PLANTING STEPS (PS Lupine Woodfield Mix above) (a)  After preparing soil, dig a hole deep enough to hold root ball.(b)  Remove the pot, break up root ball if root-bound.(c)  Place root in the hole, fill with water.(d)  Refill with soil. Root ball should be slightly below soil surface.(e)  Water a second time. 1.  CHOOSING PERENNIALS When buying perennials, look for fresh, healthy-looking plants that appear vigorous and ready to grow.  Avoid overgrown, floppy or leggy-looking plants, or any that are small and struggling to stay alive. Certain perennials (especially those with daisy-type flowers) are so vigorous they are often root-bound in the pots; they usually overcome this quickly once planted in … Continue reading →

Canadian Home Trends Magazine Editor Mark Atiyolil shares his tip; Never Forget Your Paint Colour Again! So many of us make the mistake of throwing out all traces of our colour selections once the paint dries. And for those of us who like to keep things in our “junk drawer”, when all is said and done and five years goes by, finding that swatch name and number is like finding a needle in a haystack. Now hindsight is 20/20, so let’s not kick ourselves for not keeping this paint information more accessible for future touch ups. In your scenario, your best bet would be to retrace your steps. Which manufacturer … Continue reading →

Unwelcome guest disturbing your gardens? Keep pesky cats out with this tip! A great way to keep cats out is to plant a few cat-repelling plants in your garden. Lavender, lemon thyme, rue and what’s known to most as the “scaredy cat plant” is offensive to a cat’s heighten sense of smell and tends to deter them away. Rue is a perennial shrub with blue flowers and silver-green leaves. While the plant will look lovely in your garden, cats find its scent offensive and will stay away. The plant is easy to care for and will do well even in poor soil conditions. Double the effect of rue by scattering its … Continue reading →