Winter 2010

PRUNING MADE SIMPLE

Easy Ways to Maximize Fruit and Flowers

Promotional SupplementA family-owned BC company since 1953

OUR “SEED TO SALAD” CONTEST WINNERS!

NEWNEWCannor Club Book Picks for BC Gardeners

MeMbers’ special

MeMbers’ bonus

Sandy Mathies Janet Mathies President Vice-PresidentGord Nickel President, Cannor Nursery Victoria

gard

en c

lub

mem

bers

: Fall quietly fades and winter slips in – the seasons come and go faster every year, or so it seems. What did we learn this year? One lesson, for sure, is that you can’t trust Mother Nature – she is continually changing the rules to keep us on our toes.

There is really only one consistency for gardeners when it comes to the weather, and that is we can always complain about it – and we do. Once we’ve vented our frustration, however, it’s time to get down to a bit of work. We’re talking about pruning, which goes a long way toward making your spring all the more beautiful and bountiful.

A general rule of thumb with pruning: If it flowered during or after May, prune in the fall/winter. If it flowered before May, prune shortly after blooming.

Many gardeners are intimidated by pruning so don’t be afraid to ask for help – we will gladly talk to you about techniques and timing for your specific plants.

And, most importantly, as you prepare for the coming season, it is not what you do or how quickly you accomplish it that really matters, but simply how much you enjoy this peaceful and promising time in the garden.

AbbotsfordCome in and pick up your “Passport to Christmas” to win great prizes.Winter Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday nights until 8 p.m. on December 3, 10 and 17. Closed 3:30 p.m. Christmas Eve. Closed for Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.Thursday to Saturday, November 4, 5 & 6 Back by popular demand, our Art Show and Sale featuring works by local artists.Sunday, November 14 Our Christmas Open House with refreshments and prizes. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Friday, November 26 Join us at Tamaringos for the “People’s Choice” Concert 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.Saturday, December 4 Kissing ball-making demonstrations begin at 1:30 p.m. in our “Tree House.”

ChilliwackWinter Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday; 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Closed 3:30 p.m. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Closed for Christmas and Boxing Day.Saturday, November 20 Come out for our open house and double dip on garden purchases. Demos, door prizes and a manager special.

ParksvilleDon’t forget us for that ornament or gift, poinsettias and the nicest cut and live Christmas trees. We have gift cards too! Winter Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Closed at 3 p.m. Christmas Eve. Store reopens February 1.

Sears VictoriaWinter Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily through November. Starting December 1 open 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday; 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Closed 3 p.m. Christmas Eve. Store will reopen February 15.

Victoria, Elk LakeWinter Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Starting December 6 open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed 3:30 p.m. Christmas Eve. Closed for Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.2010 Free Clinic SeriesPlease be sure to sign up ahead of time by dropping by the garden centre or by sending us an email at cannorclub@cannorvictoria.com or calling 250-658-5415.Sunday, November 7 Basics of Garden Design – Pamela Pack of Pamela Greenthumbs Landscaping on designing your own utopia. 10:30 a.m.Sunday, November 14 Cacti, Succulents and Houseplants – your health can be improved by houseplants in your interior design. 10:30 a.m.Sunday, November 21 Christmas Workshop – build a kissing ball or poinsettia/candle centrepiece. Festive snacks provided. 10:30 a.m.Saturday, November 27 Bonsai – Mark from Nebari Bonsai on starting your own bonsai. 10:30 a.m.Sunday, December 5 Christmas Planters – create a festive display. 10:30 a.m.

events

My favourite tool and the first one I grab in the garden is the Y-Grip. Designed by a registered massage therapist on Vancouver Island, the Y-Grip garden tool allows you to dig with minimal strain using a neutral wrist position in a one- or two-handed grip. The old saying “no pain, no gain” doesn’t apply here! Use it for digging, weeding, cultivating and transplanting. – Shirley Eppler, Manager, Cannor Nursery, Parksville

Double Your Discount on theAmazing Y-Grip!

Victoria Butterfly Gardens is offering one free adult admission to all renewing and new Cannor Club members! Designed specifically to show-

case the life cycle and free flight of tropical butterflies and moths, this expansive enclosed garden paradise is a riot of tropical colour, aromas and personalities. For more information, go to www.butterflygardens.com or call toll-free 877-722-0272 or 250-652-3822.

Nov. 30 – D

ec. 12

Reg. $11.99Just $

9.59

It is important to prune fruittrees properly in order to maximize fruit yield and minimize diseases.

Flowers lead to fruit; and trees flower on wood that is generally not older than two to three years. If a tree is given a heavy annual pruning, a lot of young flowering wood is removed and it expends its energy rejuvenating itself instead of flowering. While trees can be renovated by hard pruning, and indeed the response is usually good, a better method is to prune moderately and selectively over time.

It’s best to research or check with us on the particular needs of your given fruit tree. For instance, while most apples fruit on a spur system, a few rely on a tip system. Meanwhile, cherries and plums bloom down the stem on two- to three-year-old wood and therefore need to be pruned less vigorously than apples and pears. Sour cherries, on the other hand, bloom on the previous season’s wood.

Pruning is generally done during the dormant season, although apples can be pruned lightly during the summer to open up the tree and reduce scab problems on developing fruit. It is

necessary to make proper pruning cuts. Prune at a node. Cut above a bud. If a branch is removed, do not flush cut against the trunk or stem but rather just outside the bark collar (the swelling where the branch meets the trunk, considered to be part of the trunk). And, lastly, do not leave a stub by pruning too far from the branch collar.

Proper pruning will also help alleviate problems. Excessive dense foliage and clutter inside the tree restricts air movement and sunlight, encouraging the growth of disease-causing organisms. Your tree will benefit from increased air circulation through its branches.

As you prune, remember that now is the perfect time to consider applying a dormant spray. Safe even for organic gardens, dormant-oil and lime-sulphur combination sprays effectively suppress disease and insect problems on your fruit tree. Kits are now readily available in garden centres, and the spray should be applied two or three times through this season: after leaf drop, in the new year and before the buds open. It is best applied when the temperature is above freezing and rain

is not expected for at least 24 hours. All in all, by helping to control

fungal diseases and overwintering insects, dormant spraying naturally leads to healthier trees and more bountiful harvests. ■

– Ron Hart, Cannor Nursery, Abbotsford

Maximize Your Fruit TreesWith Proper Pruning

cannor club picKs – B.C. Books for Winter Reading

Some moderate pruning now can yield a good fruit harvest.

FeatureFeature

Four Chefs One GardenSeasons of West Coast LivingBy Evaleen Jaager Roy

Evaleen Jaager Roy has combined her joy of digging in the dirt and watching things grow with her love of cooking. With seasonal recipes

from four acclaimed chefs, including Umberto Menghi, this book makes a wonderful gift.

The Zero-Mile Diet A Year-Round Guide to Growing Organic FoodBy Carolyn Herriot

Here’s how to put organic homegrown fruits and vegetables on your table every day of the year, using time-saving and sustainable methods. With step-by-step

colour photos, this book shares wisdom gleaned from 30 years of food growing.

Debbie Ego, Manager, Cannor Nursery, Abbotsford Donna Campbell, Manager, Sears Garden Centre, Cannor Victoria

A Year-Round

Look for more book reviews in our next issue!

PM 4

0065

475

R1

0672

The Cannor Garden Club Newsletter is published 6 times a year. Contributions can be sent to Cannor Club Newsletter, 7640 Lickman Rd., Chilliwack, BC V2R 4A7 Attn: Janet Mathies or emailed to news@cannor.com or janet@cannor.com. We look forward to receiving your article suggestions. For more info and our privacy policy, please visit our website www.cannor.com.

Join us on Facebook!

Watch for the early spring 2011 issue of the Cannor Club Member Newsletter in your mailbox in late February!

2nd

2nd

2nd

3rd

3rd

3rd

VICTORIA

4660 Elk Lake Dr.Victoria, BC V8Z 5M1250.658.5415

SEARS VICTORIA

3190 Shelbourne St.Victoria, BC V8T 3A8250.595.9111 (x271)

ABBOTSFORD

34261 Marshall Rd.Abbotsford, BC V2S 1L8604.854.1616

PARKSVILLE

609 East Island Hwy.Parksville, BC V9P 1T5250.248.0093

CHILLIWACK

7640 Lickman Rd.Chilliwack, BC V2R 4A7604.858.7122

Winter 2010

THE WINNERS OF OUR “SEED TO SALAD” PHOTO CONTEST!

best large edible veggie Garden (raised or traditional) 1st Prize: $200 Gift Card – Earl Saunders, Chillwack2nd Prize: $50 Gift Card – Wendy & Willie Heuberger, Qualicum Beach3rd Prize: $25 Gift Card – Carrie Wachsmann, Abbotsford

Mother nature Gone Wrong: Most unusual Fruit or vegetable1st Prize: $100 Gift Card – Alice Hay, Parksville2nd Prize: $50 Gift Card – Martha Fischer, Qualicum Beach3rd Prize: $25 Gift Card – Jerry Blackburn, Nanaimo

best edible container Garden1st Prize: $200 Gift Card –Judy Peterson, Lasqueti Island2nd Prize: $50 Gift Card – Dan Galloway, Qualicum Beach3rd Prize: $25 Gift Card – Gary Wagner, Chilliwack

congratulations to all the winners of our “Seed to Salad” photo contest! And thanks to all our contestants. Next year, we look forward to running our contest again, so plan to photograph your backyard and container edible gardens to enter to win a Cannor gift card of up to $200 in value!

1st

1st

1st