May 09, 2012

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2 Wednesday, May 9, 2012 SPRING IN THE GARDEN COMOX VALLEY RECORD

Five years ago, a committee of three initi-ated these tours. Now there are over 80 vol-unteers working to showcase 10 of the best gardens in every corner of the Comox Valley.

CVHS members and the general public suggest new gar-dens each year. The selection com-mittee then visits each garden and preference is given to those that fulfill an acceptable cross-section of gardens with something for everyone.

The list includes small urban set-tings, large country cottage gardens, immense, small and unusual vegetable patches, unique designs, and unusual struc-tural features.

There will be traditional gardens, and modern displays where flowers might be featured in one garden and in another the foliage will be the highlight.

This year a miniature train, a Japanese garden and an intriguing water feature will

be amongst the attractions. In the past, the Gardens in Bloom tour

has raised over $15,000, which was distrib-uted to several local horticultural events or projects. The Therapeutic Gardens, The

Views at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Glacier Views Lodge, and Stepping Stones transition house have been recipients in the past.

As well, the elementary school in Cumberland and the Beachcomber school in Union Bay both received funds for

their children’s gardens.Attendance is crucial for camera enthu-

siasts, plant lovers, novice gardeners and those looking for ideas for garden design or just something new and different.

Whatever your interest is, you will also be contributing to a worthwhile community project.

— Comox Valley Horticultural Society

Gardens in bloominvite you for tourThe 2012 Gardens in Bloom tour, a

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COMOX VALLEY RECORD SPRING IN THE GARDEN Wednesday, May 9, 2012 3

Choosing the rightgarden tools can

alleviate pain and strain.

TOOLSmakegardeningeasierHand injuries are a common side effect of certain occupations and hobbies. Tennis elbow or wrist and even carpal tunnel syndrome are well-recognized injuries. But ergonomic tools can help alleviate injuries due to repetitive motions.

ergonomicergonomic

The term ergonomics is derived from the Greek words “ergon,” which means work, and “nomoi,” which means natural laws. In the sim-plest terms, ergonomics is the study of how work is done and how to make work better. It has led to an entire subset of ergonomics including prod-ucts that can make work better and are safer for the body.

This is done by designing items that increase utility of the item, are more comfortable to use, and reduce injury through frequent use.

Ergonomic products are most readily associ-ated with items of the workplace, including ergo-nomic keyboards, computer mice, office chairs, and lighting. But many industries have reevalu-ated operations to include tools that are ergo-nomic in design. Gardening is one area where ergonomics has become especially popular.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health estimates that the rate of hand

injuries in the workplace is 25 hand injuries for every 10,000 full-time employees. However, hand, back and injuries of other areas of the body are also commonplace due to hobbies like gardening. Many people have considered giving up garden-ing due to the pain that ensues from using the wrong tools. Here are some ergonomic tools to consider for use while gardening.

Extend a Hand Ergonomic Gardening Tool Set: These garden tools help individuals continue gardening tasks with ease and joint protection. The tools attach to the forearm and feature a right-angled grip to promote strength and leverage. Interchangeable heads turn the tool into a hoe, trowel, cultivator, or pruning saw.

Radius Garden 102 Weeder Hand Tool: This device alleviates wrist and hand fatigue

from gripping and pulling out weeds the tradi-tional way. The weeder features a patented hand

grip that provides more leverage with less wrist stress. The aluminum blade helps to cut through weed roots and lift out weeds with minimal effort.

Garden Works Ergonomic 7 Pattern Sprayer: Instead of squeezing a hand grip to activate

the hose nozzle, this sprayer features a slid-ing thumb valve that controls water flow while reducing hand strain. The seven different water flow patterns allow gardeners to choose from misting to streaming water flows.

Bond LH029 Ergonomic Handle Garden Spade: The handle and length of the tool is designed

to create maximum comfort and leverage when digging in soil.

Gardening doesn’t have to be painful when you use tools that are specially designed to fit the hand. They help alleviate strain to the wrist and elbow while maximizing leverage.

Comox ValleyHorticultural Society

presents their charity fundraiserp y

GARDENS IN BLOOM

A two day celebration of some ofthe beautiful gardens in the Comox Valley

Saturday June 23 & Sunday June 24, 2012Saturday June 23 & Sunday June 24, 201210:00 am to 4:00 pm10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Available At: Available At: Courtenay – Art Knapp Plantland, Home and Garden Gate Courtenay – Art Knapp Plantland, Home and Garden Gate Comox – Blue Heron Books, Videos ‘n More, The Comox – Blue Heron Books, Videos ‘n More, The

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It seems that gardening has become a provincial pastime.

Whether on a patio or a rooftop, roadside or commu-nity plot, vegetable, herb or flower, gardens are cropping up everywhere, and with them gardeners.

And, while gardening may not look like a hardcore sport where injuries abound, a day mulching a vegetable patch, preparing a lawn for seed, or doing the annual spring cleanup can lead to strained shoulders or sore backs and knees.

“If you like to garden but want to avoid common gardening injuries and sore muscles, it’s best to start and finish your day in the garden with a gentle warm up and some stretching,” says Rebecca Tunnacliffe, CEO of the Physiotherapy Association of BC. “By fol-lowing our Phsyio-4 tips you

can minimize injury, allevi-ate pain and get the most enjoyment out of your day in the garden.”

Physiotherapists have extensive knowledge and experience and can design a safe and effective program to keep gardeners pain and injury free and moving for life.

Here is their Physio-4 for gardening:

1. Begin with a warmup. Start with light tasks such as easy raking or a walk to warm up your muscles. Follow this by stretching your back, legs, neck, hands and fingers to help prevent strain or injury. Your physio-therapist will prescribe the best stretches for gardening specific needs.

2. Be aware of your pos-ture and body mechanics. When sweeping or raking, move your feet instead of twisting your trunk or over-

reaching with your arms. When lifting heavy bags or pots, use your legs, keep your back straight, and hold objects close to your body to prevent unnecessary strain on your back.

3. Be ergonomically correct. Stay close to the ground to trowel, plant and weed. Wear kneepads to avoid putting too much pressure on your knees. Ensure your tools are sharp when pruning or sawing to minimize your workload and select tools with long handles to avoid reaching.

4. Pace yourself. Take breaks and do some gentle stretching to keep limber. Try switching up tasks to use different muscles and avoid one group being over-worked. Repetitive actions that use a specific muscle or muscle group can cause pain or injury.

The Physiotherapy Asso-

ciation of BC created the Physio-4 to share the exper-tise of its members with fel-low British Columbians.

“Each month on our website, movingforlife.ca, we provide four tips for a specific activity or health issue relating to that month

to help keep British Colum-bians moving for life,” says Tunnacliffe. “We want Brit-ish Columbians to know that if they are injured or in pain, a physiotherapist can help. After all, we are the healthcare profession-als physicians recommend

most,” she states.The Physio-4 Tips for gar-

dening provides suggestions to keep gardeners pain and injury free.

To learn more about how physiotherapists keep Brit-ish Columbians moving for life, visit movingforlife.ca.

GOOD ADVICEmight help to avoid hurting your back

THE PHYSIOTHERAPY ASSOCIATION of BC offers some

tips to help gardeners take care of their bodies.

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HOW TO:Seaside gardening tips

Coastal conditions

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gardens in the

traditional sense.

Brisk winds and salt spray can enhance the experience of living by the seaside. But the same fea-tures of coastal living that attract residents can be unkind to many garden plants.

Sun, salt, a light breeze and some sand may make for a pictur-esque day at the beach, but they can be anything but favorable to the delicate plants and flowers in a garden. Further, the very warm temperatures and arid, sandy soil that are typical of seaside locales can make planting a lush garden difficult.

Despite the difficulties, coastal living and gardening is possible if you implement some tips for creat-ing a more welcoming environment for plants. Here’s how to do just that.

SET UP A WINDBREAK. Whether it’s by using native

grasses and durable plants that are typically found in coastal areas or an architectural structure, such as a stone wall or fencing, a good

windblock will help shelter other plants from blowing sand and salt. Just be sure to plan the windblock to stop most of the oncoming wind in a way that your water views are not compromised.

AMEND THE SOIL. Few things grow well in sandy

soil on their own. Unless you’re thinking of solely planting cacti and other succulent plants that don’t require much water from the soil, it will be necessary to amend the soil to include nutrients and a more hospitable growing base. Sand is good for drainage, but it cannot retain enough moisture to be viable for most plants. Therefore a healthy mix of nutrient-rich soil, compost and fertilizer can provide the right start.

CONSIDER SUN AND HEAT EXPOSURE.

Select plants that are hardy in warm-weather, full-sun conditions. Drought-tolerant plants are a good idea. Choose among varieties that

have waxy leaves to repel salt and sand and low-growing types that will have more protection from the sun. Should you want to plant other flowers and plants, you may have to consider creating shade with moderately-sized bushes or trees. Yucca plants thrive seaside, as does ornamental pampas grass. Brightly colored ice plants and cosmos flow-ers can add splashes of color.

ADD COASTAL ACCESSORIES.

Typically seaside gardens are enhanced with knicknacks and other items that are specific to coastal living. Pilings with rope, small anchors, sea shells, nauti-cal accents, and much more can be used to fill in bare areas of the gar-den and create places for birds and other animals to explore.

While there can be some chal-lenges to seaside gardening, it is possible to plant a seaside garden if gardeners choose wisely among heat, sand and drought-tolerant plants.

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According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, emergency rooms in the United States treat more than 400,000 outdoor garden-tool-related injuries each year. Additionally, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand has issued warnings that caution gardeners about hand-related injuries.

Doctors from the British College of Osteopathic Medicine have also warned that pruning, mowing and weeding can be dangerous — even comparable to competitive sports.

Hand injuriesCuts and even finger amputations

may result from unfamiliarity with pruning tools, such as hedge clippers or handheld pruners. The design of these tools is so they’ll be able to cut through small to moderately sized branches, which means it would not be too diffi-cult for a pruner to snap through a fin-ger bone. Injuries with these tools often occur when the gardener is distracted or the tool slips during use.

Pruners may also exacerbate con-ditions of carpal tunnel syndrome, usually caused by repetitive hand movements, such as typing or rep-etitious work. The ASSH says that prolonged, repetitive motions, such as weeding or pruning, can cause skin, tendon or nerve irritation. Rotate tasks every 15 minutes to give certain areas of the body a break.

The use of battery-powered and ergonomically designed hand tools can alleviate pain and may prevent some injuries. Power tools require less effort for cutting, which may reduce tool slip-page or misuse.

Bites and bruisesInfection is another injury that peo-

ple may not associate with gardening. Gardeners often come in contact with many different types of organic matter when gardening. Bacteria, fungi, and insects, as well as chemical fertilizers

and pesticides, may be found in soil. Failing to protect hands, especially those with a small abrasion or cut in the skin, enables these substances to potentially enter the body and blood-stream, and infections or rashes may result.

Contact with poisonous insects is another concern. Some ants have irritating bites. There are many types of spiders that can be poisonous or inflict a painful bite. Scorpions in dry climates can sting when uncovered in burrows.

Wearing gloves, particularly leather ones, can offer protection against thorny objects, insect bites, chemicals, and other skin irritants found in the soil.

Sun damageSpending time outdoors subjects a

person to UV exposure each and every time. Gardening unprotected can mean a bad case of sunburn and the poten-tial to develop skin cancer at a later time.

Whenever spending time out-doors pruning or just admiring the landscape, gardeners should apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen and wear a wide-brimmed hat. Try to do the major-ity of yard work in the early morning or early evening when the sun’s rays are the least harmful.

Additional injuriesMany gardeners fail to ease back

into garden activities after the winter respite. Should a gardener dive right into strenuous gardening tasks, inju-ries may ensue. Many hospitals see an influx of back-related injuries, heart attacks, muscle strains, and lacerations come the first stretch of warm weather.

Just like an athlete wouldn’t start the new season off right in a profes-sional game, so shouldn’t a gardener start strenuous activities without gradually warming up to them.

garden injuriesARE A MAJOR CONCERN

Gardening is often described as a relaxing and

beneficial hobby regardless of a person’s age.

While time outdoors in the garden can prove

calming and enjoyable, there is a dark side to

gardening as well. Namely the injuries that may

result from various activities.

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Bronze Fennel, Blue Green Curled Leaf Kale, Red Orach, Yellow Summer Squash, Scarlett Runners, Blue Bachelor Buttons and Tall Pink Cosmos.

These and more available at the sixth annual spring plant sale being held by the Comox Valley Growers and Seed Savers Society.

Many of the same seeds that were available (and quickly snatched up) at Seedy Saturday in March have been grown out and will be available as ready-to-plant healthy seedlings.

The sale will be held May 12 from 9 a.m. to noon at Simms Millennium Park near Fifth Street Bridge in Courtenay.

These colourful plants are only part of the offering on sale day. Tomato varieties such as Fuzzy Peach, Snow White, Mar-tian Giant, might be found along side cucumber, squash, pumpkin, leek, rocket, patty pan zucchini and giant sunflow-ers. There will be tasty, healing garden herbs, berries, edible flowering plants and perennials.

Each open-pollinated variety is some-body’s favourite; the seed from this year’s crop can be saved for next year.

Come early — last year most offerings sold out fast.

The popularity of this event is due to the exciting and interesting diversity of

vegetables and other plants grown with passion by CVGSS member-volunteers.

CVGSS’ mission is to conserve and preserve our local plant diversity by encouraging and supporting public par-ticipation in growing heritage and non-hybrid food crops and other plants.

Some seed packets from plants locally grown last year will be available at the sale. The rich diversity available to our gardens today exists only because some-body, somewhere has saved the seed up until now.

Master gardeners will be in atten-dance to answer questions about com-post, pests, companion planting and plant care. CVGSS is a non-profit society and this plant sale is a fundraiser to assist the society carry out further pub-lic education about growing and saving seeds.

The plant sale will be held rain or shine, from 9 a.m. to noon May 12 at Simms Millennium Park in Courtenay.

More information about CVGSS is found at www.ComoxValleyGrowersAnd-SeedSavers.ca. For more information about the spring plant sale, contact co-ordinator Barbara Toombs at 250-465-8131 [email protected].

— Comox Valley Growers and Seed Savers Society

MARTIAN GIANT TOMATOES are only one of the many offerings expect-

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spring plant sale.

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4 TIPS FOR CHOOSING grass varieties

Some homeowners simply go out and buy whatever grass seed they find. However, if you plant a warm-season grass where it frosts over in the winter, you could end up spending money for nothing — and finding a dead lawn come springtime. The same can be said for planting a cool-season grass variety where the summer sun will scorch the lawn and kill it off. These are some fac-tors you will need to consider when planting a lawn.

1. Select the right grass seed or

mix of grass seed for your climate. Determining your zone area and seeing

where your location falls on a Turfgrass Selection Climate Zone map, which gauges temperature as well as climate and rainfall amounts, can help you select a grass seed. For example, bahiagrass, Bermuda and zoysia are better for warmer climates, while bluegrass, fescue and ryegrass may work in cooler-weather to temperate areas.

2. Determine yard needs. Certain homeowners have no problem

spending hours upon hours caring for the lawn. Others prefer minimal upkeep, while some can handle moderate maintenance. Homeowners can choose a grass based on how much time they want to spend caring for it. You should also determine how the lawn will be used. Will it be a focal point with no foot traffic? Or will it be a play area for kids and pets? This, too, will help you determine your grass type.

3. Choose the type of grass for your

desire of growth and life span. Some grasses spread by creeping or til-

lering. Tillering happens when the plant extends from the central root, and these grasses are known as “bunch” grasses. Creeping is when grasses send out horizon-tal roots, essentially runners, from which new plants will arise. There are also wide

If you drive by a home and see a lush lawn out

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Con’t from page 8blades and narrow blades of grass. One last thing to think about is an annual grass or perennial. In gen-eral, turfgrasses are peren-nial, so apart from reseeding dull patches, annual seeding won’t be necessary.

4. Go out and

buy the grass. Now that you have nar-

rowed down your needs, you can head to a lawn store armed with the information and select the right type of grass for your needs. Con-sult with an employee if you have difficulty determining the variety of grass you should purchase. Depending on whether you’re in a tran-sition zone between two dif-ferent zones, you may need a combination of seeds for the best balance and look.

After you have selected the grass seed, you will need to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for seeding. Experts advise that the best time for seeding is in the fall when there is still ample water and sunlight, and the grass has yet to go into hibernation. Here’s what else you can do.

• Remove rocks and till the soil underneath.

• Add an inch of sand

and compost and then till together.

• Next add lime or sulfur to the soil.

• Add a starter fertilizer and rake the lime and fertil-izer into the rest of the mix with a metal rake.

• Then apply a thin coat-ing of grass seed and lightly rake it into the soil using an

upside-down rake.• Finally, water the soil

2 to 3 times a day for 5 to 10 minutes to adequately dampen the soil.

Creating a beautiful lawn requires knowledge about climate and weather condi-tions. Then you can create a lush lawn that is a wonder to behold.

The Comox Strathcona waste management's (CSWM)compost education centre in the Comox Valley (CV) is now open. Our on-site educator Patty Rose (CV) will give you a facility tour and answer any of your composting, organic gardening and conservation questions.Elementary, middle and high schools, preschools, clubs andsummer groups are encouraged to make arrangements withour educators to bring their students for anenvironmentally-focused and interactive session.

For more information about composting visit: www.cswm.ca/composting

Comox Valley Compost Education Centre

4795 Headquarters Road, Courtenay BC

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Many homeowners spend hours outdoors perfect-ing their lawns or spend a good deal of money hiring professionals to make their lawn more appealing. But just because a lawn looks good now doesn’t mean it will look good later. That’s because delicate grass can be damaged by a number of different factors.

GRUBSGrubs are not very lawn-

friendly. Grubs are actually the larval stage of different types of large beetles. These worm-like creatures feed on the roots of grass and are able to kill large sections of the lawn in a relatively short amount of time. It can sometimes be difficult to dis-cern whether grubs, drought or another other pest has damaged a lawn. One way to check is to grab a por-tion of the damaged lawn and attempt to peel it back. If it comes back easily like

a piece of carpet, it’s likely grubs. Spotting grubs under-neath is a sure sign these larvae are killing the lawn.

Using an insecticide for grub control in July can help kill off grubs that start hatching in August through September.

PET URINEPets can also damage a

lawn. Pet urine can create burnt patches and sig-nificant discoloration on the lawn, particularly if the dog or cat uses one area consis-tently as their potty zone.

The best way to prevent urine damage is to walk your dog so that he or she will not have free reign of the yard. However, some-times dogs get out or stray cats and dogs visit your yard and relieve themselves without your knowledge. So this method is not foolproof. Therefore, you should take added action to maintain a lush lawn.

First, make sure that soil and lawn is in good health by fertilizing and taking care of it properly. Second, water can dilute urine and neutralize its corrosive properties. Try to dilute the urine prior to eight hours having elapsed for the best effect.

BURROWING ANIMALS

Moles and voles are among the more common lawn damage culprits. Voles are small rodents that resemble mice but have stouter bodies, shorter tails and rounder heads.

Moles, although they have a similar-sounding name, are not related to voles and look very different. They have a cylindrical body shape with velvety fur, very small or invisible ears and large paws for digging.

Voles can be kept away with natural vole predators, such as cats, hawks, owls and snakes. Mouse traps can also capture voles when baited.

Moles can also be con-trolled with traps. Finding active mole tunnels will help you place the traps effec-tively to either kill or simply contain the mole.

Lawn damage can occur through a number of differ-ent factors. Finding out the cause can help you find an effective treatment.

HOW TO PREVENT

lawn damageMany homeowners aspire toward a pristine

and lush lawn. For some a nice lawn gives

them feelings of pride. Others believe a perfect

lawn enables them to have the best-looking

house in the neighborhood.

Homeowners who love their lawns often dread the arrival of summer. High

temperatures and endless hours of sun can take their toll on a lawn, especially if a

drought occurs and water restrictions are put in place.

For homeowners who don’t want to sacrifice their lawns to summer heat waves,

there are a few watering strategies that can help the lawn withstand the harsh and

unrelenting dog days of summer.

Watering correctly

can help homeowners

avoid a lawn fi lled with

patches of brown or

dead grass during the

dog days of summer.

Homeowners who love their lawns often dread the arrival of summer. High tempera-tures and endless hours of sun can take their toll on a lawn, especially if a drought occurs and water restrictions are put in place.

For homeowners who don’t want to sac-rifice their lawns to summer heat waves, there are a few watering strategies that can help the lawn withstand the harsh and unrelenting dog days of summer.

• Water before the temperatures peak. It might seem like your lawn needs watering most when the temperature is at its high-est, but that’s not really the case. Water attracts the sun, so homeowners who water their lawns when temperatures peak are likely to burn the lawn. Watering is best done when the temperatures are at their coolest, such as in early morning or during the twilight hours in the evening. Water-ing during these hours also ensures the water won’t evaporate as quickly, allowing the lawn to retain more water, which it will need to make it through a hot summer day.

One size does not fit all. A typical

landscape has a lawn and likely a handful of trees and shrubs. Homeowners should know that each of these different plants needs different amounts of water. Deep-rooted plants, which includes trees and shrubs, don’t need to be watered as fre-quently, but homeowners should spend more time watering them when the time comes. Shallow-rooted plants, however, will need to be watered more frequently but for much shorter intervals. Homeowners who aren’t sure just how much time to spend water-ing the plants around their property should consult a local landscaper or gardening cen-ter for advice.

Don’t forget to mulch. Mulch is benefi-cial in many ways, one of which is due to its ability to retain moisture. Because mulch can effectively retain moisture even on hot summer days, this can reduce a homeown-er’s need to water, which can be especially valuable if a water restriction has been put into effect. Mulch also prevents weed ger-mination and growth, saving homeowners from the annoying task of removing weeds on hot summer afternoons.

Help your lawn survivethe dog days of summer

Carefully place and time sprinklers. Sprin-kler placement is important during the summer months, especially for homeowners who live in areas where water restrictions are common. Stra-tegically locate sprinklers so no water is being wasted on sidewalks and driveways. In addition, if the forecast calls for rain, turn the sprinklers off and let nature do the work for you. Some sprinkler systems even come with a rain sensor that automatically turns the water off when it starts to rain. If less rain falls that the forecast-ers predicted, you can always water when you arrive home at night.

Give problem areas special attention. During the dog days of summer, nearly every lawn will have one or two areas that are suffer-ing more than the rest of the lawn. These areas might be entirely devoid of shade and, as a result, are quicker to succumb to summer heat. Water such areas by hand to ensure they’re getting enough water to help them avoid turning brown or yellow.

Getting your lawn through a stretch of sum-mer heat won’t always be easy, but a few strat-egies can help the lawn withstand even the harshest heat wave.

Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park Association is committed to protecting the privacy of this information.

2012 Filberg Heritage & Lodge Park Association Membership VALID April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013

Filberg Heritage Lodge 61 Filberg Road, Comox, BC V9M 2S7

(Please print clearly) NAME: ADDRESS: EMAIL: PHONE: Memberships available for purchase April 15 to June 15 and August 15 to December 31, 2012

Membership: (please circle) NEW MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL OF LAST YEAR’S MEMBERSHIP

ADULT $25/PERSON SENIOR (65+)/STUDENT (13-18) $20/PERSON DONATION ~ Thank you AMOUNT: $__________________

Method of Payment: (please circle) Cheque Cash MasterCard Visa Interac

Cheques can be made payable to: Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park Association

Location Purchased: Please initial:

Membership number:

ARE YOU ALREADY A VOLUNTEER? YES

IF NOT, ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A VOLUNTEER? Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park Association (FHLPA)

Circle ALL positions of interest and availability and we will contact you soon:

Lodge Guide Cutting Garden Office Assistant FILBERG FESTIVAL

Gift Shop Clerk Special Events Board of Directors Summer Sounds Frequency of Availability: One-time Projects Flexible Regular Basis For office use only: Contacted: Entered: Initials:

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE SPONSORED BY

PURCHASE YOUR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

BEFORE MAY 15th and you could

WIN LUNCH FOR 2 or AFTERNOON TEA FOR 2

at the Filberg Tea House

MEMBERSHIPS CAN BE PURCHASED• Online at www.fi lberg.com/membership

• Fill in the membership form below and mail it to:

Filberg Heritage Lodge & Park, 61 Filberg Road, Comox, BC V9M 2S7

• Visit the Filberg Gift Shop in the Lodge Friday-Sun 1-4

(starting May 11th, 2012)• Visit our membership booths at:

Driftwood Mall or Comox Mall

Friday & Saturday May 4 & 5 11am-3pm

Friday & Saturday May 11 & 12 11am - 3pm

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Offer expires June 31, 2012.

1886 Waveland Rd.250-339-3565


Succulents forlow maintenance

Now is the time of year to focus on outdoor landscaping projects. One popular project involves redesigning the front yard or backyard to include an array of different flowers and foli-age. While many people gravitate to the flashy and colorful annuals on display at nurseries and home cen-ters, you may want to consider add-ing some succulents to your home landscape.

Succulent plants can be a boon to a homeowner without the time or

resources to main-tain plants. Suc-culents get their name from their primary function, which is drawing up and storing water. Succu-lents are able to thrive in arid con-ditions, and there are more than 300 different

types, including some exotic species.The advantages to planting suc-

culents are many. Because they store water in their stems, roots and leaves, this reduces the number of times an owner must water them. Succulents can go several days between waterings.

Succulents, like cacti, that have few if any leaves, are perhaps best at managing water because they lose little to evaporation through the foli-age.

Succulents are particularly good to have in areas prone to arid tem-peratures or where water restric-tions are often in place. They can be environmentally friendly because of their ability to conserve water. Suc-

culents treat water as a precious resource, and their entire makeup is designed to minimize consumption of water.

Because they thrive in sunlight, succulents can be the ideal plants to put in extremely sunny and hot loca-tions. They will not wither and dry out due to extreme heat. For particu-larly dry areas of landscape or where soil is subpar, consider the placement of different varieties of succulents to create a varied and eye-catching display.

There are many other advantages to planting succulents; some of which include:

• Succulents offer contrasts in shape, texture and colors. With the many varieties, you’re bound to findsomething interesting and different to add to the landscape.

• Whether you have ample acre-age in the yard or simply some containers available for planting, succulents will thrive. They grow just as well in containers as they do in the ground.

• Succulents don’t tend to require pruning or cutting back of the plant. With this in mind, you can expect them to grow large. Therefore, space the plants adequatelyto allow for growth.

• Succulents are perennials. So once you plant them, they should last for years and years without the hassle and expense you can expect from planting annuals every year.

• Indoor greenhouses or sunrooms can be another good place for succu-lents. They prefer not to get chilled, which makes a controlled environ-ment advantageous.

When considering a spot for your succulents, choose areas that get plenty of sun. Think about pruning back or removing trees that would create too much shade on the suc-culents.

Space the succulents widely apart — more so than you would with other plants — to allow them to spread. Pebbles or gravel make good mulching material around succulents so that drainage will be adequate. It will also set the succulents apart from other plants by contextualizing them in your garden.

Succulents, like jade, are

ideal for arid conditions or for

gardens where low-maintenance

plants are desired.

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May 09, 2012

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