By Melanie Mathieson The Gardening Guru Grapes can grow in Rainy River District if varieties adapted to our cold, dry winters and short growing season are chosen. When making the decision to plant grape vines, it is very important to be aware of our hardiness zone (Zone 4) and to […]
Melanie Mathieson – Gardening Guru
“The Prairie Garden” is an annual publication produced in Winnipeg by a team of dedicated and talented volunteers. The 2014 edition, entitled “Gardens,” marks the 75th year of publication and is due to be released very soon. The articles that appear in the “The Prairie Garden” are written by gardeners […]
Asparagus is one of the first vegetables ready to harvest in the spring. Although native to the Mediterranean, once established it is a hardy perennial in our area. It is the only common vegetable that grows wild along roadsides and railroad tracks over a large part of Canada. Botanically, asparagus […]
By Melanie Mathieson The Gardening Guru Light, temperature, humidity, and ventilation are chief home environmental factors affecting plant growth. Any one of these in incorrect proportions will prevent proper plant growth indoors. Before purchasing any house plant, you need to do your research, as well as take a look at […]
By Melanie Mathieson The Gardening Guru Epsom salts can be a way to help green up your garden naturally. Epsom salts contain magnesium and sulfur—two elements found in nature that are important for plant growth. Magnesium helps form chlorophyll in plants and is essential for photosynthesis. Magnesium also is critical […]
By Melanie Mathieson The Gardening Guru When planning a landscape or garden design, you should consider including a few shrubs. There are hundreds of shrub species, varieties, and forms available for our growing zone. They are available in many shapes, sizes, and characteristics, as well as an array of leaf […]
By Melanie Mathieson The Gardening Guru Have you ever noticed that our food does not have the same flavour intensity as it did about a decade ago? Food today does not seem to have that taste bud-popping flavour we remember. And the reason is that much of our food has […]
By Melanie Mathieson The Gardening Guru Recently, I was contacted by a client to do a garden design for their front flowerbed. This client was interested in a makeover to the current garden, with low maintenance as the ultimate goal. As I started the interview, it quickly came to light […]
By Melanie Mathieson The Gardening Guru Many people do not like to garden because of the work involved keeping the weeds at bay. Ask any gardener what the most negative aspect of gardening is and they almost always reply, “Weeds.” It’s true that weeds and unwanted plants are present in […]
By Melanie Mathieson The Gardening Guru Many gardeners often are confused between the terms annuals and perennials, and which plants belong in each category. The classification of plants is determined by its life cycle. The life cycle of an annual, for instance, is complete in one growing season—starting from a […]
By Melanie Mathieson The Gardening Guru If you are looking for an evergreen tree to add beauty to your landscape, then consider a spruce. There are many spruce species that are well-suited for growing well and surviving the winters in our zone. Spruce trees should be planted in a full […]
By Melanie MathiesonThe Gardening Guru
