Using Leaves as a Winter Mulch

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:…

Tar Spot of Maples

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…

Box Tree Moth: A Toronto Master Gardeners Garden Guide

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…

Gardening with Native Shrubs: A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide

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…

Pruning Roses: A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide

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…

Growing Japanese Maples: A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide

  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…

The Art of Bonsai: A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide

  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…