If you mulch your gardens with shredded bark or leaves, you will find that the winter snow and rains have caused them to become compacted.   Once the soil has dried out somewhat, use a long handled cultivator to loosen or…

If your compost pile has thawed by the beginning of the month, now’s the time to give it a good stirring.At the end of the month, when the weather has improved and the garden is dry enough to work in, …

As lawns and gardens appear from under blankets of snow, all the winter debris is revealed.  The urge to get the rake out and clean-up is great.  But wait!  Allow the ground to de-frost and dry up before cleaning up. …

As you plan your vegetable garden, include some flowering herbs and annuals in it to encourage the beneficial bugs to visit your garden.  This is especially important if you plan to grow vegetables such as zucchini and cucumbers which have…

Vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, beets, peas and radishes all enjoy cool soil and can be usually be planted starting in mid to late April – check the long range forecast first in case some very cool weather is coming…

To prevent soil compaction and damage to plant roots, wait until the soil is dry enough to crumble in your hand before walking and working in your garden. If you must step into the garden for some reason (to prune,…

Seedlings started indoors need good air circulation.  Use a small fan on a low setting to simulate the outdoor breezes.  You may need to water more frequently.  If you don’t have a small fan, gently brush your seedlings with your…

Asparagus plants are either male or female.  The male plants tend to produce more harvestable spears as they do not have to expend energy on producing seeds.  Guelph Millenium is a Canadian all male hybrid variety of asparagus.…

Raised vegetable beds can be built from a variety of woods such as naturally rot-resistant red cedar or black locust.  Very effective raised beds can also be built by using the corrugated steel window wells – attach two together.  Pressure-treated…

A few days of unseasonably warm temperatures does not mean that summer has arrived. We live in Southern Ontario and weather can be variable. Before deciding on what gardening chores you can do now, check the long range forecast. Look…