Special Occasions

Birds live in a variety of habitats. The more varied the habitat the greater variety of birds you will attract. It is important to offer food and nesting sites at various heights. There are four basic habitat levels: grass, shrubs, small trees and large trees. The best plants provide berries or seeds for food, shelter, and a nesting place. Tree branching must be dense enough to support nests but allow for easy bird movement.

Click here for a complete list of plants that will help attract birds to your garden and home!

Proper pruning is essential to improve how your plants grow, flower, fruit, resist disease, and how long they live. This pamphlet explains the practical procedures for pruning a majority of your garden plants. For fruit trees, shade trees, and flowering trees follow these four basic rules:

1. Remove all weak and diseased branches
2. Remove all branches growing towards the center
3. Remove the weakest of crossing branches
4. Remove the weakest of parallel branches

You should remove all twigs and branches at the intersection with another branch with a clean cut leaving no stubs. You should seal all cuts over one inch in diameter with a pruning paste or spray.

Flowering Shrubs

Pruning shrubs that flower on OLD wood (ex. Forsythia, Spiraea, Weigela, etc). Most of the flowering shrubs in your garden are in this group. New shoots grow from the ground level each year. Flowers grow on two, three, and four-year old wood. You should prune these plants only after they have finished flowering. You should prune the oldest growth, more than four years old, off at the ground level.

1. Remove weak and diseased branches
2. Remove all shoots over four years old at the ground level

Pruning shrubs that flower on NEW wood (ex. Roses, Buddleia, PeeGee Hydrangea, etc). This group of plants produces flowers only on new wood. You should prune these plants in the spring (March or April) by heading back.

1. Remove weak and diseased branches
2. Remove branches growing towards the center
3. Remove crossing branches
4. Cut back all remaining branches to between 10 cm to 30cm (4-12 inches)

Click here for more information and to download the full Practical Pruning Guide.

Seeds can be started as early as January indoors on a sunny window or directly outdoors as early as February. Some plants are hardier than other and their seeds can be started earlier outdoors.

If you are starting your seeds early they can be started indoors on a sunny windowsill in trays or pots. For later seeds they can be planted directly in the garden beds.

Place the growing medium (soil) in the trays or pots. Ensure that the medium is flat and level. Gently shake the tray or press the medium down to remove any large air pockets.

Next make a small depression or hole to place the seeds in. The holes should be approximately one to two inches apart. The hole should be about twice as deep as the seed is wide. Place the seed in the hole and cover.

Keep the growing medium warm, 18° to 20 C (65 to 75 F), and ensure that it stays moist by covering with a plastic dome or misting with water.

When the seedlings have developed two or more sets of leaves you can thin them out by removing the weakest ones. You can then transplant the strongest ones into a larger pot with more growing medium. At this point you can begin fertilizing.

Click here for more information and to download the full Seed Starting Brochure.

It is important to tend to your garden every day if possible. Check the health of your plants and ensure they are receiving adequate water, especially on those hot and sunny days! Some plants prefer more water than others, just like some need more sun. We also recommend using fertilizer to provide extra nutrients to your plants. If you think about it, plants are just like humans – each one is unique and requires different care, yet it is when they come together that they can be most successful and beautiful!

North America is divided into 13 plant hardiness zones based on their climate and temperature. These zones help determine which plants are best suited to live and grow outdoors in your garden, as each plant has a recommended hardiness zone. For example, Vancouver and Surrey are in hardiness zone 8. Plants that thrive in our climate include:

At Hunters Garden Centre, we only carry plants that are acclimatized to coastal weather. However this information is important to know for those looking to tend to their outdoor garden year after year.

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