to mulch or not to mulch

Hi – I am redoing 3 garden beds, incorporating hydrangeas for the first time, and then sticking with the basics i.e. speedwell, lavender, phlox, echinacea, etc. I have been gardening for many years, but have never mulched. As I will…

Desperately seeking groundcovers

I am looking for suitable groundcover for a backyard corner that was thrust into the sun when a large Serbian Spruce was (very sadly) removed. You have some good postings on groundcovers — I am particularly attracted to Caucasian stonecrop.…

What’s eating my ajuga?

Hi. I love ajuga ‘Burgundy Glow’. But whenever I’ve had it by end of summer it is a tattered mess… the leaves are filled with little holes. Any thoughts on what is eating the leaves and what can I do…

Grubs in grass and garden

Skunks and/or raccoons are digging up lawn or tossing sod to get to grubs which I know I have. I use nematodes to control grubs. Is it too early to apply nematodes given its barely mid August. I know it…

Best Shrubs for CO2 absorption

We live in Bloor West and would like to know your recommendations for carbon absorbing plants/shrubs to plant in our back yard?  …

Evergreen groundcover for under hicks yew hedge

Dear Master Gardener I have a well-established mature 40-year-old Hicks you Hedge. Every year we have to clean out the weeds that grow at the base and into the lawn. Is there preferably an evergreen ground cover that you would…

Groundcovers

We have an architect designed narrow garden with a 7 ft wide pool. Between the fences and the pool will be a path on each side with spaced 18″ x 18″ black granite pavers. Rather than have gravel for drainage…

Greening up a 6 by 10 foot patch of yard in Toronto

Hi, We have a contained 8.5 x by 16 foot patch of South facing front yard in mid Toronto, awaiting plants. Below it is a 2.5 x 8.5 foot patch (also contained.) photo attached. Both “containers” have 3 feet of…

Groundcover under red maple

We have a patch of garden under a Red Maple that has recently been trimmed to let some sunlight in. Before the City of Toronto planted the tree about 20 years ago, it supported a thriving vegetable garden. Gradually, the…

Replacing lawn

I have dismal grass in my small back yard that I’d like to replace with ground cover. I have a strip of vegetables and flowers on the sunnier side, and a strip of hostas and solomon seal which grow well…