Another (Really) Late Summer Toronto Garden Cleanup
We're into autumn but here's one last post about a summer weeding project I completed in Toronto's Leslieville neighbourhood in August.
This corner lot faces two very busy streets and has many small odd-shaped garden sections which hadn't been weeded for a long time, as the "before" pictures will show. And, naturally, I had to deal with several large barberry shrubs which haven't seen the blades of clippers in a while.
And you know by now how much I love working around barberries! (Sarcasm on).
I lived in Leslieville during the mid to late 1970s and passed by this very same house daily going to and from my middle school. And forty years later, I'm working on the same property, which I found amusing, in a circle of life kind of way.
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| Some of the beds leading to the front door (hidden from this angle) which were infested with foxtail weed (Setaria viridis) |
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| Leslieville Toronto Front Garden Cleanup Before |
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| More lovely barberries! Why do they follow me? |
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| Toronto Leslieville Front Garden Cleanup Before |
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| An "inner courtyard" section which the clients wish to be used as a dog run. This makes sense as the section is right outside the back patio door, in full shade for most of the day and the soil is (or will be literally) crappy. |
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| At the busy corner the weeds are thriving in full sun. I also was amazed how much trash collected in this area. |
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| This section is full of one of the worst weeds I deal with: perennial rye grass |
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| Proof that simply mulching an exposed area is not enough. Some maintenance is required eventually. |
Afterwards....
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| Mulch is often a busy homeowner's best friend, especially if she isn't into gardening like this client. I suggested that mulch be spread on top of all the newly exposed areas like these two above. |
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| Ho hum hostas and hydrangeas. There's great potential for explosive flower colour and texture in these beds. |
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| Toronto Leslieville Garden Cleanup After |
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| Toronto Leslieville Front Garden Cleanup After |
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| Leslieville Garden Cleanup After |
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| Corners like this one are usually more problematic since they seem to attract all sorts of weed seeds and garbage. Mulch, mulch, mulch! |
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| This decrepit juniper needs to be shovel pruned, pronto! |
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| Leslieville Front Garden Cleanup After |
Now, let the fall cleanups begin!
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