Proper Care of Roses
Roses, the poetic muse of many can be a delightful long flowering staple in any sunny garden bed. There are countless varieties of roses and depending on your type of soil and purpose in adding them to your garden there will be one that is just right. It’s best to...
5 Care Tips for a Fresh Cut Tree!
Make a fresh cut. Before you bring the tree into your home and place it in a stand, re-cut the trunk at least one inch from the bottom just before putting it in the stand. This re-opens the tree stem which will have dried from the previous cut. Choose a spot away from...
Fall Lawn Care
Here are our tips to ensure a greener, less labour-intensive lawn next Spring. Clean Up Rotten leaves wasting away on the surface of your lawn are going to cause a few problems. Not only will the grass underneath die due to suffocation, but infected leaves left on the...
Why fall is a great time to plant
As Canadians we get really excited come spring time. After a long cold winter we want to get our hands in the ground and start planting like mad people, filling our gardens with any colour we can get our hands on. Oddly this could be considered counterproductive as...
Canning and the Home Garden
If you’ve ever had a vegetable garden you know that harvest does not happen in nice meal sized bunches. Instead you are often left with a massive bounty that no one family could ever consume and your neighbours start to hide for fear of being given another bushel of...
Butterfly vs Moth – The Showdown
First of all let’s start with the primary differences between moths & butterflies and then we can chat about why we heavily favour the latter. Anatomy Butterfly wings fold vertically up over their backs, moths make a little ten to cover their bellies. Colour is...
Step by Step Tree Planting Guide
1. Now that you have purchased and brought your new tree home, keep the tree watered until you are ready to plant. (On average potted trees are watered every two days, more often in the heat of the summer) 2. When you are ready to plant the tree, dig a hole that is...
Landscape Fabric Best Practice
We are often asked about the appropriate use of landscape fabric. This is not surprising considering the counter-intuitive nature of something to prevent growth being added to a garden. Typically landscape fabric use should be limited to: Garden borders / near edging...
Father’s Day Origin and Attention
Do you ever wonder where a day like Mother’s or Father’s Day comes from? For Father’s Day thanks can be directed to Sonora Smart Dodd, the woman who founded Father’s Day in the early 1900’s. As a widower he raised her and her four siblings alone after their mother’s...
Planting Native Species Trees
It’s a growing trend among gardeners and landscapers to plant native species. There are many reasons for this, it could be considered part of the larger “green” movement and be the product of a desire to sustain local biodiversity, reducing human impact on the natural...
Make your neighbours Green with Envy
Tip #1 Start with a Strong Foundation Most lawns are already established but its not to late to add valuable soil and seed to the surface through overseeding. Rake thoroughly and aerate the lawn. Spread a thin layer of quality soil such as Scotts Lawn Soil and then a...
The History of Valentine’s Day
I’ve often wondered about the history behind certain holidays and Valentine’s Day is no exception. In the spirit of the season let’s review the history of this amorous occasion. Legend says that it originated in third century Rome, when the Emperor of the era decided...
Dividing Perennials in Autumn
A close friend is moving this fall, away from her cherished gardens. The new home has established beds, however is certainly lacking in comparison from whence she came. All things considered the move has come at an opportune time from the perspective that several of...
Bringing butterflies to your garden
With Monarch butterflies nearing the endangered species list it’s so important to help these valuable pollinators find a safe haven. Besides their obvious beauty butterflies hold an important place in our ecosystem so let’s discuss some great ways to bring...
June Garden to-do’s
June is just around the corner and with that brings a whole new set of responsibilities in the Garden. Don’t get me wrong, it’s likely my favourite month, but except for harvest season I find it the busiest. So far the recent weather has done spectacular things for my...
Growing Strawberries in a Pot
With the move towards town home and condo living space is coming at more of a premium these days, fortunately growing your own delicious fruits and veggies need not be compromised. Many plants do very well in containers and one of those is Strawberries. Growing them...