GRAPES, HOPS CAN BE USED TO COVER GARDEN TRELLISES
There are a few varieties that will be able to grow and survive in our cold climate
Q: I have a trellis on the south side of my house that forms an arch over a gate. The gate is approximately three feet high, and the arch is about seven feet high at its highest point. I would like some suggestions for something that will cover the trellis with foliage. Are there any grape varieties suitable for this purpose that will survive an Edmonton winter? A: There are grapes that will grow and survive in our climate. A friend has the same scenario as you do, and the grape clusters hang down from the top of the arch as you walk through the gate, making a very attractive entrance. I have grown grapes on trellises on the side of my house for many years as well.
The variety that I grow is valiant, and I find that they taste similar to concord grapes, and make great jelly as well.
Having said all this, there are some requirements for growing the grapes. They require lots of sunlight — at least six hours of direct sun is a must. A southfacing exposure is definitely the best. Keep the plants well watered, moist but never wet.
In the winter they will need to be protected, especially during the early years, but once they get established they will be a little more tolerant. Until that happens, taking the vines down and laying them on the ground and covering them with 15 centimetres of soil and straw is the way to go.
In the spring, before the buds open, uncover the vines slowly over a period of seven to 10 days.
If you remove all of the cover at once you may kill the vines. I know my friend does not do this treatment with her grapes, but they have been in the same spot for several years. She grows the variety beta, which may be a little hardier than the valiant.
If this all sounds like too much work then you may want to go with hops — a perennial that grows very rapidly and will form a dense foliage cover over the arch in a short period of time.
Q: I bought a house in Edmonton and it came with a huge poplar tree that I had to have cut down by a professional tree outfit. They couldn’t get a grinder into my backyard because of the tight space, so how do I get rid of the stump? There are lots of large roots in the yard as well. The tree never allowed for grass to grow, and the only ones upset the tree is gone are the squirrels.
A: There is only one product that I know of in Canada that is registered for stump removal, a product called Falling Leaf Stump Remover. It used to be carried by Home Hardware, but I am not certain they still carry it. This product accelerates the decomposition of the stump.
You apply it by drilling several holes 25 centimetres deep in the stump. Fill the holes with the remover, and add hot water to each hole. You keep adding water to the holes over time.
The online ad claims that the decomposition process will take four to six weeks. I have used similar products in the past and found that they really did not work all that well, especially for a stump as large as the one that you must have. You can try the product if you can find it, but that is about all the advice I can offer other than digging the roots out, and that is a massive task.
Q : I am wondering if you can recommend any tips on keeping rabbits from flower gardens? My mom and I are happy when our tulips and lilies come back up, but then the rabbits arrive and chew the leaves. When we put garlic and onions out the rabbits stay away, but it is a nuisance putting these out in our front garden.
A: The product I recommend most often for keeping the critters at bay is Doktor Doom No Bite. It contains Bitrex, which is the most bitter substance known to mankind; one taste and the bunnies rarely come back.
The spray is applied on the leaves, and will need to be reapplied if it rains, but it lasts a long time and is very effective at keeping rabbits out of your garden.