Gardening

June 25 2020

The Perfect Plant For Your Summer Garden

Chris O'Donohue Gardening, Plants Best summer plants North Vancouver, Colorful summer flowers, Drought tolerant plants Vancouver, Garden design inspiration, Low maintenance garden plants, Plant care tips for hot weather, Seasonal gardening tips, Summer landscaping ideas

Choose Rudbeckias for a long bloom period in the late summer garden

There are plenty of plants in bloom during the summer season but few can outperform the robust tenacity of Rudbeckia. This North American native plant from the Asteraceae family has been domesticated from wild stock and bred to produce some of the brightest yellow, burgundy and now red flowers available in summer blooming perennials. Rudbeckia is also known as the coneflower or black-eyed Susan. It is also know as the gloriosa daisy or yellow ox-eye daisy, likely due to the appearance of the daisy-like flowers. Rudbeckia hirta hybrids are tough herbaceous biennials or short lived perennials and many cultivated varieties of this species are grown as annuals and tossed into the compost in the fall. Most ornamental Rudbeckia species grown in our region bloom from mid-summer until frost. The native North American Rudbeckia species can be found growing in open rangeland, farmland, along roadsides, in fields and at forest edges. Most Rudbeckias species grow well in average soil and in dry locations. Pampering these plants will only lead to powdery mildew problems and lush floppy growth that requires staking. I have seen a few Rudbeckias growing in semi-shaded gardens, but generally, they perform better with fewer problems when grown in full, hot sunshine.

Older Rudbeckia varieties were chronically prone to powdery mildew, especially when grown too close together, in shade or on lush soils with poor air drainage. However, modern breeding of new tetraploid seed strains has produced new cultivars that are less prone to mildew. When choosing a location to plant Rudbeckias choose an area that receives seven or eight hours a day of direct sunlight, that has average to good and free draining soil, preferably deep soil even if it is poor quality. Most importantly, choose a location that has good air drainage to help control foliar diseases. Chemical fertilization of these tough prairie plants is not required, but they do benefit from surface applied compost or manure. As with all perennials, deadheading will help extend the blooming season.

One of the newest annual varieties to come onto the market is the British Rudbeckia x hirta ‘Cherry Brandy’, bred by Thompson & Morgan. Their breeders have produced the first-ever red Rudbeckia, from seed. Rudbeckia Cherry Brandy is a robust plant, producing a mass of attractive cherry-colored blooms all summer long. The plants are resistant to heat, drought and poor soils. Flowers average 3-4 inches in width and the plants reach 60 centimetres in height. Cherry Brandy Rudbeckia may be worth a try in my garden next year, but for now I am sticking to the perennial varieties like R. Indian Summer, an All-American selection and Rudbeckia Goldstrum, a good-old standby that blooms its head off from July until first frost.

Chris O’Donohue is a Red Seal Journeyman Horticulturist, President and Founder of The Great Canadian Landscaping Company.
For a personalized quote, tailored to your needs, book a free on-site consultation with one of our specialists by calling 604.924.5296.

October 19 2019

6 Fall Lawn Care Tips

Chris O'Donohue Gardening, Landscaping, Lawn Care, Tips & Tricks Autumn grass fertilization, Fall gardening and landscaping, Fall lawn care tips, Leaf removal services Vancouver, Overseeding and aeration tips, Preparing lawn for winter, Residential lawn care North Shore, Seasonal yard maintenance North Vancouver

What YOU Need to Know:

Number 1 – Keep Mowing!

Continue to water and mow your lawn, as needed, throughout the fall. Then as the season draws to a close, drop the mower’s blade to its lowest setting for the last two cuttings of the year. That will allow more sunlight to reach the crown of the grass and there will be less leaves to turn brown during the winter. IMPORTANT: Remember to never trim off more than one third of the grass blades at any one time. If necessary, gradually lower the cutting height until the time of the final two cuttings.

Number 2 – Aerate the Soil

Let oxygen, water and fertilizer have a hope of reaching your lawn’s roots by aerating in the fall. A gas-powered walk-behind aerator can be rented, or if you don’t feel like doing it yourself, it can easily be hired out.

Number 3 – Rake the Leaves

We know that this job stinks, but it’s important to remove fallen leaves from your lawn as soon as possible. If you wait until all the leaves have fallen to begin your raking duties, you’ll have a thick, impenetrable mat of leaves that have been soaked by rain and morning dew, and the lawn will suffocate underneath from lack of oxygen. Let’s not even talk about fungal breeding. Gross, eh? Alternative: a lawnmower with a vacuum and/or a bagging system. With this method, it’s still important to remove the leaves as early as possible to avoid suffocating your lawn.

Number 4 – Fertilize

Many lawn experts would agree that this is the most important fertilization of the season. While the grass blades have slowed in growth as the weather has cooled, the roots and rhizomes (the horizontal stems that grow beneath the ground’s surface) continue to grow at a feverish rate. A fall application of fertilizer delivers essential nutrients for the grass to grow deep roots now and to keep nutrients on reserve for a healthy start next spring. In mid-to-late fall, apply a dry lawn fertilizer to all grassy areas. Be careful not to miss any spots!

Number 5 – Fill in Bald Spots

The quickest, easiest way to do this is with an all-in-one lawn repair mixture. Sold at most garden shops and home centers, this ready-to-use mixture contains grass seed, a special quick-starter lawn fertilizer and organic mulch. Use a garden rake to scratch loose the soil at the bald spot in your lawn. Then spread a thick layer of the lawn repair mixture over the area (Turf Soil / Seed Mix). Lightly compact the mixture, then water thoroughly and continue to water every other day for two weeks, unless mother nature is providing 10+ mm’s a day.

Number 6 – Weed Control

If broadleaf weeds like dandelions have taken over your lawn, now’s the time to fight back. Weeds, like most plants, are in the energy-absorbing mode during the fall. There are many organic weed controls that can be applied during the fall. They’re drinking in everything that comes their way, even weed killers.

June 25 2018

In the Community Projects

Chris O'Donohue Gardening, In the Community Community engagement projects, Community landscaping projects North Vancouver, Great Canadian Landscaping community work, Landscaping company giving back, Local business community involvement, Local charity support Vancouver, North Shore neighborhood improvement, Volunteer landscaping initiatives

We value the natural beauty of this city in which we work, play and live. This is why we greatly recognize the importance of supporting our local community in every aspect. We continually strive to participate in as many community projects and events as possible. It is our goal to preserve and enhance our community’s environment and aesthetic every day.

Recent Projects

Sutherland Schoolyard Market Garden

Our hard working team is very proud to have volunteered the equipment and the expertise required to help build the Schoolyard Market Garden at Sutherland Secondary. The North Shore Neighbourhood House’s Edible Garden Project is developing the Schoolyard Market as an innovative outdoor classroom in order to revitalize under-used school lands.

Teachers and students will use the garden as a classroom, and the community will be invited in to volunteer and learn. This market garden is intended to sell thousands of pounds of fresh produce, demonstrate organic farming practices, create green-collar jobs on the North Shore, and provide an engaging outdoor classroom for students and teachers.

Bee Friendly Garden in Edgemont Village

The Great Canadian Landscaping Company Ltd. partnered with the District of North Vancouver to design and build a bee friendly garden in Edgemont Village, North Vancouver. The garden can be found south of Ridgewood Drive and Capilano Road (near Capilano Suspension Bridge Park)

Heather Pelz, Landscape Designer with The Great Canadian Landscaping Comany designed the garden with drought resistant and bee-attracting plants that beautify the area as well as provide critical habitat for native bees.

The Great Canadian Landscaping Company Ltd. would like to thank all of the community partners involved in the project, including the District of North Vancouver, Maple Leaf Garden Centre, Bee Friendly, Native Bee Conservation Society, Adopt-a-Street, Headwater Management, Little Pickers and the Edgemont Business Association.

St. Catherine’s Preschool

The Great Canadian Landscaping Company Ltd. volunteered to revamp St. Catherine’s Church Playground. We donated a large amount of mulch and the equipment required to get the job done. A huge thank you to the Dads’ who moved 10 yards of engineered playground mulch from the truck to the kids playground for St. Catherine’s Childcare Society in just 45 minutes!

November 25 2015

How to Create a Lush, Jungle-Style Haven

Chris O'Donohue Gardening, Tips & Tricks Exotic foliage & texture garden, Jungle-style garden design, Layered planting & canopy design, Low-maintenance jungle garden ideas, Lush backyard planting, Outdoor oasis design North Shore, Shade-loving tropical plants Vancouver, Tropical landscaping North Vancouver

We are excited that Houzz chose to feature us in their editorial!

Garden Design: How to Create a Lush, Jungle-style Haven

For more information on our services or to request a free quote, please email [email protected] or call our office at (604) 924-5296.

June 10 2015

European Chafer Beetle Epidemic Hits the North Shore

Chris O'Donohue Gardening, In the Community, Maintenance Beneficial nematodes treatment, Chafer beetle control North Vancouver, European chafer beetle North Shore, Lawn grub damage Vancouver, Lawn pest management tips, Raccoon and skunk lawn damage, Turf repair and restoration, West Vancouver lawn care advice

Don’t Let the Chafer Beetle Wreck Your Lawn: Find Out The Benefits of Artificial Grass!

The Great Canadian Landscaping Company is proud to install Bella Turf artificial grass to defend your lawn against the destructive Chafer Beetle!
What’s the greatest benefit of artificial grass? The animals aren’t tearing it up and making a mess!

Did you know that there are millions of European Chafer larvae waiting patiently underneath your lawn that emerge every July? Luckily, we have crows, racoons and other animals eating a good amount of them before they are able to mature into reproducing beetles. Unfortunately, this is creating an epidemic for thousands of lawns across the Greater Vancouver area, causing them to be torn up and destroyed right from the roots.

Although you may see the animals that are destroying your lawn as the greatest offender in this epidemic, they are actually helping slow down and prevent the Chafer Beetle infestation. Once fully matured, a female European Chafer beetle can lay anywhere from 20 – 60 eggs. This is why the Chafer Beetle has quickly become an invasive species creating substantial damage to local properties.

The European Chafer Beetle, how it all started and why it is now becoming an epidemic.

The North American infestation occurred in the early 1940’s when it was brought in from Europe. This infestation didn’t affect the Vancouver area until much later in 2001, when it was shipped from the east in gardening supplies that had eggs unknowingly embedded within it. These eggs were able to bypass inspection due to the size of the eggs and the difficulty in spotting them in comparison to larvae that has further developed.

Once these eggs had successfully infiltrated the soil, they began to spread throughout New Westminster, beginning the infestation. This invasive species has grown exponentially each year causing damages due to a variety of reasons including the aforementioned 20 – 60 eggs mature beetles lay yearly.

With only a 1-year life cycle, the European Chafer Beetle eggs are laid a few inches below the grass following the mating period in June and July. These eggs take only 2 weeks to hatch, in which time they start feeding and cause the grass to turn yellow.

The newly born Chafer grubs feed until around November, after which they move deeper into the ground, rising again in March and May for feeding. In early June the grubs migrate deeper into the ground to pupate and by late June the beetles rise to the surface to begin their mating process.

Guaranteeing a Chafer Free Lawn
Don’t let your lawn fall victim to the onslaught of the European Chafer Beetles

If your lawn is struggling to survive the chafer beetle season, it might be time to consider some ways of eliminating this issue once and for all. Although there are many band-aids on the market to reduce the European Chafer Beetle’s population, there is only one method with a proven 100% success rate that will guarantee your lawn survives the season.

All of Bella Turf’s artificial grasses come with a European Chafer Beetle Free Guarantee. They require no chemicals or seasonal planning to prevent a Chafer beetle infestation; in fact, they require practically no maintenance at all!

If your lawn has been damaged due to the chafer beetle, don’t take the same risk again next year – contact The Great Canadian Landscaping for a free estimate on installing your own lawn that is 100% GUARANTEED green 365 days of the year.

Bella Turf comes in variety of textures and colours to suit any budget. On our supplier website there are installation videos and examples of beautiful lawns and putting greens.

Artificial Grass has come a long way in recent years, with developments in color and texture. Most people won’t even realize it is artificial grass. You will be the only one that will know you have an artificial lawn. There is no need to water, no fertilizers required and no mowing. *Bella Turf is also great for shady areas where turf has a hard time growing and for high sun areas where grass tends to brown out from lack of water.

Not only do you save money in the long term, but you will save water and eliminate unnecessary fertilizers and pesticides, which is better for the environment.

Interested? Book an estimate now by emailing [email protected] or call 604.359.2359 today!