Top 10 Tips for Improving Your Garden

Editor’s Note: from http://www.ontariogardening.com/

By: Mark Cullen

Increasingly Canadian gardeners from coast to coast want a beautiful and productive garden while also demonstrating environmental responsibility.  Mark Cullen, Canada’s best known green thumb, provides his top ten gardening tips that will help you achieve the garden of your dreams while being sensitive to the surrounding environment.

1. Prepare your soil properly. Ninety percent of your gardening success hinges on proper soil preparation. Know the soil in your garden and learn what it needs to be healthy. Start the gardening season off right with soil the consistency of chocolate cake. Use the appropriate potting soil for your potted plants garden soil and  compost for your garden beds.

2. Use multiple quantities of the same plant. Repetition will anchor your garden and make it appear lush, coordinated and full.

3. Enjoy organic fruits and vegetables. A wide variety of environmentally friendly pest control options are on the market for the most common vegetable garden pests.
4. Enhance the environment and your garden. Make a point of cutting your lawn only when it reaches 2 ½ inches minimum. Water it only once a week , which uses 30 per cent less water than regular sprinklers. Fertilize with a slow release nitrogen based product three times per year. Water potted plants using water collected in a rain barrel .
5. Be generous with your compost. Add two centimeters of compost to your garden each year. Start your own composter with the help of the Natura Plastic Kitchen Composter and the Mark’s Choice Garden Composter.
6. Travel to the great gardens of the world. When traveling to other cities or countries take notes/pictures and open your eyes to the possibilities of introducing different plants and garden design options in your own yard.

7. Attract wildlife to your yard. Using native plants and feeders, you can attract hummingbirds, song birds and butterflies to your garden, enhancing its natural beauty.  Talk to your local Home Hardware store about the native plant species that is the right fit for your area.

8. Mulch with soft wood bark mulch. Mulch, the low maintenance gardener’s secret weapon, helps your garden retain moisture, prevents soil erosion and reduces weed growth.
9. Plan your garden colours in advance. ‘Colour block’ to give your garden authority. This year’s colour trends suggest bold colours to electrify your garden.
10. Reduce any difficulty. Lessen your work load by sharpening the blades of hoes, axes and shovels  before use.