Poplar Borer
Poplar Borer by Shirley Martin We have two small dogs who are getting up in years making more temperate weather ideal for walking them. My daughter and I decided to check out the local lake
Growing 101
Poplar Borer by Shirley Martin We have two small dogs who are getting up in years making more temperate weather ideal for walking them. My daughter and I decided to check out the local lake
Himalayan Balsam by Rob Sproule I love spy movies, ones like James Bond where the cars are fast, the suits expensive and you never know which beautiful woman you can trust. When I see
The Sweetest Thing: Picking & Storing Apples by Rob Sproule The Perfect Pick Apples sweeten as they ripen, so you’ll want to let them “hang out” as long as possible before picking, although not so
Colorado Potato Beetle By Rob Sproule The Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), alias potato bug, alias 10-striped speaman, is the most destructive potato crop pest in Canada. After entering Canada via Ontario in 1870,
Square-Foot Gardening by Rob Sproule From lasagna gardening to vertical beds and hydroponics, I’ve seen a lot of trendy gardening techniques walk the stage and, usually, keep walking off the other end. Usually they’re
Eat your Weeds! by Rob Sproule Weeds. We either love to hate “˜em or just plain hate “˜em, but did you know that some people just plain love “˜em? To those in-the-know, weed control
Drought Gardening by Rob Sproule Drought is a sword of Damocles on the Prairies, ever threatening to swoop in and turn our lawns to burnt straw and our gardens crispy brown. When drought happens,
Japanese Knotweed by Rob Sproule I don’t like scary Journalism. If I see a news report that tells me to stay tuned to find out what common household product might kill me, I change
What’s Happening to my Tomatoes? by Rob Sproule We’ve all been there. Your tomato plants are growing just as they should and you begin to have visions of juicy salads, delicious salsa and beefy
The Magic of Peonies by Rob Sproule “A rose is a rose, but a peony is a friend forever.” – Anonymous Loving the spotlight, peonies’ broad blooms announce themselves in our yards every June
Mosquito Repelling Plants by Rob Sproule Our late night summer sun is one of the sweetest things about living Alberta. Sitting on a warm 9pm patio and letting the day drain away like cold beer
Stink Bugs by Rob Sproule An alarming pest is popping up across Canada in increasingly greater numbers. Stink bugs are easy to spot and cluster quickly into frightening large numbers. The good news is that,
Blueberries 101 by Rob Sproule With it’s recent rockstar, superfood status, it’s easy to see why so many people are asking about how to grow blueberries. When asked, I’m used to getting a double-take when
Scarlet Lily Beetle By Rob Sproule Whether it’s their ease of growth or stunning flowers or just that we’re surprised that such a gorgeous plant can survive here, lilies are many Canadians’ favourite flower. They
Perennial Blooming Calendar by Rob Sproule Every perennial has its season, and whether it be an iris, rose or mum, the goal of planning a bed or border is to make sure something is always
Not All Bees are Scary by Rob Sproule I’m writing this article because it drives me crazy when people ask me how to kill the bees in their yard, assuming that all bees, wasps and
Trends in Container Gardening by Rob Sproule Container gardening isn’t a trend, it’s a deep shift in how we garden. For decades, we’ve been shifting more of our flowering annuals out of the flower-bed
Seed Bombs by Rob Sproule Seed bombs, also called Green Grenades, are pretty much the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. They’re the artillery of guerrilla gardening, projectiles that throw seedy shrapnel across vacant lots and
The “Fixers” Plants that Fertilize Themselves by Rob Sproule As much as I love science, sometimes the definitions leave me scratching my head. The majority of people tune out at terms like “nitrogen-fixation”, assuming
Top 3 Gardening Trends 2015 by Rob Sproule Few things are more fundamental to the human experience than putting a seed in the earth and nurturing it to maturity. While the essentials of gardening
The Toddlers’ Garden by Rob Sproule I’ve always been interested in getting kids into gardening. Watching how my toddler, Aidan, gleefully engages with whatever bit of nature he can grab with his little hands,
Early Spring Lawn Care by Rob Sproule Lawns make up the majority of most of our yards. Even though more people are replacing lawns with perennials beds and edible gardens, turf care is still
Seeding for Dummies by Rob Sproule My business-owner friends like to say “win-win” when they know something is going to work so well that it’s a “no-brainer”. Planting seeds is a win-win. It
Hydrangeas 101 by Rob Sproule Adored in gardens for their immense, vibrant flowers, hydrangea are one of Canada’s favourite shrubs. The world’s most “googled” plant, they are as mysterious as they are adored, with
Read through our Growing Guides for tips to enrich your garden!