Listening to that same old
‘low or no maintenance’ tune

GARDENING IS an unnatural act. That is to say, our
garden plants are not in the habit of conveniently grouping

themselves in eye-catching, weed-free, carefree displays.

Lush lawns and effective land-
scapes do not occur naturally; we
create them.

The success ef recent events
such as the North Shore Garden
* Tour and The Garden Contest is a
_ good indicator that mucking
about. with plants is rapidly
becoming the next trendy thing to
de: I know golfers that would
have checked me into the nearest
sanatorium a year or two ago if I
so much as hinted that they might
find it enjoyable.

Well, pull out the straightjacket
and bundle me off to La La Land
*cause even Tim is talking topsoil.

Over the years, I have learned
that most non-committed
. gardeners (take that how you will)

- are after one thing and one thing
only.. It’s the same old low (or
- no}-maintenance.. story all over
again. This seemingly reasonable |
:. yequest is in fact misleading.
~« Obviously “no’’ maintenance is
~“out. of the question, as is the
. “f4ow’? maintenance dreamt of by

: the wninitiated.

The problem lies in the relativi-
ty ofthe term. To some it implies
no more than cight -hours of
gardening per year while the more
‘seasoned (and enthusiastic) would
“.. be happy with eight per month.

. Jt is a simple and age-old equa-
tion; effort is equal and propor-
. “‘tionate to the reward. If you take
.. the time to plan for success and

‘plant. for success you will be

SARCON.

|. Gewerad Contractors & Engineers

$39 Drayton St, North Vancouver .

Geoff
Tobiasson

‘OVER THE GARDEN GAT!
rewarded with success.

If you spread a lot of bark
mulch and call it a day, you will
be rewarded with slivers.

The best route to a low-
maintenance garden is through
what many would believe to be

over-planting. If most of your.

plants are planted so thai they will
grow together within two or three
years, they will not be so close as
to cause iil health. Weeds, on the
other hand, will be crowded out
of existence. _

This principle is most evident in
the planting of groundcovers such
as ivy, periwinkle, etc. The money
and labor required to get them in

the ground and keep the area
weed-free while they grow in will
produce greater rewards than bark
mulch.

The same strategy can be
employed with larger shrubs,
perennials, annuals and even
vegetables. The more space taken
up by plants that you want, the
less room will be availabie for
weeds.

You may not solve all of your
problems with a buying spree at
your local nursery, but you should
have a great deal of fun. Most of
the really good gardens out there
are tended by addicts. They are
simply trying to solve their prob-
lems with plants; they are addicted
to them, And it is likely that you
will be too if you give the garden
a chance,

And then we have the ‘‘native’’
gardener who tries to hide a
bone-lazy attitude towards the
yard in a thinly veiled attempt at
environmentalism. !t is one thing
to recognize and make use of the
worth of native plants. Ik is
another to watch the dandelion
seeds float across your hammock
as you suck back another cool
one.

_ Low maintenance is indeed a
relative thing.

It is entirely possibie to have a
gorgeous garden which is the envy
of your neighborhood without
becoming its slave. On the other
hand, if you are looking for a
maintenance-free garden, go and
live in the bush, go and live in the

Sahara, but please don’t move in ;

next to me.

We Design & Build
YOUR Renovation
Professionally
with Quality & Care

6

SARCON CONSTRUCTION LID.

766 E. 7h Street, North Vancouver, BC. V7L 186
Telephone 996-0563 Fax 986-0525

Sh gi eas :
. ; NEWS pheto Cindy Goodman:
FAIR WEATHER provides the perfect opportunity to spruce

up your house and yard. These two men put the finishing
touches on a Seymoryr area housing complex. :

It’s our year end and we must count:

our inventory, but wed rather sell it
than count it. Example:

DOUBLE SIZE |
MATTRESS SET |

ALL SIZES AVAILABLE & ALL MATTRESSES ON SALE 7

i)
ON SALE TILL AUGUST 37/92

 FURNITURELAND

111 East 3rd St.
North Vancouver