Category: Article
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Pruning lacecap hydrangeas
How do I prune lace cap hydrangeas and will they come back after hard prune? How you prune your lace-cap hydrangea depends on what you would like to achieve and the state of your plant. It is important to remember that lace-caps bloom on the previous year’s growth, so keep this in mind when pruning…
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Poor garlic harvest
My garlic was great with large bulbs last year. This year the harvest is very small. Why? There are various issues that can cause reduced size in garlic bulbs. Garlic (Allium sativum) is a plant that needs plenty of fertiliser and is best grown with no nearby competition from other plants including weeds. Garlic does…
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Heather dies in one place not in another
My Heather plants have died in one area of garden but are fine in other areas. Why might this be? One of the main considerations for growing healthy heathers is soil type. Most need an acidic (ericaceous) soil with a pH of 6.5 or less although some will tolerate a slightly more neutral soil environment.…
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Prune California Lilac
How to prune California Lilac (Ceanothus)? Evergreen ceanothus (California Lilac) is a reliable and popular shrub for gardens on South Vancouver Island, particularly the cultivar ‘Victoria’ which produces abundant blue flower clusters. It doesn’t require pruning but may be pruned to maintain shape, keep a compact size, or form a hedge. If pruning the evergreen…
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Lemons in Victoria
How do I grow lemons in Victoria? Lemon (and lime) trees may be grown in the coastal region of southwest B.C. A growing location with 6 or more hours of full sun per day and protection from wind is best. If growing trees in the ground, locate against a south or southwest facing wall with…
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MGABC AGM Documents
The MGABC holds its AGM annually in late September/early October. All members are encouraged to attend the Virtual event and read the Agenda, previous year’s Minutes and Consolidated Chapter Reports. Original PDF Link Original PDF Link Original PDF Link Original PDF Link Original PDF Link
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Gardening Perspectives: Now & What’s to Come
by Mary Trainer, Master Gardener-in-Training with the Okanagan Master Gardeners Sitting down to talk with seasoned and successful gardeners can be enlightening and thought-provoking. Such was the case when I met in August with Ken and Margaret Hayter, owners of Linden Gardens in Kaleden, see below for more details. We lunched in a shady nook…
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Flowers during the Heat of Summer
Most trees have blossomed by now, though a handful more blossom each month, mostly because they are ornamentals and come from somewhere else. And some shrubs are still in bloom. Mostly though, I was looking at herbaceous plants growing from tubers, bulb-like corms, and perennial roots; some are considered noxious invasive plants, according to the…
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Ingredients for Container Growing
What kinds of ingredients should be considered when preparing for ornamental plants in a container? Please provide any hacks you may have for container gardening. We all like some cheer at our front doors or on our patios. There are some simple do’s and don’ts when planting up containers. When planting up a container, of…