Got a shady area?

Why not plant a Wildflower Garden?

Wildflowers may be the perfect answer to a shady problem on your lot. They thrive on conditions that defeat many other types of flowers. And you may be surprised to find that many of the perennial plants available through garden centers are actually "tame" wildflowers, nearly identical to their cousins growing in natural areas. Columbine, Jacob's ladder, Creeping or blue Phlox, Bleeding Heart and Solomon's seal are just a few examples. You'll find they blend beautifully in a shady setting along with woodland favourites like Jack-in-the-pulpit, Foam flower, Trout lily and a wide range of ferns.

Don't be tempted to rush out, spade in hand, and dig plants out of the wilds, though. (Besides being illegal in many areas, it's unfriendly to wild plants and the environment).

Many nurseries and garden centers have special wildflower sections, and they can advise you on which plants will naturalize well in you garden conditions.

When choosing and preparing a site for your wildflower garden, keep in mind the kind of natural habitat these plants prefer: moist, humus-rich soil in an area that has lightly dappled shade in the springtime when they're flowering, and more shade cover in late spring and summer to keep the habitat from drying out. Like most other plants, wildflowers will not survive in a very dark, compacted area.

Spend some tine preparing a good deep bed with plenty of compost and mulch mixed in, then plant in an informal pattern - wildflowers look best in groups as they would appear in the wild.

Your new garden will fill out faster, bloom more abundantly and withstand stress better if you feed it regularly with a fertilizer like Canagro Naturalizing Wildflower & Herb Garden Food, available at your Vigoro dealer. This top quality organic blend contains all the nutrients needed by wildflowers for healthy growth. And don't forget water, so the soil doesn't dry out too deeply.

Given the right growing environment, wildflowers soon spread ... and you'll be rewarded with bright splashes of colour, crisp white blooms and cool, rich greens to enjoy for years to come.

How to keep wildlife from turning your new garden into a salad bar.

It's not surprising that animals, birds and insects are attracted to the garden environment with all it has to offer. And many gardeners enjoy the increased level of wildlife activity a new garden brings. But how do you keep these creatures from dining out too heavily on your flowers and foliage?

Many perennials are naturally resistant to insects and animals: Due to their taste or poisonous nature, wildlife will avoid them. Here are some examples:

Resistant to deer & other animals:

Astilbe, bleeding heart, columbine, daffodil, foxglove, iris, periwinkle, lavender, lungwort, sunflower

Resistant to insects:

Marigolds

Other controls:

There are some quite effective "natural" animal repellents on the market that are worth trying. (Some gardeners sprinkle blood meal around to deter deer. While we can't vouch for it's effectiveness as a repellent, it will at least improve soil fertility).

Try insecticidal soap for insects. As a general rule, use more organic controls first ... then more powerful insecticides if necessary.

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