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Orono Weekly Times - 7 Wednesday, April 13, 2005 No One Cares for Your Property Like. mr.trim lawn & garden services ° Spring & Fall Cleanup • Grass Cutting* Weed Control Fertilizing • Insect Control Shrub Pruning • Lawn Aeration Lawn Rolling • Dethatching Landscape Design & Installation Eavestrough Cleaning 905-263-2772 J.J. LARACY 905-983-9012 905-260-3560 Landscape Services & Contracting -ft I Mg CLEAN"^ . Brush Clearing, Firewood SrKI' f/tiAl • Interlocking Walkways, Patios, Repairs CptCIfl 1 • Natural Stone Steps, Retaining Walls • Trees Trimmed, Planted, Removed • Water Proofing, Concrete Work • Barn Foundation Repairs TRICKLANDS Perennial Farm Opening &w 7th céjiow&w op ^MMwials' East of Hwy. 57 - West of Liberty St. - North of Taunton (We're in the middle) 5467 Middle Road, Bowmanville open 7 days a week Snooks Landscape & Design Ltd. Peter Snook • 905-448-9184 Spring (lean up - Senior's Special Ovt 7 ; i l • I I I I 7 ' ! FREE ESTIMATES Ponds • Waterfalls • Interlock Walkways • Shrub Beds Tree Cutting • Shrubs & Trees Trimmed Fencing • Mini Backhoe Bloom Field Farm Garden Centre & Farm Market Open Daily 8am - 8pm April through December 3745 Highway #2, Newcastle, Ontario (2nd farm east ol the rail track) www.bloomfieldfarm.ca Tel: 905-987-5664 Fax: 905-987-3828 bloomf ieldfarm @ sympatico.ca °Penin April 23. VT Drop in and see our huge selection ** of Annuals, Perennials, Herbs, Hanging baskets 3454 Taunton Road, Orono and more. 905-983-9877 we wavs to a quickj ,, , MUSS and beautiful gai (NO)--Gardens can create an oasis of tranquility for your family, or even serve as an educational springboard - opening minds to the world's natural natural wonders. It's easy and fun to create create a beautiful garden. Here are some tips from The Home Depot Canada, to ensure that your garden blooms and smells of success: 1. IT ALL STARTS WITH GOOD SOIL Getting and keeping good soil is one of the most important factors in creating creating a beautiful garden. "Plants generally generally like soil that is rich in organic matter and that doesn't drain too quickly," says John Mansz, gardening expert for The Home Depot Canada. "Adding organic matter loosens up the soil, promotes good drainage and improves the ability of the soil to deliver nutrients to the roots," says Mansz: While peat moss is often used as a soil conditioner, its large scale use destroys peat bogs that are important sites for wildlife and help protect the earth from global warming. warming. Alternative soil conditioning such as PeatEliminator is all natural and environmentally responsible. It absorbs and retains more water than peat and has excellent aeration and drainage properties. (Available at leading garden centres.) 2. RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT PLACE How much sun your garden receives determines which plants you can grow successfully. "Take note of the light conditions in your garden and choose plants that will be happy with what you have to offer," says Mansz. At your local garden centre, be sure to check the plant tags for cultural requirements. coleus, fuchsia, impa||i| v lobelia. "In sunny locatioWie • •illiiifr.il. JL cleome, cosmos, gazama,;pc --i -- w j|j omv4b« and and portulaca Mansz 4. WATER WISELY 111! ' Mill '• , 'it:;!;!; ill! ill, ijihjjji»" .jiiii***" 3. INSTANT COLOUR For instant colour you can't go wrong with annuals that bloom non-stop from spring to frost. Some stars of the shade garden are browallia, Water when needed, usually when the soil is dry. "Avoid frequent shallow waterings that encourage roots to stay near the surface instead of reaching deep into the soil for moisture," moisture," says Mansz. "Plants that have deep roots are better able to withstand withstand periods of drought." A water- retaining supplement like SoilSponge which can be added to your Soil can increase the days between waterings. This natural product acts like thousands thousands of mini sponges, absorbing water and releasing it as the plants need it. 5. FEED THEM AND WEED THEM Good food is necessary for plants to grow strong and beautiful. Start them off to a good start with transplant fertilizer fertilizer at planting time. Subsequently, apply an all purpose fertilizer every two weeks for optimum performance. To have a beautiful garden and get a good return on your investment in terms of both time and money, you have to eliminate the weeds. "Mulch is a gardener's best friend and is by far your best defense against weeds," says Mansz. Once your garden garden is planted, spread mulch between your plants. Mulch also helps to hold moisture in the soil by slowing down evaporation. You can use wood chips, cocoa beans, pine needles and many other natural products. products. For more information on how to create create a beautiful garden, visit any of the advertisers you see listed on this page. - News Canada g ird Interlocking Brick, Flagstone Rockery, Water Features, Retaining Walls Pruning, Tree & Shrub Planting SldPeddwna cell/905-213-8999 m./905-983-9403 To Advertise Cell the Orono Times 005-083-5301