It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – March 2017
by Angela Lassam
Climate change will alter the way we garden in several ways. The garden zoning will alter and we will be able to grow different plants and shrubs as our weather patterns change. Summers seem to be getting warmer and drier and our seed and nursery catalogues appear to be more orientated towards drought tolerance, sun and shade. There is also a trend towards xeriscape to get away from grass and the need for water to keep it green.
Mulches have become normal in gardening mostly on our flower beds and there are some interesting views on the different colored varieties. Dyed mulches are attractive either red or black it makes no difference as all the dyes are treated with vegetable-based colorants. They are non-toxic and non-hazardous to plants and animals. There is however a negative side to coloured mulch as it takes longer to break down into new soil and tends to compact quickly. There are reports that a compacted mulch will grow a white string-like fungus under the top layer which may attach itself to the trunk and roots of shrubs if undisturbed. It is advisable that you rake coloured mulch throughout the summer to keep it aeriated. Untreated wood chips and mulch are cheaper and less likely to cause insect infestation.
Plastic mulch sheeting is another form of moisture preservation and weed prevention. It also helps the soil to warm up quicker and allow better growth. Commercial fruit and vegetable producers use different coloured plastic sheeting and maybe some gardeners could experiment with their vegetables. Different vegetables respond to different colors.
Black sheeting is a common one and helps the soil heat up, keeps moisture in and prevents weed growth. It is also the least expensive and can be biodegradable.
Red sheeting promotes more compact growth, early flowering and productivity. Tomatoes and eggplants have been proven through experimentation to have an increase of 12 per cent production.
It appears silver sheeting is good for peppers and pumpkins where the reflection seems to prevent aphids from attacking the early growth thus creating less virus on the vines.
Other colours have been experimented with – yellow mats will attract insects where you can selectively destroy instead of spraying crops.
Blue sheeting although more expensive has been experimented with when growing melons, cucumbers and squash and has been proven to aid fruiting response from reflection. Also it gives more heat retention than the black sheeting.
All mulches and sheeting help the gardener and the environment in many ways and are worth consideration in our gardening practices but always leave space around plants to allow direct watering.
Progress has been made on the beautification of downtown Tillsonburg. After the success of the eight urn/planters on Broadway crosses of Ridout Street and Brock Street they will re-appear this year with the addition of four more bringing a total of twelve. They will be watered and maintained by the town.
There will be an additional initiative by the Horticultural Society which will hopefully involve the town businesses. This program is to encourage pride in our town with the purchase of a smaller replica of the large planter and a complete care package. This will be to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Canada but hopefully it will become an annual enhancement to our town during the summer.
The next meeting for the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society is on April 4th @ 7.30pm in the Seniors Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Complex. The presentation this month is about what’s new for 2017. Matt Fenn from Garden Gate will be giving us an update on the gardening world. Non-members welcome. Come and make some new friends.
For information about the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society visit tillsonburghorticultural.ca online. Also find us on Facebook – Tillsonburg Horticultural.