Just Landscaping Midway

05/21/2026

You may have heard that clover is a low-maintenance, eco-friendly lawn alternative. But what’s the full picture?

A clover lawn is not usually *only* clover. It’s hard to maintain a monoculture, whether that’s grass or anything else. Natue abhors a vacuum. With time, you’ll always end up with a mixture of species sharing space, occupying slightly different niches. So a clover lawn will almost always have some grass component, unless you w**d it- and for most of us, that defeats the purpose.

Even as a small part of a lawn, though, clover has benefits. It requires less water and stays greener better than most turfgrass. It’s tolerant of foot traffic, though not as much as tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass. It stays relatively short and rarely needs mowing. If left to flower, it puts on a gorgeous display that attracts pollinators and beneficial insects. And it’s not expensive, either- it costs less per square foot than grass seed.

However, I do tend to believe that some of the benefits are overstated. Clover fixes nitrogen, reducing the demand for fertilizer- but does your lawn need fertilizer in the first place? Probably not as much as you think. As an introduced species, clover is also not as “ecologically friendly” as something like a native plant garden. It can also look somewhat patchy, being more clump-forming than turfgrass.

Still, I think clover (or a clover blend) is a great choice for someone wanting a functional, walkable lawn with minimal upkeep. What’s your experience with clover?

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05/16/2026

Have you thought about installing a drip irrigation system? Drip irrigation is the best way to water your garden consistently and thoroughly, saving time and water.

Some benefits of drip irrigation:

-Less surface moisture left than sprinklers, which leads to less w**d germination

-Easily automated with an electronic timer for maximum convenience and precise water control

-Long-lasting, low-maintenance, and easily repairable for years of reliable use

Drip irrigation isn’t as expensive as you might think, either. Simple drip systems start around $250, depending on size and layout. They can also be easily expanded or modified to match your needs and deliver the best possible performance. Before summer heat hits, consider upgrading your irrigation now!

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05/14/2026

How much water does your lawn or plantings actually need? Are you just putting the sprinkler on and hoping for the best? Using climate data and a bit of math (or just an online tool!), we can actually calculate things with reasonable accuracy.

Your landscape loses water through evapotranspiration: evaporation of water from surfaces, plus water lost from plant leaves during transpiration. It’s typically measured in mm, like rainfall. From historical climate data, we can find the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) data for our area, and then adjust based on plant type and current conditions.

To adjust your irrigation practices, you also need to know how much water your irrigation system uses. You can refer to the manufacturer’s data, or just test it yourself with a suitable container to find how many millimetres of water it applies per irrigation cycle.

If you want to dive into the recommended irrigation needs of your landscape, you can use the handy BC Landscape Water Calculator at https://bcwatercalculator.ca/landscape/irrigation. Simply select your property, input some details of the site, and it will tell you your expected water needs. Try it out, and see how much water you might save!

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04/17/2026

Are you aware of the RDKB FireSmart 2026 Residential Rebate Program? This program offers rebates for homeowners to undertake wildfire mitigation work around their homes, either by themselves or with hired help. It’s a cost-sharing program that will return up to 50% of the cost of recommended FireSmart improvements after a free FireSmart assessment.

Some of the improvements are services that I offer, including:

- Maintenance and cleanup, including mowing, pruning, and removing flammable debris
- Creating a 1.5m non-combustible buffer zone around the house with inorganic material ilke rock mulch or pavers
- Removing or replacing flammable shrubs with FireSmart alternatives
- Replacing wooden fencing and gates with metal ones
- Planting healthy, properly-spaced deciduous trees

These are only a few of the ways in which your house can be made more FireSmart. Go follow FireSmart BC and book a FireSmart assessment to learn more. Applications for the rebate program open May 1, and funds are limited on a first-come-first-serve basis. Get started at

FireSmart make your home and neighbourhood more resilient to Wildfires

03/23/2026

As spring approaches, what are you doing in your garden right now?

The buttercups are opening, the yarrow is pushing up leaves, and the cool-season grasses are greening. Early perennials are waking up, but most annual plants haven’t germinated yet. This is a good time to get out there and see what’s growing!

For some, this is the time of year to clean up: removing debris that could otherwise become a fire hazard or choke new growth. Others wait until later, leaving some yard litter for the overwintering insects. Both approaches have their place depending on your site and goals.

Either way, it’s an exciting time to watch another spring appear! What are you seeing out there?

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03/03/2026

What gorgeous colour! These Oregon grape plants turn a vivid red in the winter, a great visual when everything else is rather drab.

The anthocyanin pigments in the leaves are a protective response that helps them survive bright, dry, frozen conditions. That means that the red colour is especially strong in sunnier, more exposed sites.

Some people might call it a w**d, but I think Oregon grape is an under-appreciated ornamental. It's beautiful in all seasons, but especially winter. And as a bonus, it's edible and delicious!

02/21/2026

Some people honestly enjoy tending their lawn- the hours spent mowing, watering, fertilzing, w**ding, and raking it into a pristine carpet. But for most people, the lawn is a chore. On top of that, it guzzles huge amounts of water and half the time, in our hot summers, it looks half-dead anyway. But what’s the realistic alternative? Let me list a few!

A) Non-lawn groundcovers: Lawn grass can be partially or entirely replaced by other plants, like wildflowers, herbs, or creeping shrubs. With good preparation and plant selection, you can drastically reduce maintenance and enhance visual appeal.

B) Gravel and hardscape: ie. “zero-scape”. Rock is a versatile material. You can play with different colours, textures, and sizes of materials to create beautiful designs. There’s always still room for a few tidy drought-tolerant plants to keep things lively, too.

C) Edible gardens: If you don’t mind the work, but want more out of it, consider replacing your lawn with fruits and vegetables! Raised beds are one way to create attractive, functional structure in your space. But even just planted in the ground, a front-yard veggie garden is a delightful place.

My favourite thing about all of these “lawn alternatives” is the space for creativity and personality. What do you value? What kind of environment do you want to spend your time in? Hope this gets you thinking!

02/17/2026

Have you ever noticed that pastures and hay fields are kinda like giant lawns? Or you could say lawns are like tiny pastures. If you asked a farmer about growing a healthy stand of grass, they might have this advice:

1. Know your soil. What's the texture? How much water does it hold? What’s the pH and nutrient status? This influences things like how much and how often you should irrigate, so you can keep plants healthy without wasting resources.

2. Know your grass(es). Which species do you have, and what are their preferences? Different varieties grow at different rates, consume different amounts of water, and thrive in different conditions. Most yards have non-grass species, too- what’s their place in this system?

3. Know your w**ds: Which species *don't* you want? Why do they appear anyway? You can save a lot of wasted effort by understanding your common w**ds and applying the right intervention at the right time.

4. Know your goals: How many bales of hay do you want out of your field? Or, in a yard- what is the space actually for? A play space, simple curb appeal, a quiet spot to watch the birds? Different use cases call for different management.

Hope this makes you think! What else can we discover if we thought about lawns like a crop?