1. Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 1 Presented at: Montgomery’s Inn Prepared by: Etobicoke Master Gardeners Container Gardening The Moveable Landscape

2. Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 2

3. Session Topics  Moveable Landscape  What Grows in Containers  Containers & Growing Media  Fundamentals of Success  Pests & Diseases  Overwintering  Design Concepts  Herbs of the mid 1800’s  Let’s get planting ! Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 3

4. Moveable Landscape  Effective way to grow a portable garden  Control growing conditions  Garden anywhere  Decks  Sidewalks  Patios  Tree roots Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 4

5. What Grows in Containers  Almost anything can be grown in containers  Annuals & Perennials  Herbs & Vegetables  Trees & Shrubs  Tropicals Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 5

6. Containers  Run the gamut from:  very expensive  inexpensive  free found objects  Large – multiple plants, shrubs & trees  Small – potted herbs Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 6 Photograph: Isabel Belanger Photograph: Dyann Sheppard

7. Container Media Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 7  Plastic  Fiberglass  Clay  Metal  Concrete  Wood  Lead http://www.nidderdalelead.com/products/large- planters/large-square-lion-planter/

8. How to Choose a Container  Choose a size according to what you want to grow  Plants in bigger pots grow bigger roots  Beautiful pots make a design statement  Basic plastic pots are functional Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 8 Photograph: Isabel Belanger http://www.crescentgarden.com/planters/square-rectangular/eye-aint-planter

9. Fundamentals for Container Success  Right container for your plants  Potting mix, compost / fertilizer  Drainage is key  Keep well watered, but not too much  Larger pots provide room to grow Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 9 http://en-ca.miraclegro.com/smg/goprod/miracle- gro-organic-choice-potting-soil/prod70318

10. Potting Mixes / Fertilizers  Potting Mix - specially formulated for pots  Incorporate compost  Fertilizers  Fertilizer spikes  Liquid seaweed / fish fertilizer - when watering  20-20-20 mixes  Follow instructions on the label Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 10

11. Pests / Disease  Containers may offer more protection, but  Plants not impervious to pests / diseases  Flying insects like Japanese beetles may attack container plants  Aphids like tender growth Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 11 Photograph: Isabel Belanger http://www.ontariohopgrowersassoc iation.ca/japanese-beetle-controls- and-strategies / https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphid

12. Pests / Disease Cont’d  Fungus may infect plants  Slugs sometimes hide under plastic pots  Inspect plants often  Control pests / disease in the same manner as plants grown in the ground Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 12 Photograph: Isabel Belanger

13. Tips for Overwintering  Good drainage is key  Perennials / herbs / trees / shrubs / should be hardy to 1-2 zones lower  Toronto is in zone 6  Plants hardy to zone 4 have a better chance of surviving the winter  Plants hardy to zone 5 may or may not survive  Bring them in Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 13

14. Design Concepts Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 14 Photograph: Isabel Belanger

15. Annuals & Perennials Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 15 Photograph: Isabel Belanger Photograph: Dyann Sheppard

16. Tropicals Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 16 Photograph: Dyann Sheppard Photograph: Isabel Belanger

17. Mixed Gardens Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 17 Photograph: Dyann Sheppard Photograph: Isabel Belanger

18. Trees & Shrubs Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 18 Photograph: Isabel Belanger

19. Vegetables Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 19 Photograph: Isabel Belanger

20. Herbs Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 20 Photograph: Isabel Belanger

21. Montgomery’s Inn – Mid 1800’s  Herbs commonly used for:  Cooking  Medicine  Scent  Other household uses like dyeing fabric  Many of these herbs are still grown today Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 21 http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/toro nto-feature-montgomerys-inn-etobicoke/

22. How Herbs Were Brought to Toronto  Settlers:  Brought seeds from home  Bought them from nurseries  Often imported from the US or Europe  Mr. Montgomery was from Ireland  Our focus will be on herbs he would have used at his Inn Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 22 http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/4122/

23. Common Herbs for Cooking  Parsley  Sweet Marjoram  Mint  Sage  Summer Savory  Thyme  Chives  Caraway Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 23 Photograph: Isabel Belanger

24. Common Herbs for Medicinal Uses  Feverfew  Peppermint  Calendula  Chamomile Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 24 Photograph: Isabel Belanger http://tryonfarm.org/share/node/336 http://www.homegrownutah.blogspot.ca/ Photograph: Isabel Belanger

25. Other Uses for Herbs  Fragrance  lavender, costmary, scented geranium, lemon balm  Insect repellent  lavender, wormwood  Beauty products  sage, chamomile Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 25 Photograph: Isabel Belanger

26. Summary  Containers  Easy to grow a portable garden anywhere  Imagination is the limit  Remember  Use a specially formulated potting mix  Fertilize regularly – water when needed  Enjoy your garden! Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 26 https://www.pinterest.com/krmwoods/garden/

27. Let’s Get Planting! Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 27 http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/toronto-feature-montgomerys-inn-etobicoke/

28. Etobicoke Master Gardeners www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca 28 Etobicoke Master Gardeners Thank you! Questions?