A Backyard Spring Garden Cleanup in the Junction

It's Spring Somewhere, Just Not Here!

I had some déjà vu moments working outside over the past week. It was as if I've still been raking leaves since last late November with temperatures stuck in the lower single digits (Celsius). It's been cloudy and windy with some flurries at times. Gardening in your thermal underwear and woolen hat in April seems like a zone 3 habit but, to be honest, it's made being outside bearable for hours on end with these "spring" cleanups. So back into cold we go with this post as I prepared yet another backyard garden ready for new perennials and shrubs.

Located in the Toronto neighbourhood called "the Junction", this garden has two existing beds facing south and north. The cleanup, as usual, involved raking out last year's tree leaves and cutting away dead perennial stems. I would normally empty out the old containers but with overnight temperatures below freezing last week, the pots' contents essentially were blocks of ice so this would have to wait.

Spring Garden Cleanup Before in The Junction 

Spring Garden Cleanup After in The Junction

The big vine you see above that is partly trying to strangle Buddha is an ancient grape that was planted decades ago by the previous homeowners. I'm guessing there was some sort of trellis supporting the vines from one side of the garden to the other. The grape now is growing up and on top of the garage which isn't good for the roof. In fact, I saw evidence of weeds growing on the roof. This is not a type of roof garden the homeowner wants: a mass of vines and weeds!

 The Junction Spring Backyard Garden Cleanup Before

The Junction Spring Backyard Garden Cleanup After 

The Junction Spring Garden Cleanup Before

The Junction Spring Garden Cleanup After

And St. Peter (or Francis?) located in the north bed. The client wisely added a layer of mulch last year to keep the weeds at bay. The euonymus (the green blob right of the saint) doesn't add anything so I'll suggest that it be removed.

The Junction Spring Garden Cleanup Before

Perhaps you can make out the two metal poles and grape vine next to the fence above. I'm sure they supported the trellis for the grapes, which has been long removed. But the grape is still there! I'll strongly suggest it be dug out as my client prefers a lower maintenance flower-filled garden.

The Junction Spring Garden Cleanup After

The Junction Spring Backyard Garden Cleanup Before 

The Junction Spring Backyard Garden Cleanup After 

The tight and narrow space behind the patio chairs and in front of the deck should be massed with Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’). The grass's erect form and low care requirements will fit in well here. Also, with no flowers to attract pollinators, guests won't be bothered by bees (there are always a few visitors who don't like insects buzzing around when they're trying to enjoy a meal or drink.)

The Junction Spring Backyard Garden Cleanup Before

 The Junction Spring Backyard Garden Cleanup After

I'll try to post pictures of pretty flowers soon instead of nasty brown bits. This weekend calls for freezing rain and temperatures in the low 40s F. or low single teens in Celsius, just lovely!