Although I love snow and winter, I find that it can be a bit disheartening at times when I think of all the gardening that I am missing out on.  I can’t get out and plant, I can’t enjoy big blooms full of color.  I am stuck in a world covered in white and like the creatures of Narnia, I wait for the Ice Queen to be vanquished from the world so Spring can greet me.

Now that I have waxed poetic about how I miss Spring, I should mention that there are some wonderful elements that you can add to a winter and all it takes is a little bit of water and a touch of light.

What I am talking about, actually, are lighted pathways made with ice candle holders.  These candle holders can be placed on patios, stairways leading up to a front door or even lining a pathway through your garden. It can add an enchanted feel to a winter’s garden and is something that I love to do with candles and ice.  And I’m going to share with you, exactly how to make an ice candle holder.

What you will need:

• Water
• A large bucket
• A medium sized bucket
• large rocks
• duct tape
• candle

Directions:

1. Clean out the buckets so that you will be left with nice clear ice when you are finished.  You can actually use a variety of containers but the only thing you should keep in mind is that one should fit in the middle of the larger container so there is a space for your candle to rest.
2. Once the large container is cleaned, fill it with cold water until it is about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way full.
3. If you want to provide some decorations to the ice, you can place plants and flowers in the water or you can leave them free of any decoration for a clean, almost glass like finish.
4. After the water and decorations are in the water, carefully insert the smaller container into the water and press down until it is flush with the top.  The key is to have a space between the bottom and sides of the larger container and the bottom and sides of the smaller container.
5. Place the rocks into the bottom of the smaller container until the container no longer pops up in the water.
6. Tape the edges of the smaller container to the top of the larger container so that it stays in the middle of the water.
7. At this point, you should be able to freeze the water.  It is important that there is no water in the smaller container and only the larger container has water.  Freeze the container in the freezer or if your climate allows, place it outside overnight.
8. Depending on the size of the container, it can take one night or several nights for the water to freeze completely.  Once it does, set the large container in a bucket of hot water (or garbage can of hot water if it is too large) for a few minutes.
9. Carefully tip the ice candle holder from the large container.
10. Pour hot water into the smaller container and allow it to sit for a few moments before you slide the smaller container from out of the ice candle holder.

At this point, you should have an ice sculpture/candle holder that has a space for a candle, size depends on the size of a container that you used.  Insert a candle into the space once inhabited by the smaller container, set outside along your pathway and light in the evening for a beautiful winter garden.

Sirena Van Schaik

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• Remove any debris, leaves and diseased foliage from your lawn and garden.

• Continue to mow your lawn at a height of around 2.5 inches as long as it is actively growing.

• Overseed and aerate your lawn. The cool and wet conditions of fall make it the perfect time to overseed your lawn with a pure premium grass seed for a thicker lawn that will crowd out weeds in spring.

• Repair any damaged spots now, while temperatures are cool and there’s more rainfall and heavier dew. Try a product like Scotts Patch Master lawn repair mix for an all-in-one solution.

• Apply a winter care fertilizer approximately four weeks before you expect frost. The fall is the most important application of fertilizer because it helps your lawn emerge healthier in spring after a long winter.

• Plant any flower bulbs in the fall to provide welcome blooms at the first sign of spring. Feed bulbs with an organic choice bone meal.

• Add a layer of mulch to new plants and rake leaves onto flowerbeds and around shrubs to create a warm blanket to protect against the cold.

• Be sure to clean out all your gardening tools and spreaders and lubricate any pivot points or axles. Clean all tools using a wire brush and spray bare metal parts with a penetrating oil to prevent rust.

• Tightly seal all packages and store all fertilizers and chemicals in a cool dry place.

• Drain water from all hoses and coil and hang them properly so they won’t split, sag or kink.

To speak with a Scotts expert on lawn care call 1-866-436-7645. For a Scotts Garden expert call 1-866-436-8477 or visit www.Scotts.ca.

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Tulips

As you prepare your garden for the chilly winter months ahead don’t forget to plant some bulbs –nothing sends the welcoming signal of spring better than beautiful blooming flowers. Gardeners can select a variety of bulbs including crocuses, snowdrops, daffodils, grape hyacinths, and tulips, depending on the desire for an early-, middle-, or late-bloomer. Or plant them all for a changing garden and colour palette all springtime long.

“It’s best to plant different combinations of flowers and colours and to plant in groups of three, five or seven as this is how bulbs grow in their natural state.” Says Scotts gardening expert Luisa Niño. “Planting bulbs is easy and most come with directions, but the general rule of thumb is to plant at a depth roughly two and a half times the size of the bulb. Try planting bulbs with the pointy ends up, but if you can’t tell which end is up, plant it on its side and it will correct itself. You can plant bulbs anytime in the fall as the ground remains warmer longer than the outside air.”

Help your bulbs return year after year by feeding them. Plant bulbs with bone meal for optimum plant health and bigger blooms. New this year is Miracle-Gro Organic Choice bone meal for a completely natural source of food for all your plants. After bulbs bloom, allow all foliage to remain until it turns yellow so nutrients can return to the bulb, then cut it down.

For more advice or to speak with a master gardener from Scotts call 1-866-436-8477 or visit www.Scotts.ca.

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