MKR Blog

Celebrate the long, rich history of women in agriculture and learn about how women of today are champions of positive change and advancement in one of the oldest fields on the planet.

Fertilization of trees is one of the most important practices in an effective grounds maintenance program. Trees need to be fertilized when there is little or no annual growth or twig elongation, when leaves are either poor in colour or undersized, or when increased amounts of dead wood is evident in the tree canopy.

The following steps appear logical in developing a creative solution to any landscape design. Obviously, there is no guarantee that following them will automatically produce successful results. However, soundness of judgment in making the analysis combined with sensitivity developed through perception, experience, and well-tuned intuitive skills will help the designer arrive at solutions that are aesthetically pleasing, that are easy to maintain, that function well, and that economically satisfy the needs of the client.

In a healthy woodlot, the nutrient cycle is balanced and stable for the most part. Through the decomposition of leaves, organic material is naturally returned to the soil- for the benefit of the plant- on an ongoing basis. Conversely, in an urban environment, this natural cycle of nutrient availability is dramatically disrupted due to the collection and disposal of leaves. As a result, in the fall, there is a continuous loss of nutrients from the soil.

During a recent conversation with Forestry Consultant Paul Robertson, he indicated that one of the major insect problems on the horizon is the Pine Shoot Beetle. This insect was discovered near Cleveland, Ohio in 1992 and has since spread to five other states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania), and to 23 counties in southern Ontario and two locations in Quebec.

During my recent trips to Europe as well as visits to various gardens throughout North America, I have watched with interest the resurgence of the use of Cannas in the contemporary landscape. Originally, this old fashioned Victorian bedding plant was used primarily in geometrically designed gardens.

Banff National Park is truly one of the great national parks of Canada, if not one of the great national parks of the world. Originally established in 1873, this park in excess of 2500 square miles is located along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains about 2 hours west of Calgary, Alberta.

Ten years ago when planning our perennial border, we assumed as I'm sure many novice gardeners do, that upon completion of the planting it was simply a matter of sitting back and enjoying the view! After the first year it was apparent that the greatest challenge in gardening with perennials is to achieve constant and vibrant colours throughout the growing seasons.

During the past several months, I have listened carefully and read with interest the process that the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is taking to develop a street tree inventory. Discussion on this subject has centred on the actual need for an inventory, how the rights of individual citizens may be compromised in the process that has been identified, the solicitation of volunteers to assist in an analysis of regionally rare and significant trees, and numerous other factors involved in the development of a street tree inventory.

Your lawn requires cultivation to help improve soil conditions, just as your vegetable garden and flowerbeds do. One of the most effective ways to accomplish this is through soil aeration.

Direct cabling, also called cable bracing, is oftentimes done on valuable ornamental trees that have a sharp V-shaped or split crotch. When properly installed, a direct cabling system can add years to the life of a valuable specimen tree, like the one shown in the accompanying photo. Direct cabling is the most basic of all installations. More complete installations are essentially multiples of the single unit.

It's heartwarming to read that a garden built by a Russian prince and his bride has been saved from a developer's bulldozer. The Abkhazi Garden, a 1.4-acre site that overlooks the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains, is internationally famous for its splendid collection of rhododendrons.