Turn Winter into Spring

If the cold, drab days of winter are getting you down, why not let spring into your home. Just imagine the fragrant scent and spectacular colors of flowers in your living room when its snowing outside. One easy way to do this is to force bulbs into early bloom. Since many bulbs require particular light and temperature treatments, people will sometimes shy away from growing them. But it is easier than you think. Here's what you need to know:

If you can't find bulbs that have been cold treated, bulbs can be forced in the following way:

Planning for next season

If the prospect of garden planning - whether a flower bed or a new home landscape - seems a bit overwhelming, the following guidelines will help to relieve some of the frustration and better your chances for success.

Start by envisioning the area to be planned. Are you considering the front, side or back of the house? A drive or walkway? Or perhaps a separate flower bed? Using a piece of graph paper, sketch out the area to scale (think of each box as equivalent to a one-foot measurement). Be sure to note the location of windows, doors, stoop, walkway and any shade or barrier trees. When finished, the sketch should resemble a floor plan - a bird's-eye view of the site.

Next, make a list of existing plants worth keeping or transplanting. If current plants are to be incorporated into the new garden or landscape, save them. If not, plant them in another part of the yard or discard them. Draw existing plants into the sketch and leave the rest of the graph paper clean, ready for the new plan.

Now look objectively at the drawn site and the actual physical area. If a better view or different perspective is desired, step into a neighbor's yard or look at your home from across the street. Be flexible in your thinking. Remember, most anything can be moved, removed, or camouflaged.

Planning Stages

To get a better sense of the physical layout, use props to outline beds or walkways - a garden hose will work just as nicely as a string and stakes.

Think about function. Are plantings intended to provide a focal point for color, or merely add green to the existing landscape? What about concealment of air-conditioning units, electric meters, well caps and other unsightly exterior features? Will plants be useful as windbreaks or noise barriers? What about ground covers?

In planning, remember to leave room for plant growth and height. Although balance should be considered, symmetry is not necessarily the ideal. One large shrub can equalize a group of smaller, clustered plantings.

Reflect, too, on the architecture of your home. Is it formal or casual? Do you entertain outdoors on the patio, deck or at poolside? What about spaces for children or pets, and future improvements like swimming pools and room additions? Think about walkway materials, color, texture and four-season interest.

Once you've drawn the area to scale on graph paper, viewed the site objectively and envisioned a plan, place a piece of tracing paper over the graph layout and create a sketch of your garden or landscape ideal. If you are uncertain as to the types of plants to choose, your local nursery can suggest types that will grow well in your region and help you make your garden concept a garden reality for many seasons to come.

One final note: Although some garden projects can be implemented in a single season, others may require several seasons and even years to complete. Don't despair. As long as you adhere to a master plan, the final result is certain to reflect a cohesive garden landscape.

email to  Ken Mashinter (associate Broker) HomeLife/Muskoka Real Estate Ltd.  789-1737 ext 26