Fairy Rings & Other Mushrooms
Fairy Rings & Other Mushrooms by Rob Sproule, During wet summers people come into the greenhouse everyday asking what they can use to get rid of the mushrooms sprouting in their lawn. The good
Growing 101
Fairy Rings & Other Mushrooms by Rob Sproule, During wet summers people come into the greenhouse everyday asking what they can use to get rid of the mushrooms sprouting in their lawn. The good
Leaf Miners by Rob Sproule Have you noticed squiggly brown lines appearing on your birch, lilac, and vegetable leaves? If so, you’re not alone. Leaf miners are out in force and are leaving
Ladybugs 101 by Rob Sproule The past few years have seen a lot of buzz for a pretty predator called Ladybugs. We’ve all heard that they’re one of the best bugs to have in
Roses: Tougher than the Tea by Rob Sproule What’s the first thing that pops into your head when I say “rose”? I’m guessing it had something to do with red roses on Valentines’ Day
Growing Lilies by Rob Sproule Few flowers are as universally adored as the lily. It appears as a sacred symbol throughout the Bible, was revered by ancient Greek, Roman, and Minoan cultures, and the
Aphids 101 By: Rob Sproule Aphid Lifecycle Recognizing Aphids Aphid Damage Killing Them Here in Alberta we’re pretty lucky when it comes to insects. We don’t have termites that eat houses or army ants
Powdery Mildew by Rob Sproule The kind of problems a garden has depends on the weather. A hot, dry summer will lead to a set of problems that is totally different from a cool,
Natural Mosquito Control by Rob Sproule They are the bain of barbeques everywhere and something that we’ve had to learn to live with! Mosquitoes are as Albertan as beef and oil but just
Dealing With Late Blight On Potatoes From 1740 to 1741 in Ireland approximately 1 million people starved to death as the potatoes they relied on rotted in the fields. Like many tragedies throughout history, the
Quack Grass by Rob Sproule, May 31, 2013 Normally these articles afford me the happy task of reassuring people that intimidating gardening tasks are easier than they think. Today, unfortunately, it’s my job to
Yellow Yellow Everywhere: Dandelions By: Rob Sproule The Basics Prevention Getting Rid of Them Dandelions and Kids Getting Creative Do you love butter? As adults, we indoctrinate ourselves to think of dandelions as the
What’s Eating my Spruce Tree: Budworm and Sawfly by Rob Sproule If the tops of your spruce trees are brown and bare, chances are a hungry critter is munching on the succulent new growth.
The Prairie Orchard by Rob Sproule I remember our family trips to Kelowna when I was a boy. To my young Albertan ears, “Okanagan” was a synonym for “delicious fruit that I can’t get
Way Early Spring in the Garden by Rob Sproule, May 5, 2013 With only a few precious months to spend in the garden, we Albertans are an eager bunch! Every early May we
What Winter Leaves Behind: Snow Mould by Rob Sproule Wouldn’t it be nice if we were greeted by green, fresh grass when the snow finally melted? Unfortunately, the thaw often leaves behind yet another yucky
Planning your Veggie Garden by Rob Sproule Few things are more satisfying than sinking your teeth into a cherry tomato, snap pea, or crunchy carrot from your own garden. I can’t think of any
Growing Dahlias There are few things more captivating than the full- throated, operatic colour of a dinner plate dahlia in radiant bloom. Once a treasured flower in Empress Josephine’s garden, dahlias now bring a burst
The Frugal Gardener: Can You Really Save Money by Growing your Own Vegetables? Are you getting sticker-shocked at the grocery store lately? Prices for fresh produce seem to keep going up while
Best & Worst Houseplants for Kids by Rob Sproule Young children explore their world with enviable curiosity. Their sense of wonder at each singular moment of discovery is enough to soften the hardest heart.
Orchids are Easier than you Think by Rob Sproule, Few plants capture our imagination, delight, and awe like an orchid. Whether it’s their deliciously symmetrical beauty or their tantalizing rarity, orchids bring presence and
Household Pest Control: Mealy Bugs by Rob Sproule Depending on who you ask, this unmistakable critter is either disgusting or fascinating. It looks like something dug up from the Burgess Shale only
Household Pest Control: Fungus Gnats by Rob Sproule If you have houseplants, then I bet you’ve had fungus gnats. They are a winged household fixture in late winter but thankfully they look like more
Household Pests: Scale Insects by Rob Sproule Scale insects are the clams of the garden, clinging to your plants and protecting themselves under thick armour. They flourish in hot, dry household air (infamous during
Household Pests: Spider Mites by Rob Sproule Spider mites are a winter epidemic in Alberta thanks to our household air getting dry-as-toast. They thrive in warm, dry places and seem to be a February
Read through our Growing Guides for tips to enrich your garden!