Bush beans sown while the soil was still cool and wet showed a poor germination rate and those plants that grew were diseased and attacked by pests.  The beans sown a few weeks later when the soil had warmed up…

Planting a tree too deep can cause the death of a tree.  The flare (the base of the tree where the trunk becomes wider – just above the roots) should always be left exposed.  If the flare of the tree…

Problems in some flower or vegetable beds? Wondering if your soil could be at fault? Now’s the time to test it so that you know how to plan for next year. We recommend the City of Toronto’s Guide for Soil…

Order spring-flowering bulbs now and plant them as soon as they arrive. Work bone meal into bottom of planting holes for better growth. By using “lasagna” layers (or bunk bed layers as one nursery man calls them), with the late…

As we move into the fall and winter months, make sure you clear all diseased material from your garden to prevent pest and disease problems next spring. Burn the diseased material or put it in the garbage, not in your…

Make a final sowing of spinach along with mâche, also known as corn salad, which matches spinach for standing up to a light frost. Spinach will take a longer and longer to germinate as the soil cools; but you should…

When purchasing bulbs, check that they are firm and free of mould and soft spots.  Store them in a paper bag in a cool, dark place until you are ready to plant them.…

The first frost date for the GTA is late September.  If a frost is forecast, protect tender plants with an old sheet; bring in plants that cannot withstand any frost and harvest fruits/vegetables that will be damaged by even a…

September:  Peonies Division and moving of peonies should be done in September so that a network of feeder roots can be established before winter.  After digging up the root and washing off the soil, allow it to dry in the…

Many of the butterflies that add beauty to our gardens overwinter here.  Create an environment that will give them the food and shelter that they need.  Find a corner of your garden that is in the sun and out of…