It's time for rhododendrons to do their thing.

---

May Garden Chores

Yellow dangling laburnum flowers and purple alliums at VanDusen Botanical Gardens. Click on pic for more.

In This Issue

Wisterias are this month's Plant of the Month.

Prepare for Summer - Planting Time - Smart Watering - Turn Brown Thumbs Green 
Un-potting Tips & Post Care - Grow Your Own Food - Bugging Out - Planning the Veggie Garden
Raised Beds - How to Plant Tomatoes - Spuds, Strawbs, Rhubarb & Asparagus
May Lawn Care - Nix the Lawn
What to Prune in May - Chelsea Chop Your Perennials - Bug Wars 
Bedding Plant Tips & Techniques - Pretty Planters 
Houseplants & Tropical Plants - Roses in May - Birdies, Hummers & Pollinators
Fellow Gardeners Introduction - Garden Club Plant Sales - Irrigation Restrictions
May's Floral Arrangement - May Garden Chores - May Garden Stars
Plant of the Month:  - May's Flower Arrangement

---

Fellow Gardeners..

A rain soaked marigold.

Fellow Gardeners,
The south coast of British Columbia has had glorious weather this winter and spring. The sun has been shining instead of the usual downpours. We are not living up to our reputation as Rain-couver and the Wet-coast. We’re more like Drought-couver and Parched-coast as the rain is leaving us high and dry.
The recurrent drought is so bad that right off the bat, we are entering into summer’s water restrictions at Stage 2. That means lawns can no longer be watered. Oh my. I’m praying for rain, but I don’t think that is going to happen since meteorologists are predicting a hotter and drier summer than normal. Drats and darn.
For all us gardeners, plant and animal lovers, this is a very bad thing indeed. My heart goes out to all the animals that suffer due to the lack of rain, never mind my garden and plants. 
I’ll do my best to keep fresh water in shallow dishes for bees, other pollinators, birdies and animals, but it doesn’t really help those in the wild. Only heaven sent rain can do that.
It seems like every summer it gets hotter and drier, which many people really appreciate, I am not one of those people. It’s just so much work to keep my veggies watered, never mind the rest of the garden.
Which reminds me I need to buy more mulch. It’s a lifesaver, as a thick layer of leaves or wood chips keeps the sun from baking the daylights out of the garden. Since the soil is protected, it stays wetter longer as the water doesn’t evaporate so quickly. It also keeps it cooler, which keeps plants happy, it deters weeds and becomes plant food as it breaks down.
We might be in for a tough summer not just in B.C., but in many provinces and countries. Weather patterns have surely changed, so we must adapt, adopt and improve to make the most of what we have.
Since it is May, it’s time to get all the planting done before summer arrives. Let’s cross our fingers that the weather will be conducive to happy plants and even happier gardeners.
Have fun out there and enjoy your May garden.
Cheers,
Amanda

---

Garden Consultation Gift Cards

Get the perfect gift for gardeners and non-gardeners alike with a gift certificate for a personal garden consultation. In the two-hour consultation their gardening questions are answered such as how to lower maintenance, landscape design, trouble shooting, plant ID, lawn care, veggie gardening and other garden related issues.  A $200.00 value. Serving Metro Vancouver. Click here to fill out the form.

---

Garden Club Events & Sales

I can't turn down a good plant sale.

Get the word out! Click here to list & to view garden club plant sales, fundraisers, garden tour & other events. Click on the coloured links below to be redirected to the individual garden club.
White Rock Garden Club Plant Sale
Saturday May 9th, 2026, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Ocean Park Community Hall, 1577-128th St., Surrey, B.C.
Features perennials, succulents, grasses, veggies, herbs, shrubs, books, garden décor, baked goods, hanging baskets & cut flowers. Price ranging from $2 to $8. Cash only.
NWHS Plant Sale
Saturday, May 9, 2026, 10:00 am to 2:pm 
St. Thomas More Collegiate, 7450-12th Ave, Burnaby
​Members donate a wonderful variety of perennials and vegetable seedlings at below Garden Outlet prices. Cash only.
Annual Plant Sale
Saturday, May 16, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Corner of Iverson & Main, N. Delta, BC
Mostly tomatoes & veggie plants.

---

Know what to do in your garden each month with a subscription to The Garden Website. Click here for a free subscription. 
Visit Amanda's YouTube Channel for garden and plant videos

---

Need a Garden Consultation?

Not sure what to do?

Need gardening advice? Make an appointment with Amanda for a home visit. Click here for more information.

---

Water Restrictions Begin

Metro Vancouver has started early with Stage 2 water restrictions.

Due to the lack of rain and snow, Metro Vancouver is adopting Stage 2 water restrictions. 
Lawn watering is prohibited.  
Trees, shrubs, and flowers can be watered if using an automatic or manual sprinkler any day from 5 am and 9 am, or any time by hand or using drip irrigation. Hoses must have an automatic shut-off.
Vegetable gardens can be watered any time.
For more details click on Water Restrictions.

---

May Arrangement

May 2026

This month's flowers feature pink peonies, crimson clover, rhododendrons and snow in summer. For a numbered guide to the specific flower names and for other arrangements go to Monthly Flower Arrangements

---

---

Plant of the month
Wisterias

A Japanese wisteria.

Wisterias are no shrinking violets. To learn how to contain these beautiful and immense boa constrictors of the plant world click on Wisterias.

---

May ​Garden Stars

---

Perennial candytuft, Iberis sempervirens, evergreen ground cover, May flowers, 6” to 1’, sun to part shade. Zones 3-9

Variegated weigela, W. ‘Florida Variegata’, deciduous shrub, 4-6 ft. tall & wide, sun, part shade. Zones 4 to 8. Click on pic for more.

Candelabra primrose, Primula pulverulenta, herbaceous perennial, 3’x2’, part shade. Zones 4 to 8

---

Large camas, Camassia leichtlinii, summer bulb, North American native, 3-4 ft x 1 -2', sun to part shade, Zones 5 to 9.

Tree peony, Paeonia suffruticosa, deciduous woody shrub, 3-5’ x 3-4’, sun to part shade. Zones 5 to 9. Click on the pic for more.

Creeping or moss phlox, Phlox subulata, herbaceous perennial ground cover, to 6" x 2’, sun. Zones 3 to 9.

---

Montana clematis, C. montana, deciduous vine, sun. Zones 4 to 8. Click on pic for more.

Himalayan blue poppy, Mecanopsis baileyi, short-lived herbaceous perennial, 3’ to 4’, dappled shade. Zones 5 to 7.

'Snowmound' spirea, Spiraea nipponica 'Snowmound', deciduous shrub, 3-5’ tall & wide, flowers May to June, butterflies. Zones 4 to 8.

---

Eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis, deciduous tree, 30’x30’, heart-shaped foliage, fall colour, sun to part shade. Zones 5 to 9.

Handkerchief or dove tree, Davidia involucrate, deciduous tree, 15’ x 10’, sun to part shade, May flowers. Zones 6 to 8. Click on the pic for more.

Golden Chain Tree, Laburnum x watereri 'Vossii', deciduous tree. Part to full sun, toxic. 20 ft x 15 ft. Zones 6 to 8.

---

Snow Day Surprise pearlbush, Exochorda 'Snow Day Surprise', deciduous shrub, 4'x4', sun, part shade. Zones 4 to 8. Click on pic for more.

Columbine, Aquilegia vulgaris, herbaceous perennial, 18" - 3ft, sun to part shade. Zones 3 to 8. Click on the pic for more.

Jack-in-the-pulpit, Arisaema triphyllym, herbaceous perennial, 1-2’ x 1-1.5’, part to full shade. Zones 4 to 9. Click on the pic for more.

---

Peaches & Cream honeysuckle, Lonicera, deciduous vine to 5', sun to part shade. Zones 4 to 9.

Oriental poppy, Papaver orientale, herbaceous perennial, 15” – 3’ x 1’ -2’, sun. Zones 3 to 8. Click on the photo for more.

Chocolate vine, Akebia quinata, semi-evergreen vine, 20–40’ x 6-9’, fragrant, finger shaped fruit, part shade. Aggressive, invasive in midwest. Zones 4 to 8

Pink flowering dogwood, Cornus florida f. rubra, deciduous tree, 15’–30’ tall & wide, sun, part shade, birds, butterflies. Zones 5 to 9.

Wood anemone, Anemone nemorosa, herbaceous perennial, 0.50 to 1.50 ft, part sun, shade, summer dormancy, naturalizes. Zones 5 to 8. Click on pic for more.

Common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, deciduous shrub, 12’-16’x8’-12’, fragrant, sun. USDA Zones 3 to 7.

---

May Garden Chores

Click on the coloured links to be redirected.

Zone map of North America.

Plant Million Bells & other tender annuals.

Plant aubergines (eggplants) & other frost tender veggies.

Plant dahlias.

 Summer’s Coming: Plants often fail to survive when they are planted in the summer as they often struggle with the heat and drought, so the sooner you get planting the better. If you need to do any transplanting, do it as soon as possible.
Seedlings Grown Indoors: Before planting them outside they must be acclimatized to the outside world. Hardening off is a gradual process that takes one or two weeks. 
Planting Time: It’s time to plant tomatoes, peppers, petunias, coleus, dahlias, cannas and other frost tender plants once nighttime temps stay 10°C (50°F) and 18 to 21°C (65 to 70°F) during the day. Victoria Day long weekend is considered the safe time to plant everything, including tomatoes and other heat-loving plants. Plant dahlias, tuberous begonias, gladiolus, cannas, callas, caladiums and other summer bulbs. If in doubt when to plant, click on the following hardiness zone maps: Canada  - USA - UK & Europe.

---

---

Prepare For Summer

Mulch protects the garden from the elements.

For convenience, buy mulch by the bag.

Don't put fabric, weed block or plastic under mulch.

Dry, hot soil is killer for many plants, so it makes sense to temper summer’s harsh conditions by protecting the roots and soil. A 3-inch layer of wood chips, foliage or another organic mulch keeps soil moist, reduces evaporation, insulates the soil from the hot sun, suppresses weeds, reduces erosion and provides nutrition when it decomposes. Don’t put landscape fabric or anything under the mulch as it defeats its purpose. Landscape fabric doesn’t stop weeds, and inhibits the soil food web from functioning. Keep mulch a few inches from tree trunks and avoid smothering plants. Click here for more information on how to apply mulch, its benefits and the many options.

---

Smart Watering

Use timers to make watering easier.

Water in the morning so plants are hydrated throughout the day.

Avoid rock mulches & landscape fabric.

Multiple soaker hoses are better than one.

Take the hassle out of watering the garden by installing an timer on an outdoor faucet. Attach a garden hose with the sprinkler on the end. Set the timer according to current water restrictions for an hour on each zone. Irrigation timers are available at Canadian Tire and where garden products are sold. Be mindful when using drip irrigation and soaker hoses as the emit very little water. Use a trowel to dig down to make sure plants are receiving an adequate amount. For more watering tips and water saving techniques go to Drought Gardening and Watering Tips & Techniques.

---

Turn Brown Thumbs Green

The flare of a tree trunk must be above the ground.

Planted too high and ditch the tree guard.

Planted too deeply & burlap not cut back.

Remove this tight stake - ouch!

This tree is planted too deeply.

How to Plant: One of the reasons why plants die is because of incorrect planting. Insect infestations, disease and branches dying back are common symptoms of roots that are situated too high, too low and tightly bound. Plant trees too deeply is the biggest mistake people make. Trees should sit so their trunk flare is above the ground. Place shrubs so their crown, where the roots and stems meet, are at ground level. Water the ground a day before planting, especially if it’s dry. Here’s more tips on Planting Know How, How to Plant A Tree Video

---

Un-potting Tips & Post Planting Care  

Gently loosen roots.

Cut tightly bound roots.

Don't rely on drip systems.

Hand water new plants.

Shade plants that wilt in the hot sun.

Be careful when un-potting.

Removing Plants from Pots: Place your hand over the top of the pot with your fingers straddling the plant. Turn it upside down and remove the pot with the other hand. If it doesn’t budge, keep the plant upside down and tap the pot rim on the edge of a hard surface. For large pots, lay the plant on its side and press down on the sides of the pot. Carefully slide the plant out gently loosen the roots but keep the rootball intact. If roots are too tightly bound, use a knife to cut the sides and bottom of the root ball. Plant and water immediately. If plants wilt in the sun despite being well watered, use an umbrella etc., to shade them.
Post Planting: Don’t rely on rainfall, soaker hoses, sprinklers and drip lines to water plants after planting. Watering by hand is the most efficient and effective method. Water the plant as well as the surrounding soil. Irrigate every other day until new growth appears. Reduce watering to once or twice a week depending on the weather and your soil. If in doubt, use a trowel to check to see how far the soil is wet.

---

---

Grow Your Own Food

A bountiful October harvest.

Place veggie gardens close to a faucet.

Tomatoes need at least 6 hours of sun a day.

Beets don't form bulbs in shade.

Kale tolerates some shade.

Save yourself money and grow some veggies. You don't need a garden as many veggies do well in planters. Growing veggies is a learning experience but there’s nothing more rewarding than eating food you’ve grown yourself. Here’s some tips:

• For convenience, locate your vegetable patch near an outdoor faucet and the kitchen if possible.
• The garden must receive at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. Without adequate sunlight, cabbages and cauliflowers don’t form heads, radishes and beets don’t form bulbs. Tomatoes and peppers have few if any fruit ripening is delayed, however foliage is plentiful, and they’re more prone to diseases. Veggies that tolerate less sunlight are chard, spinach, kale, arugula, lettuce and other leafy crops.
• Prepare the soil by removing all weeds and debris. Mix in at least 2” of compost or SeaSoil. Water thoroughly then wait up to a week for the soil to settle before planting.
• Water the ground and the plants before planting, especially if it's dry.
• Sow beets, carrots, radishes, parsnips and other root crops in the ground, as well as peas and beans.
  
• For a regional planting charts click on West Coast Seeds. For more on sowing seeds select Growing Seeds Indoors and Growing Seeds Outdoors

---

Bugging Out

Start seeds indoors so they are safe from predators.

Cutworms

Wrap newspaper around stems.

Protect seedling with diatomaceous earth & toothpicks.

• To prevent seedlings from being eaten by slugs and cutworms, begin them indoors under lights: melons, cucumbers, squashes, pumpkins, sunflowers & nasturtiums. Read seed packets for options.
• To prevent cutworms from severing garden seedlings, wrap their stems with a strip of paper or stick toothpick beside it. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the soil and a little on the seedling. Reapply the diatomaceous earth after rain or watering. 
  

Planning the Vegetable Garden

Grow crops vertically.

Plant tall veg on the north side.

Companion planting works.

Rotate crops.

• Save space and grow cucumbers and other vining veggies on trellises. Fruit ripens faster and are less likely to be eaten by slugs and succumb to diseases. To support heavy fruit, wrap fruit in pantyhose and secure to the trellis. To learn how to make an inexpensive trellis click here.
  
• Place tall crops and plants grown on trellises on the north side of the beds.
• Plant different crops together to deter pests and diseases with companion planting.
• Avoid planting the same crop in the same place as last year with crop rotation.
• Grow a succession of veggies to increase yields and prolong harvests with crop succession. For more on companion planting, crop rotation and succession planting click here.
• Add Lime: Mix in Dolopril lime to the soil where cabbage, broccoli and other brassicas will be planted, but don’t lime potato beds to prevent potato scab.

---

Raised Beds 

Reduce the width of wall beds to allow access.

Four foot wide raised beds allow access from both sides.

Metal beds are not a desirable option.

Purchase hardware or raised bed kits.

Raised beds are easy to maintain, easier on the back, the soil warms faster in the spring, and they are simpler to organize than garden beds. Four foot wide beds allow access from both sides. They should be no shorter than 4’ in length with a depth of 18” to 2”. Reduce the width of beds against a wall to 2.5’ to 3’. Avoid metal raised beds as they get too hot in the sun and too cold when the temperature dips. Use cedar, bricks or cement blocks. To make raised beds out of wood, use corner brackets to attach the panels together. There are many kits available in hardware stores, garden centres and online. Avoid using pressure treated wood when growing edibles. It's preferable to place raised beds on top of the ground, not concrete or another hard surface to aid in drainage. Also avoid placing landscape fabric or rocks at the bottom to increase soil fertility and to allow water to drain.

---

How to Plant Tomatoes

Tomatoes need at least 6 hours of direct sun per day.

Buried tomato stems form healthy roots.

Give tomato plants lots of space and sturdy support.

Red Tomato Craters reserve water, suppress weeds, & stops cutworms.

Tomatoes need at least 6 hours of sun a day. In southern climates, avoid south and west exposures. Rotate your crops to prevent insects, diseases and malnutrition. Plant them where tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers have not previously been grown for the past few years. Mix in a couple of inches of compost, bonemeal before planting. Remove the lowest leaves then bury the bare stem up to the remaining leaves. Lay long spindly stems on their sides 3 to 4 inches deep. Give plants room to grow, place them 2 to 3 feet apart. Surround each plant with a sturdy cage to support the plant and fruit. Water well every other day until new growth emerges. Mulch the ground with straw, torn newspaper, cardboard. Support plants as they grow, and remove the lower leaves and suckers. For more information on tomatoes click on: Tomato Tips - The Life of Tomato Seedlings - ​Taming Tomatoes - Speeding up Tomato Harvest - Tomato Troubles - Saving Tomato Seeds -  Potting Tomato Seedling video 

---

Spuds, Strawbs, Rhubarb & Asparagus

Plant potatoes in trenches.

Grow slug-less strawberries in planters.

Remove rhubarb flowers.

Harvest asparagus after 3 years.

Sock it to aphids on artichokes.

Sow corn in blocks of 4 or 5 rows.

• Potatoes: Select seed potatoes as they are certified disease free. Plant in trenches and cover them with more soil as they grow to increase yields and prevents them from turning green.
• Strawberries: To help newly planted plants become established and be more productive, cut off the runners and the first set of flowers. Mulch strawberry beds with straw, leaves, or another organic mulch. Protect fruit from slugs and snails and/or grow them in containers.
• ​Rhubarb: Harvest stems three years after planting. Remove flowers as soon as they appear. Harvest stalks by pulling rather than cutting them off. The leaves are toxic so don’t eat or compost them.
• Asparagus: Wait for three years after planting to harvest young spears. Mix in compost annually at the base of each plant every spring. 
• Artichokes: To protect artichoke flowers from aphids, cover the young buds with pantyhose.

---

May Lawn Care

Organic or slow release fertilizer.

Avoid sod grown on netting.

Sometimes the benefits of sod out way the cost.

A grass seed & fertilizer mix.

Seed or sod bare patches.

Control & prevent moss.

Don't cut the grass to short.

Feed the lawn with a slow release or organic, high nitrogen fertilizer, with a high first number: 8-5-3. The first number should not exceed 20 to prevent excessive lush growth at the expense of the roots, promotes brown patch disease and increases mowing.
Follow the fertilizer instructions and don’t over apply. Install new lawns and renovate existing ones as soon as possible before summer arrives. Unfortunately, due to the water restrictions in Metro Vancouver, watering the lawn is prohibited this year. For regions without water restriction, put out the sprinklers and set the timer for an hour. It's the minimum amount of water a lawn needs.
Lawn Grubs: Mow the lawn to the height of 2.5” as the adults can’t reach the ground to lay their eggs. Longer grass has longer roots for a healthier lawn. 
Mossy Lawns: Moss grows in acidic soil with a pH of 5.0 to 5.5, however lawns prefer a pH of 6.0 to 6.8. To raise the pH to benefit the lawn, apply Dolopril or dolomite lime to raise the pH then follow up with a moss killer, either a liquid or granular form of ferrous sulphate. Apply according to the directions. All About Soil pH 
For more on lawn care click on Lawn Basics - Lawn Maintenance Schedule - Moss in Lawns - Spring Lawn Care - Lawn Grub Control

---

---

Nix The Lawn!

A private front garden.

Replace lawns easily. Click on pic.

Japanese spurge for shade. Click on pic.

A shade garden.

Violets for sun & shade.

A converted front lawn.

Use sheet mulching/lasagna gardening to convert the lawn into a garden without having to rip out the lawn. Plant ground covers, or wildflowers to create a meadow. Make a functional garden with raised beds for veggies, install a patio or a seating area. For more ideas click on Lawn Alternatives. 

---

What to Prune in May

Don't touch or prune wet plants.

Cut off broken branches.

Don't prune spireas & other summer bloomers.

Remove suckers.

Prune off dead branches.

There’s no need to cut plants back if they are looking good. It’s also not recommended to cut back plants in the spring once they have leafed out. The best time to prune plants is immediately after flowering. When pruning, only remove ¼ of overall growth. Avoid cutting wet plants as it spreads diseases and tools become slippery. Feed and water plants after pruning to help them bounce back. Don’t forget to inspect trees & shrubs for nesting birds before pruning. How to Prune - Pruning Tools -  Prune Your Garden Registration - Pruning Roses - Pruning Clematis

---

Chelsea Chop Your Perennials

Stop plants from flopping over with the Chelsea Chop.

Cut the tops off perennials.

Cut stems just above a leaf.

The end result is a bushier and more floriferous plant.

To prevent asters, veronicas, autumn joy sedums, campanulas, yarrow, phlox, bellflower, penstemon &  other tall, top heavy or weak stemmed perennials from falling over, give them the Chelsea Chop. This pruning method makes plants more compact so they don’t collapse. Perform either one of these 2 simple techniques in mid to late May, no later. Method 1: Cut back all stems by ½ to 1/3rd directly above a leaf. This creates more stems, therefore more flowers on shorter plants. To extend flowering use Method 2.  Cut back only half of the stems; the other half remains uncut.

Cut off spent snow-in-summer flowers so they don't reseed.

Remove seed heads from bulbs.

Stake plants before it's too late.

Feel free to be inventive with peony cages.

A ping pong ball on top of a stake protects eyes.

Dead head heathers just below the flowers.

Deadhead: Cut off the dead flowers from rock cress (Arabis), yellow alyssum (Alyssum saxatile), perennial candytuft (Iberis sempervirens), snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum), winter heathers and other ground covers. This keeps plants compact and some may reflower. It also prevent agressive plants from self sowing. Don’t forget to remove seed heads from tulips, daffodils and other spring bulbs.
Stake & Cage: Don’t delay staking and caging plants that need the extra support: delphiniums, phlox, cone flowers, Michaelmas daisies, peonies and other tall, top-heavy plants.

---

---

Bug Wars

Prevent leaf minor on leafy crops.

Cloches protect crops without chemicals.

Floating row covers are effective.

Capture wireworms with potatoes.

Bt is an organic caterpillar control.

Don’t be despondent when a few leaves and flowers have been nibbled on, it’s only when plants are losing the battle that you should step in. Keep in mind that when you kill plant eating insects, beneficial insects also die. It’s all about a matter of balance and killing bugs upsets that balance. Insects love to feast on weak plants, so make sure plants are receiving what they need. Hunt for slugs and nocturnal plant eaters at night with a flashlight. Pop them in and a cup of salty water to drop them in as you go. Use cloches and floating row covers to protect broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and leafy crops from cabbage butterfly, leaf miner, carrot rust fly and other insect pests. 
Bug Traps: Place pheromone traps in apple trees to decrease codling moth populations. 
Caterpillars, cutworms: Use the organic product Bacillus thuringiensis. It's a bacteria that only kills caterpillars. Don’t use near butterfly gardens. 
Wireworms: To capture these orange shiny worms that eat plant roots, pierce pieces of raw potato with a toothpick and bury them an inch deep so the toothpick stands upright. Check daily and discard wireworms (and any slugs) in soapy water.
For more click on Plant Pests 1 - Plant Pests Part 2 - Controlling Insects - Bug Barriers 

---

Bedding Plant Tips & Techniques

One plant per pot is not cost efficient.

Plant are less expensive in cell packs.

Plant bedding plants in blocks.

Plant annuals in groups like this brilliant red salvia.

Get the most for your money by purchasing petunias, impatiens and other bedding plants in cell packs, not individual pots. Avoid ones in full flower or that have finished flowering so they will be in their prime in your garden, not the store. Deadhead annuals to prolong their life as they decline once they set seeds. Read plant labels to select the right annual. Partial shade gardens receive a few hours in the afternoon or morning. Areas that receive 6 hours of sun a day are considered full sun.
For a pleasing display place bedding plants closer together than recommended. Plant in groups of odd numbers and avoid single line displays. Avoid mixing different types of plants and colours together. Use three colours at most and plant 
numerous rows of the same plant placed alternately to each other. 

---

Pretty Planters 

Thriller, filler & spiller.

Group similar looking planters together.

A shade planter with ferns, ivy and impatiens.

Tasty curly dwarf kale, pink petunias, yellow Calibrachoa & a Portuguese laurel tree

Save money and plant your own planters. Use a container with drainage holes and do not cover them with rocks or anything else as it inhibits drainage – honest. Use a good potting soil, not garden soil and mix in a slow release fertilizer. Place a drainage tray under the pot to act as a water reservoir to reduce watering and to protect surfaces. Be creative with plant selection. Combine veggies, fruits, perennials, small shrubs, even trees as well as petunias and other bedding plants that like the same conditions.
For effective designs use the 'thriller, filler and spiller' method. Plant a tall plant, 'the thriller', in the middle or the back. Surround the filler with smaller, bushier plants. Around the rim of the pot, plant 'spillers' so they will trail over the pot rim. Water thoroughly and place in a shaded, protected location for a few days until they recover, then place them in their permanent location.
Containers with existing plants: Remove an inch or two of soil from the top of the pot and replace with some compost or SeaSoil and a slow release fertilizer. Repot any that are potbound into a larger planter or cut off ¼ from the rootball and replace into the existing container. Add petunias and other annuals to add some flowers and colour. For more click on Container Growing & Choosing a Container.

---

Houseplants & Tropical Plants

Repot houseplants that have outgrown their pots.

An oleander stays outside during the summer.

Freshen last year's planters with compost.

Repot ones that have outgrown their pots into larger containers. Typical signs are daily watering, top heavy plants that fall over, yellow leaves, weak growth and roots growing out of the drainage holes. To repot into the same container, cut off about a ¼ from the entire root ball with a sharp knife. After repotting, place in a bright location out of direct sunlight for a few days. For plants that don’t need to be repotted, just mix in some compost or slow release fertilizer on top of the soil. Once plants have recovered, either place them back indoors or harden them off before placing them outside for their summer vacation.

---

Roses in May

Knock Out roses are easy to grow.

Secure climbing as they grow.

A happy Gertrude Jekyll rose.

Ants love to nest in dry rose beds.

When buying new roses, select ones that are resistant to black spot. Do your research and read plant labels. Plant new roses immediately where they will receive at least 6 hours of sunlight and there’s at least two feet of space around them. Improve existing soil with at least a few inches of compost, SeaSoil or an inch of well composted, cow or sheep manure, with a handful of bone meal. Plant hybrid teas and other grafted roses so the graft sits just above soil level. Water thoroughly and apply 3 inches of mulch around the plant on top of the soil.  Roses need deep watering once to two times per week depending on the weather. Prune all dead canes, spindly growth and ones that grow towards the plant’s centre. Roses -  Types of Roses - Easy Roses - Climbing Roses - Portland's Rose Test Garden - Rose Insects & Diseases - Pruning Roses - Rose Sawfly - Rose Bloom Balling

---

Birdies, Hummers & Pollinators

Provide birds with fresh water.

Inspect & clean bird feeders.

Make hummingbird nectar with white sugar only.

Provide pollinators with water.

The large leek blossoms attract many pollinators.

Provide a haven for butterflies, bees and birds by enticing them to your garden with food and water. Keep feeders clean to prevent the spread of disease. Disinfect hummingbird feeders before refilling with nectar made of one part bleach to nine parts water. Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry before refilling. Refill disinfected hummingbird feeders nectar made with ¼ cup white sugar to 1 cup of boiled water that has cooled. Use only white sugar and don’t use red dye. Make watering stations for birds and insects by placing pebbles or marbles in a shallow dish and filling them with water. To help bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects, allow kale, lettuce, broccoli, carrots and radish to flower. Collect the resulting seeds as a bonus.
For more on click on Helping Pollinators.

---

---

THE GARDEN WEBSITE INDEX

---

Click on the links below to be redirected.

​About, Services &​ Contact ​         ​

• Learn How to Garden Introduction 

How to Garden Topics 

• Planting Know How
• Soil Building
• Cover Crops
• Composting
• Compost Tea
• Watering Tips & Techniques
• ​Drought Gardening
• Sheet Mulching/Lasagna Gardening
• Planting Spring Flowering Bulbs
• Houseplant Winter Care

Growing Food Introduction

• Crop Succession, Crop Rotation, Companion Planting
• Spring Veggie Gardening
• Harvesting
• Growing Potatoes
• Winter Vegetable Gardening
• Taming Tomatoes
• Speeding Up Tomato Harvest
• Tomato Tips
• Tomato Troubles

Container Growing 101

• Choosing a Container

Monthly Flower Arrangements
Growing Roses Introduction 

• Types of Roses
• Climbing Roses
• Rose Insects & Diseases
• Pruning Roses
• Easy Roses
• Portland's Rose Test Garden
• Rose Sawfly
• Rose Bloom Balling

Pruning Basics 101

• Pruning Tools
• Winter Pruning
• Pruning Grapes
• Pruning Clematis
• Prune Your Own Garden Registration

Mulching & Types Introduction

• Living Mulches – Ground covers​

Garden Tour Blogs

Feeding Plants 101

• Fertilizers & Ratios
• Nutritional Deficiencies & Toxicities
• Organic Plant Food

Propagation Introduction

• Growing Seed Outdoors
• Growing Seed Indoors
• Taking Cuttings
• Saving Tomato Seeds
• Seed & Plant Catalogues

Plants of the Month

• Colourful Fall Plants 

Lawns

• ​Lawn Reno, Seed, Sod
• Lawn Maintenance Schedule
• Spring Lawn Care
• ​Mossy Lawns
• Lawn Alternatives

Lawn Grub Controls

for the tropical Gardener

While working in Florida as horticultural consultant, it became apparent that there was a need for a book on tropical shrubs. There are so many wonderful shrubs to choose from, so I wrote a reference book to make the selections easier. Ornamental Tropical Shrubs includes pictures in full colour and information about the plants in point form. So if you live in the tropics and subtropics and need a reference book on tropical shrubs, or you just want to have a look-see click here. 

---

---

Love plants, love to garden. ​
​Amanda's Garden Company
The Garden Website ​

---

Copyright 2017 The Garden Website.com, Amanda's Garden Consulting Company - All Rights Reserved