Clik here to view.
Five frost shattering practices
With weeks of warm weather in March, many trees and shrubs’ buds broke and started growing and perennials sprung out of the ground. Some gardeners --- with uncharacteristic enthusiasm – planted their...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How about those haskap berries?
What’s hot this year? Haskap berries. At least that’s what I think. But I am biased. I’ve converted my backyard into an edible and ornamental delight, so all things edible are foremost and forefront in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Autumn (Fall) Gardening Tasks
Autumn (Fall) offers the perfect opportunity to catch up on your gardening chores. Not only is it cooler and more comfortable to work in autumn, but autumn gardening tasks also mean less work and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Maple and Verticillium wilt
This summer hot dry weather caused many plant casualties. In my case, it unearthed an underlying health problem with one of my recently planted maple trees. The post Maple and Verticillium wilt...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Growing Mini Orchids Surprise
I don’t usually grow orchids. Many growers and gardeners advocate precise lighting, nutrition, water, temperature and soil conditions. Way too finicky for me! But since the mini-orchid was given to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Growing Pumpkins
Pumpkin questions caught my attention at the Master Gardeners plant clinic this year. Pumpkin flowers, pollination and fruit set. Pumpkins at the Dallas Arboretum The post Growing Pumpkins appeared...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Direct seeding
Between winter holidays, work and taking courses, I didn’t have time to start many seeds this winter. But fortunately I can still start plants from seeds outside! The post Direct seeding appeared...
View ArticleGardening Misinformation!
“Disease prevention must be the primary goal since no chemicals cure a Phytophthora-infected plant, “ says Penn State Extension. Most extensions and other gardening information sites state similar...
View ArticleBulbs: a dose of reality
Nothing frustrates me more than the marketing machine pushing a product and product information that is either misleading or clearly not true. At this time of the year, it is all about spring-blooming...
View ArticleNutrient-dense vegetables: appearances may be deceptive
After a heated #groundchat roundtable discussion last week about the connection between soil and nutrient-dense food --- based on Monica Nickelsburg article’s Peak soil: Why nutrition is disappearing...
View ArticleVegetables grown in contaminated soil. What is safe to eat?
During the 2014 Master Gardener Technical Update, Keynote speaker, Lorraine Johnson, advised us to avoid buying root vegetables if we thought the soil that they grew in was contaminated. But are root...
View ArticleSoil in the news: a roundtable discussion on #groundchat
At the end of every month, #groundchat has a roundtable discussion of soil in the news. January has been an active month. Frost quakes has heaved its way to the top of pile. Torrential rains has caused...
View ArticleBeloved blue hydrangeas in southern California
Nothing is more sought after than the hard to attain. Case in point: Gardeners with alkaline soils wanting to grow blue hydrangeas. The post Beloved blue hydrangeas in southern California appeared...
View ArticleSoil Plays a Part on Earth Day 2014
It seems fitting to chat about the importance of soil on Earth Day. Over 75 years ago, Henry A. Wallace, United States Secretary of Agriculture, said, “People in cities may forget the soil for as long...
View ArticleThe problem with topsoil
Early spring has many of us rushing out to buy topsoil (landscape soil/garden soil) either to fill/add to flower beds, build up vegetable patches, or to use on our lawns. But do we really know what we...
View ArticleSoil health goes to the microbes
Soil health is a hot topic nowadays, but what does it mean? According to soil scientist, Dr. Dena Marshall, “Soil health is emphasizing the overall diversity of soil biology, which then enhances the...
View ArticleToronto Botanical Garden’s garden tour
I believe in supporting botanical gardens. Botanical gardens not only showcase and conserve different plants, but they also play a key role in educating people on the wonders of plants and gardening....
View ArticleSoils for peonies!
Recently I was invited to give a presentation on peonies and soil at the Oshawa Peony Festival. On the surface peonies soil requirements appear straightforward. What more could I add? That was before I...
View ArticlePart 1 Planting slopes at Phipps Conservatory
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania surprised me. The city has a whooping 42 percent tree canopy! In comparison, Washington DC has 36% and Portland, Oregon in the wet Pacific Northwest has mere 30% tree cover....
View ArticleConnie’s Japanese Lilac Tree
A couple of weeks ago, Connie, my neighbour, asked me to take a look at her beloved Japanese lilac. She was worried about its gradual decline. I could see why Connie was concerned. Half the tree had...
View Article
