green for life!

Tips from Landscape

Leaders

Smartgardeningpractices

GARDEN CLASSROOM Kids learn life’s lessons inschoolyard gardens

NEW FOR 2011This year’s irresistable new plant introductions

LANDSCAPE WINNERSLocal landscapers’ award-winning projects

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contents 5 Learning to GrowA message from the President of the BCLNA

6 How Mighty the TrowelThe positive infl uences of greenspaces

8 Growing Up EngagedThe Terra Nova Schoolyard Society gets kids gardening

10 A Parade of Hot New PlantsIrresistible introductions for 2011

14 Invasive PlantsSmart gardening practices reduce the threat from invasive plants

16 Discover Gardening in BCA map of BCLNA member garden retailers and educators

18 A Field Day for LandscapersAchieving Landscape Industry Certifi cation is no picnic

20 Winning RecipesIdeas for your own green space from this year’s best

24 Master ClassA landscape leader shares her secrets on how to create a showcase yard

26 The Science of LandscapesLandscape architects offer innovative and technical expertise

28 Getting to the Root of the ProblemSimple tests to ensure your garden soil is healthy

30 A Cautionary TaleUnder-the-table contractors offer no savings

For more information about Green for Life! and the BC Landscape & Nursery Association, and for a list of member landscapers and garden retailers, visit landscapebritishcolumbia.com

2011 GREEN FOR LIFE! 3landscapebritishcolumbia.com

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4 GREEN FOR LIFE! 2011

GREEN FOR LIFE!2011 Edition

A publication of theBC Landscape & Nursery Association

EDITOR Renata Triveri

ART DIRECTOR Felice Bisby

COORDINATING EDITOR Kathleen Freimond

WRITERS Rick Cleghorn, Liz Klose, Arlene Kroeker, Julianne Leekie, Gary Lewis, Bruce McTavish, Ruth Olde, Renata Triveri, Mark van der Zalm

PRODUCTION MANAGER Suzy Williamson

STUDIO MANAGER Kristina Borys

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Elaine Linsao

PRODUCTION SYSTEMS MANAGERKim McLane

ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Allison Griffioen, Kate Hood, Chris Sherwood

SENIOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN Debbie Lynn Craig

ELECTRONIC IMAGING Laura Michaels

ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVESBetty Baumgartner, Tara Warne

HEAD OFFICE, B.C.Tel: 604-299-7311 Fax: 604-299-9188

Green for Life! is published on behalf of the BC Landscape & Nursery Association by Canada Wide Media Limited – 4th Floor,

4180 Lougheed Hwy., Burnaby, B.C. V5C 6A7 Phone: 604-299-7311; Fax: 604-299-9188.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form – print or electronic – without written permission of the BCLNA. Queries concerning advertising in the 2012 edition of Green for Life! should be directed to Canada Wide Media Limited, Phone: 604-299-7311.

PRINTED IN CANADA BY TELDON PRINT MEDIA

The BCLNA and LandscapeBritishColumbia.com

The BC Landscape & Nursery Association (BCLNA), founded in 1953, represents landscape, garden retail,

and wholesale nursery businesses throughout the province. Through the nationally recognized Green for Life!

program, BCLNA educates people about the environmental, social, health, and economic benefits of

gardens and green spaces. Use BCLNA member companies for your garden and landscape needs: visit

LandscapeBritishColumbia.com to learn more. Or contact the BC Landscape & Nursery Association at Suite 102, 5783 – 176A Street, Surrey, B.C. V3S 6S6; bclna.com

ON THE COVER: This garden, featuring a green roof atop a modern garage, was built by Environmental Design Group Limited of Ontario. The project received a National Award of Landscape Excellence last year. Five BC companies have qualifi ed for the

upcoming national competition; learn more about them on page 22. Since 2004, British Columbia’s landscape professionals have claimed

six of the 12 awards available through this prestigious program.

Photo: Environmental Design Group Limited.Green Roof System: ZinCo Canada Inc.

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Learning to growA simple measure can make you green for life

message from the president

Our world is changing and the people in your neighbourhood are leading the charge.

We used to be told that we needed chemicals, applied at regular intervals, to grow strong and healthy pest-free vegetables and fruits. Pesticides were the fi rst line of defence in the war on bugs. But not anymore.

Through the dedication of thousands of gardeners worldwide, we have seen a different pattern evolve. Ideas that had been used for centuries before the invention of chemical pesticides are now being reapplied to the modern garden. The Internet gives every gardener access to experts around the globe, and their combined experiences are being put to work in gardens all around us.

It’s ancient wisdom: good gardening is a system of how to grow plants, using the plants’ needs as your guide.

Learning how to grow one plant according to its needs is the simple beginning of a lifetime of wonderful experiences that others will want you to share. Even the common bean

plant is a living miracle able to produce a vitamin-enriched meal from water, light and a teeny amount of soil. Bring a vegetable platter from the local grocery store to a party, and the host will thank you; bring a baby beet salad with a fresh herb dipping sauce, the ingredients all grown in your own balcony planter, and people are going to want to know how you accomplished this seemingly impossible task.

A word of caution though: learning to garden will make you green for life! You will fi nd you have less time to follow the digital lives of others, and you will start to enjoy growing and sharing the life you are living.

Growing up in a horticultural family, and as the owner of Cannor NurseryTM, Sandy Mathies has been involved in the BCLNA, and in making BC a greener place, for as long as he can remember.

Sandy Mathies, PresidentBC Landscape & Nursery Association

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design & project management

604.518.2366vandepollgardens.com

landscapebritishcolumbia.com

I like to think of gardeners as double eco-warriors for battling both ecological and economical concerns with one mighty turn of a trowel. While we fervently endeavour to recycle more, drive less, eat organic, buy local, replace light bulbs, sign on to paperless billing, and bring our own grocery bags, the delightfully de-agitating activity of gardening balances a host of environmental and ecological issues, and makes us healthier beings to boot.

It really is a bit of a puzzle. What other activity can you do to positively infl uence your eating habits and physical fi tness? What has the power to alleviate stress while giving your kids something educational and fun to do? How can you save on your hydro bill, raise the net worth of your home, contribute to the economy, build better neighbourhoods, create and clean the air you breathe, sustain wildlife, and improve your environmental footprint?

Well, sure. But what else can do it all at the same time?

First things fi rst: let’s talk money. Smart Money Magazine indicated that real estate shoppers value a landscaped home up to 11.3 per cent higher than its base price. Researchers at Quebec’s Laval University concurred; they studied 760 home sales and found that landscaping

attributes (trees, fl owers, plants, and hedges) command a substantial market premium. Aspen Environmental Companies found that investments in landscaping help to reduce the amount of time a property sits on the market. Every bit of gardening you do opens up real estate potential (and justifi es another trip to the garden centre).

If you have no interest in profi ting from your home now, think instead about reducing what your home is cost-ing you. BC Hydro says well-designed landscaping can reduce summer cool-ing costs by 20 per cent or as much as 100 per cent in regions without signifi -cant cooling demands. Trees will shade your house – and if they are planted near (but not blocking) your outdoor air conditioning unit, they can increase the machine’s effi ciency by up to 10 per cent. But choose wisely: if you plant deciduous trees, they will allow sun-light to reach your house in winter, and that will keep it warmer. For apartment dwellers, there are still energy savings to be had. Window boxes planted with grasses, vines or small shrubs can keep the sun from over-heating the glass, and you.

Even lawn has its perks. Before you start complaining about noisy emission-belching mowers, and sprayers full of toxins (granted, we are quickly learning to manage turf more

How Mighty the TrowelThe benefits of creating green spacesBy Renata Triveri, Green for Life! Editor

sustainable gardening

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appropriately) remember this: lawn is a natural air conditioner. Eight healthy front lawns cool the equivalent of 70 tons of air conditioning. That’s roughly the amount of A/C it takes to cool 16 average-sized homes. Dense, healthy grass also traps dust and smoke stirred up by vehicles zooming through the streets, and fi lters the air we inhale; plus, grass is an oxygen-producer and a 50 by 50-foot lawn can generate the amount of oxygen that a family of four breathes in a year.

Turn some of that lawn into a veggie patch, and that family of four will get a little exercise while they cultivate healthier eating habits and lives. In a special to the Wall Street Journal, George Ball from the W. Atlee Burpee Co. (experts in the seed industry since 1876) said, in his experience, kids who

grow vegetables alongside their parents “eat them regularly and with gusto.” Peas, green beans and raw carrots, he pointed out, are particular favourites and Ball thinks fresh, natural foods are key to ending childhood obesity.

Gardens are good for the mind too. Just being around green spaces (says a study from Environmental Behaviour) improves children’s ability to think clearly and cope with stress. For kids with ADD/ADHD, being around greenery (even window views of green spaces) can reduce their symptoms. Horticulture therapists know this. They build their practices on the knowledge that getting into a garden can rehabilitate physical and mental illness, and improve one’s general well-being. In a study conducted at a Chicago public housing development, residents of buildings with

more trees and grass reported that they knew their neighbours better, socialized with them more often, had stronger feelings of community, and felt safer and better adjusted than did residents of more barren, but otherwise identical buildings.

There are studies about the benefi ts of green spaces everywhere you look. The statistics march on and on, but at their core is one key point: gardening is good for you, your community, and your earth.

Gardening is green, and green is for life. !

Renata Triveri makes her livelihood working with people who are passionate about BC’s green industry. She borrowed the statistics above from studies cited at LandscapeBritishColumbia.com.

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kids gardeningGrowing Up EngagedThe Terra Nova Schoolyard Society gets kids gardeningBy Arlene Kroeker, Volunteer at the Terra Nova Schoolyard Society

“What is this?” That was the chorus that rose up from the Terra Nova gardens as grade 3 students pulled and dug and snipped and snapped their harvest: white radishes, purple carrots, rainbow kale.

Kids picked corn from the tall stalks. “See, you check it like this,” they explained to those who didn’t know. “Poke the kernel and if milky stuff comes out it’s ready, but if it’s like toothpaste, it’s not.”

They cut the lettuces close to the ground. “They’ll grow back,” they nod-ded assuredly. One student took a bite of his lettuce. His eyes grew large and he looked at his mother, “This is good. We’ve got to get more of this.”

The Terra Nova Schoolyard Project, founded by Chef Ian Lai, began in 2005 with a single grade 3 class, a small plot of borrowed garden, and the desire to connect kids with the earth and where their food comes from. The idea came to Chef Lai, an instructor at Northwest Culinary Academy, as frus-tration mounted with every new class of potential chefs. He would ask them if a rutabaga grew above the ground or below, or did it grow on a bush or a tree? They didn’t know. By introducing young students to the process of grow-ing food, he hopes they will discover not only where their food comes from, but also develop hope for the future

and respect for the earth.Today, hundreds of students from

kindergarten to grade 12 have har-vested the efforts of their work.

Located in the Terra Nova Rural Garden in northwest Richmond, the garden has grown from one borrowed plot to more than 7,000 square feet of growing space, a heritage garden, rice paddy, winter garden, and accessibility to an on-site kitchen where Chef Lai shows students how to prepare and cook their bounty. If kids eat what they’ve pro-duced and like it, they’ll eat it again. And that is the road to a long, healthy relationship to food and the earth.

In the classrooms, the students practice vermicomposting (composting with worms). And although in winter the garden is quiet, the students begin gearing up for spring. They study Richmond’s rich agricultural history, how to plan their garden and weigh their harvest, the roles of insects, weather, seasons, composting, organization, competition, nutrition, social responsibility (excess harvest is donated to the food bank), and the ethics of wasting food.

At the beginning of the school year, some of the new students can barely manage the walk to the garden, but by the end of the season, they run. Exercise, it turns out, is only one of

the benefi ts of participating in the project. The project produces kids who are proud of their work, whether in the garden or in the classroom.

The community has embraced the project. The City of Richmond supports the project by donating land use. The University of British Columbia is on board with projects involving alternative energy and food security. The Terra Nova Schoolyard Society created a line of T-shirts and their own blend of Terra Nova tea as a way to raise money to support the garden’s activities. And volunteers devote time and expertise to the project, knowing that they are growing engaged citizens. !

Arlene Kroeker writes a weekly food column for the Richmond Review. She began her relationship with the Terra Nova Schoolyard Society as a volunteer and is a founding board member.

m

Hands to Service, Health to Better LivingBy Liz Klose, Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA)

Since 1913, 4-H Clubs have been helping to develop well-rounded, responsible and independent rural and urban youth by engaging them in technical and life-skill development. The connection between youth and horticultural skills is one that our members were eager to explore.

Gardening, they agreed, could be a pastime or a profession and whatever a young person might do to develop an interest in gardening would have repercussions on their health, well

being and the environment.Working with the Niagara Parks

School of Horticulture, we created a “Green for Life” Landscape Horticulture program for 4-H clubs across Canada. The new program supports a sense of belonging, responsibility and self-esteem for rural as well as urban youth. It develops creativity, self-confi dence, cooperation, leadership, teamwork, and pride. At the program’s core is an awareness and respect for the environment, ecology,

the love of nature, and the cultivation of environmental stewardship. Most of all, it embraces 4-H’s motto: Learn to do by doing®.

Four modules will be available to 4-H youth members across the country in the coming year. !

Liz Klose is the Landscape Priorities Manager at the CNLA, who fi nds working with 4-H to be a rewarding experience. 4-H strives to help members become community leaders. For more information, visit 4-h-canada.ca.


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The lure of the garden is strong in 2011, with irresistible new introduc-tions showing up at your favourite specialty garden shops. Dominating this year’s parade of new plants are three categories all sporting new hues: the selection of Helleborus, Echinacea, and Heuchera / Heucherella has never been so diverse. If these aren’t enough, hardy gardenia, ever-blooming red hot pokers, pink blueberries and others broaden the palette of new plant picks.

The winter and spring garden has changed forever with the vigorous and fl oriferous Helleborus Gold Collection. Last season brought the collection’s fi rst introductions, ‘Jacob’ and ‘Josef Lemper’ – improved forms of the Christmas rose (H. niger) that begin to bloom in November and December. This spring and beyond, look for ‘HGC Pink Frost’ with rich pink, outward facing fl owers and red stems over

mottled foliage, and ‘HGC Cinnamon Snow’ with white fl owers accented with pink and cinnamon over dark green serrated foliage. Also watch for ‘HGC Silvermoon’ (white fl owers, pewter green foliage), Winter’s Bliss/‘HGC Champion’ and Winter’s Song/‘HGC Joker’ both having white fl owers and dark pink reverses.

Of the 15 or more new conefl owers, two double-fl owered series stand out. The Secret Series includes ‘Secret Desire’ (pink and orange sunset tones), ‘Secret Lust’ (orange), ‘Secret Passion’ (bright pink), and ‘Secret Romance’ (light pink). The Cone-Fections series has two new cultivars ‘Raspberry Truffl e’ (dark pink) and ‘Strawberry Shortcake’ (bicolour white and pink).

For those who prefer classic single conefl owers, the Dream Series shows promise as a group of strong and

reliable performers with good branching and lots of fl owers. Try ‘Daydream’ (yellow), ‘Amazing Dream’ (deep pink), ‘Heavenly Dream’ (white), and ‘Tangerine Dream’ (bright orange). If you’ve had limited success with cone-fl owers remember that these prairie plants require poor, dry soil and full sun.

The march of new coral bells remains unabated. But they keep getting better! Two new trailing Heucherella mark the beginning of something great for borders and containers. ‘Redstone Falls’ has copper-red leaves and trails one foot across the ground or over the edge of containers or hang-ing baskets. ‘Yellowstone Falls’ has chartreuse leaves with deep crimson markings. It can trail three feet. Imagine the possibili-

A Parade of Hot New PlantsIrresistible introductions for 2011By Gary Lewis, M.Sc., Phoenix Perennials & Specialty Plants Ltd.

new this year

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ties! Also watch for clumping Heuchera ‘Cherry Cola’ with red-brown leaves and rusty cherry red fl owers.

For subtlety and beauty in the shade garden, try the Japanese forest grass Hakonechloa Fubuki/‘Briform’ with striking white and green striped foliage (it has pink highlights in spring and fall) perfect for lighting up a dark corner. Or try six different easy-to-grow lady’s slipper orchids: Cypripedium ‘Dietrich’ (yellow and cream), ‘Gisela’ (pink and dark pink), ‘Sabine Pastel’ (white and cream), ‘Ulla Silkens’ (pure white, pink fl ush or speckles), ‘Victoria’ (yellow with burgundy striping) and Cypripedium ventricosum ‘Pastel’ (ivory white).

Three new hostas will also create quite a stir. ‘White Feather’ joins

‘Dancing Queen’ (a Phoenix Perennials favourite last season) both with completely white leaves making a shockingly awesome punctuation in the spring garden. As the leaves mature, streaks of green begin to appear. Two equally exciting new hostas offer tri-colour variegation. ‘Ghostmaster’ has white-centred leaves surrounded with emerald green surrounded again with a blue-green border. ‘Captain’s Adventure’ has creamy yellow, yellow-green and dark green colours that form an elongated maple leaf pattern.

For fl air and excitement in the sun border, try a new series of compact, all-summer blooming red hot pokers. Kniphofi a ‘Papaya Popsicle’ has prolifi c red-orange blooms and ‘Pineapple Popsicle’ has massive numbers of yellow spikes the colour of freshly sliced pineapple.

Helleborus Gold Collection® ‘Pink Frost’Photo: Skagit Gardens

Hosta ‘White Feather’

Echinacea ‘Secret Desire’Photo: Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.

Echinacea ‘Tangerine Dream’Photo: Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.

Kniphofi a ‘Papaya Popsicle’Photo: Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.


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Two new shrubs will offer olfactory and culinary pizzazz in 2011. Gardenia ‘Summer Snow’ is zone 6 hardy with sweetly fragrant, pure white, double fl owers. A blueberry that tiptoed out last season will be more widely avail-able this year, and is anything but blue. Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’ is, you guessed it, PINK! Despite the differ-ence in colour, it still has all of the fl avour and health benefi ts of a regular blueberry, as well as the year-round interest in fl owers, fruit, fall foliage and red winter twigs.

Rounding out the festivities for 2011 are fi ve cottage garden favou-rites that have been reinvented: the wallfl ower Erysimum ‘Fragrant Star’

has variegated, evergreen foliage, chocolate-purple buds, and sweetly fragrant yellow fl owers. Centaurea montana ‘Black Sprite’ (perennial bachelor button) has purple-black fl ow-ers instead of royal blue. The bleeding heart, Dicentra spectabilis ‘Valentine’ will offer red pendulous hearts instead of pink. A new cultivar of shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum), called ‘Lacrosse,’ has pure white quilled pet-als that look like spoons or lacrosse sticks. And the crimson scabious, Knautia macedonica, gains a new dwarf, variegated form called ‘Thunder and Lightning’ with white-edged leaves and an endless supply of magenta pompoms all summer long.

Have fun with the 2011 parade of hot new plants! !

Gary Lewis owns Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd. in Richmond, B.C., which offers over 4,000 different perennials each year. He serves on the board of the Perennial Plant Association and works with Great Plant Picks and E-Flora BC.

Centaurea ‘Black Sprite’Photo: Skagit Gardens

Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’Photo: Briggs Plant Propagators, LLC

Knautia ‘Thunder and Lightning’Photo: Skagit Gardens

Erysimum ‘Fragrant Star’ Photo: Skagit Gardens


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Many of us retreat to the garden during the growing season, fi nding in its toil a pleasure that connects us to the earth. However, some attractive plant species, namely ‘invasive plants’, overrun native or non-invasive exotic vegetation to the detriment of surrounding ecosystems.

Gardeners have been rearranging the world’s fl ora for centuries, carrying hundreds of plant species from their native ranges to new areas. A small number of these species have resulted in the radical alteration of ecosystems. Invasions cause a decline in biodiversity, and the deterioration of natural resources. Invasive plants also cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year through losses to industry, as impacts are often irreversible and restoration can be extremely diffi cult and expensive. Some invasive plants even harm our health, cause allergic reactions and, in the worst cases, skin burns.

As property owners and gardening enthusiasts, we share the responsibility to help prevent the damaging impacts of invasive plants to our local

communities – and practicing smart gardening is key.

How to be Garden SmartBefore you plant a new species, ask:Will the plant be invasive outside my garden? Many plant traits that are desirable to gardeners – such as easy germination and rapid establishment, tolerance to drought and frost, rapid growth and abundant seed production – enable a plant species to become invasive and diffi cult to control.If I order a plant from outside B.C., could it be invasive in my environment? It is possible, although there may be a lag phase before a plant becomes invasive. Check to see if it is listed locally as invasive. What do I need to know from my local nursery or garden centre? Find out if a plant is a “fast spreader” or a “vigorous self-seeder” in your planting zone. If so, these are warning signs that the species may be invasive.Is there an alternate plant I can use

Garden SmartPractices to reduce the threat from invasive plantsBy Julianne Leekie, Communications Coordinator, Invasive Plant Council of BC

1. A single hawkweed (Hieracium spp.) plant can produce more than 700 root buds during the growing season. Photo: L. Scott. 2. Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) removal is very arduous work. This single plant, pulled by two crew members, is estimated to be 50lbs. Avoid purchasing or planting this highly aggressive, water-loving invasive plant that is still sold in some retail outlets. Photo: J. Leekie. 3. Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) grows up to 5m in height. Its stem hairs and leaves contain a clear, toxic sap that can cause burns, blisters, and scarring of the skin. Photo: A. Weaver. 4. Weed pulls are great team building events – join one in your community! Photo: Northwest Invasive Plant Council.

1 2

3 4


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instead of one with the potential to become invasive? Ask the retailer or refer to the Invasive Plant Council of BC’s Grow Me Instead booklet to fi nd suggested alternatives for British Columbia’s most unwanted invasive plants in horticulture.

What Can You Do? Take Action! • Spread knowledge – Make others in

your neighbourhood aware of local invasive plants.

• Make non-invasive plants your fi rst choice when landscaping.

• Amputate or dead-head fl owers. Pluck single stalks or shear off bunches of fl ower heads from plants that might become invasive.

• Remove or dispose of invasive plant parts and seeds responsibly (i.e., bag and landfi ll or incinerate). Most invasive plants should not be composted. Never dump yard trimmings into natural areas.

• Take a look. Learn to identify locally important invasive plants. Look closely before buying seeds, especially wildfl ower, bird or restoration seed mixtures. Many mixed seeds contain unwanted invaders.

Together is Better!You can make a difference – report invasive plants (1-888-WEEDSBC), participate in weed pull events, and support local botanical gardens, nurseries, and gardening clubs that promote, display, or sell non-invasive plants. !

Julianne Leekie is the communications coordinator for the Invasive Plant Council of BC, a grassroots, non-profi t society

working to build cooperation and coordination of invasive plant management in B.C. For information or to become a member (at no cost), visit: invasiveplantcouncilbc.ca or call 1-888-WEEDSBC.

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16 GREEN FOR LIFE! 2011 landscapebritishcolumbia.com

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Amsterdam Greenhouses Ltd. D319100 Old Dewdney Trunk Road, Pitt Meadowsamsterdamgreenhouses.com

Anderton Nursery Ltd. M42012 Anderton Road, Comox250-339-4726

Answer Garden Products Ltd., The (Bulk Soil) I527715 Huntingdon Road, Abbotsford604-856-6221Arrowsmith Greenhouses M62880 Alberni Highway., Qualicum Beach250-752-1592Art Knapp Plantland M72855 Wentworth Road, Courtenay250-334-3024Art’s Green Acres Tree Farm F85440 No. 6 Road, Richmond 604-273-1553Art’s Nursery Ltd. H98940 - 192nd Street, Surreyartsnursery.comAugustine Trucking Ltd. (Soil & Mulch) D1012620 Woolridge Road, Pitt Meadowsaugustinegroup.caB. Dinter Nursery Ltd. M112205 Phipps Road, Duncandinternursery.caB.C.’s Wild Heritage Plants L1247330 Extrom Road, Sardisbcwildheritage.comBedrock Granite Sales Ltd. C131865 Pipeline Road, Coquitlambedrockgranitesales.comBellbrook Nursery E1412520 Bell Street, [email protected] Nursery Inc. O15 2915 No. 3 Highway, Creston250-428-2062 Bloedel Floral Conservatory B14233 Avenue & Cambie, Vancouvervancouver.caBlue Mountain Nursery Company Ltd. O161871 Pleasant Valley Road, Armstrongbluemountainnursery.caBurnco Rock Products I1720395 – 102B Avenue, Langleyburnco.com

Butchart Gardens Ltd. M18800 Benvenuto Avenue, Brentwood Baybutchartgardens.comBylands Nurseries Ltd. O19 1600 Byland Road, Kelownabylandsgardencentre.comCampbell River Garden Centre M20673 Old Petersen Road, Campbell Rivercrgardencentre.comCanada’s Bamboo World L218450 Banford Road, Chilliwackbambooworld.comCannor Nursery 34261 Marshall Road, Abbotsford K22 7640 Lickman Road, Chilliwack L23 609 East Island Highway, Parksville M24 4660 Elk Lake Drive, Victoria M25 cannor.comCasey’s Country Gardens Ltd. O265612 Wharf Road, Sechelt604-885-3606 Cedar Rim Nursery Ltd. I277024 Glover Road, Langleycedarrim.comDavid Hunter Garden Center H2915175 - 72nd Avenue, Surreydavidhuntergardencenters.comDeluxe Landscaping M306037 Sechelt Inlet Road, Sechelt604-885-9070 Denbow (Soil & Mulch) L3140874 Yale Road, Chilliwackdenbow.comDevan Greenhouses K3228904 Fraser Highway, Abbotsforddevangreenhouses.caDuda Nursery Ltd. O332346 Sun Valley Way, Okanagan Falls250-497-5641Dykhof Nurseries Ltd. A34460 Mountain Highway, North Vancouver604-985-1914 Earthwise Society Boundary Bay Garden G35Boundary Bay Road & 3 Avenue, Deltaearthwisesociety.bc.ca

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Eco-Soil Organic Compost H3619455 28th Ave, Surreyeco-soil.comElk Lake Garden Centre M375450 Pat Bay Highway, Victoria250-658-8812 Expert Stone Paving & Landscaping and Tri-Star Nurseries & Landscape Supplies Ltd. H385047 - 184th Street, Surreyespl.bc.caFraser Richmond Soil & Fibre Ltd. F39270, 21320 Gordon Way, Richmondfraserrichmond.caFraser’s Thimble Farm M40175 Arbutus Road, Salt Spring Islandthimblefarms.comFraserview Nursery Ltd. K4128227 Fraser Highway, Abbotsford604-607-5575Gaia College Inc. (Education) M42 2485 Koksilah Road, Duncangaiacollege.caGarden In Gardens Greenhouses Ltd. F434080 No. 6 Road, Richmondgings.caGardenWorksTM 6250 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby B44 4746 Marine Drive, Burnaby B45 3147 Woodbine Drive, North Vancouver A46 705 West Third Street, North Vancouver A47 4290 Blenkinsop Road, Saanich M48 1916 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria M49 1859 Old Island Highway, Colwood M50 gardenworks.caGeorama Growers O512870 Georama Road, Nelsongeoramagrowers.comGibbs Nurseryland & Florists Ltd. I527950 - 200th Street, Langley604-888-5388 Glendale Gardens & Woodland andPacific Horticulture College (Education) M53505 Quayle Road, Victoriahcp.bc.ca

Grasslands Nursery O543615 Gartrell Road, Summerland250-494-4617Greater Valley Nursery K5528230 Fraser Highway, Abbotsford604-807-6939 Greendale Farm & Nursery Ltd. L566950 Sumas Prairie Road, Chilliwack778-552-1221 Hanson’s Landscaping & Nursery L57 48120 Chilliwack Central Road, Chilliwack604-792-5380It’s About Thyme Nursery Ltd. B587509 Meadow Avenue, Burnabyitsaboutthyme.caK.B.F. Enterprises Inc. L5940040 No. 3 Road, Abbotsford604-823-0098Kwantlen Polytechnic University (Education) I60 20901 Langley Bypasskwantlen.ca/horticultureLandscape Centre Inc. C615-75 Blue Mountain Street, Coquitlamlandscapecentre.comLandscape Depot Inc. I6219779 - 56th Avenue, Langleylandscapedepotbc.comLyons Garden Centre & Landscaping Ltd. O63 1271 Salish Street, Kamloopslyonslandscaping.comMaple Leaf Garden Centre 2558 Haywood Avenue, West Vancouver A641343 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver A65mapleleafgardencentre.caMeadows Landscape Supply D6618020 Kennedy Road, Pitt Meadowsmeadowslandscapesupply.comMinter Country Garden Ltd. L6710015 Young Road North, Chilliwackmintergardens.comMinter Gardens L68Exit #135 Highway #1, Rosedalemintergardens.com

Natural Gardener Garden Store Ltd., The B694376 - 10th Avenue West, Vancouverthenatural-gardener.comNico’s Nurseryland Ltd. 830 - 28th Street NE, Salmon Arm O70Fairway Hills Road, Blind Bay O71nicosnurseryland.comNinety-Nine Nursery & Florist Inc. H729376 King George Highway, Surrey99nurseryflorist.comNorthwest Landscape & Stone Supply Ltd. B73 5883 Byrne Road, Burnabylandscapesupply.comNuma Farms Nursery M743459 Luxton Road, Langford250-474-6005 Pacific Bark Blowers Inc. (Soil & Mulch) B755985 Thorne Avenue, Burnabypacificbarkblowers.comPark & Tilford Gardens A76440, 333 Brooksbank Avenue, North Vancouverparkandtilford.ca/pandtgardens.htmPhoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd. F773380 No. 6 Road, Richmondphoenixperennials.comPort Kells Nurseries Ltd. H7818730 - 88th Avenue, Surreyportkellsnurseries.comQuality Farm & Garden Supply Ltd. M79325A Pratt Road, Gibsons604-886-7527Richbar Nurseries P803028 Red Bluff Road, Quesnelrichbarnursery.comRiver Meadow Nursery M913125 Piercy Avenue, Courtenayrivermeadownursery.comRiver Nursery Co. H9216328 - 56th Avenue, Surrey604-576-1643RONA Inc.Various locationsrona.ca

Rooted by the River P9356 Clearwater Station Road, Clearwaterrootedbytheriver.caRussell Nursery M941370 Wain Road, North Saanichrussellnursery.comScentSational Plants M95830 Sayward Road, Victoria250-658-3544School District #41 – Burnaby (Education) B965325 Kincaid Street, Burnabyburnabyce.comSelections Nursery & Design Centre H97 511 - 176th Street, Surreyselectionsnursery.comStanley Park (Gardens of) B1432000 W Georgia Street, Vancouvervancouver.caSticks ‘N Stones Nursery M98 48 Dogwood Street, Campbell River250-286-6916 Streamside Native Plants M997455 Island Highway West, Bowserstreamsidenativeplants.comSun Tai Sang Farm B1004886 SE Marine Drive, Burnaby604-434-3663Sunnyside Nurseries G1012300 - 56th Street, Delta604-943-9712 Sunshine Coast Nursery O102 1826 Sunshine Coast Highway, Roberts Creek604-886-2796 Swan Lake Nurseryland O1037920 Highland Road, Vernonmyswanlake.comThompson Rivers University Horticulture Department (Education) O104900 McGill Road, Kamloopstru.ca/trades/degrees/horticulture.htmlTop Crop Garden, Farm & Pet O1052101 Cranbrook Street North, Cranbrook250-489-4555 Trice Farms Pond & Garden Centre D10624565 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridgetricefarms.comTriple Five Quality Wood Inc. I10719881 - 16th Avenue, Langleytriplefivequalitywood.comUBC Botanical Shop in the Garden & Centre for Plant Research B1086804 SW Marine Drive, Vancouverubcbotanicalgarden.orgUniversity of the Fraser Valley (Education) L10945635 Yale Road, Chilliwackufv.ca/agricultureUplands Nursery P1105425 Freeman Road, Terrace250-635-2603 Vancouver School Board #39 (Education) B1115905 Wales Street, Vancouvervsb.bc.caVanDusen Botanical Garden B1125251 Oak Street, Vancouvervandusengarden.orgW.I.G. (Western Independent Greenhouses) B1136151 Thorne Avenue, Burnabywigplants.comWest Coast Bark Products Inc. B1145985 Thorne Avenue, Burnabywestcoastbark.comWest Coast Gardens H1151420 - 172nd Street, Surreywestcoastgardens.caWestbank Nursery Ltd. O1363417A Paynter Road, Westbank250-768-3355 Western Garden & Lawn Supplies Ltd. G1379250 River Road, Delta604-435-2266 Wild Rose Garden Centre M138750 Tin Can Alley, Gabriola Island250-247-7887 Winderberry Nursery O1391681 Highway 93/95, Windermere250-342-3236 Windmill Garden Centre O1409100 Jones Flat Road, Summerland250-494-3178Wing Wong’s Nursery B1414892 SE Marine Drive, Burnaby604-433-5685

Landscape Industry Certified Staff

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It’s a little like an old-time picnic. The hot July sun is usually shining. The air is sweet with the fragrance of fresh cut grass. A hum of collegial chatter and laughter drifts above the crowd. And a curious assortment of skill-testing sta-tions litters the lawn. There is always a barbecue lunch. But there’s no sack race, and everyone seems just a little nervous.

Every summer, British Columbia’s landscape professionals gather on the grounds of Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s School of Horticulture to challenge the two- or three-day inten-sive written and practical exams that make up the internationally accredited Landscape Industry Certifi cation program. You’ll fi nd that some candi-dates already hold recognized degrees or diplomas. Others are journeyed tradespeople. They will tell you that their credentials show that they went to school to become landscape professionals. But they are challenging the Landscape Industry Certifi ed exams just the same. This one means just a little bit more: it’s proof that they know what they’re doing – and their colleagues and competitors are watching to make sure.

The idea sprouted in the United States to address the dilemma that any guy and his wheelbarrow could call himself a landscaping company, and there was no way to show that some gardeners and landscape contractors


A Field Day for LAchieving Landscape Industry Certification is no p

landscape i

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had a lot more know-how than others. In 1995, members of the BC Landscape & Nursery Association (BCLNA) piloted the program for the fi rst time in Canada. They

liked that it was practical. While people could take courses to learn the theory behind the trade, their papers didn’t mean that they knew how to safely and effectively run the equipment, or how to grade and plant trees and shrubs for best success. They also liked that people who had been in business for years – but didn’t have formal education – could prove that they had excellent horticultural chops; many of these industry old-timers had the best reputations around for quality workmanship. Earning their Certifi cation let them prove it.

The program was adopted right away, and soon became a Canada-wide benchmark. Exam days are run in nearly every province, and the whole industry turns out in force to set the stations; the very best become adjudicators for new can-didates, and the judges’ technical assistants ensure that each person is marked uniformly and fairly.

It’s true that sometimes only a few will emerge with the prize, while others must return home to hone their skills and fi nish the challenge another day. But achieving that level of approval is a badge of honour, and one that landscape companies proudly display and share with their clients. After all, they are the ones who benefi t most from a garden well built. !

Landscaperso picnic

industry certifiedHow to find a certified professionalIn British Columbia, there are four designations under the Landscape Industry Certifi ed banner. Look for the logo when you hire, and where you shop.

A Landscape Industry Certifi ed Technician has

passed (with a minimum grade of 70%) the written and 11 practical exams associated with one or more specialty areas: Hardscape Installation, Softscape Installation, Turf Maintenance, Ornamental Maintenance, Interior Landscaping.

Landscape Industry Certifi ed Designers have

demonstrated that they possess a certain level of education, experience, and profi ciency. Passing a detailed portfolio review is a mandatory requirement, as is obtaining at least 70% on the written exams.

The Landscape Industry Certifi ed Manager

designation is intended for owners and managers of horticulture companies, and focuses on core business skills required to run a successful operation. Candidates earn their designation by completing a series of seven rigorous written exams with a minimum score of 70%.

Achieving the Landscape Industry Certifi ed

Retail Horticulturist designation requires a minimum grade of 70% on a written and 11 practical exams. This designation proves competence, knowledge, and varied expertise required of garden centre staff.

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2

1. DOWN TO EARTH LANDSCAPESUnique or Special Feature This custom-designed concrete fi re bowl sits in the exterior atrium of a contemporary home, wrapped on three sides by windows.

Don’t be afraid to make a bold statement! A simple but substan-tial focal point can make the space.

2. HEIKE DESIGNS INC.Single Family Residential MaintenanceA natural, Whistler-area property, this garden is maintained on a small budget for colour throughout the seasons, and protection from winter’s snowpack.

3. THE GREAT CANADIAN LANDSCAPING CO. LTD.Single Family Residential MaintenanceBeyond the gates of this park-like property are immaculately maintained secret gardens, waterfalls, streams, and ponds that border the forest’s edge.

Beckon visitors to your garden by creating an inviting entry way. Specimen trees, beautiful gates, and meandering paving stones give a sense of the space beyond.

4. PARA SPACE LANDSCAPING INC.Multi-Unit Residential MaintenanceThe maintenance of this property is complicated by a series of upper rooftop decks that require multiple extension ladders and fall protection. Despite the challenges, Para Space meticulously maintains all aspects and advises on irrigation, upgrades, and plant health.

5. PARA SPACE LANDSCAPING INC.Multi-Unit Residential MaintenanceA mature, mountainside strata prop-erty, this landscape is comprehensively managed. It receives high-end, detail and service oriented maintenance tailored to the needs and desires of the residents who enjoy gardening on occasion.

Lawns really are “green”! The turf on eight average-sized, healthy, front lawns has the cooling effect of 70 tons of air condi-tioning compared to paved areas, and a 50 by 50-foot lawn produces enough oxygen for a family of four to breathe for one year.

6. KROL CONSTRUCTION & GEOFF WOODSSingle Family Residential InstallationTo create more privacy, dense, multi-layered plantings were installed in this garden. A walk-through arbour draped in clematis and hanging baskets serves as a welcoming entry point to an inner courtyard.

7. DOWN TO EARTH LANDSCAPESSingle Family Residential InstallationThis garden was inspired by the spiral form. Precision planting by the Down to Earth team and superlative masonry was key. Custom gates, quadripods and an arbour set a classic overtone.

Winning RecipesIdeas for your own green space from this year’s best

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B.C. landscape awards of excellence

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13

8. LANDSCAPE 2000Single Family Residential InstallationStone walls, designed to look as though they have been present for centuries, give a timeless ambience to this property. A fi re-pit, glass table, and guest seating offer conversation areas among the stunning plantings.

Garden lighting can create an amazing ambience and extend the use of your yard well into the evening. Consider using lights to highlight the textures of your favourite plants, while illuminating the living space.

9. WATERMARK GARDENS Single Family Residential InstallationThis waterfront location presented a great logistical challenge as materials and equipment to correct stability and drainage problems had to be trans-ported by water. A mix of evergreen hedging, perennial and broadleaf ever-green plantings and landscape lighting now enhances the use of the space.

10. DOWN TO EARTH LANDSCAPESSingle Family Residential InstallationThis uniquely situated property is bor-dered by Cypress Creek and reaches down to the ocean. Great care was taken to protect the root zone of a magnifi cent, 80-year-old ocean side oak. 7,000 and 8,000 pound Omorika spruce trees add privacy from the neighbours.

11. ACACIA LANDSCAPESSingle Family Residential InstallationThe goal of this design was to create privacy while blurring the interface between indoors and outdoors. By creating different levels for the outdoor lounge and barbecue area, the dining terrace, lawn, playgrounds and hot-tub, the space became a series of rooms with plant material creating the walls.

Create outdoor spaces that the whole family can enjoy, and you will feel as if your entire home has grown in size!

12. FOSSIL PROJECT SERVICES LTD. & PAUL SANGHA LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURESingle Family Residential InstallationAfter three months of demolition work to remove the original landscaping and swimming pool, a 65-foot long infi nity pool and regulation bocce court were installed as focal points to the multi-level garden. A lavish entertaining space also showcases the homeowners’ sculpture collection.

13. PACIFICA LANDSCAPE WORKS INC.Single Family Residential InstallationA dysfunctional piece of property with grading issues was transformed into dramatic outdoor living and entertaining spaces. Unique elements include a curved outdoor kitchen, granite bar, ozone spa and waterfall, basalt fi re-pit, automated sound and lighting system, and a three-hole putting green with white sand trap.

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10648 Westminster Hwy.Richmond, B.C. V6X 1B2

Tel. 604.273.5520Fax. 604.273.5517

www.lwlandscaping.ca


award winnersWhere to Find this Year’s Winners’ CircleThe BCLNA Landscape Awards of Excellence recognize the year’s fi nest landscape projects in a prestigious competition. Projects range in value and focus and are judged against stringent criteria by a panel of professionals from the horticulture industry.

The highest ranked projects are submitted to the following year’s National Awards of Landscape Excellence.

You can see more from this season’s winners by visiting landscapebritish-columbia.com

Acacia Landscape Victoria250-595-0527acaciavictoria.comSubmitted to the National Awards of Landscape Excellence

Down to Earth Landscapes North Vancouver604-985-0092downtoearthlandscapes.caNational Awards of Landscape Excellence Qualifi er

Fossil Project Services Ltd. *Co-entrant with Paul Sangha Landscape ArchitectureVancouver604-709-8426 fossilprojectservices.comNational Awards of Landscape Excellence Qualifi er

Geoff Woods, Designer*Co-entrant with Krol ConstructionNew Westminster604-519-1410

Heike DesignsWhistler604-902-1891heikedesigns.com

Krol Construction*Co-entrant with Geoff WoodsCoquitlam604-728-1437krolconstruction.com

Landscape 2000 Vancouver604-685-2000landscape2000.ca

Pacifi ca Landscape Works Surrey604-538-5577pacifi calandscapes.com

Para Space Landscaping Inc.Burnaby604-291-2800paraspaceinc.comNational Awards of Landscape Excellence Qualifi er

Paul Sangha Landscape Architecture *Co-entrant with Fossil Project ServicesVancouver604-736-2323paulsangha.comNational Awards of Landscape Excellence Qualifi er

The Great Canadian Landscaping Co. Ltd. North Vancouver, BC604-924-5296greatcanadianlandscaping.comNational Awards of Landscape Excellence Qualifi er

Watermark Gardens Vancouver, BC604-323-1448watermarkgardens.com

Special thanks to…

Premier Sponsors

Gold

Abbotsford Concrete Spa ProductsCedar Rim NurseryDenbow Group of CompaniesEcho Power Equipment (Canada)Fraser Richmond Soil & FibreGardenWise magazineStihl CanadaTerraLink HorticultureWaterscene

Bronze


Cutting Edge Horticulture TrainingOrganic Master Gardener CertificateLearn to create fabulous gardens without pesticides. A combination of lectures and hands- on exercises. Classes are held 2 evenings aweek, starting January and September,16 sessions for $695.Ecological Landscape DesignGo beyond the basics with the latest informationon designs that work WITH nature to produceecologically sound landscapes. A combination oflectures and field experiences. (2 semesters)Classes are held one evening & Saturdayafternoon per week, starting September 2011,18 sessions for $550/semester.Residential Landscape TechnicianAll the information required for employment as a residential landscaper,including business fundamentals. Industry approved by the BCLNA.(2 semesters) Classes are held one evening & Saturday morning per week,starting January and September, 18 sessions for $550/semester.Growing Food In The CityIf you are concerned about where your food comes from, what’s in it (or on it),learn to grow your own vegetables and fruits organically. Of the 16 sess., 8 willbe in the classroom and 8 will be held in the garden. The class will run fromMarch to Oct. to span an entire growing season, from starting seeds topreserving/storing your harvest and saving seeds. Classes are held variousWed. evening & Sat. mornings starting in March, 18 sessions, $550.

Phone 604-664-8888 to have a detailed brochure sent to your home.

www.burnabyce.comwww.gaiacollege.ca


Meeting MinimumsWhether you work with a Landscape Industry Certifi ed designer, landscape architect, landscape contractor, or on your own, your outdoor living space should be installed with the BC Landscape Standard in mind.

It defi nes the minimum acceptable standards for site preparation, grading, drainage, soil, irrigation, lawns, planting, mulching, structures, green roofs, maintenance, and scheduling.

The book is also valuable to homeowners, strata council members and property managers, who need to ensure that work is being completed correctly.

To purchase a copy of the BC Landscape Standard (7th Edition) visit BCLNA.com. !

MEMBER

Pickup or Delivery 7 Days A Week

www.landscapedepotbc.com

604-534-3700 604-591-7534 19779-56th Ave., Langley 8157 132nd St., Surrey

604-536-9366 2825-194 St., S. Surrey

Your One Stop Landscape Shop



Everything we do begins with a plan. It isn’t always formal, and we are not always aware we are making one but, if you think about it, we do! Being prepared creates the vision of where we are going, and the best way to get there. It is effi cient and saves time, money and energy – three commodities that we never seem to have enough of.

A plan – a design – is especially crucial when it comes to gardens. Making changes to the puzzling area outside the walls of our homes can be confusing and overwhelming. The required changes may be minor adjustments to plants, or complete overhauls that require major upheaval.

Clients often confi de that they don’t know what they want in their garden. But they do. And you do too! The most important thing to know is how the time spent in your garden will be most enjoyed. What best suits your lifestyle? Everyone knows that answer! You know how you want to live outside. Read, relax, entertain, or play: the list is unique to each individual or family. A landscape design is the tool necessary to ensure that your entire wish list is being considered.

Once completed, implementing the design can take as long as you need, and you will always know what your fi nished garden will look like.

The framework of the garden is the fi rst and foremost consideration for any landscape design. I have a theory that if the plants all disappear, a garden should still have form and texture and be able to be enjoyed as an outdoor room; however, plants are the icing on the landscape design and environmental cake, and require equal consideration once the foundation is built.

Once the grey clouds of winter lift, there is a sense of jubilation and a desire to change something to make the garden more beautiful. A trip to the garden centre will do just that. There are always colourful treasures blooming. So we take them home and plant them and have the most exciting spring garden in the neighbourhood. But spring ends, and soon the garden is all green again. And once more, there is an urgency to change something and make the garden more beautiful. Creating a

CREATIVE CONSIDERATIONS

! Make sure everything is drawn to scale, otherwise it might not work.! Measure elevation differences; even small ones can be deceiving.! Make as many changes as you want – on paper.! Assess the design several times, looking at different times of the day and from different angles. Lay it out with rope or hose.! Go and look at the materials you are considering; textures and colours look different in the light of day.! Be aware of what you like and

don’t like. Consider colour, texture, and allergies.! Listen to others, but trust your instincts.! Ask for professional help. A de-signer can critique your layout, create the design you will build from, and generally complete design elements to whatever extent you require.! Be aware of how much mainte-nance you want to do, or pay for. Long term care is an essential part of the design process.! Design well. Build once.

Things to remember when designing on your own

Planning Pays Off in Sweat & SHow hiring a garden designer can save you time, mRuth Olde, Landscape Industry Certifi ed Designer, Blasig Landscape Design & Construction

landscape design

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planting design – and sticking to it – will result in a garden that can be enjoyed all year with varying texture and colours appearing throughout the seasons. Even winter colour or charming branch patterns can be planned to add interest when the leaves are gone.

There is a plant that will grow in almost any location you provide. The key is being aware of what plant will grow in the designated location, avoiding invasive species, and ensuring that its needs are met.

The amount of care that will be required to keep your new outdoor rooms looking beautiful is another huge part of the planning process. Be sure you know, right from the start, how much time or money will be involved before committing to a design. Just like your house, maintaining your garden can be costly and time consuming. A well developed landscape design is an investment that will save you money in the long run. !

Ruth Olde is an award-winning landscape designer, who owns and operates Blasig Landscape Design & Construction Ltd. with partner Gunther Blasig. She is the author of Landscaping Made Easy by Design, and is immediate Past President of the BCLNA.

Spadese, money, and energy

A landscape designer will produce a drawing like this to give you a bird’s eye view of your future garden space.

Getting Started With a DesignerTips for working with a professionalRuth Olde, Landscape Industry Certifi ed Designer

If you have no desire to create your own design, there are many qualifi ed, talented professionals who can help. Choosing a designer depends on their background, on your requirements, and most importantly, whether or not you ‘fi t’ together. You can expect a fee for the initial visit, but it is worth pay-ing to discover whose ideas suit you best. An initial phone interview might suffi ce to get a feel for general person-ality, but don’t expect too many brilliant ideas, site unseen. A design develops with your input and the expertise of the designer, so comfortable communica-tion is paramount. The designer will bring your family’s wish list to life, and you can disagree with them – instead of with each other.

Referrals are wonderful, especially if you can see their fi nished design or garden. Watch for magazine or newspaper articles written by or about landscape designers. Ask at local garden centres for suggestions. Go to landscapebritishcolumbia.com and click on “Get a Landscape Quote” to request that landscape designers working in your area contact you.

Ask the designer for credentials and references. Check out the company website. Discuss budget for the design – and possibly for the project – but allow for creativity. You can work with the designer later and decide what will be included, or completed in stages, or eliminated, based on budget.

Ask for a timeline. Once you have committed to investing in a design, your excitement is at a peak. Knowing how long it will be until you see some-thing on paper helps maintain your enthusiasm.

Create a gallery of images that describe your dream garden. It will help the designer understand your tastes and translate those visions into your world in a unique way.

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The Science of LandscapesLandscape architects offer innovative and technical expertiseBy Mark van der Zalm, MBCSLA, van der Zalm + associates inc.

landscape architecture

Enjoyable surroundings are important for everyone: From our favourite neighbourhood park to our own backyards, they are spaces that we cherish, protect and love to show off to the world, no matter the scale.

A landscape architect, working with you, can provide the technical and ar-tistic background to make your vision a reality. Landscape architects are often hired to offer their professional and in-novative expertise to plan, design, and manage projects by individuals who want to landscape their property. They act as a liaison between the landscape contractor, other professionals, and the owner. Without any fi nancial ties to the contractor, a landscape architect will specify materials and support the quality of work that is in the owner’s

best interest.In British Columbia, all individuals

who hold the title ‘landscape architect’ have to be licensed. Landscape archi-tects must have at least a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from an accredited institution, pass a vigorous, standardized examination process, and meet a minimum level of work experience. Landscape architects adhere to a strict code of conduct to ensure that the health, safety, and well-being of the public are well-protected.

Hiring a registered landscape architect for a project means that you are employing an individual who has demonstrated the knowledge, skill, and ability to practice landscape archi-tecture. They can provide:• Analysis of site property features

and constraints.• Development and revision of design

plans to illustrate the client’s vision (for example, design of driveways, walkways, patios, water features, and selection and placement of plants).

• Implementation of sustainable site design.

• Verifi cation of compliance with applicable codes and ordinances.

• Coordination of work with other design professionals and construc-tion specialists (such as architects, civil engineers, and landscape contractors).

• Completion of construction drawings (including grading and drainage, irrigation, erosion control measures, lighting plans, trellises, shade

Landscape Architects Create Form and Function in LandscapesThe BC Society of Landscape Architects is the professional regulating organization dedicated to furthering the development of standards and advancement of knowledge and skills relating to landscape architectural practice in BC

Landscape architecture was formally born in the late 19th Century, with the creation of Manhattan’s Central Park. Since then, the profession has blossomed and contributed to the public and private landscapes that make up our beautiful province with the efforts

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structures, fi re safety zones) which are used to obtain bids from contractors and implement the design.To learn more about landscape

architecture and see a full listing of registered landscape architects and fi rms practicing in BC, visit bcsla.org. To see a fascinating organization of projects contributed by Landscape Architects across Canada, visit the Web Atlas for Landscape Architecture projects at sitelines.org/webatlas. To become a part of the Landscape Architects’ Social Network, go to facebook.com/BCSocietyofLandscapeArchitects. !

Mark van der Zalm is the founding principal of the landscape architecture and urban design fi rm, van der Zalm + associates inc., and serves as the president of the BC Society of Landscape Architects (BCSLA).

and dedication of many men and women from the varied backgrounds of horticulture, construction, architecture, and planning, to name a few. Landscape architects seek to design beautiful, functional, and environmentally sustainable places for socializing, recreating, relaxing, and engaging with nature, such as public plazas, parks, and residential complexes.

Dockside Green Treatment Pond, Victoria.Photo: PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc.

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Soil is the common denominator for all landscape projects. It doesn’t matter if you are building a playing fi eld, planting a large commercial landscape, or installing a residential garden, soil lies beneath all of them. If there are problems with the soil such as compac-tion, lack of rooting depth, low organic matter, poor fertility, or poor drainage, then the landscape will fail – or at the very least, your plants and grass will become unhealthy.

Because high quality soil is essen-tial for successful landscapes and gardens, a clear understanding of the critical factors that impact the quality of urban soils is necessary. If we think of soils in terms of productivity (i.e. how well the soil will grow plants) it is easier to understand what can be done to improve quality. Factors that impact

plant productivity in urban soils include:• poor aeration• low organic matter• low nutrient retention ability• high salt content (often from winter

road salting)• reduced activity of micro-organisms• elevated pH levels (acidity and

alkalinity)• compacted soil layers• perched water tables, where water

cannot drain due to the soil layering.Landscapers need to ensure that these quality issues do not occur on their sites, or if they do, have the knowledge and ability to remediate the problem. As a homeowner, you can ask for soil tests to be completed and you can compare the test results to the BC Landscape Standard, which provides guidelines for what is acceptable soil quality.

The second major issue often found in poorly performing landscape sites is soil compaction and layering. Compaction can either happen at the surface, or at the subsoil level; in either case, compacted soils will almost always lead to landscape failures. Different soil layers within the top 50 to 90 cm will have a similar effect. Both soil compaction and layering can reduce the number and size of pores in the soil, which reduces air and water movement, and often leads to water-logging. They may also prevent adequate root penetration, leading to shallow rooting and poor plant growth. If roots cannot penetrate, usually water cannot either, so surface runoff (leading to erosion) becomes a problem. Since surface runoff carries nutrients and fertilizers away to drain

Getting to the Root of the ProblemSimple tests to ensure your garden soil is healthyBy Bruce McTavish, M.Sc., MBA, P.Ag., RPBio, McTavish Resource & Management Consultants

soil health

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into nearby water bodies, the plants are further deprived, and the water bodies become polluted.

You can do a quick check of your landscape to see if the soil or sub-soil is overly compacted. You should be able to easily push a stiff piece of wire (like a straightened coat hanger) at least 45 cm (18 inches) into the ground. If you are testing an area where large shrubs are being planted it should be able to penetrate at least 60 cm (24 inches). If the plant-ing area is over a very compacted subsoil then these penetrating distances should be greater. The BC Landscape Standard provides the minimum depths for uncompacted topsoil.

The third problem commonly encountered on landscape sites is in-adequate topsoil depth. Topsoil depth is the easiest way for an unscrupulous contractor to save money, and have the homeowner be unaware there is a

problem. Inadequate topsoil depth results in lack of root development, and an inadequate reservoir for water, and nutrients. Homeowners can use the BC Landscape Standard to determine if the soil is deep enough. For example, lawn areas need topsoil or growing media that is about 23 cm (9 inches) for non-irrigated sites, while planting beds with small shrubs require a depth of about 30 cm, or 50 cm if the subsoil drains poorly. The simplest way to check topsoil depth is to dig a hole and measure the depth of the topsoil or growing media that has been installed.

Soil is the most important aspect

of a successful landscape, and can be the most expensive to fi x when there are problems. Whether you’re hiring landscape services, or installing a garden yourself, be sure that you see the test results for the soil that will be used on your site, and use these tests to make sure your landscape is off to a strong start. !

Bruce McTavish is a professional agrologist, a horticulture instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and president of McTavish Resource & Management Consultants Ltd., which offers environmental, agricultural, and horticultural analysis services. For more infor-mation, visit mrmcl.ca.

(Left) This soil plug was taken from a fi nished landscape where the growing media was supposed to be at least 15 cm (6 inches) deep, according to the BC Landscape Standard. The average soil depth at this site was just one inch over compacted clay. (Right) Compacted soils cause poor drainage and lead to standing water and dead plants.

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A Cautionary Tale Under-the-table contractors offer no savingsBy Rick Cleghorn, Echo Power Equipment Canada

last word

So there you sit in your kitchen, looking out over the backyard that you wish you had renovated by now, taking in the moss, muck and slime in the pond that has been there since you bought this house eight years ago. As you sip your coffee, your eye is drawn to the uninspiring expanse of weeds that grow and die in different patterns through the year. You take another mouthful of cereal and, as you look back up, you see the wilting, tired old man of a fence drooping like a sapling under a load of snow. Depressing.

You are not alone. This is the same way that many of your neighbours feel, and they too have the same question in their heads:

“How much is this going to cost?” And yet, there you still are, with cold

coffee and soggy cereal, daydreaming about an oasis: garden parties, kids’ birthdays, and snoozing in the hammock on warm spring days . . . An idea comes to you. You remember a buddy who got a big landscape job

done a few years back, and he had said that he was going to save a bundle! He found this “guy” who did work for cash, so there’d been no tax – for starters.

You get your cell out and dial. You make small talk for a while, and then you broach the topic of the “guy” who he had used for his landscaping. He exhales, and proceeds to tell you a tale that sounds like it should be on the fi ve o’clock news.

He tells you about the elevated deck, the irrigation system, the retaining wall, the paving stone patio, the fence, and the garden that he had installed. He tells you about the quotes from professional landscapers, with all their papers, certifi cations, referrals, and project portfolios. But then he tells you about how this other “guy” told him he could save big time, and you smile at the prospect.

First, the guy installed the wrong paving stones – but there was no specifi cation to prove it. Then the

guy’s young helper fell off the unfi nished deck and was taken away by ambulance. The project was going great and looked to be about 75 per cent complete when the guy stopped coming and could not be reached, so then there was the extra cost to hire another “guy” to fi nish the work – under-the-table, of course, to make up for some unanticipated cost increases. Then he pauses, exhales again, and you can tell that the punch line is coming.

Well, the irrigation system blew while the family was away for a long weekend. It fl ooded the basement, and caused the paving stone patio to sag and buckle. It also

washed out the retaining wall, which had been improperly fi lled, sending a wall of mud into the neighbour’s yard. There was a lawsuit from the neighbour, and the insurance was void because the irrigation system had not been installed by an insured and certifi ed installer. Plus, no permits had ever been pulled for any of it. To top it off, the workers’ compensation department began asking for docu-mentation to settle an injury claim by the fellow who had fallen off the deck.

It turned out that, due to the lack of insurance and documentation by his under-the-table contractor, he (as the homeowner) was liable for all work, as well as onsite worker safety – just like a general contractor would have been. He was now in the middle of a judgment that was about to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars since the employee had permanent back damage. To top it off, he couldn’t apply for the self-employment or home-improvement tax rebates since he had no receipts proving the services had been purchased.

You hang up the phone feeling nauseous.

It was an extreme and cautionary tale, but when you consider that if only the smallest thing had gone sideways with this under-the-table operator, you would still fi nd yourself in the middle of a costly hassle. No, you couldn’t afford to just call a “guy.” You’d fi nd someone who could prove they carry insurance and WorkSafeBC coverage, have some good credentials and references, and wouldn’t hesitate to pull the proper permits. You’d hire a legitimate landscape contractor. !

Rick Cleghorn is a noted speaker and landscape industry consultant. He is also a territory manager for Echo Power Equipment Canada, which distributes ECHO, Shindaiwa, Bearcat, Classen, Little Wonder, and other favourite equipment brands. The company aims to provide value, integrity and professionalism in all that it does.

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