Why We Teach: Growing Skills, Pride, and Prosperity in Horticulture

We teach because our industry needs skilled people. Landscaping and horticulture employ tens of thousands across Canada, yet trained professionals are in short supply. A well-trained person can build a stellar career—from design and construction to greenhouse production and maintenance. Education raises the standard for safety, quality, and sustainability. As a mentor once said: “The only thing worse than training someone and having them leave, is not training them and having them stay.” Our goal is simple: make the trades better and never be the smartest person in the room—because a strong team builds a stronger industry.

Why Native Plants Are the Secret to a Thriving Southern Ontario Landscape

Discover the benefits of using native plants in your garden. Learn why species like white oak (Quercus alba) are essential for beauty, biodiversity, and sustainability in southern Ontario landscapes.

From Vision to Reality: Designing Your Dream Garden

From Vision to Reality: Our Garden Design Process Imagine stepping into your yard and feeling like you’ve entered your own private oasis—a space that reflects your personality, suits your lifestyle, and brings you joy every day. That’s what great garden design is all about, and it starts with a simple conversation. At Verdant Landscape and … Read more

What is a “Spring Clean Up”?

Spring Clean-Up: Preparing for a Blooming Season Spring is a time of renewal and growth, and our spring clean-up tasks are essential to ensure our gardens and landscapes thrive throughout the season. Here’s why we perform these tasks: Promotes Healthy Growth. Removing dead material from gardens removes the potential for any overwintering pests to infect … Read more

How to choose a Landscape Company to Work With

One of our pet-peeves is the low barrier to entry for landscaping companies. You can see evidence of this at many traffic lights – signs advertising interlock installation for an unbelievable price. They usually are not installed correctly and will fail after one or two freeze/thaw cycles. Please don’t get me wrong. There are many … Read more

Reviving a Tired Lawn

Topdressing and Over-seeding Lawns in Ontario What a great way to make a tired lawn lush again. And a lot less expensive than sodding. Maintaining a lush, healthy lawn in Ontario, requires understanding the region’s climate, soil conditions, and seasonal changes. Two critical practices for lawn care in this area are topdressing and over-seeding. These … Read more

Flowers in Spring!

We love designing and planting spring gardens for our clients. Spring flowering bulbs are a delightful addition to any garden, bringing vibrant colors and life after the dormancy of winter. Popular varieties include tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses, each offering unique hues and forms. These bulbs typically planted in the fall, allowing them to establish … Read more

Weed barriers – Hate them or Hate Them

Why Weed Barriers Do Not Work: Why I despise them! Weed barriers, also known as weed mats or landscape fabric, are (unfortunately) commonly used in gardening and landscaping theoretically to prevent weed growth. These barriers are designed to block sunlight and limit the availability of nutrients to weeds (and your garden plants), thereby reducing their … Read more

Fall Lawn and Garden Thoughts

Fall is an important time for lawns and gardens.   In general, fall is a great time to plant perennials, shrubs and trees. The later in the season we get, the greater the chance of “frost heave” with newly planted items. If you fall plant in October onward, please, please, please put a thick layer … Read more