Gardening 101

S@H: How often do I need to water my garden?
Mark: Most new gardeners, if they get this far and fail, it's because they over water.

I've seen more plants killed by an excess of TLC than anything else. New gardeners don't know that plants need to dry out -- the roots need to breathe.

If all you did was keep the roots sopping wet, oxygen would never get down to them. It's really important to let plants get somewhat dry between waterings. Notice I didn't say bone dry. Here's how to check: just stick your finger into the soil. It should feel dry for a couple of centimeters and moist further down. In time, you'll be able to look at your plants and know if they need water.

S@H : How do I choose the right plant for the location?
Mark: The primary consideration is light. Remember this rule of thumb: “Partial shade” is no more than 6 hours of sun a day; “full sun” is at least 6 hours of sun a day.

If you want perennials, you can't go wrong with low-maintenance, shade-loving hostas. You can grow them anywhere in Canada, up to north of Edmonton.

Coral bells or heuchera are my favs for partial shade. There are so many varieties with beautiful flowers (and slugs have no interest in them). They have a furry leaf and flowers from 12 to 24 inches (30 cm 60 cm) high. They make a beautiful show -- you could do a whole garden in heuchera.

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