Pitchfork left in mall garden

From panel

clue. While trying to dig up a grass, the thief broke off'a pitchfork on the thick root and left it th

“These guys know what theyre doing. It’s low budget, cheapo, unscrupulous landscapers. There's no question because number one, they had professional grade tools that homeowners don’t bu whe said, adding that the grasses were hidden trom view and other potted plants in the gar- dens would be far casier to snatch.

“So it’s somebody who knows plants,” he concluded. “Or thinks they do.”

Cases of filched foliage are happening evervwhere, 5 Tom Meyer of the B.C. Landscape and Nursery iati Crooked gardening companies are a “definite, definite possi- bility,” because the industry currently has no regulation.

“Basically, if you have a shovel and ‘a truck and a wheelbarrow, you can call yourself a landscaper.”

The problem affects homeowners, who often make complaints tothe association about their lawns being “butchered.” But it has also been difti- cult for credible compa- nies, Whose workers completed training and certification programs, 10 baule the reputation of the shrub shredders. In the business, alf credentials are voluntary.

Many members of his association would like to see stricter regulations in

lace through municipal icensing requirements. But as that would take years to achieve, Meyer prefers to see people uer smarter about where their shrubs are coming from.

Just as you shouldn’t buy a stereo out of someone's trunk,

neither should you buy hor plants.

NEWS photo Mike Wakefletd

TODD Major, left, looks at the empty earth at Park and Tilford Gardens. The facility was hit by four thefts recentiy. Suzanne Efand, above, holds her son Hayden, who shows how tall her two Japanese maple trees were. They

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“If the guy doesn’t ha + bill of sale, that’s a red flag that were stolen. should go up,” he said. “When you're buyi ing a valuable plant, you want it ro be guaranteed.” If you have any information about the tree thefts, call Const. Rod Giles at the North

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