Non-Rule #1
It is always easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission!

Asking for permission to garden on public or common property can turn into a bureaucracy of permits and red tape. My life experience has taught me that it is always easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission, but it never hurts to have bail money on hand just in case!

Non-Rule #2
It’s your garden even if it’s on someone else’s property!

Plant anything you want, wherever you want, and if it happens to be on somebody else’s property or on sale all the better! Too much of a good thing is even more wonderful when shared (except when it comes to invasive plants-see Non-Rule #7).

Non-Rule #3
Think outside of the box when it comes to containers!

Recycle, recycle, recycle!
Or in this case – bicycle.
Use any container you want, there is nothing to stop you from using whatever comes to hand. Let your imagination run wild! Wheel barrows, half barrels, large tin cans, brightly colored rubber boots, old plastic tackle boxes – if it can hold soil you can adapt it. Just be sure to put drainage holes in it and fertilize regularly.

 Non-Rule #4
Don’t fight with Mother Nature!

If you are dealing with poor soil, tend to neglect your outdoor plants, and don’t want to spend all your time watering you might just want to choose plants from the Sedum family. This group of perennial plants can easily be found in almost any garden center and they are the ultimate choice for any low maintenance, drought resistant garden or a container (see Non-Rule #2 for ideas).

Sedums are widely accessible, come in hundreds of varieties and sizes (ranging from 1”to 36″ tall) and are available in an assortment of foliage colors ranging from dark burgundy to lime green and almost everything in between. All varieties will flower with little or no care and most will stay evergreen all winter. Even the purplest of thumbs can easily can grow new plants from broken branches or fallen leaves by simply sticking them in dirt.

The big secret here is to plant them in well-drained soil, in a sunny location and don’t over water. Over watering is the kiss of death for these types of plants and bear in mind that you will actually have better blooms with little or no fertilizer.

No matter what type of plants you choose just remember that guerrilla gardening on a neglected piece of property will always be more successful if you try to work with Mother Nature. It is far too costly and time consuming to start amending soil on a property that does not belong to you and most plants will struggle to live in what they consider to be a hostile environment. In other words, eventually they will just give up and die.

Best garden advice ever-take note of the environment (clay soil, partial shade, full sun, etc) and then research and buy plants that are suited to that environment.

Non-Rule #5
Learn how to propagate plants and collect seeds!

Guerrilla Garden Suspects are always on the lookout for healthy, inexpensive plants and low-cost seeds to make seed bombs with. Joining your local Garden Club is a great place for obtaining cuttings, seeds, plants and information on how to propagate plants and save seeds. If you’re a social person it can also provide an excellent place to meet other people who share your passion for gardening.

Non-Rule #6
The internet is the Guerrilla Gardener’s Best Friend!

Save a tree!

• Instead of subscribing to local garden magazines check the internet to see if you can get an online subscription.
• You can also use the internet to cut down on the seed catalogue clutter (and save even more trees) by ordering your seeds online.
  If you are an old school gardener and still like to have hardcopies of seed catalogues then ordering paper copies of seed catalogues on the internet is a breeze.
  They are usually free and are delivered via snail mail to your door (or postal outlet box).
• Do a little cyber stalking (research) using Google to scope out your local nursery’s website for specials and workshops.
  Most of the garden related websites will also have a sign up option so you can have garden newsletters emailed directly to you.
  Note: I personally recommend setting up a separate email address for garden related stuff as it makes easier to go through your subscriptions and filter out any spam-like content.
• The internet is also a great place to search for new gardening ideas or to get some recipe inspiration for whatever bumper crops are available during the growing season.
  Best of all when the weather is bad I like the idea that I can do some serious armchair gardening in Yoville or search for some gardening ideas to pin on my Guerrilla Garden Adventures Pinterest Board.

.Non-Rule #7
All flowers are weeds, just weeds from another country!

Actually there are a lot of local plants and flowers that self seed or that seem to multiply like weeds and are very hardy. If you’re not the kind of gardener that has time to baby everything and like that wild English Garden look (or at least that’s just what you tell people) then these might just be the type of plants for you!
FYI: Some of the most beautiful flowers and plants that you can order online or buy at your local garden center are actually considered invasive weeds. Which means that the only way you will ever get rid of it is to sell your house and move. Check out the Invasive Species Council of BC before purchasing if this may be a concern for you.

Non-Rule #8
Gardens are for sharing!

Guerrilla Garden Suspects try whenever they can to trade (or beg unusual varieties) of cuttings, seeds, and off shoots from fellow gardeners. I’ve never met a gardener who wouldn’t share information or exchange planting material. And just remember that no garden is considered complete without sharing it with friends, family and neighbors over several glasses of wine (or beverage of your choice) while posting pictures on your social media throughout the season.

 Non –Rule #9
Survival of the fittest!

Slugs, Deer, Birds, Butterflies, Aphids, etc. …Guerrilla Garden Suspects either want to get rid of them, attract them or just plain want them to quit eating all our hard work. After all it’s a garden, not a buffet! However if it was a buffet, I am pretty sure (as a non-vegan) that venison could easily be added to the menu. The same kind of treatment goes for misbehaving plants too. If it refuses to flourish or bloom then show it no mercy. Banish it to the compost pile to die a slow lingering death while shopping for a replacement.
After all they don’t call it Guerrilla Gardening for nothing!

Non-Rule #10
Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder!

Never be afraid to try new types of plants or products, install tacky garden ornaments (including pink flamingos if that’s your thing) or let a few weeds get in the way of your gardening enjoyment. Push the envelope by planting things in sometimes less than perfect conditions (like a neglected piece of property) and never be afraid to move plants or rip them up if they don’t behave! The best thing about being a ”Guerrilla Gardener on an Adventure”  is never having to follow popular trends or rules, and never feeling guilty about doing your part to make the world a greener place!