Garden Matters

Less Common Perennial or Self Seeding Herbs that Grow Well in the Comox Valley
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme…does everyone have these in their gardens? They are such wonderful herbs to have at the ready for cooking or just for their beauty and, as long as they are in an area with the right growing conditions, they take very little care to do...

Camellias – Star of the Winter Garden
Few plants can rival the Camellia when it comes to providing colour in the garden during the winter months—and they can continue to flower throughout the year. In addition, they have beautiful glossy dark green leaves all year round making them a wonderful foundation...

The Amazing Comfrey Plant
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),...

Beautiful Native Ferns of the Comox Valley
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...

2021 Garden Trends
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...

Keep Those Pinecones
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...

Fallen Leaves – How to Use Fall’s Bounty
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...

Hardy Chrysanthemum Care
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...

Slug Patrol
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...

Tomato Tips in Challenging Times
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...