MPS Updates

What is this year’s winter going to be like?

For those of us in the Snow & Ice Management industry it is a question we receive with alarming regularity. How could we not know? Afterall, we are supposed to be trusted experts. Coming up with an answer is easy. Coming up with the correct answer is an entirely different ballgame altogether!

The true experts, experienced meteorologists who toil at The Weather Network or Environment Canada put a great deal of effort into providing long range seasonal predictions based on years of statistical analysis, satellite technology, computer algorithms, and, if I’m not mistaken, just a little bit of guesswork. They’ll toss around terms like polar vortex, La Nina or temperature inversion to solidify their standing in the world of weather prediction. They’ll huff and puff with the force of an Alberta Clipper, but at the end of it all, they turn out to be wrong just as much or more often than they are right. Mother Nature, just like the Casino, always seems to win in the end, surprising them all. I’d be more than happy if they got their 5-day forecasts correct on a regular basis to be honest, let alone long-term!
So, what are they predicting for us this winter? The general consensus seems to be for a colder than normal winter, with above-normal precipitation and snowfall. The snowiest periods will be in late November, early & late December (not mid-December apparently), and mid-January.

What about the Farmer’s Almanac though? Their mix of intuitive divination using natural clues in the behavior of plants and animals, mixed with a pinch of sorcery, leads to great success (according to them at least) in accurately predicting seasonal weather. The problem is, which version of Almanac? The one I have used in the past seems to agree for the most part with the meteorologists; they claim with a high degree of “certainty” that it will be a very cold, snow-filled winter, although mid-December will be one of the snowiest periods. Looks like December will be a whopper!

The team at MPS Property Services can assist you with a wide range of residential services that can enhance your outdoor living space. Contact us today for more details!

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So, it seems the forces of prognostication are speaking with one voice this year, and yet I still have my doubts. Call it intuition, or experience, or even madness, but I just don’t believe that after being so wrong so often, they have suddenly got their act together. Although a broken clock can still be right twice a day, I just don’t have faith in their predictions, for I have learned to follow a more philosophical approach in recent years.

What do I think will happen this winter? I will refer to Act V, Scene 1 of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, and let Brutus speak for me:

“O, that a man might know the end of this day’s business ere it come! But it sufficeth that the day will end, and then the end is known.”

Wise man, that Brutus. I guess we’ll find out in the spring!

Ken Jorgenson

As a landscaper, lawn enthusiast or property owner there is nothing more frustrating than seeing yellow dandelions popping up throughout your lush green lawn and rapidly taking over. Without intervention, dandelions and other weeds will quickly dominate your lawn and there is very little that can be done to stop them, driving landscapers and lawn enthusiast crazy each year. Dandelions first pop open their yellow heads in the spring, before turning into fluff balls to disperse their seeds a few weeks later. On unlucky years, with certain weather conditions, dandelions can bloom multiple times from spring through autumn.

Are Dandelions A Weed?

Dandelions are herbs that originated in Europe but are non-native species in Ontario. Classified as weeds in Ontario, dandelions can successfully grow in just about any conditions, including the cracks in cement. Growing from a single penetrating tap root, dandelions are good at spreading and hard to kill. Due to their aggressive nature, dandelions quickly dominate the area decreasing native plants and reducing biodiversity. Dandelions are considered perennials because they come back year after year from the same see.

Landscapers know the aggravation dandelions cause in the spring when the weeds grow faster than the grass itself, making your freshly cut lawn look shaggy and unkept just days after cutting. Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy solution to dandelions, since the Ontario Cosmetic Pesticide Act of 2009 banned the only effective herbicides used to control growth and spread of the weed.

How To Prevent Dandelions

As a landscape company, we’re often asked if there are ways to prevent dandelions. Unfortunately, there is no easy solution; for small sections of grass or gardens you could dig out each & every dandelion but that would require a tremendous amount of labour (and cost) for larger area. On top of that, unless all your neighbours were doing the same, their dandelions will just spread their seeds right back to your lawn.

The only suggestion we give our customers is to support a thick & healthy lawn, this will help it withstand the inevitable dandelion invasion.

Some other tips to help prevent dandelion invasion:

• During peak dandelion season, cutting the grass twice weekly will improve its appearance
• Don’t cut the grass too short – keep it at t least 2 ¾ – 3 inches long (7 – 7 ½ cm)
• Topdress & overseed your lawn annually to replenish the soil and encourage new turf growth
• Aerate at least once per year to improve nutrient/water flow, root growth and general health of the turf

Contact us today to discuss MPS’ Commercial Grounds Maintenance services to help with dandelion control!

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Whether you have a green thumb, or you are just starting out, one of the most important aspects of gardening is knowing when flowers bloom. When you understand that, you get smarter about your planting, so you enjoy blooms throughout the seasons. Canadians look forward to spring blooms that signal summer is near. So, when do flowers bloom in Ontario? Here we look at Ontario’s favourites by month along with a flower bulb schedule.   

Bloom Times for Popular Spring Flowers 

Here are some of the most popular Ontario flowering bulbs by month: 

MARCH TO EARLY APRIL 

• Galanthus (Snowdrops): These lovely pale blue flowers are a harbinger of spring. They are small so are best planted in groups for impact. They come in different varieties as well, including a white and variegated version. 
• Danfordiae or Reticulata (Early Irises): Early irises bloom at the same time as snowdrops, so make a nice focal point in a small bed. Their distinct royal purple colour and intricate flower is always a showstopper. 
• Chrysanthus and C.Ttommasinianus cvs (Crocuses): This sweet flower brings cheer to gardens as they make their appearance in late March or early April. 
• Narcissus cvs.(Daffodils): No one can resist the bright, cheerful yellow daffodil despite its short-lived bloom. 
• Chionodoxa forbesii and C. luciliae (Glory-of-the-snow): This lovely flower creates a carpet of blooms in deep blue similar to the common blue bell. Just keep in mind it can spread and become hard to control. 

APRIL 

• Hyacinthus (Hyacinths): These flowers have a similar appearance to lilacs but are single bulbs that produce a purply blue flower. They do very well in full sun or partial shade. 
• Tulipa sp. and cvs (Tulips): This symbol of Holland is the quintessential spring bloom bursting with colour in Ontario gardens. People love the variations of colour available and dedicate full beds for their short but sweet display. 
• Aquilegia canadensis (Columbine): This delicate, two-toned rather tall flower comes in a wide assortment of colours and can be mixed and matched to create a focal point in any garden. They also last a lot longer than most spring blooms.  
• Mertensia (Bluebells): Lovely deep blue flowers create carpets across lawns and garden beds, making excellent ground cover in shady areas.   
• Omphalodes Verna (Blue-Eyed Mary): Yet another purply blue bloom, the Blue-Eyed Mary loves shade, and contrasts beautifully with the mint-like leaves. 
• Phlox subulata (Ground phlox): Nothing produces a more impressive display than this beautiful ground cover which is popular in rock gardens. 

MAY 

• Cypripedium sp (Lady’s slipper): The moment you see these delicate blooms you’ll know how they got their name. They bloom in May and are very bee-friendly. 
• Ajuga cvs. (Bugle flower): If you want a flower that provides colour all year round, this is your guy. It provides purple flowers in May and the leaves are a deep burgundy to add interest for the rest of the summer and fall. 
• Dicentra and Lamprocapnos spp. And cvs. (Bleeding hearts): This swoon-worthy flower has been gracing gardens for centuries. Heart-shaped flowers, pretty ferny foliage and a long bloom time are just a few reasons they are so appealing. 

Bloom Time Chart 

Here is a complete list of spring bloom options: 

MARCH 

• Crocus (Crocus) 
• Glory of the snow (Chionodoxa) 
• Winter aconite (Eranthis) 
• Snowdrop (Galanthus) 
• Christmas rose (Helleborus) 
• Lenten rose (Helleborus) 
• Iris (Iris Danfordiae) 
• Iris (Iris Reticulata) 
• Striped Squill (Puschkinia) 
• Squill (Scilla) 

APRIL 

• Spring Adonis (Adonis) 
• Golden garlic (Allium Moly) 
• Anemone (Anemone sp. & CVS.) 
• Pasque Flower (Anemone Pulsatilla) 
• Columbine (Aquilegia Canadensis) 
• Rock Cress (Arabis) 
• False Rock Cress (Aubrietia) 
• Basket of Gold Aurinia (Alyssum) 
• Bergenia (Bergenia)
• Brunnera (Brunnera) 
• Marsh Marigold (Caltha) 
• Black Cohosh (Caulophyllum) 
• Spring Beauty (Claytonia) 
• Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra Eximia) 
• Draba (Draba) 
• Trout Lily (Erythronium Americanum)
• Dogtooth Violet (E. Dens-Canis CVS.) 
• Crown (Imperial Fritillaria CVS.) 
• Hepatica (Hepatica sp.) 
• Hyacinth (Hyacinth sp.) 
• Dwarf Iris (Iris Pumila) 
• Snowflake (Leucojum) 
• Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia) 
• Grape Hyacinth (Muscari CVS.) 
• Daffodil (Narcissus CVS.) 
• Blue-eyed Mary (Omphalodes) 
• Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra) 
• Creeping Phlox (Phlox sp.) 
• Ground Phlox (Phlox Subulata) 
• Primrose (Primula sp. & CVS.) 
• Lungwort (Pulmonaria CVS.) 
• Bloodroot (Sanguinaria) 
• Tulip (Tulipa sp. and CVS.) 
• Violet (Viola sp. and cvs.) 

MAY 

• Stone Cress (Aethionema) 
• Bugle Flower (Ajuga CVS.) 
• Spring Anemone (Anemone sp.) 
• Columbine (Aquilegia Hybrids) 
• Thrift (Armeria) 
• Alpine Aster (Aster Alpinus) 
• Masterwort (Astrantia Major) 
• Quamash (Camassia) 
• Bluebells (Campanula Poscharskyana) 
• Corydalis (Corydalis sp.) 
• Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium sp.) 
• Pinks (Dianthus sp. and CVS.) 
• Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra sp. and CVS.)
• Shooting Star (Dodecatheon sp.) 
• Leopard’s Bane (Doronicum sp.) 
• Bluebell Endymion (Scilla) 
• Barrenwort (Epimedium sp.) 
• Cushion Spurge (Euphorbia) 
• Sweet Woodruff (Galium) 
• Cranesbill (Geranium sp.) 
• Avens (Geum sp.) 
• Candy Tuft (Iberis) 
• (Early) Iris (Iris Intermedia) 
• Spring Vetchling (Lathyrus Vernus) 
• (Early) Peony (Paeonia CVS.) 
• Fernleaf Peony (Paeonia Tenufolia) 
• Alpine Poppy (Papaver Alpinus) 
• Creeping Phlox (Phlox Stolonifera) 
• Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium) 
• Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum) 
• Primrose (Primula) 
• Buttercup (Ranunculus) 
• Wild Pink (Silene Caroliniana) 
• Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrhinchium)
• False Solomon’s Seal (Smilacina) 
• Meadow Rue (Thalictrum) 
• Foam Flower (Tiarella) 
• Spiderwort (Tradescantia) 
• Globeflower (Trollius) 
• Tulip (Tulipa CVS.) 
• Bellwort (Uvularia) 
• Speedwell (Veronica sp.) 
• Violet (Viola) 
• Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia) 

Are you ready to take your landscaping to the next step? At MPS we will work with you to create a beautiful landscape design, full of your favourite plants and hardscaping elements. Contact our team today.  

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In the past year, there has been an increased demand for home improvement services, including landscaping. However, finding a reputable contractor for any type of home improvement project can be daunting, and requires research. MPS has been in the landscape industry for over 30 years and we have heard hundreds of horror stories from customers who chose the wrong contractor the first time. Before you let someone into your home, start any demolition, or pay them a deposit, we have provided some important questions you should ask them:

1. “What’s the history of your company?”

Inquiring about your landscape contractor’s company history will give you a clearer picture of the company you’re about to do business with. Larger, reputable companies will most likely have better customer service, be more professional, have access to better equipment and materials. An established landscape contractor will be less impacted by external factors and will have proof of industry-related accreditations and associations they can show you.

2. “Do you offer a workmanship warranty?”

A reputable warranty policy will help protect you against any workmanship issues. Remember, the longer a landscape contractor has been around, the more reputable their warranty policy is. A 5-year warranty from a company that’s 2 years old, isn’t as reliable as one from a 30-year-old company. Many small landscape companies do not last 5 years or maybe hard to track down if you require warranty work.

3. “Do you have WSIB & Insurance?”

If the landscape contractor you’re using doesn’t have WSIB or insurance, then you as the homeowner will be responsible to provide that coverage. The homeowner will be called upon if there is an accident during the project, and this could cost you thousands of dollars in legal fees or medical expenses.

4. “Do you use subcontractors to produce/build aspects of the project?”

Some landscape companies sub-out their work, however, this can create bottlenecks in production, quality issues, and might affect your warranty. Always confirm whether the landscape contractor you’re using is doing the work themselves, or they have clearly outlined which subcontractors will be doing which section of work and how that may affect the company’s agreement with you.

5. “Will you work continuously until the project is complete?”

Once a renovation has begun at your home, inside or outside, you’ll be left with unusable space for a period of time. This becomes an issue if the company completes the demolition and then leaves your property to start or work on another project. You’ll want to make sure that when the project starts, the landscape contractor will be working at your property until it’s complete. Don’t get left with a mess!

Home improvements are exciting, don’t get caught up in the excitement without asking these 5 important questions! Have questions about home improvement, our team at MPS can help. Give us a call today!

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It has always been very difficult to get a decent “on the record” long-range seasonal weather prediction from one of our official expert weather service providers – looking at you Environment Canada and The Weather Network!

Thankfully, there is another brave prognosticator of precipitation out there, the good old Farmer’s Almanac, willing to stake their well-earned reputation on a full-winter seasonal forecast for all the regions of Canada. They have been providing such long-range forecasts since 1818 and claim to have logged an accuracy of 75%-80% over the years. Let’s commend them for their perspicacity and examine what they claim we have in store for us this winter!

According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the winter of 2020-2021 will be “The Winter of the Great Divide: Wet, white, and wild in the West, everything crazy in the East.” Now that’s what I call a gripping headline!

From Mild to Wild…

Their region by region breakdown is as follows:

The eastern provinces (newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia, PEI, and New Brunswick will experience unseasonably mild conditions for most of the winter.

The entire province of Quebec and the eastern and central parts of Ontario will see “normal” winter temperatures overall, however, this will be based on periods of unseasonably mild temperatures oscillating with periods of bitter cold!

Western Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and eastern British Columbia are going to be suffering through much colder than normal winter temperatures. Finally, our friends on the Pacific coast of British Columbia will be enjoying normal temperatures for the winter.

But what of our precipitation forecast? Well, the good folks at the Farmer’s Almanac advise those of us in Ontario to be prepared for a “snowier than normal” winter, so keep those shovels and snow blowers at hand! They are even going out on a limb and predicting that the second week of January will bring heavy snowfalls to Ontario, and a reverse of the old winter classic – this year March will come in like a lamb but go out like a lion! A ferocious one apparently, with significant late-season snowfalls throughout Ontario and the eastern provinces.

So, there you have it, right from the Farmer’s mouth; our seasonal forecast in a nutshell. All that’s left to do now is wait and see how accurate it really is.

Ken Jorgenson

You’ve taken the time to plant and care for your garden, but did you know that pruning your shrubs, hedges and flowering plants is just as important as sunlight and water? Pruning is an essential part of growing healthy plants in your garden. In fact, pruning at the appropriate time and using the correct tools, will encourage stronger growth and more blooms.

Common pruning tools:

• Floral scissors & snippers
• Hedge trimmer
• Loppers
• Extended tree pruner & pruning saw

The big questions are what to prune and when? To prune plants for growth, simply remove any dead, diseased or damaged stems that you see. Pruning these areas is important because they’re prone to insects and disease, which will affect the overall health of your plants. Removing these energy-draining parts of the plant will allow for new growth to flourish.

Tips For Pruning Common Plants

For certain types of plants, the timing of pruning is important and is dependent on their growth and bloom cycle. Here are some tips for pruning common plants in your garden.

• Perennial flowers should be deadheaded as necessary; once the flower is finished blooming snip the old flower head.
• Annual flowers should be deadheaded more regularly to promote continuous blooming. Removing the old flowers prevents them from setting seed and allows the plants to put more energy into blooming.
• Spring flowering trees & shrubs, including Lilac, Forythia, and Rhododendron, bloom on old wood that grew in the previous season. The best time to prune spring-flowering trees and shrubs is in late spring immediately after they’ve bloomed.
• Summer-blooming trees & shrubs, such as potentilla, butterfly bush, crape myrtle, bloom on new growth, therefore the best time to prune them is during the winter or early spring. You can even cut these types of plants down to the ground in late winter and they’ll still bloom the following season. This is a good way to keep the plant from overgrowing in its location.
• Shrubs without Blooms, like barberry and burning bush, can be pruned anytime except late fall.
• Boxwoods and other clipped hedges, grow rapidly and can be pruned frequently in the early spring to mid-late summer.

How To Prune Hydrangeas

Some species of hydrangeas require old wood, mature stems from the previous year, to produce blooms and other types bloom on new wood grown during that season.

• Species that bloom on old wood should be pruned mid-summer
  • Pink & Blue Hydrangeas
  • White mopheads
  • Lace caps
  • Oakleaf
• Species that bloom on new wood can be pruned at any time except just before they bloom (since you’d be removing the flower)
  • PeeGee
  • Limelight
  • Annabelle
• Some types of Hydrangeas bloom on both old & new wood, so the timing of pruning is less critical
  • Endless Summer
  • Let’s Dance Series

If you’d like more information on Hydrangeas, check out this blog post about the Top 10 Hydrangea species in Southern Ontario.  https://aboutmps.com/top-ten-hydrangeas/