why is the garden covered in leaves?

Why we mulch:

Mulching feeds the beds. As leaves decompose over winter, they release nitrogen and other nutrients into the soil. Earthworms and other soil organisms feed on the leaves and produce concentrated fertiliser as a result;

Insects and worms attracted by the mulch help to keep the the soil surface loose and oxygenated, creating a nurturing environment for plant roots, beneficial fungus and microorganisms

Mulching protects plants from drying out during long cold spells. The real danger to plants in winter locally isn't the cold, it's desiccation. The freezing air temperature sucks the moisture from soil and plants, causing them to dry out and die. Mulching helps prevent the soil from drying out and also creates a barrier against wind.

This effect continues into summer. Leaving some mulch in place over summer will reduce evaporation and watering needs.

Mulching helps keep weeds down. Mulch helps stop weeds from taking root or thriving in garden beds, making maintenance much easier.

Mulching provides over-wintering protection for the caterpillars of butterflies, ladybugs and lacewings, and many other beneficial insects. More mulch, more butterflies!

Mulching creates rich winter feeding areas for small birds. All those leaves hide insects and seeds which attract all kinds of small to medium size bird species. It's an easy and natural way to encourage birds and provide entertainment for residents and staff.

Stage 1 water restrictions in effect

Stage 1 watering restrictions in effect

Hand watering: (bushes, shrubs, flower beds) must use spring loaded nozzle, no other restrictions
Fountains/water features: allowed
Sprinkler watering: only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sunday from 4 - 9 am Note: Newly planted lawns and landscaping are exempted but only with a municipal permit (we don't have one).
please refer to The City of Port Coquitlam guidelines here

water barrels

^^four new water barrels will be installed this summer, giving us a total of five.

Stage 3 watering restrictions now in effect

(from the City of Port Coquitlam website posted |July 21, 2015)
Due to unreasonably hot and dry weather, we are under Stage 3 Water Restrictions under Metro Vancouver's Water Shortage Response Plan. The following restrictions are in place:
Not Allowed

• Lawn sprinkling;
• Municipal exemption permits for new‐lawns or nematode application are prohibited;
• Watering of trees, shrubs, flowers, decorative planters and vegetable gardens by sprinklers or soaker hoses is prohibited;
• Private pressure washing is prohibited;
• Washing of driveways, sidewalks and parkades for aesthetic purposes is prohibited;
• Washing of all cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats and other recreational and vehicles is prohibited;
• Golf course fairway watering is prohibited;
• Cemetery lawns – all forms of watering are prohibited;
• Municipal parks ‐ all forms of watering are prohibited;
• Operation of ornamental fountains is prohibited;
• Filling or refilling of private swimming pools, hot tubs and garden ponds is prohibited.

Allowed

• Hand watering of trees, shrubs, flowers, decorative planters and vegetable gardens using a spring-loaded shutoff nozzle, containers or a drip irrigation system is permitted;
• Watering of turf at turf farms or flowers and vegetables at commercial gardens is permitted.
• Hosing of outdoor surfaces (e.g. driveways, sidewalks, roofs) if required to avoid public health and safety concerns or to prepare a surface for painting/sealing or similar treatment is permitted;
• Commercial pressure washing for health and safety purposes or to prepare as surface for painting or similar purposes is permitted;
• Commercial car wash operations are permitted;
• Golf course watering of greens and tee areas at minimum levels required to maintain areas in useable condition is permitted;
• Sports playing field (including sand-based) and school yard watering at minimum levels as required to maintain areas in useable condition is permitted;
• Artificial turf requiring wetting and outdoor tracks if required for dust control or safety reasons is permitted.
• Note: The City will NOT be issuing permits new lawns and nematodes application as they are prohibited during Stage 3 restrictions. Permits previously issued are no longer valid.
    What else can you do?
  
  • Work with nature and let your lawn go dormant (brown) over the summer. It’ll ‘green up’ again when it starts raining in the fall.
  • Leave grass clippings on your lawn. They’ll help trap moisture to reduce evaporation and break down to feed your lawn naturally.
  Residents and businesses found to be violating Stage 3 water restrictions will be issued one verbal warning prior to receiving a $200 fine from the City's Bylaw Services Division .

City of Port Coquitlam here

Stage 2 watering restrictions in effect in Port Coquitlam

We are currently in Stage 2 of the Metro Vancouver Water Shortage Response Plan, which has 4 stages.


The following restrictions are in place:
Lawn sprinkling will be restricted to one morning a week only.
Outdoor sprinkling of lawns using hose-connected or automatic in-ground sprinklers will be permitted only as follows:
From June 1 to September 30, sprinkling is permitted as follows:
Even-numbered addresses - Monday mornings only (4:00 - 9:00 am)
Odd-numbered addresses - Thursday mornings only (4:00 - 9:00 am)

Operating ornamental fountains, including residential, commercial, institutional and government fountains. Municipal parks, cemetery lawns, ornamental lawns belonging to municipal facilities, and grassed boulevards are not exempt and may be watered only within the once-weekly times noted above.

The following sprinkling is not permitted:

Hosing outdoor surfaces (e.g. driveways, sidewalks, roofs) for aesthetic reasons unless required for public health and safety concerns or to prepare a surface for painting/sealing or similar treatment. A hose with an automatic shut-off device must be used.

• Pressure washing for aesthetic reasons except to prepare a surface for painting, sealing or similar treatment. This applies to both private and commercial pressure washing.

 ^^the signs of drought are everywhere

 

death traps

Small birds, mammals and other creatures often fall into watering cans and buckets trying to access water. Always leave a twig or stick in the container so critters can climb back out.

(photo credit: CJW Vos)
 ^^this little deer mouse, a semi-arboreal rodent that also forages in shallow water, drowned in an ice cream pail containing only a few centimetres of water.

Aside from seeds, deer mice eat beetles and other small invertebrates, especially in summer.

(photo credit: CJW Vos)

^^even good swimmers like this guy eventually tire and drown trying to escape containers.

(photo credit: Storm)
^^always give small animals an escape route by placing a twig or stick in the container,
or store empty upside down or on the side.

watering at Cheeryville

Sprinkler use is restricted from June 1 to September 30:
*Even-numbered addresses may sprinkle lawns 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
*Odd-numbered addresses may sprinkle lawns 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays (Cheeryville is on this schedule)
*Hand watering with a flow controller is permitted any time

Sprinkler regulations

 Sprinkling is unnecessary in most situations. Please check with your supervisor before putting out a sprinkler.

Effective June 1 to September 30, sprinkling is permitted as follows: 

• Even-numbered addresses may sprinkle lawns 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
• Odd-numbered addresses may sprinkle lawns 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays

Note: Hand watering is permitted any time.
City of Port Coquitlam sprinkling page here