Why is my grass brown? Garden Clippings for April 4, 2026 Please don’t drive by my house and take notice of the grass.  It looks awful. Our front yard grass normally looks just fine.  In fact, it looks better than most in our neighbourhood.  I fertilize faithfully and add water only when needed.  The mower is set at its highest setting, helping to keep the ground shaded, cooler, and preventing the soil from drying out too quickly.     Weeds in our summer lawn are few and far

Early spring garden checklist Garden Clippings for March 28, 2026 This March will not go down in the record books as the most pleasant.  We’ve had a few days of warm sunshine, but mostly, we have seen one cold day followed by the next.  And the wind has been relentless. For gardeners, the bright spot has been a few days of heavy rain to help get rid of the snow.  Rain also percolated through the deep freeze so there is no more frost in the ground-not even on the north side of

Bark Garden Clippings for Jan 17, 2026 When we think of bark on a tree, we tend to compare it to the skin of a human. Take a close look at both and you will find the similarities remarkable. The primary function of both bark and skin is to protect the material within and beneath it. In our Grade 7 science class, we learned that xylem and phloem, the pipes that bring water and sugars up and down, sit within the inner layers of bark. Without bark’s layers of protection, the tre

Good Weeds Garden Clippings for Feb 7, 2026 Most gardeners have done it. When they least expect it. Pulling out weeds and a sudden jab of pain on the hands or arms. Like a bee sting. The offender is Stinging Nettle, a perennial weed that resembles no other weed and is not easily identified. The quick solution is a pair of gloves. Stinging Nettle is a nasty green weed that can grow to over 1 metre. Leaves are rough around the edges, with a pointed tip. The stems and underside

Invasive Plants Garden Clippings for Feb 14, 2026 A few decades ago, Purple Loosestrife hit the news. The pretty perennial, with delightful rose-coloured flowers, began appearing in high numbers in Ontario wetlands, along roadsides, and in cultivated gardens. Purple Loosestrife is believed to have entered North America from Europe and Asia around the turn of the century. Seeds and roots probably came with soil that was used as ballast in ships and dumped on this side of the A

Winter impact Garden Clippings for Feb 28, 2026 The winter that will not end. Old folks tell me that this winter is just like the winters of years gone by. Relentless cold with more snow than I have ever needed to shovel. Will this colder-than-normal winter have an impact on trees? Yes, indeed, although the effects might not be evident until summer. Fruit trees, particularly Peach and Apricot, have spring buds that begin swelling as soon as warm and sunny weather arrives. But

Lessons for seed sprouting Garden Clippings for March 7, 2026 It’s almost time. Time to start vegetable seeds indoors. I have always been an advocate for sprouting your own garden seeds. Yes, you can buy started plants at your local garden store, but sprouting your own seeds gives you the advantage of choosing from a vast variety and doing so at a lower cost. A reliable growing medium, a variety of containers and a well-lit room is all that is required for backyard gardeners

Sycamore Garden Clippings for March 21, 2026 When our kids were kids, about 20 years ago, we exchanged homes with a family near Southampton, England, about two hours’ drive west of London. The exchange saved us a bundle on hotels and took place before Airbnb was in business. When in England, I insisted we stroll through a piece of New Forest National Park and spend time at Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew in London. The kids were not impressed. They insisted we visit a Jaguar

New Seeds Garden Clippings for March 14, 2026 Like a kid in a candy store. The day we receive the new seed racks, I scoured the selection, looking for what’s hot and what’s not. This year is no exception with new offerings from all suppliers. Greens of all kinds are going to be popular this spring. Lettuce, microgreens, spinach, swiss chard and mustard greens are taking up the top few rows of all seed displays. All are gratifying to grow with their quick turnaround from sowin