Flower Carpet Roses

This extremely disease resistant ground cover rose is ideal for garden, containers or mass plantings. No spraying or fancy pruning required! They flower June through late Fall. Available in bold pink, red, white, soft yellow (butter coloured) and apricot, there is a colour for everyone. I have 'Pink Supreme' in my yard and I can attest to ground cover roses being tough as nails and reliable performers. I under plant them with bright blue annuals and the combination is
eye-popping! Grows 24 to 32 inches tall.

Chef Alert!

To all grill masters and kitchen divas, please know that we stock 12 varieties of rosemary ready for you plant, grow, snip and harvest to add that fresh real herb flavour to your culinary creations! Choose from Arp, Tuscan Blue, Madalene Hill, Barbecue, Garden Blue, Salem, Spice Island, Foxtail, Sissinghurst Blue, Roman Beauty, Garden Pink and Irene. Plants start at $4.99

Growing Veggies Is Now Easier

Join the hot new trend of growing your own food with this easy to use product, Grow Beds. They are easy to assemble 3 square meter plastic
boxes designed to be set up anywhere for an instant herb or vegetable garden. No digging required, they can be used on hard surfaces and an enclosed growing area guards against disease, pests and weeds. Less bending is required from the gardener during tending and it will pack
flat at the end of the season for easy storage. Reg. $49.99, now sale priced at $39.97

Peek at these Perennials

Our perennial department is absolutely glorious right now with so much colour bursting forward! Our heuchera selection has just been supplemented with fresh stock recently arriving from a reputable grower. The limes and bronzes and marmalades are popping out ready to be tucked into planters. Did you know how many different types of bleeding hearts we carry? Come and see the variety as early spring is when these hardy perennials shine! Oh, and the bergenias! They are also approaching their prime with tall spikes of pink blooms. I feel every West Coast garden needs at least some bergenia as they are very tough, evergreen, they bloom, they provide winter colour, they are drought and shade tolerant, etc. I could go on but you get the idea. Each year try to add a few perennials to your outdoor space as they will last you many years and only improve with age!

Berry Bonanza

Make this the year you try your hand at growing your own fresh berries. Here on the coast we are lucky to be able to successfully grow many wonderful varieties of plump, flavorful berries. Here’s a listing of what we stock to tempt you!

Grapes
Red Currants
Blackberries
Saskatoons
Gooseberries
Sea Berries
Cranberries
Josta Berry
Boysenberry
Gooseberries
Black Currants
Raspberries
Strawberries
Blueberries
Honey Berries
Elderberries
Tayberry
Goji Berry

Basket Stuffers Have Arrived

We now have in a great selection of basket stuffers ready for you to create your own hanging baskets. We are very particular as to the growers we deal with and these starter sized hanging basket plants are from a local quality grower who has a long history of supplying our stock. We carry Proven Winner and Tried and True starters as they are the best quality on the market. Keep these little guys warm at night until mid May. We recommend storing them in garages or greenhouses during nights.

Listen to our Windchimes

Come and see our new display of windchimes and be surprised at the assortment! There are some unique chimes (like the one with the hanging moose) that will add character to your own spaces or make great gifts for the hard-to-buy –for people we all know. Right beside the windchime display is the new bird section with many brand new products for the bird lover such as bird call whistles (wouldn’t that be fun at a party?) and coir bird houses. This is some really unusual stuff you won’t see just anywhere!

New Arrivals in the Nursery

Thinking of adding a clematis to beautify your space? Our selection of clematis are now beginning to arrive with more coming each week. We have early blooming varieties full of colour and looking gorgeous! It’s an advantage to purchase these vines in bloom so you are sure you like the colour and shape of the bloom. Also exciting is the arrival of two varieties of daphnes we haven’t carried before. One is the February Plum Daphne (a rare find with black foliage), and Eternal Fragrance Daphne (available in one and two gallon pots). Another interesting shrub to consider is the fruiting Thimbleberry with its shiny black fruit. Also called American Blackberry, this plant does not produce canes but rather grows in to a 4-6 ft clump and the fruit is non-seedy.

Kids Growing Fun Stuff

Wow, we have just got in some really fun, unusual growing kits for kids! Planning a childrens birthday party soon? Check out these inexpensive kits for party loot bags or as gifts for the birthday boy or girl themselves. Starting at $4.50 to $37.50, they are self contained growing kits to provide hours of fun watching their contents grow. With fun names like Carnivorous Creations, Bug Bungalow, and Eye Grow Gardens, they are guaranteed to be a hit with ages 3 and up.

Just Released: JUST ASK WIM!

Just Ask Wim!: Down-to-Earth Gardening Answers

by Wim Vander Zalm

HARBOUR PUBLISHING | March 27, 2013 | Trade Paperback

What vegetables can I plant as winter crops? How can I avoid bitter bolting lettuce? When is the best time to cut back rhodos? How do I overwinter my geraniums and fuchsias? What fastgrowing evergreen hedge will work for my narrow urban yard? How late can I plant spring-flowering bulbs? What should I do about the chafer infestation that is destroying my lawn? Why aren''t my berries bigger? What fruits and vegetables grow best in patio pots?

These are just a few of the burning questions that renowned gardening expert Wim Vander Zalm answers again and again as owner of two Art Knapp Plantland garden centres and a long-time regular on CKNW''s The Bill Good Show.

Just Ask Wim! covers horticultural concerns about all kinds of plants: vegetables, fruits and berries, herbs, annuals and perennials, shrubs, trees, hedges and vines, plus how to grow a healthy lawn organically . . . or replace the troublesome turf with one of many other groundcover options. Wim also shares organic pest and weed management ideas, common-sense pruning tips, fertilization and soil-building advice, plus his often-requested mulch recipe.

Friendly, funny and always down to earth, Wim is the guy to ask whenever there is a need to know about how to make the most of any garden--urban or otherwise. In addition, his comprehensive Get It Done! checklist takes the reader right through the year, month by month, pinpointing just what to do and when for a stress-free, successful gardening experience.

 

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY TODAY

Planting a Living Wreath

This is an easy project that takes less than an hour to create. The finished product will be a beautiful viola wreath that will look fabulous hanging on your front door or perhaps on your garden gate! Any shady but readily seen area in your garden will work. Other varieties of plants such as impatiens, succulents or black mondo grass could be substituted.

Early spring is the best time to start these wreaths, although I have planted some succulent wreaths during the lazy days of summer and they still turned out fine. Just be sure to lay them flat for a few weeks in a protected spot so the plugs can ‘root on’ before hanging them upright.

Wreath supplies:
Wire wreath form 16 inch, large bag of fresh sphagnum moss, light potting mix, 12-16 ‘plugs’ (starter size plants)

Step 1: Take the back piece off the form and lay upside down on a flat surface. Begin stuffing handfuls of moss inside the ring. Don’t skimp on the moss because it has to hold the upcoming soil (next step) in and the plant plugs.

Step 2: Fill the inner ring with soil. You don’t need a whole lot, so don’t worry if there isn’t much room. Moisten the soil lightly.

Step 3: Cover the soil layer with additional moss and replace the wire back piece. Flip it back to the top side.

Step 4: Separate your violas into individual plants being sure to cut away any excess roots. Make holes with your fingers in the moss just large enough to squeeze your plants roots in. Insert the plant. Firm the moss around each plant as you go. Try to alternate your plantings between the inner ring and outer side of the ring.

Step 5: When finished planting the wreath (remember it will fill in as it grows so don’t plant it too thickly) lightly spray with water. Now lay it flat protected from heavy rains for 2-4 weeks to allow new root growth that will anchor the plugs. Mine rests in my unheated greenhouse.

Maintenance of your living wreath involves deadheading spent blooms and occasional waterings. If it is hung where rainfall reaches it, you will only have to water during dry, warm spells. Spray lightly with a garden hose. If it is hung on your front door and there is an overhang, check more often for dryness. It should be kept moist at all times. Feeding will be minimal. You can lay it flat in a sink or plastic tub filled with a mild fish fertilizer mixture for approximately 15 minutes. Immediately hang
back up. This wreath will bloom through until fall at which time the violas will be finished. If you use succulents instead of violas, it will last indefinitely.

Happy Gardening, Shelagh

Easy Seed Planting Tip

For handy reference during the growing season, place empty seed packets under glass like this after sowing directly outdoors. They will stay dry and you can always access them if you need to re-read the info on the back.

These are mesclun seeds I started in my greenhouse.

My Top 5 Fertilizers

These 5 fertilizers are a staple in my home garden inventory. I always have a supply of them on hand
because I am constantly using one or few of them together for so many tasks. I have a few oddball plant foods that I use occasionally for specific plants but my ‘Top 5’ are the most versatile. If I had to garden on a desert island, then these are the plant foods I would smuggle in my suitcase!

1. Bone Meal – This product is as organic as you can get. It is simply ground and crushed animal bones which offer a natural source of slow release phosphorus which stimulates root growth. It can be used when planting any plant with a woody stem. It will provide a long-term feed for the roots. If a rootball is healthy, then healthy top growth will naturally follow after planting. The roots are the heart of the plant and bone meal is a ‘heart-healthy’ soil additive. It is used only at planting because it is sprinkled in the bottom of the planting hole and the rootball is set on top of it.

2. Blood Meal – Again, another byproduct of the meat packaging industry, is blood meal. It is simply
dried blood and blood is one of the best natural sources of iron. Iron is a mineral that plants need for
healthy growth and some plants (such as boxwood, camellia, liriope, etc.) need higher amounts than
most other plants. Iron deficiencies appear as overall yellowing of foliage often with the veins of the
leaf remaining green. Applications of blood meal to anemic looking shrubs, will produce a deeper
green leaf in a months’ time. I have used this product on pretty much anything that displayed a pale
green colour to its leaves. This includes houseplants, skimmia, Mexican mock orange shrubs, rhodos
and ivy vines. Broadleaf evergreens seem to be more susceptible to iron deficiencies so I recommend
each year applying blood meal at the drip line in early spring (now is good!) to any broadleaf
evergreens that have suffered in the past. Simply scratch it in to the earth and immediately water. It is
said by some that this practice can attract wildlife or roaming cats but I’ve never had any problem. And I have a cat that is most inquisitive!

3. Liquid Transplanter – Another gem of a product, this is a fertilizer with added rooting hormone.
Used in conjunction with bone meal, it will give your new shrub or tree it’s best chance at establishing itself quickly. The bone meal is used as a long term root food and the liquid transplanter is used for a quick acting root food. Saturate the soil immediately after planting with a diluted solution of transplanter, then reapply one month later. There should only be need for two applications.

4. Osmocote 14-14-14 – Commercial and retail nurseries apply this food to all their nursery stock! Here at Knapps we use osmocote in early spring on all our shrubs, trees and roses. You’ve probably seen it when you’ve purchased plants for your yard. It looks like little round grey balls on the soil surface. It is a slow release, balanced food that releases small amounts of feed with every watering. Depending on rainfall in a given season, it can last upwards of 6 months! For the time-challenged gardener (such as myself), it is wonderful because it means you don’t have to devote more than one day to feeding your woody stemmed shrubs. It is also used in annual hanging baskets as an alternative to weekly liquid fertilizing again by those of us who want to find the easiest and most time-saving method of feeding.

5. Fish Fertilizer – Good old fish fertilizer! Yes, it may seem old school, but some things just stand
the test of time. Mild and organic, it fills a niche for using on plant material that is delicate, soft and
not what we call “heavy feeders”. Many leafy plants such as hostas, ferns, herbs, spinach and lettuce
benefit from regular applications of this product. Any fertilizer applied in the liquid form is released
instantly hence the need to apply often. Fertilizers applied in the dry form are all slow release and
provide a constant minimal amount of nourishment. When fish is applied to herbs, I recommend using earlier in the growing process and holding off as you get closer to harvest time so there isn’t a chance of the fish fertilizer affecting the essential oils in the herb leaves.

There you have it, my top 5 favorite fertilizers. Every gardener will have their own favorites and some may disagree with me but I’ve always had success with these and encourage you to add them to your garden shed as staples. Happy gardening!

Just In! Vegetable Roots, Sets and Bulbs

We now have in stock garlic bulbs (regular, red and elephant) which can be planted soon. If you have raised beds, they can go in now because the soil will be better drained than ground level beds which will still be quite saturated from our recent heavy rains. Garlic is harvested late July.

Also arrived is our 2013 asparagus crowns. Choose from purple, Jersey Knight and Mary Washington. Asparagus is a crop that takes a few years to establish but once it gets going, it can produce for many years. They can be planted now.

For the onion lover, we offer Spanish, yellow, red, shallots and multipliers. Again, if your growing area is raised then you can plant much sooner than you could with ground level areas. Not only will the soil be less saturated, it will also be warmer and warm soil is crucial for starting vegetables.

For the horseradish fan, we also have packaged horseradish root. This root crop is fun to grow if you want to make your own horseradish. Allow a lot of room for this perennial in the garden. Zone 3

The Orchard Mason Bee

This little guy is known as “The Super Pollinator”. He’s 75% more efficient, per bud, than a honeybee. At 2/3 the size of a honeybee, he could be mistaken for a black fly. He is found within the lower mainland and Vancouver Island. The mason bee will visit and pollinate 1600 flowers in one day! Their life cycle is about 4-6 weeks and they are ideal pollinators for fruit trees. We currently stock all you need to get started utilizing these little workhorses from the bees themselves ($29.99 for 10) to the bee houses (starting at $24.99 for a house with 15 tubes) to refill packages of the cardboard tubes (16 for $19.99 and up). Be aware: Mason bees are only available for a brief window each year. If you’re thinking of increasing your flora’s natural pollination, then don’t delay.

Great New Bulb Combo Packs

New for Spring 2013, are professionally chosen flowering bulb combinations pre-packed ready for
consumers to use to enhance their garden beds. Sun or shade, there is a combination right for you!
Complementing colours are chosen as well as plants are matched with similar light requirements. There is even a collection designed for planting in a container! All the planning is done for you, all you have to do is “dig and drop”. I think these also make great hostess or birthday gifts, all that is needed is a bow! Here are just a few of these stunning collections:

Sunny Delight
This is a full sun perennial garden combination. Note the bright, bold colours that will pop in the
landscape! Included are 1 yellow daylily ‘Stello d’Oro’, 5 ‘Blue Barlow’ columbine, 1 pink coneflower and 5 purple gayfeather (liatris). Growing heights range from 12 inches to 36 inches. $16.99

Shady Patio & Decks
A shade perennial collection, this grouping in designed for planting in a pot on a shady patio. Three
perennials of different heights, bloom colour and leaf shape make up this pack. Planted in a good
looking ceramic pot, this arrangement will look fabulous! Included are 1 astilbe dwarf pink, 1 bleeding heart ‘Luxuriant’ and 1 dwarf hosta ‘Yellow Edge’. Growing heights range from 8 inches to 24 inches. $16.99

Pumpkin Pie
How can you resist with a name like that? Varying shades of orange are the theme here (really?). This
is an all dahlia combination being taller varieties so they would be best placed further back in sunny
beds. Dahlias bloom mid to late summer and well in to the fall. As a cut flower, they are outstanding!
Included are 1 dahlia ‘Holland’s Festival’, 1 dahlia ‘City of Alkmaar’, 1 dahlia ‘Bishop of Oxford”, and 1 dahlia ‘Glory of Noordwyk’. Growing heights range from 36 inches to 48 inches. $12.99

Hot in the Shade
Another shade perennial collection, this spring to summer flowering group will provide years of
enjoyment! Included are old favorites such as 5 lily of the valley, 1 bleeding heart, 5 toad lily and 1
hosta ‘Gold Edge’. Growing heights range from 8 inches to 24 inches. $16.99

Let there be Light!

New this spring is our section in the store devoted entirely to solar powered garden lighting. With it all gathered in one area, it’s amazing how much selection we are carrying for spring 2013. Included in the stock are items such as set of 2 hanging lanterns for $25, set of 3 LED garden lights for $40, Hummingbird mobiles with colour changing LED lights for $27 and coloured mosaic balls for $15. If you are an owl fan, there are owl solar lights for $12.50 and clear daisy blooms for $10. This is just a sampling of what we have for sale. Check it out for yourself, you might just find something fun to add to your patio or to pots at your front door.

Hellebore Extravaganza

Never in the history of this Art Knapps have we ever had the selection of hellebores that we do now. We went all out and ordered practically every available variety. I tried to count them all and lost count at 15 different varieties! This tough evergreen perennial that blooms late winter is a must-have for all gardens. Loving shade, it will grow in flowerbeds or in containers. They are low maintenance, generally pest free and not heavy feeders (a layer of organic material spread underneath them each spring is sufficient). Bloom colours range from pure white to rosy pinks to pale greens. This is the time of year to purchase your first hellebore or add to your collection.

ONCIDIUM: Intergeneric Hybrids

Pronounced: on-SID-ee-um
Crosses between various species and genera in the Oncidiinae tribe, have resulted in plants that have come a long way from the original species in beauty and ease of culture. These plants start blooming small with spikes of fancifully patterned flowers in shades of white, yellow, purple, red and brown, and as they mature become large, robust plants with long stems of flowers

How to care for:
Light: High light levels are appropriate. Leaves should be a light green, not yellowish (too much light) or dark green (too little light). They should be firm, not long and floppy (more light needed). Four hours of sunshine on a windowsill is ideal.

Potting: Pot in a fine medium. Fir bark mixtures are best, with 0.5 to 1.0cm chunks of bark, perlite, and charcoal. We recommend Willgro’s Fine Media mix sold at Art Knapps for $8.99. Remove old medium if it is loose, any rotting roots or brown bulbs; choose a plastic pot that will allow for 2 to 3 new growths and position in the pot so that the new growths will grow from the middle to the edge.

Watering: Roots should dry out somewhat between watering. When the plant is actively growing, water when medium has just begun to dry out but is still slightly damp. When the plant is completing its growth start to let it dry more, to encourage flowers rather than vegetative growth. When it is dormant, typically in winter, do not water until medium is almost completely dry. When watering, water thoroughly, with a volume of water at least equal to that of the pot.

Fertilize: Fertilize with a balanced orchid fertilizer once a week during the spring and summer. Once every two weeks in the fall and winter.

Humidity: Oncidiums do best with humidity, use humidifier, humidity trays or misting.

Grow Oncidium hybrids in intermediate temperatures with 14°C minimum winter nights and 29°C summer day maximum. Ensure 6-12°C day/night difference to aid flower formation.

Orchid tips provided by Canadian Orchid Congress. For more info check out: www.canadianorchidcongress.ca/

Paphiopedilum: Lady Slipper Orchid

Pronounced: paff-ee-oh-PED-ih-lum
These Asian relatives of our native lady slippers come in almost infinite variety of shapes, sizes and colours. Fans of green or mottled leaves give rise to flower stems carrying one or
more flowers in white, green, yellow, earth tomes, pink, red and black. Each blossom has detailed blooms with spots, coloured veins and velvet hairs.

How to care for:
Light: Medium light levels are appropriate. Grow best in intermediate temperatures with 14 degrees Celsius minimum wither nights and 29 degree summer day maximum.

Potting: Pot in a fine medium. Fir bark mixtures are best, with 0.5 to 1.0cm chunks of bark, perlite, and charcoal. We recommend Willgro’s Fine Media mix sold at Art Knapps for $8.99.

Watering: Roots should be slightly moist at all times. Water when medium has begun to dry
out, but while it is still damp.

Fertilize: Fertilize with a balanced orchid fertilizer once a week during the spring and summer.
Once every two weeks in the fall and winter.

Humidity: Paphiopedilums do best with humidity, use humidifier, humidity trays or misting.

Orchid tips provided by Canadian Orchid Congress. For more info check out:
www.canadianorchidcongress.ca/

Cymbidium Orchids

Pronounced: sim-bid-ee-um
This orchid is one of the easiest Orchids to grow and is native to tropics of Asia, from India to Japan and to Australia. In our area, it can happily grow outside in containers but bring them inside before frost. Flowers are long lasting (up to 3 months) and they come in many different colors (red, yellow, white, green, burgundy).  Cymbidium orchids can bloom in autumn, winter
and spring depending on the variety. These are beautiful plants with leaves that are grasslike that come from pseudo bulb.

How to care for:
Light: Good light is also very important. They can be exposed to full sun, but protect them
from scorching late afternoon sun in summer time.

Watering: Water them well during the growing season, March to October. Cool temperatures
10C - 15C will trigger blooms to appear. Allow plant to dry out somewhat as the growth
matures and when the plant is not actively growing. When watering, water thoroughly with a
volume of water at least equal to that of the pot.

Repotting: Pot in a fine medium. Fir bark mixtures are the best, with 0.5 to 1.0 cm chunks of
bark, perlite and charcoal. We recommend Willgro’s Fine Media sold at Art Knapps for $8.99.

Fertilize: Fertilize with a balanced orchid fertilizer once a week during the spring and summer.
You do not need to fertilize in the fall and winter.

Humidity: Cymbidiums do best with humidity. Use humidifier, humidity trays or mist the orchid
frequently.

Orchid tips provided by Canadian Orchid Congress. For more info check out:
www.canadianorchidcongress.ca/

The new seeds are here! The new seeds are here!

Okay, maybe not everyone gets as excited as me when the new seeds arrive but regardless, they are on display with pockets brimming with selection. Gardeners who regularly start their plants from seed can tell you many varieties of seed sell out early for the year. Make your list, check it twice, and get thyself down here to avoid disappointment.

Each year I like to try something different in seeds so this year I’ve chosen Hyacinth Bean (Dolichos) and Morning Glory ‘Blue Ensign’. The former is basically a purple scarlett runner bean with dark foliage and purple blooms. The latter is a non-vining, dwarf annual (growing to only 12 inches) with brilliant blue flowers. Also grabbing my attention is the pure white pumpkin, Lumina, from Pacific Northwest seed company.

What are you going to try this year???

Harry Potter Tree

One of my favorite shrubs is the Contorted filbert (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’), zone
4. It looks like it just stepped off the set of a Harry Potter film. Available in both a green
leaf and red leaf variety, it is stunning as a focal point in the garden (growing to 10 feet
at maturity) but also looks great in a container. I love the funky, architectural form during
the winter when it is leafless. Yellow catkins dangle from its stems in winter months,
again adding interest. With fresh stock arriving in March, they can be purchased in sizes
as small as 2 gallon pots.

Do your shrubs look like this?

Have you stepped outside in the morning and seen your evergreen shrubs, or any other plants in your garden, looking wilted and forlorn? Fret not, when the mercury drops to around the 0 degree mark, moisture in leaves of plants freezes. It is not normally fatal
on hardy plant material. If you were to go back outside in the afternoon, as the daytime temps have increased, you will notice the leaves have perked back up. These plants are simply curling their leaves inward to ward off the cold.

Get a new look for 2013

Have you had the same houseplants for years now? Any of them looking tired? If so, now is a great time of year to freshen up the look of your homes interiors with new, healthy tropicals. With outdoor duties at a minimum presently, we can spend more time and attention to adding lush greenery to otherwise drab areas. Update your pots and containers at the same time to keep them from looking dated. Fresh soil is important for your older plants and stock up on indoor fertilizer that you can start using in March. Start 2013 with a fresh look!

YEST - New imported lines at Art Knapps

We are excited and proud to offer a new line of ladies clothing from Denmark. In this seasons hottest
colours (blues, pinks, corals and creams) the Yest line of fashion is available in a good selection of sizes up to 3X. Also in is the spring line from Vero Moda with pieces such as the Mew LS Shirt. There is no denying that studs are a must-have this season. They add instant flair to everything! Our staff are not immune to this new shirt as 3 of them have purchased it in different colours. Beautiful prints and fabrics abound for spring so stop in soon and make your selections before your size disappears.

Crocs; One-of-a-kind comfort!

The 2013 Spring and Summer collection of Crocs are here and what a collection! I’m going to be honest and admit I had no idea there were so many different styles of Crocs available. Here is just a sampling of what is now on the sales floor; ladies wellie rain boots, crocband winter boots, childrens Lego inspired crocs, mens loafers, fur lined slippers, all cast duck slip-on boots for men, ladies tall suede boots, ladies suede buckle boots, ladies flip-flops, and the list goes on. From the teeniest size for toddlers to large, mens sizes, we have it all. Make your selections soon before your size disappears.