Have you ever looked at the soil in your garden and considered it as anything more than soil? If not, you should – there is a lot more there than meets the eye. It performs many functions that you may not be aware of and having good quality soil in […]
Melanie Mathieson – Gardening Guru
Whenever I hear of or discover a great gardening tip I like to share it with my readers and you can be sure that I never provide a tip unless I have tried it first. 1. Two Crops – One Planting Sometimes you can get a second crop from some […]
Aphids are common pests to house plants, vegetables, annual and perennial flowers, ornamental trees and shrubs. They can often be found in the garden, on trees and shrubs and sometimes on houseplants. Look for aphids on susceptible plants in the late spring. If they are present they can often be […]
Composting is a fairly easy process. A successful and active compost should smell like fresh dirt and nothing else. If it smells like something other than fresh dirt then you may attract unwanted pests and you need to look through the following guidelines to amend the compost situation. First, pick […]
The table beet (also known as garden beet, blood turnip or red beet) is a popular garden vegetable. Beet tops are an excellent source of vitamin A and the roots are a good source of vitamin C. The tops can be cooked or served fresh as greens and the roots […]
By: Melanie Mathieson The Gardening Guru A previous column provided some background information on considering weeping Trees or shrubs to add Interest in your garden and listed some fantastic shrub species to look for. This column will focus on trees with the weeping structure. As there are many species of […]
Weeping trees and shrubs are varieties that have branches that droop towards the ground. A weeping tree or shrub is a great variety to add to your garden when you are looking for that special focal point. The softness and gracefulness of the dropping branches add a peacefulness and tranquility […]
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 this growing zone. Shrubs are available in many shapes, sizes and characteristics as well as an array of leaf colours. This column is intended to […]
Deer are very abundant throughout the Rainy River District and also frequent visitors to many gardens. Deer are creatures of habit and will return to the same places for food over and over and a garden full of plants, flowers and/or vegetables can become a gourmet delight. Most often the […]
I use the winter for garden planning and one of the best ways to plan, is by using seed catalogues or viewing websites. There are many mail order seed and plant suppliers in both the United States and Canada so the number of catalogues and websites you can use for […]
Although there are many different species of irises, the bearded iris is one of the most popular perennial flowers. Not only a popular garden plant, but also often seen in artwork and logos. There are hundreds of varieties of bearded irises available on the market today, including a range of […]
The table beet (also known as garden beet, blood turnip or red beet) is a popular garden vegetable. Beet tops are an excellent source of vitamin A and the roots are a good source of vitamin C. The tops can be cooked or served fresh as greens and the roots […]
