Garden beds:

• Apply a three to four inch layer of mulch around your perennial plants, careful to leave a hollow at the base. Use fallen leaves as a handy mulch.

• Divide and move plants to thin them out.

• Remove old or diseased plants.

• Leave seed heads for winter interest and to feed the birds.

Lawns:

• Raise your mower height to three inches. Longer grass shades weed seeds and keeps them from sprouting and provides protection for the turf during the winter. Leave the clippings on the grass for extra nitrogen.

• Fertilize with compost or organic fertilizers.

• Aerate soil and leave the plugs on the lawn.

• Overseed your lawn — a blend of grasses will make it hardier.

Trees and Shrubs

• Remove old or diseased branches or broken limbs.

• Add mulch (fallen leaves work well) around the drip line but not up against the trunk.

• Water newly planted trees and shrubs, especially evergreens, if there is no snow or rain.

- News Canada

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Tip: Discover the magic of mulching. A thick layer of mulch not only keeps weeds down, it retains moisture and adds nutrients as it slowly decomposes.

Come Spring 2009, cosmetic-use pesticides will be banned for sale or use on Ontario’s lawns and gardens. So, what do you do to ensure you aren’t overtaken by pesky weeds and insects? There are some good choices that can help you keep your garden green without harming the environment. Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment offers these tips for pesticide-free lawn and garden care.

Feed your soil. Healthy soil is the key to hardy, pest-free plants. Spread compost on your garden beds and use natural, organic fertilizer on your lawn in the fall.

Discover the magic of mulching. A thick layer of mulch not only keeps weeds down, it retains moisture and adds nutrients as it slowly decomposes. There are a variety of mulches you can use; from bark to wood chips, pine cones and leaves.

Combat weeds the natural way. Use a weed fork to pluck weeds as they appear, or pour boiling water on individual weeds before they seed. If your lawn is heavily infested with weeds or grubs, consider covering the whole area under a thick layer of mulch for the summer and reseed in the fall.

Choose native plants. Native species are better adapted to local climate and soil conditions and they’ll need less coddling to do well in your garden.

- News Canada

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