Make It Green Garden Centre

Our Products

For more than 20 years we have presented and promoted organic alternatives. We have partnered with many like-minded suppliers over the years and will continue to support these proven products (and the companies that make them). At the same time we are always searching for and trialing new products to offer (based on merit). In recent years our concerns about global warming have caused us to examine the impact of our product lines and sources on the planet. We have always prominently featured North American artisans in our giftware area. Our criteria for selecting giftware (and other products) have shifted to put more emphasis on proximity to our location in Ottawa, Ontario to lessen our carbon footprint. Constant reminders of global warming are all around us. Gardening organically and planting trees are both ways we all can make the world a little better. Please consider planting for the planet regardless of where you shop!

Feature Plants for 2010

Last year we had the opportunity to trial several new introductions and last summer and fall we were able to offer many of them to our clients. This year they are being introduced in larger numbers and our picks for the best are as follows:

Bloomerang Lilac (Syringa hybrida Bloomerang) from Proven Winners:

A repeat blooming (spring, late summer to hard frost), compact (5' tall by 4' wide (best guess)), fragrant lilac. Very hardy and disease resistant. The plants we trialed were all in bloom from August to November. $49.99 each 3 gallon pot. Only 2 left, more coming in August.

Invincible Spirit Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens Invincible Spirit) from Proven Winners:

A pink flowering Annabelle type hydrangea (3.5' x 3.5'). Very hardy and floriferous, comes into flower in mid-summer and keeps blooming until frost. The plants we had last summer all had smaller flowers than Annabelle and held up perfectly after a heavy rain. $1.00 from each sale is donated to breast cancer research by proven winners. $29.99 each 1.5 gallon pot. Now in stock.

Incrediball Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens Incrediball) from Proven Winners:

A white flowering hardy Annabelle type (4' x 4') with very large flowers and very strong stems. The plants we had last year were too young to flower so we can only go by the pictures but the stems were at least double the thickness of any Annabelle we'd ever seen. $39.99 each 3 gallon pot. Now in stock.

Vanilla Spice Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia Vanilla Spice) from Proven Winners:

A large-flowered version of the very fragrant summer flowering favorite this 4' x 5' hardy plant adds ambiance to any garden. The plants we had last year definitely delivered as promised. $29.99 each 2 gallon pot. Now in stock.

Cool Splash Diervilla (Diervilla sessifolia LPDC Podaras) from Landscape Plant Development Centre, Minnesota:

With very clean white and green foliage this hardy, compact (4' x 4') sport of our native bush honeysuckle is a great replacement for silverleaf type dogwoods as the leaves stay clean and remain on the plant until late fall. $19.99 each 1 gallon pot. Now in stock.

Vanilla Fraise Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata Renhy aka Vanilla Strawberry) from Renault in Goron France:

This Hydrangea has beautiful, long lasting flowers (starting white, turning pink then turning red to maroon) and new ones coming until frost. This hardy (7' x 5') red stemmed plant has the nicest range of flower colours we have ever seen on a "PeeGee" type Hydrangea. The plants we trialed last year were young and had small flowers but the colour variation was quite unique. $29.99 each 2 gallon pot. Now in stock.

Magical Rainbow Weigela (Weigela florida Kolmagira) aka Rainbow Sensation from Kolster, Boskoop Netherlands:

This hardy, vigorous, 3.5' x 3.5' Weigela has dazzling foliage and excellent flower production. Seen next to other variegated cultivars this plant really stands out! $29.99 each 2 gallon pot (and part of our spring shrub special so you can get 25% off). Now in stock.

Shrubs of Honourable Mention:

This year we have a new dwarf (approx. 3') Hydrangea paniculatas available early season - "Dart's Little Dot" (a few left) and should have the dwarf Limelight Hydrangea called "Little Lime" available mid to late summer.

Twelve varieties of narrow (less than 8') spruces and pines well suited to smaller lots.

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Grub Buster Nematodes

Nematodes are microscopic insects which attack grubs (and over 250 other garden pests) in your lawn/garden. Nematodes can only be applied when the soil temperature is above 15 Celsius. New grubs are born mid summer, eat roots through late summer and early fall fallowed by a winter dormancy period. In the spring they start eating again when the soil temperature reaches 15 Celsius and mature by July to repeat the cycle again. The smartest time to apply nematodes to kill your grubs is near the end of August. The second best window is in the spring (usually early May). The nematodes are just as effective in May but the grubs are bigger and take longer to consume. Nematodes need a moist environment and this means that you (may - depends on rain)  have to water your lawn for a longer period in the spring to get the same effectiveness. Fall application stops the lawn damage before it gets severe. When you apply nematodes you can seed at the same time as the grubs will be dead before any significant damage can be done to the new grass roots - you will likely have to water anyway - why not get double the benefit. You should give the nematodes a week to work before you apply sod.

UPDATE: We have received a large shipment of nematodes and the time is right to apply them.

A standard package will do 3000 square feet and costs $29.99. Please only apply nematodes on cloudy/rainy days or in the late evening (and water in well) so the little guys don't get fried in the heat!

You can apply nematodes with a watering can. If you are applying with a hose-end sprayer then pour a couple inches worth of water into the reservoir, shake for two minutes, fill the reservoir with water, shake for 20 seconds and spray. Shake occasionally while you spray. If you think the sprayer is clogged then try running some clear water through it (remove the reservoir and use a pail or jar filled with water to clear the straw).

For more information about nematodes or for mail order please visit: www.environmentalfactor.com.

Our every day pricing on organic products such as fertilizer, weed control and insect control has been kept low to encourage more people to try environmentally friendly products which are better than their synthetic counterparts in so many ways. Make It Green conducts this part of our operation on a break-even basis. We feel that the health of the planet and all it's creatures is more important than profit. Many companies that produce organic product feel the same way and work with us to help keep the costs down and to educate consumers about organic alternatives.

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 Turfmaize Bio Weed and Feed

 Since Environmental Factor received pre-emergent weed killer licensing for their Corn Gluten product, called Turfmaize, the price of corn gluten has gone up significantly. Some competitors have offered a non-licensed, ‘watered down’ version of Corn Gluten with various fillers added. By the terms of its license with Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), Environmental Factor’s Turfmaize is at least 98% pure corn gluten. For 2010 we are selling Turfmaize in 9kg pails at $29.99 each and 20kg bags at $44.99 each. We are keeping the price of this item affordable to try to entice as many people as possible to use a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic weed control products (now banned in Ontario). A 9kg pail will treat 1000 square feet (approximately 90 square meters). Corn Gluten is a product which is best applied in early spring once the lawn can be safely walked on (the ground doesn’t feel spongy) and late summer/early fall before the weather cools and the weeds germinate. The city of Ottawa's website also suggests an early summer application. Need a spreader? Make It Green will lend you one (free) as long as you are applying organic products. For more information on Turfmaize please visit www.environmentalfactor.com.

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Organic Fertilizer

Our every day pricing on organic products such as fertilizer, weed control and insect control has been kept low to encourage more people to try environmentally friendly products which are better than their synthetic counterparts in so many ways. Make It Green conducts this part of our operation on a break-even basis. We feel that the health of the planet and all it's creatures is more important than profit. Many companies that produce organic product feel the same way and work with us to help keep the costs down and to educate consumers about organic alternatives.

Organic fertilizers have not been immune from the price increases affecting their synthetic counterparts. Although the current economy should exert downward pressures on these prices we have yet to see any effect. Fortunately for us two of our suppliers (www.acti-sol.ca   and www.groundskeeperspride.com)  have kept their prices reasonable and we are passing those savings on to you.

During the winter and spring of 2010 we will be updating this section of our website. Thanks for your patience.

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Organic Insect Control

We have always preached about least invasive techniques for insect control. Here are some questions to ask yourself (in order) :

1. Is the damage really that bad? Can your plant afford a few chewed leaves?. If so, leave it alone. If you leave the "bad bugs" alone then there is a good chance that some "good bugs" (or birds) will come along and eat them.

2. Can I pick them off by hand or knock them off with a jet of water. Aphids and other sucking insects can have their mouthparts severely damaged when knocked off a plant with water. Spittlebugs are often killed by predators or dehydration when they try to climb back onto the plant (not that they do much damage anyway)

3. Can I block them from their intended victims? Copper barriers can be used to repel slugs. Teflon tape can be used to prevent caterpillars from feeding on tree leaves or ants from farming aphids on a tree.

4. Have I done everything I can to prevent this problem (or take steps to do so for the future). Companion planting, planting a few nectar producing plants to encourage predators and keeping weeds or grass in the area cut short should be considered. Choosing plants that don't get eaten or are vigorous enough not to care about it can help. Choosing plants whose requirements fit the location helps prevent stress for the plant. Stressed plants attract insects.

5. All else failing, what is the least thing I can spray on my plants? We are great believers in targeted products with low side effects. Elsewhere on this site we talk about using Grub Buster Nematodes for white grub control. Nematodes are also useful for controlling

During the winter and spring of 2010 we will be updating this section of our website. Thanks for your patience.

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Organic Fungus Control

During the winter and spring of 2010 we will be updating this section of our website. Thanks for your patience.

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Plants, Bulbs and Seeds

During the winter and spring of 2010 we will be updating this section of our website. Thanks for your patience.

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Practical and Appealing Gardenware

During the winter and spring of 2010 we will be updating this section of our website. Thanks for your patience.

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Giftware

During the winter and spring of 2010 we will be updating this section of our website. Thanks for your patience.

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After Garden Care

During the winter and spring of 2010 we will be updating this section of our website. Thanks for your patience.

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Last modified: 03/11/09