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The Natural Gardener
Garden Store Ltd.
4376 West 10th Ave.
Vancouver, BC V6R 2H7
Tel: 604-224-2207
Fax: 604-224-2216
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Articles

::: A Checklist of Things To Do in the November Garden
November is an excellent month to get those last minute garden duties finished. It may be wet but it is still not to cold yet. So, here is a list of things to do that will help you get those garden chores out of the way. [read more...]

::: Poinsettia Care in the Home
Poinsettia, the Christmas plant, is popular in many Canadian homes. With the introduction of long-lasting cultivars, the popularity of the poinsettia has increased significantly. Poinsettia's were introduced to North America in 1825 by Joel Robert Poinsett, first U. S. ambassador to Mexico who obtained plants from the wilds of southern Mexico. The common name for the poinsettia, came from his last name. Botanically, the plant is known as Euphorbia pulcherrima. [read more...]

::: Fall Clean-up
Fall clean up is a very important part of the yearly gardening cycle. By cleaning up the garden you are doing more than just making it look tidier, you are helping to reduce disease and pest problems for next years garden. [read more...]

::: Fall Planting of Trees, Shrubs and Perennials
The fall is one of the best times to plant trees, shrubs and perennials. The soil is still warm from the summer so when you plant your tree, shrub or perennial it's roots grow quickly and get well established before the cold sets in. In addition all that fall rain helps to keep the plant well watered reducing transplant shock. The result of planting in the fall is bigger, healthier and more floriferous plants next spring. It's almost like you planted them a full year ago. [read more...]

::: Planting Perennials
Good soil preparation is extremely important for perennials, since they may be in place for many years. Deeply spade the beds to a depth of eight to 10 inches. Amend clay soils by mixing in at least 2 inches of pine bark humus, compost, leaf mould or small pea gravel to improve drainage and aeration. Improve water retention in sandy soils by mixing in 2 to 3 inches of pine bark humus, composted leaf mould or peat moss. Good soil drainage is critical to the success of most perennials. You can use raised beds can be used to ensure adequate drainage. [read more...]

::: A Checklist of Things To Do in the December Garden
You can still plant or transplant your perennials, deciduous trees and shrubs as long as the ground isn't frozen or too wet. [read more...]

::: January To Do List
This is definitely the quietest time of the year for gardeners. However, there are still a few things you can do... [read more...]

::: Fall Planting
It's not just time to plant bulbs, it's also a great time to be planting or moving your perennials, trees, shrubs and vines. The soil is nice and warm still and there is more rain now so when you plant or transplant your favourite perennial, tree, shrub or vine it has time to get its roots really well established. What this means for you the gardener is that next spring your fall planted plants will look and act like they had been planted the previous spring. You will have great growth and flowering that puts a smile on any gardeners face. [read more...]

::: Growing Aloe Plants
Because Aloe plants consist of 95% water, they are extremely frost tender. They can be grown outdoors in warm climates, but in our experience they should NOT be planted in full sun. [read more...]

::: Pruning your Clematis
"To prune or not to prune," is the most often asked question. It should be noted that incorrect pruning will never bring an early death to the clematis. [read more...]

::: Hedges
Hedges are important structures in the garden for a variety of reasons: they create privacy, screen sensitive plants from winds, offer a solid backdrop for an herbaceous border, and they can block out eyesores or, alternately, create dramatic view corridors. [read more...]

::: Growing Jade Plants
Potting up a Jade Plant isn't any different from potting up any other plant - although I have found that it becomes obvious that the plant needs a larger pot when growth seems to stop or slow right down. [read more...]

::: Planting and Growing Bulbs
Bulbs are some of the easiest plants to grow, and they produce some of the most vibrant and showiest flowers. [read more...]

::: Pleione Formosana
Pleione's originate in the Himalayas and the mountainous regions of China. The most important thing to remember about them is that they require excellent drainage. [read more...]

::: Caring for Sarracenia - North American Pitcher Plants
Sunlight: Pick a location that gets five or more hours a day of direct sun. Indoor growing under lights is usually difficult and Sarracenia prefer strong sun. [read more...]

::: Caring for the Venus's Flytrap - Dionaea muscipula
This amazing plant is native to a small region in the Carolinas. Insects are trapped and digested by the plant to obtain nutrients; they are carnivorous plants. [read more...]

::: Growing Winter Heather
It's time to be thinking about your winter garden! What can you use that will provide colour and interest during the cloudy dark days of winter? [read more...]