Outdoor ready!
Planting bulbs
It’s May 1st today (!) and the sun is shining more regularly now here on Vancouver island. There is a definite warmth to the air and shadows are getting shorter and the days are longer. The garden has been hibernating for the winter but is now starting to burst forth with new leaves and Spring colour. So how can you prepare for the gardening season ahead?
My mind is turning to summer these days. My daughter is getting married in our back yard this summer (EEK!) so we are in the throes of getting the garden ready.
Now is the time to plant summer bulbs-Ranunculus, Lilies and Gladiolas will offer beautiful summer display.
Spring bulbs come in a variety of colours and planted in groups provide lovely colour after the long winter
Bulbs can be planted in containers or borders. Different species have different soil requirements so make sure you check out the label on the package or at the nursery to ensure you are planting at the correct depth and in the correct soil. BUT rule of thumb is most bulbs prefer well drained soil as sitting in water logged soil will cause the bulbs to rot. A rule of thumb for planting depth is most bulbs like to be planted at three times their bulb height. Always plant the bulb with the pointed (growing) tip upwards. It isn’t always obvious which end is the growing tip so if in doubt you can plant it on its side.
Bulbs can also provide colour under trees and as borders. Image: Glamp pad
Planting bulbs in containers will allow you to move the container to a prime location for showing them off when they are in full bloom. I love container gardening. With our new pup we have more containers than ever as she tends to run through the garden. Having the containers keeps her at bay.
A beautiful display of tulips in a terra cotta planter. Image: Beauty not seen
Water the bulbs regularly as they are growing. As they start to die back and become dormant you can cut back on the watering.
Prepping the deck
Whether you have a wood or concrete deck or patio it does take a little preparation and elbow grease to get it all ready for summer. The winter inevitably leaves its mark with algae and moss and we need to get rid of it in order to enjoy our time outdoors to the fullest AND to prolong the life of our deck. We have a wood patio that is slimy with algae these days so that is top priority right now after the winter ravages.
Getting your outdoor patio area ready will ensure hours of summer fun and relaxation with friends and family. Image: Three birds renovation
There are a couple of different ways you can clean your deck/patio. Ours is wood so we will be using a container of oxy-bleach which is a hydrogen peroxide /oxygen bleach that is non toxic to plants and safer to use than chlorine bleach. We will use it as per the instructions. We have used it before and it works very well. The patio came up nice and clean!
Power washing your deck with caution can leave you with great results. Image: The Spruce
Another method of cleaning a deck would be power washing. This takes considerably more elbow grease in my opinion and can take off a layer of paint and can splinter wood if the pressure is too high but it is a great way to clean it if you don’t want to use any chemical cleaners. You can rent a machine if you are feeling inclined to do it yourself or there are many companies around that will be happy to give free estimates. I had a huge deck in my old house. Some years I would pressure wash it myself and other years I would hire someone. Often the same company that cleans the deck can also apply a wood sealer or stain if necessary. I found our deck needed that stain or sealer about every other year so on the “off” years I would do it myself. One simple way to test if your deck needs to be resealed is to pour a glass of water on it. If it beads up it is ok but if not then it is time to reseal it. Resealing regularly will prolong the life of your deck and cut down on costly repairs.
A few things you should know though, if you are going to pressure wash yourself…Excessive PSI WILL remove paint, cause lap marks or even cause damage to the underlying wood. You really don’t need more that 1500 PSI to do the job. The closer the nozzle is to the wood the more likely there is to be damage. Stand back and let the light pressure remove the dirt. Less pressure really will do the job.
Staining or Oiling your deck will restore the beauty of the wood and protect it from the sun and water. Image: SG Styleblog
After your deck is clean and possibly has had a coat of sealer or stain applied it is time to enjoy your deck. Sweep the deck regularly and make sure there is no debris getting caught in between the boards. This debris can cause breakdown of the wood. Ensure any standing water gets removed to make the most of your labours. Standing water can cause decay even in the summer so this is a good rule of thumb. And finally, check the structure of your deck every year including the under structure. You want to be able to address any maintenance issues before they become bigger issues.
I would be very interested to know if you have any tried and true methods I haven’t mentioned here so feel free to drop me a line! And show me some of your garden handywork. Are you using any special containers this year? What bulbs do you like? Enquiring minds want to know!