They say “April is the cruelest month”, but Victoria gardeners will dispute that and suggest March is much worse. How else do we explain the freezing temperatures, sleet and snow we experienced this March and last?

But it’s behind us now, and we’ve had a few warm days to dig, weed and plant. We are all looking forward to spending more time in our gardens, especially with a long weekend coming up. At Dig This, we are ready for you!

Our seed racks are stocked up and we’ve got a terrific selection of quality garden tools to meet your every need. We have gloves and hats and garden clogs. Need a focal point to complete that garden view?  We have statues, gazing globes. solar accent lights and whimsical garden art.

We also have some lovely spring table linens and other decorative items to make your Easter brunch or dinner table look festive.

Finally, after the garden work is done, you’ll want to relax – and what better way to do so than in some of our all-weather garden furniture?

Whatever you need for your garden, give us a try – if we don’t have it, we’ll be happy to help you find it!

Elizabeth Cull, Franchise President
 

Speaking of relaxing, our annual garden furniture sale has been extended until April 13th. We carry a quality line of all-weather “wicker” which is virtually maintenance free. The selection is extensive: club chairs, loveseats, dining table, occasional tables, loungers and gliders.

Everything – even special orders – is 20% off up the end of the day on April 13th.  Plus, we still have several of last year's style dining table available for 35% off the regular price.

When it comes to garden furniture, you want comfort, style and durability.  Our PVC "wicker" furniture has UV protection in the covering, and is wrapped on a rust-free aluminum frame.  Maintenance?  Just hose it down from time to time.  Even the cushions are weather-proof, being made of outdoor grade fabric and foam.  You can hose them off too to keep them clearn.  We've been selling this line for years now and have lots of repeat customers. 

Drop by to try out the various styles and see the fabric selections.  Drop by before the end of this weekend and save 20%.  How's that for style, comfort, durability ... and value!
 

With the warmer weather comes the promise of evenings in the garden. I love sitting in my comfy Adirondack chair after work, cradling a glass of wine and talking to my husband as the sun goes down. As darkness creeps up, one by one, the solar lights I have placed around my garden begin to glow. Whether I’m still outside savoring the last warmth of the day or looking out from inside the house, lights in my garden create magic and mystery that just isn’t there during the sunny hours.

There are two types of outdoor lighting to consider: functional and decorative. Functional lighting makes pathways and steps safer, and let’s visitors know where the entrance is. Functional lighting can be used to light a patio or deck and expand your living space.

Decorative lighting is just plain fun. Decorative lighting comes in many forms: solar lanterns to hang from your eaves; string lights (solar or wired) to adorn tree branches, deck railings or umbrellas; or whimsical glowing stakes in the shape of hummingbirds, dragonflies or flowers. Candles in hurricane lanterns set on a patio table, or a collection of t-lights in small glass or iron containers are beautiful on a warm summer evening. The best thing about solar lights or candles is that you can place them anywhere without regard to electrical supply!

As summer approaches, take a moment to walk around your garden at twilight and imagine how lighting can enhance it.
 

Every time I hear someone say they can’t grow vegetables because they don’t have a garden, I ask: Do you have a balcony or a patio or even a little space where you can place a pot outside? Or even a sunny windowsill? If the answer is yes, growing in containers is your answer.

Even if you have a large garden, growing veggies and herbs in containers is a good idea. You can move the plants to the sunniest spots in your garden, and you can have the herbs in your kitchen or handy by your back door.

Any good size container with drainage will work. You can use clay, ceramic or plastic pots; wooden planters or half oak barrels; or virtually anything that will hold a potting mix in which you can punch drainage holes – an old bucket or tub, for example. The larger the plant, the larger the container you will need. A 2 to 5 gallon container is ideal, but small plants can be grown successfully in smaller pots. Use the seed spacing guide on the seed package to help you: if you are supposed to thin seedings to one per every six inches, you’ll need at least a 6” diameter pot for that plant. The more plants, the larger the pot. And don’t worry if you do overplant: just thin – and of course eat – the seedlings until you get the correct spacing.

Choose the brightest sunniest spot for your container garden. Most veggies need 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day, but if you don’t get that, try growing salad greens and root vegetables which will do well with less sunlight. If you are growing basil, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and other heat-loving plants, look for the most sheltered, warmest spot you have.

Use a container planting mix – NEVER garden soil – and don’t forget to fertilize regularly with a good all-purpose, organic fertilizer. Keep the soil evening moist. A good soaking is better than many light waterings. Containers dry out quickly, so check them every day.

Almost any vegetable can be grown in a container, but there are varieties specifically for container growing. The West Coast Seed Catalog (free) has a symbol next to varieties suitable for containers as a guide. We also have a handy chart available in the stores that lists vegetables suitable for containers and gives some advice regarding the size of container and other growing tips.

If you haven’t grown plants from seeds before, go to http://retailmail.createsend.com/t/ViewEmailArchive/r/0CFFCC811B49A12F/C67FD2F38AC4859C/ and read our tips on growing plants from seeds.
 

For more details on growing vegetables in containers, go to http://www.gardening-enjoyed.com/vegetablecontainers.html

If so, this is the season. Starting next month, there are several garden tours being organized by local charities. Tickets for all tours are available, cash or cheque only, at all Dig This locations:

May 9-10, 2009                Victoria Conservatory of Music Annual Mother’s Day Garden Tour 10:00am - 4:00pm http://www.vcm.bc.ca/garden.html

June 14, 2009                  Victoria Hospice 4th Annual Teeny Tiny Garden Tour 9:30 am – 5:00 pm 16 little gems that prove “small is beautiful”.  Tickets available May 1st.

May 9-10, 2009                 Denman Island Home & Garden Tour   Details at http://www.denmanisland.com/denman/home-and-garden-tour.htm 
 

Now is a good time for planting most plants. With the air and soil temperatures steadily rising and rainfall still adequate, it is one of the best times of the year for planting. Go to the garden centre and visit specialist nurseries and find some of those lovely plants you have spent the winter reading about. If you’re looking to grow plants from seeds, Dig This has the best selection of seeds on Vancouver Island.

• Plant beets, cabbage and other brassicas, carrots, cilantro, endive, leeks, lettuce, onions, spinach, swiss chard and turnips.
   
• Continue planting arugula, corn salad, kale, oriental greens, parsnips, peas, and radishes.
   
• Start eggplant, tomatoes and peppers indoors. Wait until next month to start squash and cucumbers.
   
• Plant newly bought plants as soon as possible. Dig a hole slightly wider and deeper than the pot size, break up the ground at the bottom of the hole and add some well rotted garden compost or leafmould. Knock the plant out of the pot and gently tease out any congested roots. Plant and back fill with a 50/50 mix of the original soil and garden compost. Gently firm in and water in well, until a puddle forms.
   
• Prune early flowering shrubs that have finished flowering such as Forsythia and Viburnum. You can cut them back as hard as you like, as they will have all year to grow new stems to flower next year. Prune out any dead, diseased or damaged material first and remove any old wood to encourage fresh, new growth.
   
• Divide early spring flowering bulbs such as snow drops when they are 'in the green'. Replant immediately and water in.
   
• Apply mulch to all your ornamental borders to a depth of 5-6cm. Use garden compost or leafmould which will feed the soil, your plants, suppress weeds and help retain moisture levels right through the summer months to give you healthy, robust plants and beautiful flowers and colour.
   
• Regularly clean bird feeders and birdbaths, provide fresh water and food. Birds are busy nest building and raising young.
   
• Your grass will need cutting regularly until the autumn now. Keep your mower in good working order, sharpen blades regularly and keep moving parts well lubricated.
   
• Divide overgrown clumps of herbaceous perennials. Cut the tops back to 25mm-50mm and lift the whole plant out with a fork. Look for a natural line across the plant and cut it with a sharp knife right through, continue dividing like this until you have enough plants to suit your needs. Replant the pieces in groups of three to five to make an impact in ornamental borders from repeating colour schemes or pot up spares immediately, water well.
   
• Aphids will start to multiply this month. Look for them particularly on honeysuckle and roses, and squish them with your fingers, or spray with insecticidal soap. Predators are still not out and about in great numbers, so you need to keep pest populations under control until the ladybirds and other beneficials arrive.
   
• Slugs and snails will become very active this month. Destroy their egg clusters when noticed. Look for translucent milky spheres, usually laid in nooks and crannies in the soil, and down the sides of pots and containers.