What is plant hardiness zone

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , , , /by

A hardness zone is a geographically defined area in which climatic conditions’ a specific category of plant life is capable of growing, including its ability to survive the minimum temperatures of winter.

The Canadian hardiness map prepared in 2000 by Natural Resources and Agriculture Canada is divided into nine major hardiness zones: the harshest is 0 and the mildest is 8. Relatively few plants are suited to zone 0.  In addition to zones, also subzones (e.g., 4a or 4b, 5a or 5b) are noted in the map legend. These subzones are very important to  gardeners, as they pinpoint to their garden location.

The hardiness zones differ even within the greater Toronto area. For instance, Mississauga and Oakville fall into zone 6b, Brampton 6a and Etobicoke 7a. That means that in most part of Mississauga only plants that survive in the lowest temperatures -20.6 to -17.8 C, should be planted, while this threshold is lower in some parts of Toronto, including Etobicoke, where this range is -17.8 to -15.0 C, and in Brampton where the range is lower between -23.3 and -20.6 C.

Landscaping in Mississauga – soil type tests

/0 Comments/in /by

Properly preparing your garden soil before you start to plan will save you endless hours and considerable expense in trying to make up for deficiencies later on.  There is a lot you can do to improve the overall quality of your soil, and starting with good soils will also greatly broaden your plant choices.

To find out what type of soil you have in your garden, and determine what you need to improve before planting, start with four basic tests:

  1. check how well the soil drains after a heavy rain or after you have doused it with water from a hose or bucket – for the well balanced soil it should take about one hour for the water to drain: if it takes less – your soil is too sandy; if it takes much longer – your soil is to heavy with clay
  2. for the second test turn over some soil with a spade and see if you can find earthworms in it – consider yourself lucky if your soil contains a lot of these wonderful creatures with digestive systems and enzymes that chemically alter soil components in plants favour, and whose burrowing activities significantly improve soils drainage and aeration; if you cannot find any worms, this means that you need to  improve your soil to attract them.
  3. additionally you can do a test discussed in our previous blog entry

Landscaping Mississauga – knowing the soil type

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Plants grow in a variety of soils from Yukon tundra to Wasaga beaches; most individual plants, however, do well only in particular types of soil.  Thus, a crucial first step in designing a low maintenance garden is to evaluate your soil and the kinds of plants that grow best in it.

Sand and clay represent two extreme soil conditions. Clay soil consists of tiny particles packed together so tightly that water has difficulty seeping through.  Dense and heavy clay tends to block the spread of roots and may ultimately suffocate them; yet, the clay soil is usually loaded with nutrients because they have little opportunity to wash away.

Sandy soil contains large, loose-fitting particles that constantly shift. It has many air pocket for water to drain through and ample room for roots to spread.

Although you can find plants suitable for clay or sandy soil, you can greatly expand your selection by improving the soil with organic matter.  Your goal should be to create soil that drains within an hour after heavy rain, crumbles fairly easily in your hand, and is full of nutrients.  You can also buy a soil-testing kit from your local garden centre or hardware store and test your soil for acidity (pH scale) and key nutrients, such as nitrogen (for leaf and stem growth), phosphorus ( for root development and seeds formation) and potassium (that enhances plants vigor and resistance to diseases.  The majority of plants in the Greater Toronto Area will flourish in soils with pH ranging between 6 and 7, which is mildly acid to neutral.

Follow the steps below to test your soil:

soil type testing step 1.Step 1:

To get a representative sample of soil, mix trowefuls of soil from different parts of the garden together and put a small amount of soil in the kit’s test tube.

 

soil type 2Step 2:

Add the required amount of indicator fluid to the collected soil; gently shake the tube, and wait for the content to settle.

 

soil type 3Step 3:

Compare the tube to the test kit’s colour chart.  The more expensive your kit is the more accurate information on your soil conditions will you be able to derive.

 

soil type 4Step 4:

If your soil’s pH is too low, add lime to raise the level; on the other hand, to lower teh pH level, work powdered sulfur or wood ashes into the soil.  See the next week’s blog entry for details how to improve the soil condition.

Ash trees are dying in Ontario

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

healthy & infested ash tree

As many of you have already noticed ash tress in Peel, Halton, GTA and York region are dying while others are being infested by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).  The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a highly destructive invasive insect that attacks and kills all species of ash trees native to North America. This invasive pest tunnels underneath the bark, cutting off the flow of water and nutrients and killing the tree within a few years.

Introduced from Asia in the early 1990s, but discovered in the Detroit and Windsor areas only in 2002, it is believed that the insect was brought to North America unintentionally via wooden packing crates. In 2008 the CFIA confirmed the presence of EAB in Mississauga.  EAB has been confirmed across southwestern Ontario and has been identified as far east as Montreal and it has been declared an invasive alien species by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and is therefore subject to quarantine (that means that movement of ash wood products outside of the quarantine area is prohibited).  A large section of southwestern Ontario is now under quarantine.

There are somewhere between 700,000 – 1ooo,000 ash trees in Mississauga alone.   EAB invasion will have a devastating impact on our urban forest.  While, as part of its Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) management program for City-owned trees, the City is in the process of inspecting woodlots and identifying trees for removal due to the declining health and increasing hazard of trees infected by EAB; there is no similar programme for privately owned trees as they are considered the responsibility of the owner.

There are things you can do:

  • learn how to identify ash trees
  • look for signs of EAB infestation – see the Emerald Ash Borer fact sheet – most common signs of EAB infestation include:
    • bark damage – vertical cracks appear in the bark
    • shoots growing from the trunk and branches o f the tree
    • crown dieback – loss of leaves in the tree canopy
    • discoloration or yellowing of the leaves
    • D-shaped exit holes
    • increased presence of woodpeckers feeding
  • determine if treatment can save your ash tree
  • hire a qualified landscaping company if removal is required
  • plant alternative native trees to protect our urban forest

Landscaping Mississauga gardens – Lawn weeds control

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , , /by

crabgrassBefore we say anything else, it is important to note that it is difficult if not impossible for weeds to invade dense, healthy turf and so they are seldom a serious problem on well-constructed and properly maintained lawns.  Weeds can be troublesome on neglected areas or lawns on poor soil. Although hand pulling is practical when weeds are sparse, high weed populations require chemical treatment. If weeds continue to invade after proper chemical treatment, some other facet of maintenance is at fault and steps should be taken to remedy the failing.

Chemicals used to control weeds in established lawns are called herbicides and are applied as preemergence or postemergence treatments.  Preeemergence herbicides are applied before weed seeds germinate and as the the seeds or seedlings begin growth they absorb enough chemical to kill them. Permanent lawn grasses are relatively unaffected. Postemergence herbicides are applied after weed seed germination when the weeds are in active growth, and such formulations do not greatly affect affect lawn grasses. Some chemicals are selective in that they kill only broad-leaved plants but not grass.  Others are nonselective and kill both weeds and lawn grasses.

  • Correctly identifying the weed and then selecting a proper chemical for its control are crucial.
  • Timing is also important. For example, dandelions may be controlled in midspring and late summer in Ontario because they are growing actively and are very susceptible to selective chemicals.
  • Choose a clear day with little or no air movement and temperatures of 15-25 C degrees. Such weather permits rapid absorption and uptake of the chemical with little chance of drift or spread beyond the treated area.
  • Do not apply herbicides during the excessive heat.
  • Follow exactly the directions on the package regarding dosages.
  • Keep all containers out of the reach of children and pets.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly after using the chemicals.
  • Do not use the same sprayer for different pesticides because it is virtually impossible to rinse out all traces of toxic herbicides; use separate sprayers and label them clearly.

Soil preparation for gardening & landscaping in Mississauga & GTA area

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , /by

soil preparationAs the weather teases us one day into believing that spring is already here; and the other day reminding us that the winter still rules, the green thumbs amongst us are eager to do something for their gardens.  Perhaps the best thing one can do while going through the ups and downs of undecided weather is to devote the time to the preparation of the soil for planting at a later time.  This is an important task as the success or failure of a garden largely depends on the soil where the plants live and grow.

There are basically three kinds of soil:  sandy, clayey and loamy.  Loam is a combination of clay and enough sand to offset the cohesive properties of the clay. It also contains considerable amount of decomposed organic matter or humus, which provides fertility, moisture retention, and hospitable environment for friendly bacteria and other organisms.  In our part of Ontario, and especially in Mississauga, the soil is mostly clayey – formed by extremely fine and compacted soil particles.  This type of soil impedes drainage, becoming a hard, solid crusted mass when dry and turning swampy when wet.  It  does not hold much air to support growth, just like sandy soils contain too  much air and not enough water to sustain growth.

We should strive to prepare garden beds that are composed of a felicitous combination of sand, clay, and humus – soil that is able to breathe, drain, and still retain enough moisture to feed the plants without drowning them.  Good soil holds the minerals and chemicals delivered by water, does not pack or clod when wet and warms up in the spring.  It should contain at least 18 inches of workable loam.   The more humus mulches, and compost are added over time, the softer and richer the soil becomes. And now, when the weather is nice,  is the perfect time to work on preparing the soil, mixing it properly.  Experts opine that one should start preparing the soil anywhere between 2-4 months before planting.   At Landpol Landscaping, we routinely add topsoil with all flowerbeds that we create, but you can start improving the quality of soil in your garden now….. 🙂

Best junipers for landscaping in Mississauga

/0 Comments/in /by
Skyrocket Juniper

Skyrocket Juniper

If you are looking for a fast growing elegant plant around long entryways or even just to hide the neigbour’s shed that hurts your eyes, Skyrocket Juniper is your answer to these problems.

This plant has a tall and extremely narrow, columnar growth habit. Its short, compact, silvery blue foliage is evergreen with virtually no change from season to season. It can be planted as a cluster against a large fence or building for a very striking, dramatic effect or it can be used in formal planting. It is the tallest, narrowest juniper out there and one of the fastest growing. A variety of it is sometimes Blue Arrow Juniper. We at Landpol have grown specimens that were labeled as both Skyrocket, as well as Blue Arrow within close proximity to one another. After five years, I checked today and I didn’t noticed any distinction between the two, no differences to speak of whatsoever. They look the same, but much, much taller than the babies we planted.

That’s the beauty of this plant – you can plant them small and they will grow fast at the rate of 10-12” a year reaching mature height of 15-20” and with 2-3”. They are perfect for our climate zone and thrive best in the full sun, but will tolerate shade (it will just grow slower). It prefers average to slightly acidic and sandy well-drained soil and it loves mulching.

Shade garden plants for Mississauga, Ontario

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

I hear often people complain that they cannot garden because all they have in their yard is shade.  I have to challenge this assumption and lead you a helping hand. There is no reason why you cannot have a beautiful garden living in the shade.  Here is how you do it:

  • prepare soil – rather than using triple mix, for shady gardens use well decomposed cattle, sheep or horse manure that has cured for at least two years and that is weed-free; use a lot of it – 8 to 10 cm
  • plant small nursery plants – plant only nursery grown plants.  Do not buy one that were “harvested” from the wild – they will not tolerate replanting well.  Also, there is no need to buy large five-gallon plants, the smaller ones are much cheaper and will grow in very quickly
  • plant the right plants – Here are some of my favourites shade plants for southern Ontario:

Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra) – evergreen that looks good all year round, it spreads by rhizomes or roots that creates a dense carpet of green when planted about 15cm apart – it takes about two years for the grid to disappear

Barrenwort (Epimedium) – low-growing perennials that produce the most interesting flowers. Shaped like bells, they hung in clusters just over the heart-shaped foliage below

Solomon’s Seal (Polugonatum biflorum)– this white flowering plant is a standout as at maturity it grows to 60cm high and features every June a charm bracelet of white flowers that hang beneath the foliage. Solomon’s seal is used to best advantage in raised beds, where you can see underneath the foliage

Canadian Ginger (Asarum canadense) – a great ground cover that produces broad, rounded leaves with a natural gloss that makes it attractive all season long. It grows to 15 cm high

Eco-friendly gardening in Mississauga with native perennials

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

With the coming of spring many of us are planning to have a beautiful, eco-friendly paradise on our backyard.  None wants to redo a garden every year, but we all want it to be sustasinable and enjoy once planted flowers and shrubs for many years to come.  This is best achieved with fuss free native perennials.

The longevity of perennials is the main reason why people choose to plant them in their gardens.   If selected well and planted in the right way, they will provide you year after year with colour and foliage for about 15 years on average.  And you can usually share your perennial plants with your friends and neighbours by splitting either the root or the green part of the plant. You can also ) and share the success of your healthy plant with your neighbor without going to buy a new plant all together.

One of the hardiest perennials that also thrive in shady moist areas is hosta in its many varieties:

hostas

Low Maintenance Gardening

/0 Comments/in /by

low maintenance gardening

Low maintenance gardening is commonsense gardening.  You just use natural landscaping ingredients that blend with the surroundings, put the right plants in the right place, and then relax while your garden essentially thrives on its own.  Planning ahead and using the right hardscape is the key.  Before you put spade into the ground, you need to create a design scheme to ensure a harmonious arrangement of plants and choose fuss-free plants whose cultural needs match the growing conditions of your property.

Landpol Landscaping specializes in setting the hardscape base for low maintenance, eco-friendly gardening.  Whenever possible we recommend that our clients use natural stones for their patios, driveways, front  yards, paths and retaining walls and we design low maintenance flowerbeds with natural armour stones and use natural rusting pine mulch for water retention.  We can also recommend using native shrubs and plants that are most suitable for local conditions.

This blog is intended to provide help in creating low-maintenance landscaping suitable for Mississauga, Oakville, Milton, Etobicoke and generally Peel/GTA regions.