Garden Tips
Ontario Tree Atlas
01/05/12 03:46 PM
Trees shade our homes, add beauty to our communities and countryside, and protect biodiversity by providing food and habitat for birds and animals. Trees are natural air filters - taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Trees protect sources of drinking water by preventing soil erosion.
Trees absorb and store greenhouse gases from the atmosphere as they grow, making them an essential tool in Ontario's fight against climate change.
What trees grow best where you live? Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources has a wonderful webpage devoted to native trees for Durham Region - or any Ontario region for that matter. read more
Check for Insects: Strawberries
31/03/12 11:58 AM
from member Garry
How to check for insects in strawberries
Be sure to watch the 1:45 min video on the link to see the insect and how to clean properly.
General information for checking all produce for insects can be found here.
How to check for insects in strawberries
Be sure to watch the 1:45 min video on the link to see the insect and how to clean properly.
General information for checking all produce for insects can be found here.
Emerald Ash Borer Information Session
31/03/12 10:06 AM
When: Wednesday, April 4, 2012 - 9 am to 9 pm.
Where: Room 5 at the Civic Recreation Complex (99 Thornton Road South)
Oshawa is hosting an Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) information session on Wednesday, Apr. 4 to provide educational material and updated information to residents regarding EAB, an invasive insect that is currently killing ash trees in Oshawa.
The EAB infestation in Oshawa is spreading faster then expected. It is important for residents to learn what an ash tree looks like, the signs and symptoms of EAB infestation and what can be done. Property owners play a significant role in preventing the spread of EAB.
The City has prepared a plan to help manage the impacts of EAB on publicly owned lands (along streets, in parks and open spaces). Private tree maintenance is the responsibility of the property owner.
EAB has killed millions of ash trees in southwestern Ontario, and poses a major economic and environmental threat to urban forest in Canada and the United States.
For more information on the Emerald Ash Borer see Blog posting 01/01/12 - Filed in: Garden Articles, tag: Insects
Where: Room 5 at the Civic Recreation Complex (99 Thornton Road South)
The EAB infestation in Oshawa is spreading faster then expected. It is important for residents to learn what an ash tree looks like, the signs and symptoms of EAB infestation and what can be done. Property owners play a significant role in preventing the spread of EAB.
The City has prepared a plan to help manage the impacts of EAB on publicly owned lands (along streets, in parks and open spaces). Private tree maintenance is the responsibility of the property owner.
EAB has killed millions of ash trees in southwestern Ontario, and poses a major economic and environmental threat to urban forest in Canada and the United States.
For more information on the Emerald Ash Borer see Blog posting 01/01/12 - Filed in: Garden Articles, tag: Insects
Layering Spring Bulbs in Pots
01/12/11 05:24 PM
from member Karen Sciuk
For the best possible display of spring bulbs in pots, the technique of planting in layers is a good one and can produce a display of flowers possibly March to May. Also we would need to recommend storing the pots in a cold garage or garden shed. Alternatively, the bulbs could be stored in the cold/dark until February and then planted. This article from the Telegraph in the UK explains the process, but please note the seasonal differences.
For the best possible display of spring bulbs in pots, the technique of planting in layers is a good one and can produce a display of flowers possibly March to May. Also we would need to recommend storing the pots in a cold garage or garden shed. Alternatively, the bulbs could be stored in the cold/dark until February and then planted. This article from the Telegraph in the UK explains the process, but please note the seasonal differences.
The Toronto Gardener’s Journal & Source Book 2012
01/12/11 05:03 PM
Where to get what
A god-send for hardiness zones 5, 6 and 7
A day-timer
Makes a great gift
“More useful than any tool in the shed.”
“The best journal I’ve ever seen”—Charlie Dobbin, host of AM 740’s the Garden and Home Show
The Journal includes:
• Calendar for 2012, including spring & fall frost dates
• Frost maps of Southwestern Ontario
• Weekly log with gardening guide
• Index of weekly gardening guide
• Graph paper for garden plans
• Section to record buying, sowing, planting, and harvest
• Pages for photos
• Monthly delights, disappointments, next year
• Blank pages for notes
To order a copy for delivery, go here.
Choose the Perfect Christmas Tree
01/12/11 04:53 PM
Poinsettias: From Mexican Shrub to Holiday Star
01/12/11 04:52 PM
Native trees for 80th Planting
01/11/11 05:10 PM
from member Karen Sciuk
Some good examples:
Eastern White Pine - Ontario's Provincial tree
Red Maple
Sugar Maple
Cucumber Tree - on the Ontario endangered list, avoid frost pockets
Butternut - endangered list, good upland tree, contains juglens so plant to stand alone
Bitternut - good upland tree, needs dry soil
Shagbark Hickory - attractive bark, needs warm site
Shellbark Hickory - good upland tree
Kentucky Coffee Tree - endangered list, needs warm site
American Chestnut - endangered list, find blight resistant specimen
Shumard Oak - endangered list, may be too tender in Durham
These are great links for info on threatened or endangered species in Ontario:
Recommended List of Trees and Shrubs for University of Waterloo Plantings: uwaterloo.ca
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Species at Risk: mnr.gov.ca
Green Side Up in and Grow Wild, both in Omeemee, have some of these species:
Green Side Up Native Plant Nursery: greenservices.ca
Grow Wild native Plant Nursery: grow-wild.com
Some good examples:
Eastern White Pine - Ontario's Provincial tree
Red Maple
Sugar Maple
Cucumber Tree - on the Ontario endangered list, avoid frost pockets
Butternut - endangered list, good upland tree, contains juglens so plant to stand alone
Bitternut - good upland tree, needs dry soil
Shagbark Hickory - attractive bark, needs warm site
Shellbark Hickory - good upland tree
Kentucky Coffee Tree - endangered list, needs warm site
American Chestnut - endangered list, find blight resistant specimen
Shumard Oak - endangered list, may be too tender in Durham
These are great links for info on threatened or endangered species in Ontario:
Recommended List of Trees and Shrubs for University of Waterloo Plantings: uwaterloo.ca
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Species at Risk: mnr.gov.ca
Green Side Up in and Grow Wild, both in Omeemee, have some of these species:
Green Side Up Native Plant Nursery: greenservices.ca
Grow Wild native Plant Nursery: grow-wild.com
Keep Your Paperwhites Upright
01/11/11 04:59 PM
Stop your beautiful forced blooms from tipping over with this neat (and unexpected) trick.
more information
more information
Alpaca Fertilizer
01/10/11 05:11 PM
from member Garry Lucas
Spinning Wheel Alpacas has advised OGC that one of the best things for the garden is alpaca manure. The animals are not exposed to any harsh chemicals. The manure is lower in organic matter than manure from other farm animals which results in less risk of burning plants. It also has comparatively high levels of nitrogen and potassium which are major plant nutrients and part of the well-known N-P-K indicator on fertilizer bags.
Prices:
50lb. pre-bagged - $7.00, 4 or more 50 lb. bags, $5.00 each.
Trailer load (you shovel) - $50
Trailer load (we shovel) - $70
Contact:
Nancy Hutchinson
Spinning Wheel Alpacas
1857 Regional Road #3
Enniskillen, ON L0B 1J0
905-261-4240
email: alpacas@xplornet.com
Spinning Wheel Alpacas has advised OGC that one of the best things for the garden is alpaca manure. The animals are not exposed to any harsh chemicals. The manure is lower in organic matter than manure from other farm animals which results in less risk of burning plants. It also has comparatively high levels of nitrogen and potassium which are major plant nutrients and part of the well-known N-P-K indicator on fertilizer bags.
Prices:
50lb. pre-bagged - $7.00, 4 or more 50 lb. bags, $5.00 each.
Trailer load (you shovel) - $50
Trailer load (we shovel) - $70
Contact:
Nancy Hutchinson
Spinning Wheel Alpacas
1857 Regional Road #3
Enniskillen, ON L0B 1J0
905-261-4240
email: alpacas@xplornet.com
Sunflower Moth Blight
21/08/11 05:11 PM
from member Tracey Smyth
At left is damage done by the Sunflower Moth.
When we visited Country Lane Gardens in Brooklin on Sunday, August 21, owner Sophie B. introduced us to a blight that is affecting Echinacea, and Sunflowers. It is called the “Sunflower Moth’ (Homoeosoma electellum) and was brought into Canada from Texas. The nurseries are taking precautions to prevent it on their stock, but as gardeners, we must also try to eradicate it before it becomes as virulent a pest as the Lily Beetle. Sophie showed us flowers that had been affected by the moth. The Echinacea heads slowly turn black and when split open, the moth is nesting inside. We were told the only way to eradicate this moth is to cut off the Echinacea head well below the flower, in some cases to the ground and dispose of the material in the garbage, not compost or yard waste. Hopefully, we will get a very cold winter, as all indications are that the moth will not survive extremely cold temperatures. more information
At left is damage done by the Sunflower Moth.
When we visited Country Lane Gardens in Brooklin on Sunday, August 21, owner Sophie B. introduced us to a blight that is affecting Echinacea, and Sunflowers. It is called the “Sunflower Moth’ (Homoeosoma electellum) and was brought into Canada from Texas. The nurseries are taking precautions to prevent it on their stock, but as gardeners, we must also try to eradicate it before it becomes as virulent a pest as the Lily Beetle. Sophie showed us flowers that had been affected by the moth. The Echinacea heads slowly turn black and when split open, the moth is nesting inside. We were told the only way to eradicate this moth is to cut off the Echinacea head well below the flower, in some cases to the ground and dispose of the material in the garbage, not compost or yard waste. Hopefully, we will get a very cold winter, as all indications are that the moth will not survive extremely cold temperatures. more information