Can you suggest a shrub to put alongside a Diablo Ninebark?
Q. Can you suggest a shrub to put alongside a Diablo ninebark? It would be facing east and the soil would be normal to dry. I was thinking of Pinky Winky Hydrangea or smokebush (but that’s kind of big). Markham, Ont. A. A Diablo ninebark looks nice when flanked by two dwarf Japanese barberry cultivars […]
Deciduous, flowering, fragrant shrubs for a shaded and moist area, in zone 5?
Q. I’m looking for suggestions for deciduous, flowering, fragrant shrubs for a shaded and moist area in zone 5. A. There are a few fragrant deciduous shrubs to try in a shady Zone 5 site. A few suggestions: Daphne ‘Carol Mackie’ — beautiful variegated foliage Azaleas – ‘Northern lights’ series — Mandarin and Orchid are […]
How do I get rid of wireworms?
Q. How do I get rid of wireworms? I have a bad infestation that killed half the grass in my backyard by the end of last year. Now more larvae have hatched. A. Wireworms are the larvae of a group of beetles commonly called click beetles. The adults are called click beetles because they make a […]
How do I restore my lawn?
Q. How do I restore my lawn once it has been taken over by weeds, such as crabgrass and grubs and the soil has become well-packed and cracked? A. First, you will need to decide whether to tackle this yourself, or hire a professional lawn care company. It is a fair bit of work to restore […]
Acer seedling care
Q. How do I care for three small Acer palmatum seedlings that are about one-week old? A. If you have these seedlings indoors, put them in 10 cm (4″) pots for now, using a potting mix that has some nutrients. Give them plenty of light each day, but not direct sunlight, and water them as needed. Start around […]
Verbena seed collection
Q. I collected some mature verbena seeds last year and put two bags of them down, but have not seen even one seedling emerge. They would have been nicely stratified over winter. What can I do this year to improve on germination? A. Verbena bonariensis and Verbena rigida are tender perennials, and are often grown in Canada as annuals, as […]
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To submit your question to our expert panel, please click here. Questions can be about anything related to landscaping or horticulture, including plants, irrigation, lighting, design, interlock, etc. Additional plant-related questions and answers can be found on the Master Gardeners of Ontario website at www.mgoi.ca. Careers and education I am looking for a job in the landscaping […]
How soon can I plant tomato seeds indoors under a grow light, and how many hours of light do they need?
A. There is nothing better than to pick a ripe tomato from your own garden. Tomatoes from seed need to be started at least six to eight weeks before your last frost date. By that time, the soil will be warm enough to get them growing. Sow seeds in moistened soil that is labeled for seedlings. Provide […]
Should I wrap my Japanese Maple in burlap for the winter?
Q. I have a Japanese maple I planted this spring. I was told it should be wrapped in burlap for the winter. When should I do this, after the leaves have fallen, or before a severe frost? A. Your Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) is a young tree and should be protected from frost. The most […]
How do I prune a low laying pine?
I have a low-lying pine that is now about four to five feet tall. I don’t want it much bigger. When should I prune it?A. I’m not sure the type of pine you have, but the method of containing growth on pines is quite simple. In the spring you will see new growth taking place […]