Perennials

Joy recently was asked by a homeowner what she could plant on north side of her house in dry shade. Joy’s reponse: Improve the soil by adding compost, chopped leaves, cattle manure. Don’t plant right next to the  foundation; leave … Continue reading →

One of our readers sent us a question asking about the best lavender to grow in our climate. The most hardy lavender for Ontario gardens is Lavandula angustifolia (English lavender),  hardy to zone 5. Lavender Hidcote is one of the … Continue reading →

  We had a recent question about what type of mulch to use in perennial beds. We thought that others might be interested in the response:   First of all, good for you for deciding to mulch. It is a great … Continue reading →

Climate change is no longer that looming threat on the horizon. It is here and the changes are happening now. So, in the gardening world there is much discussion about how to use gardening to help prevent loss of habitat, … Continue reading →

  The information in this post pertains to herbaceous peonies – the ones most people in Ontario refer to as old fashioned peonies. Tree peonies and Itoh peonies will be discussed another time. Fall is the time to plant/transplant peonies. … Continue reading →

Since I started gardening at my current home, I have struggled to find plants that are happy existing in a cold windy exposed environment. Initially, I chose things I liked and things that I had grown successfully in previous gardens. … Continue reading →