Seasonal Advice

Eco Ice Melter

The cheapest and easiest ice melter to get a hold of has always been salt.  But the problem with salt and the pathways that we walk on is that often times garden beds or lawn border our walkways...and unless you're talking about seaweed, plants are generally not fond of salt which is why we often end up with burns on our lawn in the spring as a result of winter salting.
The answer is a new product called Eco Ice Melter: it's a couple dollars more per 10kg bag, but it's totally worth it when you don't have to worry about the salt leeching onto your front lawn or spring flower beds and burning your garden!

How to protect Windmill Palms

These hardy tropicals (oxymoron?) can be left unprotected - provided they are planted in the ground - until the temperature drops to -8° Celcius - when it gets this cold then it's time to wrap the tree, top to bottom, with burlap insulation.  It's also important to create an air space between the trunk and the burlap to prevent rotting when the burlap becomes wet.  The best way to achieve this is by placing 4 large stakes or 2'' x 2'' boards against the trunk of the palm and then procede to wrap with burlap - raising the branches and wrapping until all the foliage is protected.

The tree will only survive for 3-4 weeks without sunlight - this is why we suggest to hold off until the last minute before protecting it and unwrapping it just as soon as the weather breaks (often times, you will need to wrap it two or even three separate times during the winter if cold weather persists into early spring).

How to protect your Bananas

Wondering when it's time to protect your bananas...just let them tell you!  As soon as their leaves start turning yellow/brown (usually after the first hard frost of the fall) it means their energy has been stored in their fibrous roots. It's now time to cut off the leaves and give them a warm winter jacket for the cold winter nights.  Bananas need some protection as soon as the temperature dips below -2 Celsius, or the water in their cells will freeze and expand - killing the tissue.  Come by Triple Tree and we'll set you up with a an insulated jacket made to fit your bananas (it's not Helly Hansen, but it still gives a slimming look!).

Even if the stalk of your banana fails, falls over and rots, this isn't necessarily time to hammer in the R.I.P.  Often times, the root system will withstand the Winter chill insulated by the ground and you will see baby shoots appear by mid-May.