by Rick Los, director of horticulture 

The quieter months of January and February are generally project months for the gardening department as we are able to do physical improvements to the garden. A significant improvement you will notice is at the Star Pond where we have installed a new surface on the paths and patio plus a complete refurbishment of the Star Pond itself - unfortunately we have to wait a few weeks before it is warm enough to lay down a fresh coat of paint.     

With March upon us and spring on the way it is time to get gardening in the garden! The weather is getting warmer, the first cherry blossoms have opened and the bulbs are emerging from the ground. I wrote about the early bulbs in the last newsletter, but with the colder weather this winter we are still waiting for the majority to show us their colours.

As bulbs emerge we begin a process which we call "scratching" or "tickling" the soil in our flower borders. These two very technical terms refer to the cultivating of the soil to break up the hard, compacted soil surface to allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate.

I am assuming that these technical terms arose from the fact that the stimulation these plants receive provide them with a form of satisfaction and happiness.

Pruning on the roses and hydrangeas takes place in mid-March when the threat of a hard frost has passed for us. Around the greater Victoria region this can usually be done a little bit earlier, but ironically our microclimate is a little bit colder. I sometimes joke that as fabulous as our garden setting is, Jenny Butchart chose one of the tougher microclimates in the region for her garden. However, this does work to our advantage at times as our spring display can last a full two weeks longer than what you would find in Victoria proper.

I touched on the significant role of breaking up the ground to allow air, water and nutrients for the stimulation of growth for our border displays, but this is also a critical factor for lawns. Spring is a great time to revitalize your lawns by thatching and aerating, over seeding the bare patches, topdressing and fertilizing. I can't overemphasize the importance of air to the roots of plants, so if you only have a chance to do one thing to your lawn this spring I would suggest going with the aerating. Research has proven how oxygen improves the growth and stimulation of healthy roots and now many greenhouses and golf courses are actually injecting oxygen into their irrigation water to improve overall plant vigour and health. For greenhouse growers this means a better product and for golf courses this may mean an earlier start up date, quicker turf regeneration and the need for less fertilizer.     

Spring is a very exciting time as changes can be seen daily in the garden. Our expanded early bulb display, as well as some of the new and exciting combinations in our border displays, will show you the possibilities for spring colours are virtually endless. Do come out as often as you are able to view one of the most colourful and inspiring spring displays in the world.