Mother Earth Gardens and Design Inc.
"Creating and Maintaining Sustainable Gardens"
What does working with nature mean to you.
This creates a healthy landscape for people, plants, birds, pets and beneficial insects. In turn it contributes to cleaner air and waterways. It attracts pollinators.
It is cost effective as you will spend less money on fertilizers and pesticides.
You will spend less time on weeding and watering.
We use native plants since they are low maintenance plants and have low water requirements. Native plants attract wildlife and restore habitat. Native plants are beautiful.
We use the right plant and plant it in the right place. We choose the most suitable plants taking into consideration the growing conditions, plant characteristics and any special ornamental effects. We use edible shrubs, vegetables and fruit trees.
We avoid invasive species.
Mother Earth Gardens and Design Inc. creates and maintains environmentally friendly
gardens recognizing that working with nature transforms a high maintenance landscape into an
attractive labor and cost savings ecoscape.
gardens recognizing that working with nature transforms a high maintenance landscape into an
attractive labor and cost savings ecoscape.
Services
We create beautiful planters
We create 'right plant right place' planting plans so the garden will thrive
We create theme garden designs
Shade gardens/Full sun
Butterfly/Hummingbird gardens
Vegetable gardens
Scented/Unscented gardens
Rose gardens
Perennial gardens
Color theme gardens
We provide spring and fall clean up
Planting/ pruning /weeding
Monthly landscape maintenance
Mowing lawns
Garden Events
UBC Botanical Garden
Events calendar
Vancouver Orchid Society
display and sale
March 23-25, 2012
VanDusen Botanical Gardens
Events Calendar
Rose Festival and show
June 2012
Rhododendron, Mrs. Furnival
This is the month for the rhododendrons to put on a wonderful show of color. This is one of my favourite rhododendrons. It is in bloom for the month of May and the flowers often cover the entire shrub. It prefers partial shade however it does tolerate some sun. It is not a large shrub growing to 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide in 10 years. This rhododendron looks lovely planted in a grouping in front of Japanese red maples.
The Garden in May
May is another busy month. In the vegetable garden we continue with successive sowings of lettuce, spinach, carrots and radishes and start the main crop of potatoes. It's time to transplant artichoke plants and sweet onions. Direct seed squash, pumpkin, bush, soy and pole beans in mid-May or when the soil has warmed up. Seeds dont germinate well if the soil is wet and cold.
Tie canes of berry plants to support fruit and for better ripening and easier harvesting. Weed garden beds to ensure plants receive all nutrients available. Mulch with compost. Check for sawfly larvae on gooseberries and pick them off so they don’t defoliate the bush. Mulch strawberries with straw to keep the berries off the ground. Cut off strawberry runners.
Cut back euphorbia stems that have bloomed as the stem will not bloom again. New foliage will appear at the base of the plant. Ensure that you wear gloves as the milky white sap is poisonous. If you get some on your skin wash it off promptly.
Inspect all plants for aphids, pests and diseases. Check for slugs on new tender growth especially with our very wet weather this year. If aphids are seen gently brush them off or spray them off with a jet of water.
Pull up or cut back forget me not’s and perennial cornflowers. These plants produce thousands of seeds and if left to seed they will spread everywhere. Deadhead all flowers as soon as they are finished blooming as it produces more flowers and looks neater. Stake tall perennials if not already done.
Buy bedding plants and plant out after the may long weekend. Plant out dahlias and ensure planting stake does not damage tubers. Scatter egg shells or crushed oyster shell around plants so that slugs do not have access to new young shoots.
Remove seed heads from rhododendron so that plant energy is not used to create seeds. Mulch rhododendrons, camellias, hydrangeas and other shallow rooted shrubs to help retain moisture. Prune deciduous shrubs after blooming.
May is another busy month. In the vegetable garden we continue with successive sowings of lettuce, spinach, carrots and radishes and start the main crop of potatoes. It's time to transplant artichoke plants and sweet onions. Direct seed squash, pumpkin, bush, soy and pole beans in mid-May or when the soil has warmed up. Seeds dont germinate well if the soil is wet and cold.
Tie canes of berry plants to support fruit and for better ripening and easier harvesting. Weed garden beds to ensure plants receive all nutrients available. Mulch with compost. Check for sawfly larvae on gooseberries and pick them off so they don’t defoliate the bush. Mulch strawberries with straw to keep the berries off the ground. Cut off strawberry runners.
Cut back euphorbia stems that have bloomed as the stem will not bloom again. New foliage will appear at the base of the plant. Ensure that you wear gloves as the milky white sap is poisonous. If you get some on your skin wash it off promptly.
Inspect all plants for aphids, pests and diseases. Check for slugs on new tender growth especially with our very wet weather this year. If aphids are seen gently brush them off or spray them off with a jet of water.
Pull up or cut back forget me not’s and perennial cornflowers. These plants produce thousands of seeds and if left to seed they will spread everywhere. Deadhead all flowers as soon as they are finished blooming as it produces more flowers and looks neater. Stake tall perennials if not already done.
Buy bedding plants and plant out after the may long weekend. Plant out dahlias and ensure planting stake does not damage tubers. Scatter egg shells or crushed oyster shell around plants so that slugs do not have access to new young shoots.
Remove seed heads from rhododendron so that plant energy is not used to create seeds. Mulch rhododendrons, camellias, hydrangeas and other shallow rooted shrubs to help retain moisture. Prune deciduous shrubs after blooming.
For inquiries or quotes please contact Marian at:
Telephone: 604.617.3696 Email: marian@motherearthgardens.com
Telephone: 604.617.3696 Email: marian@motherearthgardens.com
