Topics

Prevent Polluting Runoff

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:59:00 -0800

GVRD and Hilary Henegar, GardenWise Online editor

How to prevent water from carrying contaminants into public waterways and sewers.

The benefits of worm casts

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:59:52 -0700

Michelle Lam

Earthworms are very important to decomposition processes that occur naturally with dead organic matter. Without earthworms, it would take a long time for bacteria and fungi alone to convert this matter into usable plant nutrients.

Thwart weeds

Tue, 06 May 2008 01:17:00 -0700

By Sheena Adams

Sheena Adams offers her five top tips on how thwarting weeds.

Companion plants: onion chives and tomatoes

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 13:10:15 -0800

Sheena Adams

One of the first crops of the spring season is healthy and tasty onion chives. When planting onion chives this year, I suggest you practice some companion planting and leave room between the chives to tuck in your favourite tomato plants; you’ll enjoy tastier, disease-free plants by taking advantage of the natural protection of onion chives.

Vertical growing space

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 11:48:50 -0800

Sheena Adams

Recently I have been glancing around gardens with one thing on my mind – vertical growing space. Growing up allows us to dress up narrow walkways, camouflage unattractive fencing, provide shade and windbreaks, and screen balconies and patios to provide privacy. If support is lacking, you can do the same thing by growing down – install a hanging basket or raised planter overflowing with long lush foliage.

What makes a sustainable landscape?

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:31:10 -0800

By Michelle Nakano

What makes a sustainable landscape?

Loving those voracious lacewings

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:32:09 -0700

Linda Gilkeson

Use lacewings as beneficial insects in your garden.

Make Bird Granola

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 14:57:37 -0700

By Sheena Adams

Making homemade bird granola is a fun and virtually effortless way to keep feathered winter visitors happy and healthy all season long. A properly prepared granola is not only tasty for the birds, but also full of nourishing vitamins. It should contain calcium to help with eggshell development, plus enough fat to keep the little birds warm in the winter. At this time of year, birds need to eat regularly in order to produce enough energy to survive the cold.

How to recycle your poinsettia

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 14:54:26 -0700

By Sheena Adams

After the holidays, you can recycle your poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) into a summer garden treat and then encourage it to rebloom next year.

Fungus Gnat Help

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 14:51:32 -0700

By Sheena Adams

A common wintertime problem for indoor tropicals is fungus gnats. These annoying little black flies rise from the soil surface during watering. Meanwhile, their maggot offspring (larvae with white bodies and black heads) live in the plant soil and feed off decaying plant matter, fungus, and sometimes the plant’s roots and succulent stems. Without immediate action fungus gnats can quickly spread and infect all the plants in a home.