Melanie Mathieson – Gardening Guru

Although spring is many months away, it is the time of year that gardeners must think ahead to spring if they want to be rewarded with the first flowers of the season from bulbs that are planted in the fall months. Spring flowering bulbs consist of many species such as […]

Hydrangeas are widely known and admired for their large, showy blossoms that lend fabulous colour to gardens from mid- to late-summer. Although hydrangeas are native to parts of Asia, every year more and more varieties are developed and released that are suitable to our growing conditions. The names designated to […]

Gardeners are always looking for great plants to add to their gardens and columbine is an excellent choice, especially for shade or woodland-type gardens. Columbine (Aquilegia spp.) is native to the Thunder Bay District. It can be found growing in many areas, including the forest. It is an early bloomer, […]

The secret to successful application of organic mulch product is to apply it to just the right depth. You do not want to apply it too thickly or you will prevent water and nutrients from penetrating the mulch layer. Sometimes when you apply mulch too thickly, you can create a […]

Typically, the onset of spring marks the beginning of the allergy season with the pollen of ash, birch, elm, hickory and other trees wafting through the air. Late spring and summer bring problems with grasses. Summer and fall continue the agony with numerous weeds such as burdock, ragweed (goldenrod) and […]

Farmers often use a forage crop to add nutrients back into their soil. A forage crop is an excellent way for a home gardener to also add nutrients and rehabilitate their soil. It is a great method for adding organic material to a garden and dealing with difficult soils such […]

A previous column talked about what to look for when deciding on the ideal shrub for your landscape design. Once you have the shrub(s) planted, like many gardeners, you may have a question concerning a specific problem. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers, for your information.

Here are some handy garden tips to keep in mind this gardening season:

Epsom salts can be a way to help green up your garden naturally. Epsom salts contain magnesium and sulfur, two elements that are found in nature and are important for plant growth. Magnesium helps form chlorophyll in plants and is essential for photosynthesis, various enzyme reactions and other plant growth […]

At first glance, you may think that the words ever-blooming and perennials would not occur in the same sentence. I assure you that there are some perennials that are considered ever-blooming, many of which will grow in Zone 4. For those who garden because they love flowers, they want their […]

I am always seeking unusual plant species and varieties. Even with the many two plant species already in my garden, I never stop searching for the rare and unusual to add. Unfortunately, some of those plants always don’t survive my conditions (soil and/or growing zone) but I at least enjoy […]

As we all know, there is nothing like the first scent of the lilac to tell us spring is officially here. What we refer to as the common lilac in North America is actually native to mountainsides in southeastern Europe, but was brought across the Atlantic to North America in […]