Looking for Landfillers

Hi, I would like some flowering plants to fill my front yard, however I have a huge spruce tree that blocks the sunlight and also their needle like stuff fills the front lawn. I have tried flox flowers, however I…

Vegetable Growing

I had a few failures with my vegetable planting this past year that I am hoping to rectify this year. I have wooden L-shaped planters on my deck that get 2-4 hours of sun (although it can be shady sun…

Full shade privacy hedge non-poisonous to sheep

Hello, our ecological farm uses sheep to cut our lawn instead of petrol.  They are a great grounds maintenance crew and even fertilize!  I would like to plant a year-round privacy hedge across the southern front of our farm house…

Annuals – particular shape and size *

I’m looking for an annual for Toronto, partial shade and moist heavy soil, with ample, strongly coloured blooms in a low, mound shape. The planting area is at eye level. We tried single begonias this year, but a lower, round…

Heuchera *

I understand that heuchera is a good choice for a shade, moist location in Toronto. I am looking for the brightest red foliage available and have found fire alarm and fire chief. Do have other or better suggestions?…

Determining sun quality*

Can you tell us how to determine sun quality in the garden? There are many reasons I’d like to know, such as when the best time is to avoid the sun’s heat, when to water, how to select and place…

balcony gardening*

My balcony is north facing and shaded by other buildings so there’s not much I can plant there. I’d like to put a couple of trees in tubs. Can you suggest varieties that can stand the lack of sunlight and…

Short hardy vine*

My daughter lives in downtown Toronto (Kensington Market area) and has a space 3′ by about 13′ between a sidewalk and a lattice fence she would like to hide. She is very busy and needs something to plant that needs…

Annuals for Shade: A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide

An annual plant is one that completes its life cycle from seed to plant to bloom and back to seed again in one season. Annual flowers are often bright, colourful and very floriferous. In this way, they attract pollinating insects…