Soils 101: Understanding Soil Health – Article at a Glance
Submitted By: Egan Davis, Principal Instructor (UBC Botanical Garden) Have you ever been curious about the quality of your soil? By understanding a few general principles, you can make informed decisions about the soil in your garden. In this summary, you will learn about what makes good soil, and why…
Lawn Watering Tips
By: Jay Soper, Communications Specialist (Metro Vancouver) Summertime is here! As the hot weather rolls in, it’s time to pull out the patio chairs and gear up for a season filled with holidays, camping, barbecues, boating, beaches, and quality time with friends and family. But along with the beautiful hot…
Creating a Pollinator-Friendly Garden
By Brian Campbell, Tara Moreau and Braela Kwan Pollinators are the various insects and animals that contribute to the reproduction of plants. These include many species of bees, butterflies, birds, flies, moths, wasps, beetles and other animals that move pollen between male and female flower parts to create seeds for…
Trading the Turf 4 Low Maintenance Lawn Alternatives
The hassles, expense, and time commitment is too much. And the results weren’t that great anyway. Sound like your grass lawn experience? For lots of people, the dream of a beautiful lawn can turn into an ugly reality due to weeds, bugs, drought, and extreme heat. But If you are…
The Bird-Friendly Backyard
How to turn your green space into a healthy avian habitat Autumn is a fascinating time for bird-watchers in our region. A wide variety of resident and over-wintering birds are regularly observed in Metro Vancouver throughout fall and winter. At places like Boundary Bay Regional Park and other seashore locations,…
Popularity of Lawn Alternatives Keeps Growing
The traditional turf lawn has been a mainstay of landscaping for many years. But lawn alternatives are catching on; for their ease of maintenance, low water requirements, and pest resistance. Popularity of Lawn Alternatives Keeps Growing A well-manicured, traditional turf lawn is a wonderful thing to behold. But that beauty…
How Metro Vancouver Residents Can Protect Gardens and Lawns from New Invasive Species
You’ve seen lawns around the region destroyed by animals and birds searching for a juicy chafer beetle snack. Now there’s a new beetle in town. And it’s even worse! The Japanese beetle is threatening lawns, gardens, and landscaped areas in Vancouver. In response, steps are being taken by local and…
The Low Down on Invasive Plants
English ivy, English holly, periwinkle, lamium, and daphne/spurge laurel are common plants in gardens and disturbed areas throughout the region. However, many people are surprised to learn that these plants are invasive, which means they can harm local ecosystems, human health, and the economy! Invasive plants are non-native plants that can…
Upcoming Gardening Events from around the Region
Looking for something to do that is fun and educational? Check out some of these garden-related events from around the region! Self-Guided Tours at Van Dusen Botanical Garden every month – Numbered self-guided tours are plotted out by volunteers nearly every month for visitors to enjoy at their leisure. Links…
UBC Botanical Garden’s Earth Day Grow Green Guide Tour
Spring is just around the corner and so is the gardening season! The Grow Green guide is a great place to look for garden inspiration and advice. You can also check out five of our most popular designs at the Grow Green demonstration garden featured at UBC Botanical Garden. On…