Ornamental Grasses and Shrubs – Full Sun Hot Yard

Oakville – backyard – 10-12 hours a day full sun – blazing hot in the summer What (if any) ornamental grasses, shrubs, flowers that are perennials do well in low grade (clay escarpment) soil and full sun all day long?…

Pruning Overgrown Globe Cedar*

We have some overgrown globe cedars that need pruning badly.  They are currently blocking our front door and we are worried about security.  Any ideas on how we can cut these back.  We are in Western Canada, zone 4A. See…

Rugosa Rose Hips*

I would like to grow and use rose hips. I have read that in southwestern Ontario Rugosa rose spread creating a nice hedge and provide hips their second year. Can you give me any information (websites for planting and care)…

Flowering Shrub Recommendation

I’d like to plant a tall, flowering shrub along the west side of my yard.  There is a 4 foot fence along that side of the property so the shrub needs to be at least that tall.  My neighbour to…

Yew or Beech for Hedging?

Good morning, I want to plant a hedge under the dining room window to provide some screening (pic included): Target final height 7′ / 8′ Bed width 2′-6″ Total length 14′ Drip line for watering N exposure, top soil, 2-3…

Chokecherry vs Chokeberry vs European Buckthorn*

I am trying to identify a shrub (now about 10 ft tall) in my garden. I suspect that it may be the invasive Buckthorn but find the info online a bit confusing as all three appear similar. I have seen…

Boxwood Hedges

I think I have not been trimming my boxwood hedge properly. The branches are falling off to the sides and after a rain there are gaps where the branches are too heavy to retain the shape I have trimmed them…

Miniature Lilac Bush

I live in downtown Toronto. The bush is in full sun against my front porch. There is a small garden it is part of and then a grass front. The miniature lilac bush was dug up from another garden last…

Sick Burning Bush

Hi master gardener, The last few years my burning bush has had curling leaves at the tips. This year whole branches have crispy brown leaves. These appeared suddenly. Two weeks ago they were green. It’s in a sunny, south facing…