Lending a Virtual Hand in the Garden

This past winter, while the rest of Canada was covered in snow and ice, I was fortunate enough to spend some time at the Royal Botanical Gardens. Not only was it free from snow, the temperatures never dipped to that bone chilling -30°C. In fact, their conservatory is warm year round and home to thousands of plants, both native and exotic. If you ever get the chance, I recommend you check it out.

The time I spent at the RBG was, in fact, for work. They were kind enough to lend me some green space and blooming flowers to act as a backdrop to my new video series, developed with The Toronto Star and designed with you in mind. You, the average homeowner seeking advice. You, the frustrated lawn grower who can’t seem to get anything to grow. You, the naturalist looking to create a home for as many pollinators as possible.

I am extremely happy with how these videos turned out. They certainly cover topics I am asked about most often, and, of course, the setting only adds to the experience. If you have a few moments, I encourage you to check them out. You never know what tidbit of information may spark your imagination. Let’s turn your outdoors into something amazing.

The Greenest Lawn on the Block
Start by waking up your lawn from its long winter slumber. Don’t forget to fertilize, overseed, water new seed, and use a mulching mower.

Water Conservation
Check out a few of my favourite ways to conserve water in the garden. Not only does it save you money, your garden will look better, too. From the bleeding hose to rain barrels, there are numerous ways you can reduce the use of this precious resource.

Attracting Pollinators
Definitely a hot topic these days (as it should be). Learn to attract pollinators (while you’re at it, you’ll attract many of the other insects that never seem to get the recognition they deserve). Choose the right flowers for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies while making bold and subtle statements in the garden.

Container Gardening: Herbs
If you’ve never grown your own herbs, this is your year to start. There’s nothing like fresh dill and oregano picked right from your back porch. Most herbs lend themselves to container growing as they come from hot, dry regions of the world. Combine your herbs in containers based on their geographical origins for best results.

Container Gardening: Flowers
Container gardening is convenient for those with minimal space and, as an added bonus, well-grown containers look fantastic. The key to successful container gardening is…well, I won’t spoil the video. Be sure to check it out!

Soil Preparation
THE biggest mistake people make, after overwatering, is neglecting their soil. Most soil will support some plants. The best soil will support so many more. Your options are seemingly endless when you don’t have to worry about the soil conditions. Learn to recognize what your soil needs to give your garden its best performance ever.