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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-04-24, Page 59Dest. a. anH.easy-care Perhaps the greatest contribution to the easy -care garden is made by the plants you select. Some are susceptible to insects and diseases: others are prone to storm damage. Selecting plants that are relatively mainten- ance-freeis the name of the game, Leaf raking can be kept to a mimimum by using fine -leaved trees, such -as the honey locust and Russian olive, or evergreens that shed only a `small portion of needles yearly. Avoid'the coarser, fast-growing trees, such as poplars and willows. They are disease - prone, and shed leaves or branches after every major storm. ' By Pat Tucker Grounds Department University of Guelph Most of us would like a beautiful garden that requires little upkeep. Vast expanses..of pavement and lawn are, no doubt, the easiest to care for, however, they would appear monotonous. You could rb-landscape the lot back to native bush - a low -maintenance solution in the long run - but the initial costs would be high. Somewhere between these extremes, there is a happy medium, where the landscape has appeal, but`is relatively easy to maintain. There are many ways to achieve this goal. First, examine the areas that require the greatest care, usually the lawn fits this category. If your garden has trees, rocks and flower beds set in the lawn, trimming and edging will be as great a chore as straight mowing. Keep these garden features around the perimeter of the lawn or in the foundation planting around the house. Avoid locating objects in lawn areas if they will require hand clipping to control grass growth around them. Arrange shrubs, trees, "and perennials in larger beds with gentle curves. The curves are easier to negotiate with a lawn mower than Sharp corners, so common with poor design. You .may wish. to _install rnowin& strips, where lawns abut walls or row gardens. These strips are set into soil at grade level. The mower wheels run along the strip, -and cut to the lawn ,edge. The strips may be 2 x 4 -inch lumber, concrete curbs, bricks, pavement, or metal edging backed by gravel. Much has been written about ground covers as a means of reducing maintenance, however, initial costs can be high, and establishment difficult. Beds of perennials, shrubs, evergreens, and trees can be combined into larger beds, to reduce lawn trimming. Ground covers may be used to integrate these plantings into a composite landscape pattern. Ground covers may include low -growing woody plants, evergreens, and herbaceous perennials. Skogholm cotoneaster, Andorra juniper and sweet woodruff are examples of each type, respectively. Many Ontario wild flowers are easy to establish as ground covers in shady areas. Try such plants as wild ginger, mayapple, and ferns, to control weeds, conserve moisture, and prevent erosion. Drastic changes in grade' present large maintenance problems. Grass, ..traditionally used for banks, is difficult to cut. It often dries out, and becomes weedy. Consider retaining walls to correct grade differences, or if the area is extensive, plant one of the coarse - growing legumes, such as crown vetch, bird's -foot trefoil or flat pea, into the bank. Eventually, these nitrogen -fixing plants crowd out grasses and other weeds to form a maintenance -free bank. Beware, these plants are coarse growers, and should not be used for small residential plantings. On a smaller scale, use some of the low -spreading junipers or cotoneasters. Where trees are well established in lawns, remove the sod in a circle around the tree, and mulch the area. Not only does this make mowing easier; it reduces the competition of grass growing over tree roots. Mulches can be used as a substitute for ground covers, to control erosion, reduce weeds, and conserve moisture. Whether they are of vegetative or mineral origin, they perform essentially the same function. The only difference between the two types is that organic mulches break down eventually, and must' be replaced. Wood chips, pine bark, and cocoa bean hulls, are examples of organic mulches. Stone chips and plastic are popular inorganic mulch materials. Plastic has its limitations because it tends to seal off oxygen and water to plant roots. Its use is limited to mulch vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucum- bers, and melons. Stone chips are useful for areas where moisture is minimal, such as under eavestroughs. Over the past 20 years, the nursery industry has selected cultivars of evergreens, trees, and shrubs, ft�at are more disease resistant, and slowefOrowing. These newer cultivars do not require as much care and pruning as,,their predecessors. For example, the compact pfitzer juniper replaces pfitzer junipers, and the old gold juniper will replace the golden pfitzer. Not only do these plants mature more slowly, but they are tailored for the modern house lot. Hobby gardeners tend to grow some of the more spectacular landscape plants. Specialist types of plants, such as roses, rhododen- drons.; irises and alpines, require specialized care, which is not for the easy -care gardener. Substitute ,care -free shrubs, Such as dog - ''ods, honeysuckles, hydrangeas. and. the beauty bush, to fia in perimeter plantings. In sunny locations, use Day lilies, rud- beckles, and yarrows to provide bright summer color. These. perennials are easy to care for, and persist year after year. Sub -alpines, such as basket -of -gold, rock cress, and baby's breath, are care -free perennials that are ideal for rockeries or dry wall plantings. DON'T GET SPR1TZED! GET SMARF! NOW... 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