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- Royal LePage (Huronia)
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- Phone: (705) 526 9770
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Gardening Tips
>> Lawncare
A flawless smooth green carpet of grass is best left to golf
course maintenance professionals.
- Few other people have the spare time anymore to devote
to lawn upkeep. For most of us, we soon find the dandelions
staking their territory, the grass turning brown seemingly
overnight, while other patches remain stubbornly bare.
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- Putting your lawn mower away and getting back to native
plant species may be the best thing you can do for the environment.
(You'll also have a lot more free time.) Lawnmowers produce
significantly more pollution than cars. One study has shown
that using a lawnmower for 20 minutes is worse than driving
for 3 hours! In the United States, the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has pressured lawn care appliance makers (mowers,
trimmers etc) into upgrading their gas-powered motors. By
2005, new lawnmower engines in the U.S. must be 40% cleaner
than present engines. Currently, most engines have no pollution
controls.
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- The growing trend toward natural landscaping in place
of manicured lawns can be more visually appealing as well.
Most "naturescapes" include tall grasses, flowers, herbs,
and berry-producing shrubs interspersed with rock formations
or trees. Once established they will attract and feed butterflies
and birds and a myriad of other creatures that play a vital
role in the food chain.
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- Edible plants (for human consumption) are not always attractive
plants but if you choose carefully, you can have a supply
of herbs, fruits and vegetables that blend in beautifully.
Purple sage, dill, basil, and parsley make attractive ground
cover and are very fragrant. Vegetables don't have a stellar
reputation for being inconspicuous but both asparagus and
celery are good choices. Blueberry bushes grow slowly so
they will not overrun your garden. In the fall, the foliage
turns deep red and orange.
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- If you want to attract butterflies choose flowers abundant
in fragrance and colour. Butterflies will keep returning
to your garden if these plants provide access to nectar.
Some of their favourites include lantana, Mexican sunflower,
verbena, joe-pye weed, zinnia, marigold, cosmos, phlox,
butterfly weed, aster, coneflower and black-eyed Susan.
Most of these plants are very hardy and require minimal
maintenance. If possible, avoid hybrids and double blooms,
as the nectar is too hard to reach.
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- Butterfly species are attracted to specific plants. Black
or anise swallowtails (dark with blue and yellow hind-wing
patterns and broad yellow bands respectively) make a beeline
for fennel, dill and parsley. Lupine flowers attract tiny
blues while buckeye butterflies like snapdragons.
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- If your yard is large enough, you may want to consider
a small pond. Running water is ideal. Certain amphibians
such as frogs and salamanders require water to complete
their life cycles. Watching nature unfold daily can be a
great learning experience for children.
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- Getting back to nature is easier than it sounds. Consult
a professional landscaper or tap into the knowledge at your
local garden supply store. Planning your naturescape should
take into account soil type, slope of the yard, and sun
exposure as well as existing trees and land formations.
Once a well-planned garden of native species is established
it requires very little care and the both owner and "guests"
can enjoy an oasis in a desert of lawns.
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