Did you know that you can give too much compost to your garden? Also, there isn’t a “best” fertilizer for tomatoes or roses or trees. Robert Pavlis is a garden writer, speaker and educator with a background in science. He lives in Guelph, Ontario and gardens at his six-acre home called Aspen Grove Gardens. He has published a handful of books and maintains two websites, gardenmyths.com and gardenfundamentals.com. He speaks with Shauna Dobbie, editor of Canada’s Local Gardener magazine, about the nutrients that plants need, dispelling myths along the way. For more podcast, just cl ..read more

1. Nuts and eggs are seeds, too. Although we don’t think of them this way, in fact eggs and nuts are also seeds in their own way, and are filled with wonderful nutrition, surrounded by a hard shell to protect the moisture and life inside. 2. Gametes and zygotes. A gamete consists of an ovum (egg) and a sperm cell, which is many times smaller than the egg. Two gametes fuse during conception and form a zygote, which is this initial new cell at the beginning of a new life. Each of the gametes carry what will become half of the genetic material of the new entity. Yes, we’re talking plant ..read more

As millions of people gaze at the sky on April 8th to watch the total solar eclipse, scientists are busy studying how it affects plants and animals. Even though the eclipse lasts only a short time for those in the path of totality, it has a big impact on the world around us.  As the moon’s shadow sweeps across the landscape, temperatures can plummet dramatically, dropping by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit in regions with lower humidity. According to reports by ABC News, the dimming of light leading up to totality triggers reactions in both flora and fauna. Around the 75-80% mark of eclips ..read more

As millions of people gaze at the sky on April 8th to watch the total solar eclipse, scientists are busy studying how it affects plants and animals. Even though the eclipse lasts only a short time for those in the path of totality, it has a big impact on the world around us.  As the moon’s shadow sweeps across the landscape, temperatures can plummet dramatically, dropping by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit in regions with lower humidity. According to reports by ABC News, the dimming of light leading up to totality triggers reactions in both flora and fauna. Around the 75-80% mark of eclips ..read more

1. I’m not sleeping. I’m just resting my twigs. So do trees really fall into a deathlike slumber over winter? Apparently not. While the above ground portions of deciduous trees are very much dormant, what goes on underground is quite another matter. As long as the soil temperatures remain above 0 Celsius, roots are active. 2. My buddy is busy, too. Trees enjoy a symbiotic relationship with a class of fungus called mycorrhizae, which also stay active, searching out water and nutrients underground, even though the air temperatures may be very frigid. 3. Feeding roots but not necessarily ..read more

Someone attempted to lure geckos into their gardens for natural pest control, as geckos are highly regarded for their ability to naturally manage pests in garden areas. Geckos consume a wide variety of insects, with a preference for roaches, mosquitoes, crickets, and ants. However, there has been a recent emergence of geckos posing a potential risk to public health. The Public Health Agency of Canada, in collaboration with provincial public health partners, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and Health Canada, is investigating an outbreak of salmonella infections across British Columbia ..read more

Here’s what we’re interested in buying. Apparently, these deals can sell out, so don’t wait! Order now. A heat mat for starting seeds that tells you how warm it is. Comes with a probe that goes into the growing medium and you can dial in the temperature you want. I'm interested Secateurs that save you money. These bypass pruners have titanium steel blades and they are 50% off, so you can’t go wrong. I'm interested Raised garden that is a great size at 6 feet by 3 feet and 1.9 feet high. It’s galvanized metal, so it won’t rust and it will heat up fast in the spring. Plus, there ..read more

Have you ever thought, gee, that’s a great plant, maybe I should buy another? If you get this book, you won’t have to buy another, you can grow new plants from bits of the ones you already have.   The Propagation Handbook by Hilton Carter covers every aspect of propagating houseplants that you are likely to ever need. From stem cuttings to leaf cuttings to air layering, Carter gives simple instructions for each. He also talks about a few things you can do with your babies-in-the-making. You can use them in place settings for a dinner party (a gift to take home) or make bouquets ..read more

Get a jumpstart early in the season on gardening and backyard plans with this inspirational garden show. Join us at Exhibition Place for Living Green 2024! Shop with local vendors, selling (and pre-selling) plants, yard services, natural products and more! Learn from experts on our speaker stage. Connect with other gardening enthusiasts. The organizer got a variety of amazing vendors and exhibitors at this year’s event. From gardening experts, to green living connoisseurs, to construction pros. Check out here for a full list of this year’s vendors and more information on each.   ..read more

Have we lost the art of growing potatoes? At one time, every garden had a potato plot where it was the pleasant summer chore to go out from time to time and do the hilling and weeding. There was no room for impractical plants such as flowers, and even peas were considered a luxury. Some ambitious gardeners from the “old country” would even grow potatoes on the boulevard in front of their houses to increase their yields. Today, you can grow potatoes in very small spaces, including in bags that are commercially sold for just this purpose. Not only does this solve the space problem, but it ensu ..read more