32 — Sunday, May 23, 1999 - North Shore News WITH the onset of summer weather it’s natural to move more of your living and enter- taining activities out- doors. Balconies and patios become an extension of the living space and benefit from exterior decorating. The right combination of furniture, flowers, shrubs and vines can make your outdoor living area into an attractive space. Each balcony or patio has its own unique micro-climate. East-facing areas are the first to warm in the morning and don’t suffer from the midday heat. South-facing areas can be very hor during the midday — particularly if there is a light-coloured wall or deck “After a year in the pot, soil has lost much of its organic content and many of its nutrients.” covering. The sun’s rays are late to warm a west-facing patio but late afternoon expo- sure keeps the area warm on into the evening. Northern exposures are the most difficult both in light and the selection of plants that can be grown. Reflected light from a neighbouring building will sometumes make a differ- ence. ; Patios on the ground are more susceptible to late spring ‘ound frosts but do not suf- fer from the wind chill factor that many highrise balconies and roof-top gardens do. The higher the balcony, the greater the wind velocity and the cooler the temperature. A goed display of potted plants will generally have pots made.of only one material or two if they are complemen- tary. Using a broad selection: of wood, plastic, clay and ceramic with multiple colours will not give you the best results no.matter how well you grow the plants. Where you have a multi- tude of small pots, it may look better to set them in flower boxes and fill the voids with moss, | Tee Planter boxes, whether _ filled with pots or soil and flowers, should be raised off the floor with small spacers. This will improve drainage, prolong the life of the box and protect the decking. Large pots of varying size are best arranged in groups of three or five. If the pots do not have enough variation in size, place a block or upside down pot under the back ones to give the illusion they are larger. A question frequently soil in my annual pots two years in a raw?” After a year in the pot, soil has lost much of its organic content and many of its nutri- ents. It may have also built up an excess of unused fertilizer salts on the surface. It is best to use new soil each year unless the old soil is amended with compest or manure. The north shore news 4y FOME & GARDEN addition of peat to old soil is of little value.” Fertilizer requirements vary but most potted plants benefit from having a slow release fertilizer added to the soi] at the time of planting. Osmocote and Nutricote have a formulation of ” 14.14.14 with a 90-day release time providing the granules are kept moist and it’s about troubled waters and the compass that guides you. About the human spirit and the will to keep moving ahead. ’ About the challenges of life and facing them together. It's about getting on with the business of living, 1196 Marine Drive, North Vancouver above 20 C. This slow release fertilizer can be supplemented with a liquid 20.20.20 in the early part of the season and 15.30.15 ance the flowers have started to form. For hanging baskets and other pots that are prone to dry out you may wish to add polymer crystals to the soil to help retain soil moisture. They absorb a hundred times their Forward thinking since 171 0 outdoor potied p weight in water and release it when the soil starts to dry out. Treat ported plants as though they are in captivity. They are totally dependent on you for food and water during the summer growing season. You may have to water some of the plants nvice a day dur- ing the warm weather to pre- vent them trom wilting. Roya! & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada and Royal & Sun Alliance Life Insurance Company of Canada _ : are part of the worldwide Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group pic. wwwroyalsunalliance.ca |-888-877-1710 North and West Vancouver Brokers Archibald, Clark & Defieux (North) Insurance ~ Baker, Russell & Ledgerwood Ltd. 1211 West 16 St., North Vancouver 984-0231 Defieux Saxelby Insurance Services Inc 985-0581 #105, 200 West Esplanade, North Van. 986-5265 Irwin & Billings 1900 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver 988-1148 % For small pots and baskets the moisture can be moni- tored by checking their weight. Use a long sharp wocden chop stick to check the moisture level in the larger pots. Insert the stick in the same hole each time and if there is dampness, the plant does not need any more See Check page 33 ou McPherson Insurance Agencies Ltd. 140C East 14th Street, North Vancouver 985-3185 North Shore Insurance Services Ltd. Lee & Porter Inc. . 505 Park Royal South, West Vancouver, 925-1201 101-1112 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver 983-4592 . Berry Hicklenton Insurance Agencies Lid. 203-15 Street, West Vancouver 903-3899