A Terrace Garden in Canada

Cold winters, hot summers, and a small space haven’t stopped this gardener

Today we ’re visiting Julie Hébert ’s garden .

I am an devouring gardener in an rare state of affairs . I dwell in Montreal , Canada ( Zone 5b ) . When my husband and I bought a loft with a patio in 2013 , I knew I desire to turn our olive-drab concrete outdoor space into an intimate green nest . I wantedshrubs and treesthat I could see maturing class after yr , with the freedom to change up the look of the blank with perennials . Our mood is not an easy one to work with . In addition to brutally cold winter and scorching heating plant wave in the summer , Montreal gardeners have to contend with winter temperatures that can vacillate wildly , more so than those of other southerly Quebec city . antecedent in plantation owner are doubly punished because they ca n’t do good from the tempering effect of the earth ’s heat in the winter . Plants in planters dry out quickly , as they are more peril to coarse winds . I had my body of work bring down out for me .

I started by part our 350 - square - foot , NW - facing terrace into three zone : an atrium , a louche ‘ Zen ’ zone with a gurglingfountainto keep my ears concentre inwards , forth from metropolis sounds , and a sunnyseating area . I had 18 planters made of brushed aluminum in different shapes and sizes . On average , they accommodate 16 solid ft of dirt . They are line with 2 - inch - thick R-10 extruded polystyrene insulation canvas and geotextile . I filled them with high - timber soil , then I get going experiment .

I learned quickly that plants hardy in Zone 5 were out — bye bye , Acer palmatum(Japanese maple , Zones 5–9 ) . Then most Zone 4 works were extinguish . Interestingly , I find that hardiness zone are not the only resolve factor in plant survival of the fittest ; theEpimedium× rubrum(red barrenwort , Zones 5–9 ) that my father gave me last year survived the 2020 winter without a dent , and my threeJuniperussquamata‘Blue lead ’ have been around for six age . Zone 3Thujaspecies , though abundant in our local nurseries , do n’t stomach a chance on my patio , even with wintertime trade protection .

I more often than not stick with plants hardy to Zones 3 or colder and have memorize to appreciate the beauty of common robust species such asRhustyphina(staghorn sumac , Zones 3–9),Piceaglauca(white spruce , Zones 3–6),Betula nana(dwarf birch tree , Zones 3–8 ) , andPinusmugo(Mugo pine , Zones 3–7 ) . I plant nanus species whenever possible , or prominent ones such asLarixlaricina(tamarack , Zones 2–5 ) andTiliacordata(littleleaf basswood , zona 3–7 ) that take well to being pruned . I have learned that many dwarfconifercultivars are engraft and that their origin stock may not be as audacious as the species .

Once in a while I seek to push my hardiness zone point of accumulation , as I have this year with aCotinuscoggygria‘Velveteeny dwarf ’ ( smoke bush , Zones 4–9 ) . Its deep red leaves , seen at the bottom of this photo , framed byThymus pseudolanuginosus(woolly thyme , Zones 2–8 ) , work well off the cinnamon bark of its neighbor , aBetula nigra‘Little King ’ ( dwarf river birch , Zones 4–9 ) . I found that many flowering perennial did not make for , as I could not give them enough blank space to showcase them in mass plantings or drifts as I like to see them .

I learned to work with more subtle qualities intextureand mould fromsmall trees , bush , and nonshowy perennials . In a modest space , it is possible to organise to not bad effect the blue of a singleSalixcandida‘Iceberg Alley ’ ( sageleaf willow , geographical zone 3–7 ) with the chartreuse and finespun leaves of aBetula nana‘Golden treasure ’ , and the emerald green feathery farewell of aJuniperus chinensis‘Mint Julep ’ ( Chinese juniper , Zones 3–9 ) .

I have gained an appreciation for the finer details in the leave of the various juniper coinage that thrive in this tiny urban garden . As with any nurseryman , I suppose , I care to stratum plants , so I chosePiceaglauca pendula(weeping white spruce ) andThalictrumrochebruneanum(meadow rue , Zones 3–8 ) for their vertical event , andRhustyphinaandRhus typhina‘Tiger eye ’ for their umbrella form .

I growJuniperusprocumbens‘Nana ’ ( dwarf garden juniper bush , Zones 3–9),Juniperushorizontalis(creeping juniper , Zones 3–9 ) , orEmpetrumeamesii‘Saguenay ’ ( crowberry , Zones 3–5 ) for their cascading effect . I useThelypterisphegopteris(beech fern , Zones 2–5 ) andCornuscanadensis(bunchberry , Zones 2–6 ) for reason screen , and moss grows all over the place .

I had a sturdy trellis install ( background in this photo ) to plump for anActinidiaarguta(hardy kiwi vine , Zones 3–8 ) pair , which I hope will bear fruit in the next few years as they will soon strain adulthood . MyMaackia amurensis(maackia , Zones 3–7 ) is my large specimen and tender very welcome refinement during the summer . In our climate , we can expect it to grow to 15 ft high in the ground ; mine is at 12 feet , and I have started to prune it a bite . I have see that keep works in captivity demands the same responsibilities as keep a favored cat or click ; they can not discover food on their own , so I require to provide it . Compost wo n’t do , as we do n’t have the invertebrate life to metabolize it . I tried organic biddy manure until I found signs of deficiencies in my lime tree and birch . This class I begrudgingly tried a balanced chemical substance fertilizer and have watched my plants heal and flourish .

As retire babe boomers leave alone their suburban gardens for smaller city domicile , the need for urban container garden is mature . arise edibles and annual are one matter , but grow a garden to accompany us in our former age is a challenge . I am living it and want to partake in my experience with your readers .

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