Garden News: What To Plant This Summer
It’s time to get planting for summer!
We have ideas to add depth to garden beds, cool tools for keeping plants hydrated, plus swoon-worthy blooms to add into your floral scheme. Here’s what to plant now!
American heritage rose breeders Jackson & Perkins have partnered with Ontario nursery J.C. Bakker & Sons to grow its blooms in Canada. The 150-year-old company offers more than 50 award-winning hybrid tea, floribunda, climbing and landscape roses through its Canadian online store. Order online and Jackson & Perkins will ship roses geared to appropriate regional planting times.
Each La Park floribunda rose is uniquely patterned with apricot-peach, pink and soft blush tones — no two look exactly alike.
$50. Jackson & Perkins
Bring depth to garden beds and planters with dark foliage and flowers. Moody-hued plants intensify the contrast of this crisp white shed, and pink, red and purple blooms. Try fast-growing Sweet Caroline Raven potato vine and Graceful Grasses Purple fountain grass; these rich additions will make other colours pop. Both through Proven Winners.
Looking for some privacy? Plant fast-growing lime millet (Setaria macrocheata) seeds in early June when soil is consistently 21 C and, in 60 to 70 days, it will reach heights of five feet. This sun-loving millet produces lime green–hued spikes that can be snipped for fall floral arrangements, or left as a snack for birds.
Lime millet seeds, $5/pack of several hundred seeds. Salt Spring Seeds
Like the floral version of an Aperol spritz, Double Ambre floribunda roses are clustered and packed with 40 or more petals apiece.
$50. Jackson & Perkins
Consider this elevated, Canadian-made hose an upgrade from the eye-searing fluorescent versions. The Everlasting garden hose comes in handsome grey, sage green and tan shades and is stamped with inspirational quotes. The tool’s triple-layer construction withstands cold temperatures as low as -25 C, and it resists scratches, cracking and kinking. Plus, it comes with a lifetime guarantee!
25 ft., $155; 50 ft., $275; 100 ft., $435. Goodland
Let an ancient system ease watering this summer. Used for thousands of years, a terracotta olla (pronounced “oya”) is a simple, slow-release reservoir that’s ideal for plants that need a consistent water supply like vegetables. Bury an olla in a garden bed, raised planter or large pot to release water directly to the root system. This one holds three litres, covers a 16-inch radius, and the indicator lets you know when it’s time for a refill.
Unglazed Terracotta olla, $60 each. Lee Valley