Sweet site dude, check out mine when you get a min……

We have a number of groundhogs living at the end of our yard. One year, a baby thought our window well was a groundhog burrow and fell in and broke his little leg. We got him out, and we still see him limping in the back from time to time. We contacted the local game warden to see what we could do to prevent this from happening again, and he told us get some oil of peppermint to keep them away. Well, that doesn’t work for gardens, but I did plant some peppermint plants last year, and it seemed to keep them at bay. Also, use crop covers. If you plants are covered, it is less likely for them to see and smell the “salad bar” and it also makes it easier to spot them if they do get close. After a number of chases, they usually quit trying and leave the plants alone.

“We don’t dig up the sod and use it for sheet composting. We actually put the cardboard on the sod still planted in the ground. A fine layer of compost goes between the sod and the cardboard, and then many layers of compost and leaves go on top of the cardboard. This method saves doing all that digging, and ultimately, the turf becomes a source of food for the plants.

This method requires some planning as it takes six months to one year for the sod to decompose. Make sure the cardboard is free of wax or chemicals (ie. non-organic fruit or vegetable boxes may have pesticide residue). The cardboard will decompose too.

There is no need to dig up the sod. The cardboard goes on top of the sod to smother it. Then organic matter goes on top of the sod. No digging. That’s the beauty!”

That’s why we call in the experts! Thanks, Lisa.

In Vancouver, Lawnboy accepts sod.

Both Fraser Richmond S&F and Lawnboy charge for accepting sod.

I live in large forested strata, and for the last 3 years we have had a mission statement that declares we will preserve our area in its natural state and try not to use any chemicals or pesticides anywhere on the grounds. There have been issues with rodents, wasps, hornets and invasive plants and occasionally management has had to resort to localized pest control on all but the invasives. Our lawns are pesticide free. For those invasive plants we are now trying to pull them, or use lasagna gardening (sheet mulching) and plant native perennial plants only. A huge task! Owners are allowed to plant annuals to give some colour during summer (which we have yet to see!). Compliance with our mission statement is somewhat difficult but we are using education and demonstration only as tools to meet our goals.

We are also discussing starting a community garden, but that is still only talk!

I am delighted that the garden contest provides people with opportunities to learn about pesticide free methods of gardening. One initiative that has been quite successful here at Kwantlen’s School of Horticulture is our Bug Garden. Located on the Langley campus, the garden is an example of conservation biological. It is designed to provide habitat requirements to attract and retain beneficial insects like lady bird beetles and syrphid flies that in turn suppress insect pests like aphids. In our first year of monitoring we were able to observe natural suppression in action! We designed and planted the garden using drought tolerant and pest tolerant plants that attract and help maintain natural populations of beneficial insects. The goal of our bug garden is to be attractive, use less water and energy inputs, and provide visitors with an alternative to plant protection products.