Garden Matters

You may have noticed this behemoth of a plant in your garden and hesitated giving it the heave ho because of its beautiful lush green leaves and pretty bell-shaped flowers.  It does look a bit like a weed and it grows really LARGE (up to 4 feet wide by 5 feet tall),...

Whether you like to enjoy our lovely native ferns in their natural setting or you want to grow them in your garden, there is no question that it’s nice to be able to identify and have some knowledge about each of them. Sword, Deer, Bracken, Lady and Maiden Hair ferns...

It’s safe to say that 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone.  And perhaps those of us that have gardens to tend, relax in, eat from, play in, and work in have had an easier time than some. It’s interesting that Instagram, the photo sharing app that has over...

If you’ve got a plethora of pine cones littering your yard, don’t despair—they can actually be useful! Here are a few good ideas on how to incorporate them into your garden: • Add them to your compost pile—they are a valuable source of carbon (or ‘browns’). They will...

If you have an abundance of leaves in your yard, consider yourself lucky!  Pound for pound, the leaves of most trees contain twice the mineral content of manure.  Tree roots funnel calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus from deep in the soil into their trunks...

Fall Garden (or Hardy) Mums have hit the garden centres and it’s tough to not bring one (or five!) home to brighten up a patio or entry way—they come in so many colours and the blooms last for weeks! Most of these Mums are perennials in Zones 5-9 and, with care, can...

While searching though your garden for these slimey critters is not one of the most enjoyable chores we do in the garden, it IS one where big rewards are returned down the line. One slug picked and disposed of (I fling them over a steep bank) can prevent up to 500...

Unfortunately, the current weather forecast is less than ideal for tomato production (lots of rain and night time temperatures have dipped below 10C lately ☹ in some areas). Here are a few quick tips to help these tender plants make it through to the warmer weather...

This happy colourful plant is a real workhorse in the garden. Not only does it cheer up any area, it is also one of those gems that will flower better in poor soil. It’s drought resistant to boot and is an excellent aphid decoy, luring those nasty critters away from...

There are over 4000 bee species in North America!  One of the most well known is the Mason bee—perhaps because of the many different educational programs touting the many benefits of the Mason bee.  Here are a few fun facts and some of the reasons for our love affair...