This Toronto Master Gardeners’ guide discusses whether gardeners should put their fall leaves onto garden beds to protect their beds during winter. Like many gardening questions, the answer is a bit subtle. What to do with your leaves depends on:…
Characteristics of tar spot
Maple tar spot is a common fungal disease caused by three related fungi in the genus Rhytisma. The symptoms may vary slightly depending on the strain of the fungus but all three fungi produce dark, slightly…
Toronto is the epicentre of a North American infestation of the box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Walker). The arrival of this invasive pest was officially announced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in November 2018. The moth crossed into the…
Shrubs are woody perennials that produce multiple stems, shoots and branches from the base of the plant. Generally, they survive winter without dying back to the ground as herbaceous perennials do. There is no clear distinction between a shrub and…
Shrubs in the garden landscape
Although shrubs may be somewhat “overshadowed” by their taller and more charismatic tree cousins, their size and multi-branching habit make them the unsung heroes of the garden, valuable for both their variety and versatility.
In…
“To plant trees is to give body and life to one’s dream of a better world.”
Russell Page
The ecological value of trees
If you have already decided to plant a new tree on your property, congratulations! Not only will…
Hedges are a functional feature in many gardens. They can be small or large, formal or informal. They can also function to break a long garden into smaller units, to define a space or to provide a visual barrier or…
This gardening guide provides introductory information about when and how to prune roses. The appropriate pruning techniques depend on the type of rose and the growth pattern desired. Pruning roses correctly should result in a well formed, vigorous plant that…
Did you know?
There are many cultivars of Japanese maple, most of which grow only in Japan and surrounding areas. This gardening guide deals with those that are hardy in North America. Acer palmatum and A. japonicum include 250…
Bonsai is the Japanese name for the art of growing trees in small containers and has been a tradition in China and Japan for centuries. It is also the name by which these miniature plants are known. They range…