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The Helpful Gardeners | Ep51 | Garden Crime – What you Need to Know

Posted on by Brandi
The Helpful Gardeners | Ep51 | Garden Crime – What you Need to Know
13
Feb

Welcome back to the Helpful Gardeners Podcast. This week, the gardeners unearth some interesting, and perhaps shocking, garden laws that you should be aware of as we head into the 2024 growing season.


TIMECODES

  • 00:00 Garden Crime Radio Play
  • 03:55 Trees & Shrubs & the Neighbours
  • 14:45 Lemonade Stands?!
  • 16:01 Cutting Grass Curfew
  • 17:17 Clothesline Drama
  • 18:19 Park out front
  • 20:15 Backyard Chickens
  • 21:45 Calgary Bylaws – Price is Right
  • 32:00 Hypothetical Question of the Week

Garden Crime Radio Play

What did you think about the first ever Golden Acre Home & Garden radio play?! It featured voices from a few members of the team including Brian, Diane, Dan, and Sydney. Of course, you may have recognized the voices of Brandi and Colin, hosts of the Helpful Gardeners podcast.

In the world of botanical crime, every leaf tells a story and every petal hides a clue. Detectives Bloom and Basil uncover the culprit behind the destruction of a prized rose garden ahead of the famous Flower Power Festival.

5 MORE ODD GARDEN LAWS IN CANADA

  1. Lemonade Stand | Some bylaws specify that they be licensed since they’re selling a product consumed by humans. While it’s socially acceptable for a 10 year old to put up shop on a hot summer day, there have been cases where stands have been reported.
  2. Cutting Grass Curfew | Noise bylaws exist across the country. In Alberta, you can make noise, like cutting the grass, until 10pm.  In Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC, states that on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays after 4 PM!
  3. Hanging Laundry | Mississauga, ON | One clothesline is allowed per home as per the Clothesline By-law. An extra one is allowed for homes with second units. Clotheslines must in the back yard, at least 1.25 metres from all property lines and maximum three metres high.
  4. Parking | Regina, SK | Parking on your front lawn is prohibited, In 2019, the city said they received around 300 complaints for this.  The regulation is subject to prosecution with fines ranging from $250.
  5. Backyard Chickens | Calgary, AB | You must be 18+ and you must follow a number of rules including number of hens, structure size, and health plan.

CALGARY BYLAWS | PRICE IS RIGHT RULES

  1. Composting | FINE: $75 | Allowed as long as it doesn’t: Create offensive odours or attract pests. You must not place or allow to be placed cat feces, dog feces, animal parts or animal meat on a composting pile or in a composting container on the premises.
  2. Refrigerator | FINE: $250 | Refrigerators and freezers must have hinges and latches, or lids and doors removed before they can be stored outside. Appliances must be kept out of public view when stored outside.
  3. Fire Hydrant | FINE $160 | Obstructions such as hedges, shrubs, trees, fences and the accumulation of materials are not permitted near the hydrant. Keep 2 meters clear.
  4. Gafitti | FINE $150 | for not removing, $5000 for applying it | includes words, figures, letters, drawings or stickers applied, scribbled, scratched, etched, sprayed or attached on or to a public surface.
  5. Snow Removal | FINE $250 and up | Owners/occupants must remove snow within 24hrs of snowfall. If they don’t, The city will bill you $150 for clearing it on your behalf. That amount will be added to your annual property tax bill if not paid.
  6. Building maintenance | FINE: $200 | balconies, decks, porches, stairs must be free of significant damage, peeling surfaces, broken, missing, rot, lack of general maintenance.
  7. trees and shrubs | FINE $250 | Public Property – You can’t prune, attach objects, or spray them without permission. Private Property – Bunch of guidelines for hedges, plants impeding sidewalks, even grass height.
  8. Weeds | FINE 400 | Must ensure noxious weeds are under control and does not spread. A Dandelion is no longer considered a noxious weed

r/funny - Steal our fruit, will you?!

Hypothetical Question of the Week….

What is a “garden crime” in your books?

Colour clashing, lawn flamingos, blowing all your leaves onto the road, etc. 

*************************

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Calcium Nitrate:

Mix Ratio: Apply ¼ teaspoon per 2 litres once a week. I full scoop makes 24 litres or 6 gallons.

Recommended preventing blossom end rot and calcium deficiency in tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, pumpkins, zucchinis, and cannabis. It is also highly beneficial for all leafy greens and cruciferous plants (cabbage, Brussel sprouts, broccoli etc.).

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

Iron Chelate

Mix Ratio: Soil drench – apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once every 2 weeks. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

Mix ratio: Foliar spray - apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 4 Litres of water once every 4 weeks. A full scoop makes 24 litres or 6 gallons.

Recommended for correcting iron deficiency in a variety of plants grown in high pH soil. Iron deficiency is diagnosed by the yellowing or pale colour of the plant leaves, especially in young growth.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

High Drainage

Moisten Thoroughly before use: (optional) Peat moss can be water-repellent. Before use, thoroughly wet the soil.

Potting:

Use pots with drainage holes to prevent root rot.

Fill the pot with the moistened soil, leaving enough space for the plant's root ball.

Gently place the plant in the pot and fill in around it with more soil.

Firm the soil gently.

Watering:

This is crucial! Water frequently, especially during hot weather.

Check the soil moisture regularly by sticking your finger into the soil.

Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry.

Fertilizing:

Since peat moss is low in nutrients, fertilize regularly with a balanced liquid fertilizer.

Consider Amendments:

For plants that prefer more moisture retention, you can add a small amount of coco coir or vermiculite to the mix.

Important Notes:

Overwatering: While frequent watering is necessary, avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot.

Plant Selection: This type of soil is well-suited for seed starting as well as plants that prefer well-drained conditions, such as cacti, cannabis, succulents, and some tropical plants.

Adjustments: You may need to adjust your watering frequency based on the specific plant and environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, sunlight).

Alberta Blend

Moisten the Peat Moss before use: (optional) Peat moss can be hydrophobic (water-repellent) when dry. Before using it, thoroughly moisten it. You can do this by placing it in a container and adding water, then squeezing out any excess.

Mixing: (optional) Our Private Label Alberta Blend comes ready to use, expertly formulated for your plants, either indoors or outdoors.

If you're using this mix as your own base, combine it with worm castings, volcanic dust, vermiculite, etc. to improve nutrition, drainage and/or aeration.

Potting:

When potting your plants, ensure that the pot has drainage holes.

Fill the pot with the moistened potting mix, leaving enough space for the plant's root ball.

Gently place the plant in the pot and fill in around it with more potting mix.

Lightly firm the soil around the plant leaving ½ inch to an inch of space at the top for watering.

Watering:

Because peat moss retains water, be careful not to overwater.

Allow the top layer of soil to dry out slightly before watering again.

Fertilizing:

Since peat moss is nutrient-poor, you'll need to provide your plants with regular fertilization.

Use the correct fertilizer according to the plant's needs.

20-20-20 Houseplant Complete

Mix Ratio: For all houseplants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once a week once every week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

It is highly recommended to start your houseplants on a fertilizer regime, but only while they are actively growing. Houseplants tend to have a period of dormancy (normally winter, however poinsettias, Xmas cacti etc. are exceptions to this rule) and whilst dormant they should not be fertilized.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

22-6-15 Plus Herb and Leafy Vegetable

Mix Ratio: For all herbaceous and leafy vegetable plants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once a week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This fertilizer is ideal for all leafy vegetables and for herbs. This product can be used year-round if you grow herbs indoors.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

20-12-28 Tomato and Fruiting Vegetable

Mix Ratio: For all fruiting vegetable plants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once a week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

Use this fertilizer on planting day and push right through until the plant either stops producing or reaches the end of season. In the case of transplanted seedlings this fertilizer should be used after the 2 feedings of Js - Jump-Start & Transplant.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

10-52-10 Jump-Start & Transplant

Mix Ratio: For outdoor summer plants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water. Normally two applications, one at the time of transplanting, the second application can be done one week later from the initial fertilizing. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

Mix Ratio: For seed starting - apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water. Do not over water seedlings, feed every 2 weeks until transplanted outside. Feed them at the time of transplanting outdoors, then one more feeding a week later. After that start using the correct fertilizer for type of plant. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

 e.g. Vt Vegetable: Tomato and Fruiting for tomatoes, F3 Flower flower flower for bedding out/annual plants.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

4-5-28 Perennial Complete

Mix Ratio: All perennials (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water every 2 weeks from spring to late summer. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your perennials. For existing perennials, we recommend starting to fertilize when you see active growth (i.e. new shoots etc.). For new perennials we recommend that you start fertilizing at time of planting and go through to mid August.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

28-14-14 Plus Trees and Shrubs - Fruit and Flower

Mix Ratio: Trees and/or shrubs (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water per week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your fruiting and flowering trees and shrubs.

For existing trees, we recommend starting to fertilize when you see active growth (i.e. bud break, new shoots etc.).

For new trees we recommend that you start fertilizing at time of planting and go through to mid August.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

14-7-21 Tree and Shrub Leaf & Needle

Mix Ratio: Trees and/or shrubs (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water every 2 weeks. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your evergreen/coniferous and deciduous trees and shrubs.

For existing trees, we recommend starting to fertilize when you see active growth (i.e. bud break, new shoots etc.).

For new trees we recommend that you start fertilizing at time of planting and go through to mid August.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

15-10-30 Flower, Flower, Flower

Mix Ratio: Outdoor plants (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water twice a week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your annual plants. We recommend starting to fertilize at time of planting outdoors and go through to first frost.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.