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• Once you've decided on an
approach and have a list of
potential suppliers, narrow it
down by looking at samples of
their work. Viewing gardens
similar to your own project are
your best guide to choosing horti-
cultural experts whose work you'll
enjoy for many yem- —
For further information .on a
variety of consumer issues contact
the ministry's General Inquiry Unit
at (416) 326-8555 in the Toronto
area or at toll free 1-800-268-1142.
Special visual equipment for use by
the hearing and speech impaired is
available at (416) 326-8566.
-
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PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1996
Helpful tips to get you digging in this spring
After a winter that brought blue-
cold snow and blasting winds
beginning in November, most
people can't wait to get out and
enjoy the warmer temperatures and
the gardens of spring. They want to
see their flowers, lawns and trees
grow better than ever to help erase
the memory of months of frost
Whether you plan to celebrate
the season by planting a few
posies on the balcony, or with a
major overhaul of your
backyard, some tips from the
Ministry of Consumer and
Commercial Relations can help.
Some home gardeners get
started in early spring by
planting their flowers and
vegetables from seed, which is
the least expensive way to go.
However, it's also time
consuming, takes up a lot of
indoor space and novices may
find the results vary. For these
reasons, and for the instant
impact in their gardens, most
people buy bedding plants from
commercial growers.
"Commercial growers choose
plant varieties that are proven to
help people succeed with their
gardens," says Marilyn Gurevsky, a
manager with the ministry's
Consumer Affairs Branch. "And as
well as professional advice, many
nurseries offer guarantees with their
plants, so check before you buy."
Anyone who is uncertain about a
nursery's reputation may wish to
contact Landscape Ontario, a
horticultural organization with
members including garden centres,
landscape contractors, growers,
maintenance firms and lawn-care
companies.
This organization, which works
with government on such issues as
pesticide controls and plant
importation, offers advice to
consumers through a series of
brochures available at most major
garden centres.
Landscape Ontario also- offers a
mediation service to help
consumers resolve disputes with
members. The office may be
reached by calling (905) 875-1805.
No matter how hearty the plants
may be, Gurevsky says protection
against loss means planning a
garden that's well suited to the
growing area. She lists the follow-
ing as important points to consider.
• What is the nature of your
soil? An expert can suggest plants
that will respond well to its
content.
• Where was the snow deepest in
winter? Delicate perennial
flowers and shrubs should not be
planted where they'll be exposed
to heavy snowfall.
• How much sunlight do the
plants need? In some cases it is
possible to shelter small, delicate
flowers from too much sun or
wind by placing them next to
bigger, stronger varieties.
Landscaping experts say
consumers waste a lot of money by
Whether you plan to celebrate g by
planting a few posies on the balcony, or with a
major overhaul of the backyard, some tips from
the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial
Relations can help your garden grow.
not thinking of long-term savings
in the planning stage. For example,
a small sloped area planted with
grass will require seed, fertilizer,
weeding and regular watering to
keep it attractive. Digging a garden
in the same location and planting
some low junipers could be more
expensive in the short run, but save
a lot of money over the years.
When it comes to get the lawn in
shape for summer, some people
rely on a spreader, seed and fertili-
zer from the local garden centre.
Others find they don't have time to
do the work themselves and hire
professionals.
When consumers find a company
they're happy with they may tend to
rehire the same firm year after year.
This happens so often some lawn-
spray companies use what are
known as negative option contracts.
"Negative option contracts are
legal, but they aren't for everyone,"
says Gurevsky. "If you're the type
of person who reads the mail
carefully, you'll see the notice that
comes, saying if you don't fill it
out and return it your lawn will be
sprayed as usual — and you'll be
responsible for the bill."
But, Gurevsky advises, if you're
the type of person who has trouble
remembering whether you paid the
phone bill last month, negative
option contracts probably aren't for
you.
You're likely to only see a send-
back-if-you-don't-want-service slip
from the lawn-care company once a
year. A change in your income or
financial obligations could make it
difficult to honour your agreement.
sprin
You may also prefer to take the
time to compare services and prices
each spring. Even if you've dealt
with the same company for years, a
change in management, staff or
products could influence your
desire to look for a new firm.
If a major project is on your
spring agenda you may be
looking for another type of
horticultural professional, a
landscape architect. While these
highly trained specialists
generally deal with compli-
cated projects, such as parks,
zoos and municipal buildings
some enjoy residential work.
The Ontario Association of
Landscape Architects will
provide a directory of member
firms, free of charge, by calling
(416) 231-4181.
Regardless of which sort of
professional you may choose
for your project, you must make
four basic decisions: -
• Do yo wish to hire someone
for design only?
• Would you prefer a
horticultural expert to provide
both plants and planning services?
• How actively involved with the
project do you want to become?
Some people want to complete a
large garden quickly and choose
to have the contractor do all the
work. Most prefer to tackle a
series of smaller projects them-
selves and finish them over a
period of time. This saves money
and gives you a sense of accom-