Author: Penka Matanska, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission. “Restoring viable habitat within the humandominated landscapes that separate habitat fragments – with as much of this land as possible – is the single most effective thing we can do to stop the steady drain of species from our local ecosystems.” Douglas W. Tallamy For…
The several dozen species of peonies that are grown mostly by enthusiasts, specialists and researchers are often reproduced by seeds. Seeds are occasionally employed to establish the principal horticultural peonies, but of course seeds will rarely reproduce the beautiful flowers of cultivars that have been maintained as clones. Peony seeds may have complex dormancy requirements,…
Renovating your garden on a budget can bring a fresh new look to your outdoor space and create a relaxing and inviting environment. Having a peaceful garden to come home to after working the night shift doing overnight jobs in Ottawa can help you relax and decompress. Being surrounded by nature calms the mind, reduces…
By Patricia Mosher While our gardens are snoozing this month, it’s easy to forget that bark, (yes, bark!), can add colour and texture to a landscape throughout the growing season, even into the depths of winter. The following suggestions will add a surprising amount of vertical intrigue to your garden all year round but have…
Berries are an irresistible treat for birds, particularly in winter when food is scarce. The fruits produced by these shrubs provide calories and crucial nutrients that birds need, particularly during the cold winter months when other natural food sources are nonexistent or buried in the snow. Here are some of my favorites to consider for…
The wintergreen shrub is accentuated with either gorgeous, white bell-shaped flowers or brilliant, pinkish-red berries, depending on the season. Beautiful, fragrant wintergreen has evergreen foliage. This plant does well indoors, though it is typically used as ground cover. It’s the ideal addition to make your house cheery in the winter. Wintergreen makes excellent ground cover…
It’s time to set the stage for brilliant spring color by choosing bulbs to plant in the fall to enjoy in your beds, borders, and containers in the spring. Plant before the middle of October for sheer joy next spring. For the optimal visual effect, plant in multiple groupings of 10–20 bulbs around existing perennials and…
Gardeners who covet a crimson crush of color in October should look no further than a burning bush, Euonymous alatus. Almost any garden site and soil condition is sufficient for this super hardy shrub, although the brightest fall leaf colour appears on only those planted in a full-sun location. Burning bush shrubs are incredibly eye-catching,…
By Owen Clarkin, Ottawa Field Naturalist Club. All photos courtesy of Owen. One particularly interesting story from this summer is a population of apparently wild Swamp White Oaks discovered this summer (by Clayton Shearer) near Oak Valley (south of Winchester), including this magnificent roadside specimen: Swamp White Oaks have been found along an at least…
Gardenia varieties are striking and fragrant flowering plants in the Rubiaceae, or the coffee madder family. It is a genus native to various regions around the globe, including the tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Learn more on how to care for gardenia. The plant’s name was assigned in…
White Heath Aster is a bushy, compact plant with many branched stems smothered in sprays of small, daisy-like white flowers. These sprays are so densely packed with blooms that the plant turns completely white as a result of the sheer number of flowers. The flowers are usually white, but they can be blue or pink…
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus Syriacus), a popular garden addition, is frequently planted to provide a burst of late-season colour after other trees and shrubs have finished blooming. Hibiscus Syriacus is a traditional choice for landscape focal points. This plant makes an excellent specimen, foundation, or border plant. This is ideal for larger patio containers. Rose…
Lilacs are some of the most beautiful plants, with their vibrant colours and sweet fragrance! They are perfect for any landscaping application, including hedges, foundation plantings, small gardens, and street trees. Lilacs are adapted to periods of cold weather before they can produce flowers. They are low-maintenance and ideal for a range of landscaping applications, including hedges, foundation plantings,…
If you have acidic soil which is below a pH of 7, but ideally hanging out at around 5.5, you could have great ground to grow an abundance of delicious fruits, vegetables, flowers, and trees.
Lilacs are one the great Ottawa landscape plants! There are many reasons to love them with their sweet perfume and those beautiful amethyst – hued blooms that butterflies adore. Not only do they grow most anywhere there is lots of sun, they are generally tough as nails, require no maintenance and have relatively few insect…
Among the bewildering lists of shrubs, certain names stand out as new and unusual, or, on the other hand, tried and familiar. These include both the evergreen shrubs and deciduous types.
The more than 900 species more commonly known as sages are related to Nepeta (Catmint) and Monarda (Bee Balm). The common sage The common sage Salvia officinalis is extensively grown as a culinary herb for flavoring and seasoning meats.
You’ve seen the Calibrachoa, a tender perennial commonly known as “Million Bells.” You’ve enjoyed this plant in the nightshade family filling containers and baskets with bright, vibrant flowers, screaming… Look, Look, Look!
What is Hardening Off? Hardening Off is the act of progressively acclimating an indoor plant to the outdoors before transplanting it outside. This gradual acclimatization to direct sunshine, wind, rain, and temperature variations is critical to preventing damage to your fragile plants. What Happens If You Don’t Harden Off? Worse case: you can kill the…
Hibiscus ornamentals include varieties that bloom profusely for months, with eye-catching blooms in a variety of colours up to 30 cm wide. Of the flowering plant genus in the mallow family, there are around 400 different varieties of hibiscus including hardy perennials, herbs, vines, annuals, shrubs, or tropical plants. They are grown for a variety…
Landscape mounds and berms are a great way to add interest to your yard and landscape. They’re straight forward to build if you follow these simple design guidelines. What is a Berm? Berms are raised mounds of soil, dirt, or buried material. Berms adorned with appropriate shrubs, trees, or flowers are used for a variety…
Here is a list of basics steps that a gardener can follow. The more natives you incorporate into your garden, the happier flora and insects will be. Start small Redesign small patches of your existing garden – or, even better, create a brand-new planting on the edge of an existing garden or behind, or in…
Here’s the deal on Beneficial Insects (aka good garden bugs). You may think all insects are pests or bugs, but that simply is not the case. There are many beneficial insects (good bugs) that would be all too happy to help you chase true bugs out of your yard and garden if you’d just give them a chance.
Unfortunately, climate change is threatening the gardening experience. There have been changes and more changes are coming. Fortunately, gardeners can play an important role to help adapt and mitigate the climate change threat and contribute to a greener future. We discuss climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies which are in our control, things you can…
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