Natural Garden News from Grounded – September 14

September 14, 2024

Inside this edition of Natural Garden News

The benefits of planting in fall
Want to get your hands dirty?
If you want a Grounded garden…
Discover the versatile world of sedges
Goldenrod: the myths and the facts
New here? Start with these articles
Today’s recommended reading
Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant)
Back to the sedge meadow
From the socials

There are lots of super images in this newsletter – please allow your email software to see them!

I hope you enjoy the newsletter! If you have any questions or feedback, please reply to this email.

Simon Payn
Grounded

Email: hello@groundedgardens.ca
Web: groundedgardens.ca

Follow Grounded on the socials!

The benefits of planting in fall

I’m in the middle of installing my fall projects. A bunch of plants arrived yesterday. Now they’re going in the ground.

There are several benefits to planting in September and early October. The most obvious one is the weather which (generally – not always, ahem!) is a little cooler and wetter, so there’s not as much need to water the new plants.

But more importantly, the changing weather encourages plants to put their effort into forming roots rather than stems and leaves. This is what we want to happen with a new planting – it’s how plants establish. Indeed, some people say that planting in fall is like having a full summer’s growth in the bag.

Other benefits are lower humidity, which is easier on the plants and on us, fewer pests (ditto), and fewer weeds (ditto again).

All this isn’t to say that planting in spring is bad. It’s fine – and it’s the traditional time to plant.

One of my native plant suppliers told me he gets two-thirds of his business in spring and one-third in fall. I think there’s room for that ratio to even up.

If you’d like to talk about planting next year – in spring or fall – let me know by filling out the form on this page.

Want to get your hands dirty?

I install our gardens in the spring and fall. This means I have a rush of work at those times – more than one person can handle.

So I’m looking for people who’d like to spend a day outdoors, on a casual basis. You’ll either be planting or you’ll be preparing land, such as adding mulch. Click here to find out more.

I’m also looking for a summer student to work with me from approximately the beginning of May to around Labour Day 2025. Click here to find out more.

Simon

If you want a Grounded garden…

I’m now booking garden and shoreline installs for next spring and fall.

If you’re interested in working with me, don’t wait until then. I use the summer to prepare your site and to work on plant lists and designs.

I’m happy to come out and look at your site for no charge and with no obligation. If we’re not a fit, we’ll depart as friends. Just click the button below.

To see some of my recent work, please look at this article.

Learn more

An outline of Haliburton County, filled with various native plantss

Discover the versatile world of sedges

Sedges don’t get much glory. They’re everywhere but we seldom notice them. It’s time to shine a light on the genus Carex. Read more.

Goldenrod: the myths and the facts

Goldenrods face two cases of mistaken identity. Let’s clear up the mess and celebrate some valuable species. Read more.

New here? Start with these articles

Native plants and natural gardens 101

Links to my most important articles. Read more.

Myths about native plants and natural gardens

I hear a lot of myths. Here’s the reality. Read more.

All about shorelines

A look at shoreline naturalization: why it’s important and how to do it. Read more.

Today’s recommended reading

Minnesota nice: Here’s the story of a couple in Minnesota who worked hard to restore their lakeshore. Sound familiar? Listen to it.

What to tell the neighbours: Tell me what you think of this advice about handling complaints from neighbours who say your native plant garden is too “weedy”. Read more.

Full-sun: How fields of solar panels could host acres of native plants. A win-win – if we can get through the politics and the economics. Read more.

Falling forward: One of the pleasures of having a garden is seeing it change over the seasons. As we move from summer to fall, take a look at these pictures. Read more.

I have more copies of the Haliburton County Master Gardeners’ book about ecological landscaping in the Highlands in stock. You can read more about it here. If you’d like a copy, please reply to this email. The price is $10.

Get the free guide

I’ve updated my guide to natural gardens in Haliburton County and surrounding areas.

Download here

Now booking garden and shoreline installs

If you’d like me to come and look at your garden or shoreline, please fill out the inquiry form.

Learn more

Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant)

I’ve spent a bunch of time putting together some information “cards” about native plants. These are plants I use in my designs.

Today let’s look at Alternate-leaved Dogwood

Back to the sedge meadow

I went back last week to see a garden I installed in the spring. And it’s thriving! This is the sedge meadow I wrote about here before the summer.

Thank you to the plants for settling in so nicely – and thank you to the client for taking care of it.

The project has a tapestry of three species of sedge as the groundcover layer. Here you see Rosy Sedge.

The atmosphere is as I intended – a woodsy glade.

Here’s Common Blue Violet. It will flower in the spring.

A fall bloomer is Zig-Zag Goldenrod, providing some much-needed late-season pollen.

Early Meadowrue looking healthy. It’s another plant that blooms in the spring.

And for reference, this is what it looked like in early June, just after planting.

Now with labels!

I’m adding these nice metal labels to one specimen of each species I plant. I think it will help my clients get familiar with their new green friends!