Mastering Hostas: Expert Tips for Thriving Plants and Stunning Garden Displays
Discover how to grow and care for hostas, the ultimate shade‑loving perennial. Learn top varieties, planting tips, and design ideas for a beautiful garden.
landscape maintenance
Buxus ‘Green Gem’: Origins, Growth, Uses & The Future of Boxwood in the Landscape
Buxus ‘Green Gem’ is a hardy, compact boxwood developed by Sheridan Nurseries in Canada. Learn its origins, best landscape uses, growing tips, pest challenges, and why the Box Tree Moth may threaten its future in modern landscapes.
Pinus nigra in Canada: A Hardy but Imperfect Landscape Pine
Although Pinus nigra (Austrian pine) is widely planted across Canada, especially in Ontario, it’s not without issues. I’ve never been its biggest fan, but there’s no denying its usefulness in challenging Canadian landscapes where few conifers tolerate urban stress, road salt, or poor soils. Below is a fresh, Canadian‑context overview of its origins, hardiness, landscape … Read more
Pinus mugo – Why the Mugo Pine Is Overused (and Often Misunderstood)
The Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo) is one of the most overused and misunderstood evergreens in modern landscaping. While tough and naturally compact, it often becomes overgrown and unattractive due to improper care—especially the lack of annual candling. In this post, I explore its alpine origins, the best cultivars, common pests, and why thoughtful selection and maintenance are essential for success.
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.
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
Spring Gardening Tips: Ignore your lawn!
Spring Garden Tips: What to Do and What to Avoid Ignore Your Lawn! It’s far too early to work on your lawn. 1. Why It’s Too Early to work on your lawn. Working on your lawn too early in the spring can indeed be counterproductive for several reasons: Risks of Damaging New Growth • Tender … 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
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
