The Citizen, 2008-05-08, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2008.
(MS) - Lift up your garden yields,
your flower views and your
gardening skills by adding raised
beds to your landscape this spring.
The soil in raised beds drains
better, warms up sooner in the spring
and cools down later in the winter.
By designing raised beds less than
four feet wide, the gardener won't
have to step into the planting bed
and risk compaction of the soil.
Raised beds can also be used to
add curb appeal to front yard
designs. From free form planting
berms that solve drainage problems
to more formal designs edged with
bricks, raising the bed can raise the
value of your real estate.
Getting to the root of success with
raised beds is all about the soil.
Organic matter such as compost and
peat moss is the great equalizer that
will improve all soil types from
sticky clay to loose sand. Start by
plotting out the shape and size of a
raised bed then add the organic
matter to mix into the original soil,
adding instant height to the soil
level.
The trick is getting enough soil
and organic matter to fill up the
space. Compost and Canadian
sphagnum peat moss are both ideal
soil amendments to mix with your
existing soil and raise the level. Just
spread two to four inches of
Canadian sphagnum peat moss with
or without compost onto the site of
the raised bed. Dig it in to the top
eight to 10 inches, and your bed will
be raised and ready to plant.
Peat moss has the ability to absorb
and hold water like a sponge. It also
aerates the soil and helps support the
beneficial micro-organisms that
make organic gardens so healthy and
productive.
Brick, stone and landscape
timbers are the most common
materials for edging and containing
soil that is six to 24 inches above
ground level. Designs can even
incorporate a ledge wide enough for
the gardener to sit upon when
weeding or planting.
Beds raised less than six inches
may not even need a border or
edging but will still reap all the
raised bed advantages.
So raise your beds, improve your
soil and enjoy your garden more this
summer. A more productive garden
is within your reach - and just a few
inches from ground level.
The Canadian peat industry is
committed to making peat moss a
sustainable resource. Only one acre
in every 6,000 is harvested and when
harvesting stops, the bogs are
restored to functioning peatlands.
For more information on peat and
the environment, visit the Canadian
Sphagnum Peat Moss Association's
website at www.peatmoss.com.
Nyjer seed a finch favourite
Raise your harvest with raised bed gardens
Continued from page 15
in oil, and nutritious, giving birds
the energy they need. Plus, black oil
sunflower seed shells are thin, which
makes them easy for all types of
birds to open.
Some plants will not flower
around the cast-off shells of the
black oil sunflower seeds, and the
discarded shells can get messy, so if
budget permits, you may want to get
the seed already hulled. Since hulled
seed is more expensive, be sure to
safeguard against squirrels when
feeding.
2. Nyjer seed: These black seeds
from Africa and India, sometimes
known as thistle, are a favourite for
a variety of finches. Fill up a feeder
with small feeding holes, especially
for nyjer seed, and watch the finches
arrive.
3. Cracked corn: Cracked corn
will attract birds you may not see in
your yard all the time, including
game birds, like pheasants and wild
turkey. Place the cracked corn on flat
platforms or on the ground. Other
animals are attracted to the corn, so
expect them to drop by, too.
4. Striped sunflower seed: The
shell of striped sunflower seed is
thicker and harder to open than the
black oil sunflower seed, so it’s not
as popular among birds. Still, blue
jays, woodpeckers and other
determined birds will appreciate the
seed.
5. Suet: Suet is not a seed, but an
important food nonetheless. It’s
basically a cake of animal fat,
sometimes mixed with berries, seed
or peanut butter. The suet will
provide birds with ample nutrition,
and can be used to supplement diets
year-round. Suet is placed in special
wire feeders that will hold the food.
Get growing
TA well-prepared, peat-based soil is the key to maintaining
healthy, vibrant plants in a raised bed. (Photo submitted)
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