Recycled rubber packs punch in planters

BY WENDY BIRD

Residents may have noticed city flower beds are looking particularly lovely this summer.

"We've tried to kick things up a bit," said Pam Cranston, superintendent of horticulture for park services. "I always felt the flower beds looked very nice, but having those few brighter plants and putting them together with other vibrant varieties really helps things stand out so much more."

But it's not just the flowers. Cranston has also brought in a new backdrop for some of the planter beds.

"We've incorporated a vibrant shredded rubber mulch into some of our display beds. It's recycled from tires," she said.

According to the manufacturer, the mulch is guaranteed not to fade for 10 years, resists blowing and water wash-out, is sterile, and does not contain any foreign seeds, allows water to penetrate and does not breakdown and decompose like bark mulches.

"I think it's great because we can use it over and over," Cranston said. "We lay it on white plastic fabric so it doesn't come in contact with the soil, and then it can be easily removed from the bed and bagged at the end of the season.
"Plus it's a lot more user-friendly for the gardeners. It's not as heavy as using the white quartz."

Traditionally the city has always used white quartz stone as a backdrop to many of its plantings. But this year they introduced the blue rubber mulch and a bright red wood-based mulch.

"The new mulch stands out in colour and it keeps the moisture in, so it protects the plants root structure," said Kevan Moxam  manager of parks services.

"These plants also have to be drought resistant as they are planted in some pretty unfriendly areas, such as near roadsides and medians where there is basically concrete and blacktop."

Finding plants that are hearty in both composition and colour has been a challenge for Cranston, but she feels she has hit upon a few winning combinations.

"We've chosen the most vibrant varieties and tried to incorporate them together so they would complement each other," she said.

For example, city gardeners have used a trailing plant called sweet potato vine for borders and planters. The  vine is a neon lime colour that goes well with deep colours, Cranston said.

"It highlights the burgundy colour of celosia (a small variety of amaranths that are sometimes called cockscombs or woolflowers for their brightly colored, woolly flower heads) and the purple petunias."

The city has also used more varieties of amaranthus, which Cranston said is "a real favourite with the public."

Greater Sudbury has a total of 375 flower beds, in which more than 130,000 flowers are planted. Most of the plants are annuals.