I have rain barrels set below my downspouts, and each of the barrels is surrounded with 5 gallon buckets waiting to handle the overflow.  If we are hit with a few hours of serious rain the buckets will be full. At this point you will see me scrambling around (soaking wet) trying to find more containers.  All this running around nets me up to 2weeks of additional water for the raised beds and container plants.   Harvesting rain is not likely to save much water overall each season but in a dry climate like ours it's "waste not".  So here we are, waiting for the rain to come. Hoping that we aren't being teased again by mother nature. More likely, whatever rain that was promised will be light, or will miss us entirely. Then my only recourse is a rain dance, but that is for another article.

We are in the middle of a heat wave with temperatures expected to reach 100+ for each of the next 5 days.  I have been busy in the early morning but by 10:00 a.m. the heat has chased mem out of the yard and into the house where it is a bit cooler.My pre-dawn plans this week include "soil sterilizing" some of the raised garden beds by pulling out the remaining summer plants, amending the soil with homemade compost, watering well and, finally, covering the beds with clear plastic for 6 weeks.  The heat and moisture "cook" the soil, killing some of the soil pathogens, diseases, weeks and insects.  Past results have been extremely favorable, with healthier soil and therefore, healthier plants.

I continue to harvest tomatoes and peppers from my summer crops, and the apples are ready and waiting to picked.  The guava's have just started to ripen, so I have enjoyed a few with my breakfast cereal.  The remainder of the garden is on hold pending a fall/winter planting, but I'll wait until the heat passes before doing any seed sowing.  Until then, I will be looking over the seeds I have accumulated, figuring out what seeds I still need to purchase, and deciding when and where each of the crops will go.  This planning for the future keeps me excited about the upcoming season, even when the temperatures make it impossible to be out where I want to be.

Garden and Be Well

We have big changes coming here at the end of Sept.  We will be pulling up our front lawn and sheet mulching the whole area.  I don't want to waste any more water on a crop that I don't use or want. Our plans include planting drought tolerant natives in the area between the sidewalk and curb, adding mulched pathways around the raised beds and replanting some of our dwarf trees in the newly cleared area next to the driveway.  I am excited about our ideas, and hope they all turn out as well as I envision them in my head.  Pictures will be posted as the project progresses. I hope you will watch with me as I continue to "green" my garden.

Many insects are important beneficial predators. We should learn to recognize these good bugs because they are essential in keeping the bad bugs under control. Learning to identify and attract them will help you create a well-balanced vibrant garden.

At Plant Paradise Country Gardens we do not use any pesticides, insecticides or chemical fertilizers of any kind. This is key to attracting the good bugs. To also help create a habitat for good bugs to thrive read the article Lorraine Roberts, (co-owner of Plant Paradise Country Gardens), wrote from the Spring 2009 issue of Caledon Living: Plants that Attract Beneficial Insects

Plant Paradise Country Gardens is an organic perennial nursery and garden centre on twenty four acres. At Plant Paradise Country Gardens we do not use any pesticides or herbicides anywhere. It has never been necessary. We have allowed nature’s natural defenses to take control.

Not using pesticides or herbicides encourages birds, toads, frogs, snakes and beneficial insects to thrive and create balance in the garden. With the addition of plants that attract beneficial insects you will encourage them to live permanently in your garden. For more information read the article “Plants that Attract Beneficial Insects”

As growers of thousands of perennials, we use certified organic products for feeding all of the plants we grow. Organically grown perennials are not “forced” to bloom so that we can sell more plants. “Forcing” a plant to bloom creates weak root development. Fertilizing a plant with synthethic based nutrients also creates a weak plant. Over time, with the use of synthethic fertilizers in the garden or lawn, salt residues build up. This creates a toxic environment for growing anything successfully. It also discourages the good bugs from inhabiting your property. 

Healthy, moisture retentive, well drained soil is one of the single most important elements of successful, organic gardening. Creating healthy soil in sandy or heavy clay soil is as easy as adding composted manure or worm castings. This increases moisture retention and improves the soil structure and fertility which encourages millions of micro-organisms to thrive. Their existence increases the absorption of essential minerals to the plants which creates better root growth and greater resistance to disease and pests. 

By adding the product “MYKE” to your soil it will aid in your plants health and root development. "MYKE" contains mycorrhizal fungi which has occurred naturally in the soil for 400 million years. Mycorrhizal fungi form a close, symbiotic relationship with plant roots. However, in most soils that have been disturbed by residential construction or intensive applications of fertilizers containing pesticides and other chemical products, the mycorrhizae content has considerably diminished, and has become insufficient to significantly enhance plant growth. When mycorrhizal fungi colonize the plant’s root system, they create a network that increases the plant’s capacity to absorb more water and nutrients such as phosphorus, copper and zinc. This process in turn enhances growth and favours rapid development of the plant's roots which creates greater resistance to disease and drought.

Incorrect watering is a key reason why some plants may not overwinter or become weak and are prone to disease and pests. At Plant Paradise Country Gardens we do not water the display gardens. We rely entirely on nature. This promotes a healthier plant because the roots grow deeper into the ground searching for water and nutrients. If you do decide to water any of your plants such as: perennials, annuals, vegetables, evergreens or even your lawn – Deep Water. The water has to penetrate to the roots where the plants require it. Depending on the plant, this can mean a depth of between 2 to 8 inches. Shallow watering creates plants that do not develop deep roots that search out the water and nutrients they require. By watering deeply and less frequently you will grow healthier plants that will be less susceptible to drought, disease and pests.