Garden Matters

Overwintering Rosemary in the Comox Valley Wandering out into the garden to pick a sprig of rosemary in the dead of winter could be one of the greatest joys a gardener can experience when living in the Comox Valley, where we enjoy Plant Hardiness Zones of 7 or 8 (8...

Is it Time for Thyme? Do you have a small patch of lawn in a sunny spot that just doesn’t seem to want to do well?  -- or that you want to make more pollinator-friendly?  You may want to consider converting it to a patch of thyme! Here are some of the benefits: It...

What Causes Tomato Blight? Type of Plant affected:Tomatoes and other members of the Nightshade family Issue:My tomato has diseased leaves and stems and sometimes the tomato fruits rot and fall off. Tomato blight is caused by different fungus infections that attack the...

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...

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...

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...