Pesticides

The quotations in this blog are from the text book Environmental Chemistry (3rd ed.) by Colin Baird and Michael Cann, published in 2005 by W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.

Irises

Everyone says that Iris flowers are easy to grow.  There are about 270 species of irises out there, with many varieties of those. 

Weeding, the Good the Bad and the Invasives

One of the first landscapers I worked for in Victoria taught me well about weeding.  (Little did he know that he was preaching to the converted.)  "Get the weeds out BY THE ROOT" was the message.  I guess he didn't want to return to those same weeds a week later!  Anyway, that message turned out to be a great starting point for teaching kids gardening too, as it leads to learning about roots, stems and leaves, and how to plant a plant.  That is, if you can get past the slightly philosophical question of "What is a weed?"

Deer

Deer in Victoria pretty much decide what we can grow successfully.   Unless we have areas the deer cannot access, they will eat almost all our favourite plants, like roses, tulips and lettuce, usually just as it is growing new leaves or flower buds.

A fine plastic mesh, used coffee grounds, meat meal / meat meal mixed with water in a jar, or anti-deer spray may help deter deer from individual plants.

Here is a list of plants I've noticed they tend to leave alone.  The list might differ depending on where you live.

Grow Some Produce!

Here in Victoria, our climate allows us to grow yummy food year round.  However, it is easy to get carried away in spring, when looking at seed packets.  In order to focus and maintain your energy through the summer, just grow things that you love to eat and do well in your garden. 

You don't need a dedicated veggie plot.  By planting food plants among the ornamentals, or the other way round, you can attract more pollinators to your food plants, enhance a beautiful, interesting display, and make the most of your sunny garden space.

If deer or racoons are a problem, consider securely netting, or better fencing the crop.  Meat meal and anti-deer sprays work to an extent, for deer.  Of course, you must not spray on veggies you're going to consume.

This photo shows my garden in the summer.  You can see the grass clipping mulch, deer proof flowers (Lychnis, calendula and poppies), as well as potatoes.  The potatoes leaves start getting munched by the deer once they come into flower.  Nevertheless underground they still produce some lovely sized tubers!