Joanne Young, Author at Niagara Now

Growing Together: The power of pollinators

“If we each add a couple pollinator-loving plants, it will make a positive difference. If we feed a pollinator, they will in turn provide us with the food we need to survive,” writes Joanne Young.

Growing Together: Daisy, daisy, give me your answer true

Can there be any happier flower than a daisy flower? There is just something about them that makes you smile and want to start humming a tune. They can brighten any summer garden.

Growing Together: Japanese beetle season is upon us

If you have been gardening for any length of time, you have probably come across these colourful insects at some point or another. If you haven’t seen them yet in your garden this summer, you will see them in the next couple of weeks.

Growing Together: Hedge your bet with these helpful tips

It may be true that nothing makes a good neighbour like a good fence, but a living wall or green screen of sorts is much more pleasing on the eyes. There are several reasons why you may want to consider planting a hedge of some type.

Growing Together: How to nip powdery mildew in the bud

As we move into summer, we sometimes start to see more diseases pop up in our gardens. Some plants are more prone to certain diseases than others, but even so, you can take some precautions to limit the amount of damage that the disease will inflict on the plants.

Growing Together: These new plants are made for shade

There is one thing that I can say with certainty about plants is that there will always be new varieties being released each year. Just when you think that you know all the

Growing Together: Summer roses deserve the best care

Can you believe that it is already the middle of June? All the spring beauties have finished showing off and it is time for the summer blooming plants to display their beautiful flowers.

Growing Together: The true beauty of a garden

You may have picked up on it over the last few years of writing this column, but I just love to garden. I love every part of it (though, maybe not so much

Growing Together: Pruning evergreens, the smart way

Pruning plants properly seems to be one the most frustrating and misunderstood areas of gardening. The longevity of a plant is partially determined by how well a plant has been pruned over the

Growing Together: A twist of lime makes your summer garden pop

It is that time of year when we start to move out onto our patios to enjoy the great outdoors. Our minds turn to hosting barbeques with friends and family with great-tasting food.

Growing Together: Spring white flowering plants

We live in such a beautiful area. Spring in Niagara has to be one of the most amazing places to be. There just seems to be an explosion of colour as the

Growing Together: How to plant your annuals with the best care

It is soon time to start planting your annuals. I say soon, because the most important thing to know is that you should not be putting out your annuals until after the last

Growing Together: Time for tulips and other bulbs

We are now in prime bulb-blooming time. With the cooler weather, the flowers are lasting a bit longer. All those bright colours sure catch the eyes and let you know that spring is

Growing Together: Understanding fertilizers — what does it all mean?

Now that spring is here, and the plants are beginning to send out new growth, it is a good idea to start thinking about applying fertilizers. But what kind of fertilizer do you

Growing Together: Let’s explore the world of magnolias

What would spring be without seeing the first of the magnolias bursting forth into bloom? The magnolia tree has captivated imaginations across time and cultures with its beautiful, large waxy leaves and plush

Growing Together: Spring has sprung – let’s get your lawn in shape

This past Sunday I spotted the first ones of the season … that’s right: the first dandelions of the year. I know most of us dread to see them coming up in our

Growing Together: A rose by any other name should be pruned

How may of you just can’t wait to get out in your garden every spring and prune your roses? It probably isn’t on the top of your list of things to do. Knowing

Growing Together: Pruning shrubs to stay a cut above the rest

In last week’s article, I explained why it is that we prune deciduous shrubs from late winter to early spring, which I have summarized in the next paragraph. In this week’s article, I

Growing Together: Ready, set, prune!

Even though it doesn’t seem like we have had much winter yet, spring is definitely here — or at least, that is what a robin told me. One of the first tasks in

Growing Together: Keep an eye out for early bloomers

Well, once again that furry, little, loveable groundhog – Wiarton Willie – seems to have accurately predicted the coming of an early spring (although, as I write this, there is a light snow

Growing Together: Every garden needs a focal point to be the star

If you know me at all, you know that I am plant-obsessed. I love all the many details of a plant: its flowers, the texture of the leaves and its branching habit. I

Growing Together: The benefits of raised vegetable gardens

If you follow any of the garden blogs or still like leafing through magazines, you will most likely have noticed over the past few years that raised vegetable gardens have made a comeback.

Growing Together: Does landscaping boost your property’s value?

Are you planning on putting your house up for sale this coming year? Of course, you will want to get top dollar for your home. The question that is often asked is if

Growing Together: How one nuisance weed makes a great lawn substitute

Have you ever wondered if there is a better substitute for our lawns? When you think about it, our lawns are one of the highest maintenance parts of our gardens. From fertilizing, watering,

Growing Together: Caring for your houseplants throughout the winter

As we wait for spring to arrive — and for the time to get back out into our gardens — we can get our plant fixes by tending to our indoor plants. Winter

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