East York Back Lawn

Can I eliminate the lawn by just using black landscape fabric over it and bags of mulch? What low lying evergreens, that take minimal care, would you suggest as I am away a lot. Soil is essentially clay.…

Condo Association Hedges

I am volunteering with my condo/townhouse association which is made up of 150 units, each backyard is enclosed by what I believe are white spruce hedges. My committee was established to provide recommendations to the condo board and other residents…

Winterizing potted rose of Sharon

I have potted a rose of sharon from a wild rooted plant this spring 2020. Should I plant it into the ground now before the ground freezes or can I keep it in the garage over winter and then plant…

Purple leaf sand cherry shrub

Hi Master Gardener, I live on the north east side of Toronto and I just bought a purple leaf sandcherry bush (prunes x cistena) during the end of season sales at a home hardware store. I hope to plant it…

Trimming large, mature white cedars

I received a quote from an arborist in the summer to trim large white cedar hedges. They are about 40 years old. Last few years we have been unable to prune them professionally, so they are overgrown. The neighbour on…

How to promote shrubby growth in Amelanchier Alnifolia

Dear Master Gardener I recently had a Amelanchier Alnifolia planted in my garden that our tree maintenance people bought from Dutch Nurseries. I wanted this particular serviceberry because I want to achieve a kind of “grove like” look and I…

Shrubs and bulbs for a condo terrace

Hello: I am a gardener who has given up her garden! We are now in a condo on the 9th floor in the beach area of Toronto, Kington Road and Victoria Park – overlooking the lake (maybe 8 blocks away)…

Hornbeam Hedge

I have 2’ between my property line fence and a concrete pad… The concrete pad has a 5’ tall swim spa on it (Master Spas Trainer 15D). I need privacy from terrible neighbours. I would like a hedge to surpass…