and I am sure I will procure more over time. However, the above is generally what I could not function without.

Hope that helps.

Stepping Stones - Avoid Trampling

April 4th 2012

I really didn't want my garden to have stepping stones at first. They take up valuable space and right now look like typical concrete squares.  Yet, seeing my garden soil today, I am --SO GLAD-- I decided to do it anyway.  They actually have become a great help.  I have noticed with all the organic material I left overwinter, the soil is fluffy and totally happy. If I didn't have the stepping stones, the soil would not be as workable and I would have trampled over my perennials and overwintering herbs by now.

Garlic chives

Trampling is the gardeners worst enemy and since I have edibles dotted about, plants not yet showing where they reside, I avoid it at much as possible. I've invested in a lot of compost and a good litter layer over winter, my foot traffic would counteract all that effort.

I've planted many herbs, ground covers and perennials that need attention close enough to each stone to help soften their stark concrete edges. I trim herbs and what-not throughout the growing season, at least giving gaps big enough for my foot to touch down.

Soil around my Lysimachia nummularia is so fluffy!

I wish I had more patience and came up with other fun choices of stepping material, like:

• used bricks
• bamboo mats
• pre-cast slabs and stones
• mosaic stepping stone kits
• flagstone

Another benefit of using stepping stones: you can place pots in their spots, when the garden becomes full and less foot traffic is necessary.

I'll take comparative photos in late summer to see how little the stones are visible.

Frost Protection

Having a partially shaded garden has it's perks. Most of my perennials and bulbs are just peaking through, where in sunnier spots they have flushed tender growth from the last two weeks of warmth.

Lee Valley's Floating Covers

The weather forecast is calling for -3°C (26°F) this evening, which can certainly cause damage to your tender plants.  For perennials and low growing plants cover with old towels or bedsheets, weighed down on corners. You can buy frost protection fleece or cheese cloth material, but in a pinch what you have around the house will do. Just don't use fabric that is overly weighted, which can break, bend and damage stems.

Lee Valley's Ventilating Cloche

Lee Valley's Garden Cloches

I've also used in the past overturned plant pots, cloches, pop bottles (with bases cut off) which also work great.  In windier situations, place a large stone over such plastic covers, or heel in with some soil so that it remains stable.  With the darker pots, you must remove them in the sunlight the next day but with the clear plastics/glass, you can leave until fear of frost is gone. All plastic covers should have a venting hole so that it doesn't get too hot inside.

I've also used newspaper and garbage bags, but the items mentioned above were most effective.   Some folks may have budding and partially leaved Japanese Maples. These should be covered with sheets if possible.

Hopefully with these methods, frost damage can be avoided. Unfortunately for fruit trees, a large tarp or cloth needs to cover the entire tree if you want to protect the bloom. This is hard to do.  Many fruit groves use overhead sprinkling systems to run all night to make sure the cold air doesn't come in contact with the blossoms and leaves.  


So many things we can do to try and prevent these strange springs, but thankfully, plants will recover in time.

Lee Valley Garden Tools Catalog

Nothing motivates a gardener more than really useful gardening tools - especially when there's still snow on the ground. I love tools that make less work and promote less wear and tear on the body. I received my Lee Valley Garden Tools Catalog about two weeks ago and a few items caught my attention.

Soil Scoop:  How many times have I taken divisions and needed a sharp edge to cut portions in half, or remove root bound masses? This looks so useful!

 






U Bar Digger:  I've used one similar to this, and it's a back saver. What a great way to break up soil after foot traffic or heavy rains trample down soil.

Crack Weeder:  I always try other methods to chemical controls when it comes to weeds growing between my patio stones. Since half the time I can't pull them out, I think I will add this to my tool collection.





Garden Tub:  I bought one of these last year. I used it all the time. I collapses and tucks away in my deck box, and is quite durable. I plan on buying the Shallow Garden Tub size, (6.5" high, 22.5" in diameter) which is only available at the stores (not online). I will use this shallow one to do small potting jobs, without getting soil every where.


Well that's enough for me this year.  Too tempting.  Check their Lee Valley Garden Tools Catalog  online.

*All photos from Lee Valley

The Hunt for the Ultimate Urban Compost Bin

I wish I had more space, but since I can't do anything about it, I need to find a smaller compost bin. Last year I missed out. After moving-in, working the hectic spring season, and finally organizing the yard, all but one store was sold out. The remaining choice was far too large, and I knew it would take 2 years for me to get any compostable good stuff with a bin that size.  I pondered the idea to make one, but I need it to be small and usable each growing season. The option of buying just seemed more practical.

Since January I've been researching and looking for the right sized compost bin that will work for me.

There's a number to choose from:

Koolscapes 50Gal Decorative Composter: Lowes Canada

Algreen Terra Tubmbler 7.4 cu ft - Lowes Canada

Algreen Terra 50 Gal Chocolate Brown Composter - Lowes Canada

To make compost quickly, one needs water, good aeration, heat and darkness. You can always add compost accelerators, but I rather do it the hard-work way.

I've finally decided on this one:

Get it here

It rather looks toyish, but I have read several reviews and I am surprised at the turnover rate and how many folks have given it the thumbs up.  I can see that the black plastic absorbs the heat, and the rotation ability  would accelerate the mixing without me having to break my back. It has 2 compartments to work with. One to add fresh kitchen scraps and the other to leave and decompose.

I had a composter when I lived with at home with my parents. It was a medium sized, stationary one my father built. I loved it. I was able to fill all the container planters with what was inside each spring. I won't have as much to compost, nor do I have the room for one that size.

This Dual Batch Composter has two chambers that hold about 2.5 cubic feet of space in each - that's at least 2 good sized bushels full. The reviews said folks made compost in about 5-6 weeks. At least once one batch is done, another can be still decaying away.  
It comes with a year warranty and it's not that expensive, as some of the others above.

Sounds good to me. Beats having to drag bags through the townhouse to the backyard. I will update a post when it gets used.

Aged Terra-cotta

One of the blessings to having a new home, are the house warming gifts.

I received this wonderful Hoya  (Hoya carnosa ' variegata ' ) plant, potted up in the most unusual container. 





It came with directions. Mind you, not for the plant itself, but for the pot.

Campo de' Fiori Terra-cotta is the brand name of this pot and unlike any other I've seen, it's a "living" pot.

Simply by watering the Hoya contained inside, with good moisture conditions and in time...a coating of green moss will develop. As this pot is porous, those who gave it to me were kind enough to include a pot saucer, to avoid any moisture staining furniture. But if I want, I can easily use this outdoors during the summer as well.

I've only had it 2 weeks and it's already starting to show some green hints of moss.

I'll update the way it changes. Fun! Thanks Andrea and Lori!

Some other samples here

Evergreen or Ever-bagged All Winter Long?

Going for long walks this winter, I've developed a pet peeve, basically a design irritation when it comes to wrapped evergreens and broadleaved evergreens. Seems to me that an evergreen is an EVERgreen and should be seen and enjoyed all year long.

I see burlap, boxed contraptions, bags, just about anything someone could use to wrap their plants. In most cases this is unnecessary if we examine alternatives and proper placement of plant material. It's unsightly to see your front yard draped in burlap each winter. Especially when there could be wonderful evergreen foliage - the only green colour available to us at this time of year!

These are roses.

I would first like to say, I am not trying to put folks down who do this: some are doing it as an effort to sustain the plant during our harsh winters, or others do it to insure a delicate shrub/evergreen establishes well enough for the first few years. It is a great practice and rule of thumb to protect when establishing new plants. However, the bulk of these photos are examples of wrapped evergreens and shrubs that have been wrapped every winter since they were planted.

I merely want to suggest and to make people aware - there are other alternatives to evergreen selections for the front of the garden. There are ways to avoid bagging plants that are meant to be enjoyed all year long. Your front garden doesn't need bagged or boxed eyesores.

Euonymus Broadleaved evergreens

Much of the evergreens I see wrapped are Dwarf Alberta Spruce; Picea glauca ' conica ', Rhododendron;  Rhododendron catawbiense (large flower and leafed variety), Boxwood varieties; Buxus x and bonsai topiaries. They are wonderful plants to add to the front yard, but if you have to wrap them each winter for the rest of their days, I believe they are in the wrong situation.


Dwarf Alberta Spruce. Most front yards have them. They're compact, look like a perfect little pudgy Christmas tree. They don't require sheering and they stay dwarf and don't take over the garden. Let's examine what they need and see if your front yard is right for it's longevity without wrapping.

• They prefer full sun and a slightly protected spot (away from North/West strong winds). 
• They can tolerate part shade, or dappled shade. However, too much shade and their tight branching and needle foliage habit will begin to lose shape. 
• Slow growing, but still requires adequate spacing away from other shrubs, walls and walkways. 
• Will struggle with root competition, so plant in rich, deep soils.

Dwarf Alberta Spruce

Most are planted too close along walkways, driveways and entrance points when the spruce is small - not taking account a mature growth rate. Front gardens are usually exposed, they have walkways and driveways which are either sprinkled with salt or heaped full of snow along the pathway. Salt damage will brown the needles. A common reason why folks wrap their evergreen.

Many Dwarf Alberta Spruce are planted along the brick wall of the house. You may think this is be a protected spot for them, but during the summer, especially if they are planted too close to a south facing wall, their situation may be compromised. Brick walls exposed to the sun will absorb heat and hot temperatures will essentially bounce back and bake the Dwarf Alberta Spruce. The heat becoming intolerable over time. Month after month of this can lead to needles drying out at the back of the spruce, nearest the wall. This stresses the little conifer, making it struggle going into the winter. It may be warmer during the winter but the damage throughout the summer compromises the evergreen.

Other alternatives to Dwarf Alberta Spruce: 

• Clipped Pyramidal Yew; Taxus cuspidata
• Blue Arrow Juniper; Juniperus scopulorum ' Blue Arrow '
• Fairview Juniper; Juniperus chinensis ' Fairview '
• Conical Boxwood; Buxus koreana or x species clipped
• Emerald Cedar; Thuja occidentalis ' smaragd '

 

Rhododendrons are usually placed as a focal piece, tucked in a dark corner where their blooms want to energize a gloomy shaded spot.  However, Rhodo's require more sun than most realize. Dappled shade and or part shade is best to optimize bloom. What they mainly require to become robust, is a deep, loose, rich low (acid) pH soil. This enables their fibrous, lateral roots to retain moisture so that their buds and broad leaved foliage remain hydrated over the winter. Here's what Rhododendrons like:

• They love rich loamy soil, with added peat moss and leafy matter (compost, pine/evergreen needles, or mulch) on top for a cushion of protection. 
• Deep watering before the main freeze up in November and a good pile of snow underneath should be plenty if the Rhodo is situated away from sweeping winds and a sharp north west exposure.
• Other shrubs and taller evergreens or a fence close by to act as exposure protector, buffering the prevailing winds.

Other alternatives to Rhododendrons:

• PJM Rhododendrons (hardier variety than the large leaf Catawbiense; Rhododendron x ' PJM '
• Dwarf Korean Lilac (sunny spot); Syringa meyeri ' palibin '
• Annabelle Hydrangea (shadier spot); Hydrangea arborescens ' Annabelle '
• Azalea (deciduous Girard species), Azalea hybrida x girard series

Topiary and small Rhododendron

If you have a well established evergreen that would be hard to transplant, and if you must wrap for fear of losing it - try burlap that is dyed green!


Here are ways to avoid using burlap or coverings:

1) Avoid using sensitive evergreens and salt intolerant plant material near:

• walkways
• driveways
• or up against brick walls
• tree trunks with heavy root system

2) Summer to late fall prevention and preparation:

• water and soak your evergreens and sensitive plant material before main freeze up (just before you turn the outside water source off)
• wrap conical conifers with twine, so that the branches are held tightly together. This gives them a sturdy shape and avoids weight damage from heavy snow and provides less wind from passing through branches
• give them a good sheer and cut in late summer, allowing any following growth of foliage to be tight in habit and yet fully hardened off before the winter
• add organic matter and mulch (sustains moisture levels, helps prevent drying out from freeze to thaw and adds decomposing materials, enriching the soil over time) 
•  for roses, cut back long straggly canes to halfway - preventing them from drying out. Mulch and or use a rose collar at the base of the rose crown to help winterize the grafted point near the soil
 

3) Research your plant material. Look for hardiness zones that are much lower than your geographical zoning. The hardier the plant, the more apt it is to handle our tough winters.

4) Examine your area for sweeping winds and strong exposures, avoid planting near them and or find ways to shield them with other tolerant plants.

Using stakes and wrapping only the sides for salt protection.

Finally, if you must wrap your plants near walkways, shield them rather than fully wrap them from top to bottom. Stake on each corner and wrap material around the plant tightly. That way snow, moisture and sun can reach the top of the plants. This helps to sustain them and allow good air circulation when temperatures fluctuate. For smaller establishing evergreens (like boxwood) try these NuVue's: plant covers . Much easier and less of an eyesore.

Many sizes to buy here