• Ask Mark
    • Search the Library
    • Mark’s Blog
    • eNewsletter / Subscribe
    • Books
    • Links
  • Cullen’s Foods
  • Trees For Life
  • Events
    • Gardening Communities
  • About Mark
    • Mark and Ben’s Bio
    • Book Mark as a Speaker
    • Mark in the Media
    • Contact Us
March 16, 2016

Garden Sickness: The Last Installment – New Gardens

 

Welcome back to this three part miniseries. We’ve introduced the concept of “garden sickness” and I’ve given you some ways to keep your well-established gardens happy while you’re away.

Now, I’m going to help you plan your new gardens with your future travelling plans in mind.

The new garden is a fresh canvas and, really, you can create almost anything you want. If you’re a frequent summer traveller, though, you will want to be mindful of the following.

  1. The Sun

Before you start on a plant-buying binge, use your drawing to mark the sun’s path across the sky. This will help you understand what locations around your house will receive what kind of sun. Morning sun is soft; afternoon sun is strong. Afternoon sun will require the use of drought-tolerant plants and ones that can handle 6+ hours of sun a day. For gardens that get morning sun only, the level of drought tolerance is not as critical.

  1. Your Soil

The soil in which your plants will grow can be extremely helpful where water conservation is concerned.

  1. Sandy soils have a hard time holding onto water. The particles are large and don’t fit together well resulting in large spaces (relatively speaking) between each particle. Water easily flows from the surface downwards and away from plant roots.
  2. Clay soils are both rich in nutrients and moisture. They can, however, become compacted and difficult to penetrate if they are allowed to dry out for an extensive period of time.
  3. Loam soils are a mixture of sand, clay, and silt (the smallest of the particle sizes we typically talk about in the gardening world). A sandy loam will have a slightly higher percentage of sand whereas a clay loam will have a slightly higher percentage of clay. Loam soils hold water well, are easy for navigate through (if you’re a root), and are easy to work with (if you’re a gardener).
  1. Plant Choices

When making plant choices, you always want to consider the first two items mentioned above: soil and sun. You can’t change these factors easily so it’s best to just work with them.

When making plant choices for a garden that can be left alone for weeks at a time, you want to look for words such as drought-tolerant or drought-resistant. You may also see plant tags with pictogram-style watering information: one, two, or three water droplets. Go for the ones and twos.

Next week I’ll get into specific plants that are good for your holiday garden to help you make some decisions come shopping time.

← Previous post
Garden Sickness Part Deux: The Well-Established Garden

Next post →
Pruning Hydrangeas

Search

Recent Posts

  • Signs of Spring March 27, 2021
  • Around the Acres This Week February 2, 2021
  • Around the Acres This Week January 11, 2021
  • Around the Acres This Week December 9, 2020

Mark’s Blog by Month

Ask Mark

  • eNewsletter
  • Radio/Podcast
  • Magazine article
  • Newspaper column
  • TV

Recent Tweets

Mark CullenFollow

Best selling Canadian gardening author as seen on TV, radio, online and print.

Mark Cullen
16 Oct

Tune into @1059TheRegion to hear Ben talk fall colors today with Ann Rohmer or listen online at http://1059theregion.com/ and look for THE FEED

Reply on Twitter 1449275767133773824Retweet on Twitter 14492757671337738241Like on Twitter 14492757671337738244
8 Oct

Thank you so much to @globalnewsto for having @MarkCullen4 on the "Making a Difference" segment this week. Take a look at the broadcast here: https://globalnews.ca/video/8248858/national-charity-committed-to-inspiring-tree-planting-initiatives-across-canada

Reply on Twitter 1446542309101867034Retweet on Twitter 14465423091018670342Like on Twitter 14465423091018670343
29 Jun

Bird watching isn't just a hobby, it’s an opportunity to help. Gardening expert Mark Cullen explains.

https://nexthome.ca/news/bird-watching-isnt-just-a-hobby-its-an-opportunity-to-help/1284617/

@MarkCullen4

#garden #flowers #gardens #gardenlife #nature #gardenlove #birdwatching #birding #wildlife #birdlovers #birdlife #naturelovers #birdlover

Reply on Twitter 1409878268090716161Retweet on Twitter 14098782680907161615Like on Twitter 140987826809071616117
18 Jun 2021

Written by @MarkCullen4 for @TorontoStar, check out the top eight picks for planting in hot spots.

#LandscapeOntario #GreenforLife #GardeningTips #GardeningTrends #TorontoGardens #SouthernOntarioGardening

https://www.thestar.com/life/homes/2021/06/15/these-8-plants-are-heat-loving-sun-worshippers.html

Reply on Twitter 1405955991699701762Retweet on Twitter 14059559916997017622Like on Twitter 140595599169970176210

Comments are closed.

About Mark and Ben


Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author & broadcaster and holds the Order of Canada. His son Ben is a fourth-generation urban gardener and graduate of Guelph and Dalhousie University.
More

Find Mark On

Sponsored Links

Highway of Heroes cullensfoods Share Agriculture Foundation Harrowsmith
© Mark Cullen. Go to top ↑