Depending on what weeds you need to get rid of, I may know a closer supply than Manitoba. Cough.
Anyone into gardening here?
- Thread starter shanekingsley
- Start date
My next door neighbour did his small patch of lawn in his back yard with astro turf. Some night I'm going to plant a plastic dandelion in it.
If I got rid of all my weeds I'd have mostly dirt. A total re-sod is $2K. Lawn care dollars aren't the end of the world so needs a rethink. Do I do restore over a couple of years, learning as I go to prevent another weed takeover or blow $2K every decade or???
I'm not after the Good Garden Award but planting more garden needs the permission of the park warden who must be obeyed. First world problem, feeding your lawn.
Funny enough, we have not had a single nibble on any plants in our gardens, we started smaller as we thought it all would get eaten but even the lettuce has grown huge with no signs of animals or even bugs.. I'll consider myself lucky this year. Next year we're moving to a fenced in portion on my property and doing all raised garden beds it'll be easier for my MIL to tend to them as she is the main gardener around here..Was just coming to ask for options other than fencing.
Pops planted 12 tomato plants
Lost 4 so far
Lost 1 zucchini and 2 cucumber plants
Tempted to just catch it and bbq it up.
May have to install a camera on a wooden
I have that ultra sonic sound thing from Home Depot that's supposed to keep critters away.
Doesn't seem to be working.
Funny thing is, when my oldest is in the backyard they always complain about the high pitched noise they hear.
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Mad Mike
Well-known member
Goats in the City Inc.
goatsinthecity.ca
sburns
Well-known member
Hey when you get a chance please post pic's of the winter cactus! Thx
jdmsteR
Well-known member
It's a selective herbicide so I should be able to plant grass seed a few weeks after. Early fall is a good time time for this
Sorry for the delay..
It's got a few more buds today. Looking really healthy too.
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sburns
Well-known member
All good, thanks for this, I've got a perfect spot for that. Now to check out my Crappy Tire to see if they have them.Sorry for the delay..
It's got a few more buds today. Looking really healthy too.
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After starting seeds in egg cartons, I transfer the plants into styrofoam cups, then into the ground. This guy couldn't find a good home, so I just left it in the cup.
A month ago, it flowered....one flower.
Then a tiny tomato happened. I've never watered it, rain only.
Today.....it's ripe.....lol.
A month ago, it flowered....one flower.
Then a tiny tomato happened. I've never watered it, rain only.
Today.....it's ripe.....lol.
Audrey?
Bump to the top. It's that season, sorta.
I would love to do a total remake of the grounds but don't know where to start, other than convincing the Mrs.
We have to much lawn but it's a pain to maintain. A couple of thousand square feet of lawn looks good if it's pristine. Then one dandelion screws it up. If you have a ton of flowers, the dandelion gets lost in the crowd. Add some slow growing shrubs and ground cover and you're good to go.
The budget is the issue. When you're used to doing the irrational stuff, mowing and shoving things in the ground indiscriminately it tends to look like a weed patch with makeup but it's cheap. You get what you pay for.
Where does one start and are there pricing guidelines for plans.
I'd be looking for nice, not Home & Garden awards.
Suggestions?
I would love to do a total remake of the grounds but don't know where to start, other than convincing the Mrs.
We have to much lawn but it's a pain to maintain. A couple of thousand square feet of lawn looks good if it's pristine. Then one dandelion screws it up. If you have a ton of flowers, the dandelion gets lost in the crowd. Add some slow growing shrubs and ground cover and you're good to go.
The budget is the issue. When you're used to doing the irrational stuff, mowing and shoving things in the ground indiscriminately it tends to look like a weed patch with makeup but it's cheap. You get what you pay for.
Where does one start and are there pricing guidelines for plans.
I'd be looking for nice, not Home & Garden awards.
Suggestions?
Mulch is cheaper than plants. Less is more. I would plant in bunches with space between them. Over time, everything reverts to filled in with chaos.
I know that Mississauga had a program in place where they would have young landscape designers (maybe as trainees; interns or apprentices) provide a free consultation to homeowners at their homes, and give advice on converting their lawns over to drought tolerant gardens. I’m not sure if Toronto offers any similar type of programs to give you an initial idea of what can be possible.
Some quick ideas:
Add in a couple smaller native or naturalized trees that produce flowers or berries and attract wildlife, like serviceberries, redbuds, dogwoods and so on.
If you are looking for low maintenance, then shrubs and ornamental grasses are a good start. Splash in a bit of low maintenance colour for sunny areas with echinacea, black eyed Susan’s and other plants that can spread a bit and attract pollinators or birds to the yard. Shady areas might be suitable for hostas, ferns, coral bells and so on. If using natives, there are lots of great plants for all types of soil and site conditions.
I like planting in groups of odd numbers and staggering or offsetting the plant layouts.
Always think about the mature size of the plant when putting young ones in.
If using ground covers or any other plant, make sure they are not invasive or very aggressive spreaders.
Know that raised beds can be physically easy to maintain than in-ground beds, but are more expensive to build and limit expansion down the road.
Agree with using mulch to help retain moisture and limit weed growth, but expect to top it up every few years.
The Toronto Master Gardeners would also be a good resource to connect with since they offer free hort advice at pop up clinics and used to offer free 15min design consults at shows like Canada Blooms. I used to be a part of the Etobicoke Master Gardeners for about 10 years and gave a ton of free advice at special events. If you use their time, come prepared with photos of the space and some sketches of your yard layout so that you make best use of their time.
Local hort societies might also offer value for budding designers to practice with.
There might even be free design plans available online if you use the right search words (i.e. 2000sqft low maintenance garden design Ontario).
Relax
Well-known member
Got a link or any other info on this program? Couldn't find anything on the Mississauga site.
Only program that’s related to the yard I’m aware of is free tree giveaway every year.
This seems to be it. Not sure if the designers are free anymore, but worth looking into for some guidance and structure for those with no idea what they are doing:
Fusion Landscaping® - peelregion.ca
Dirty Frank
Well-known member
Try contacting the parks department worse case they could probably steer you in the right direction.
maybe this ? Blooming Boulevards
