Joanne Young, Author at Niagara Now

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

Growing Together: Understanding the magic of trees

There is something magical about trees. Trees have long been used as symbols in many cultures and religions. For some, they are a symbol of life, growth, and flourishing. They can represent the

Growing Together: Where to start on your garden’s landscape journey

Are you wanting to make some changes in your garden this year? Is there something that you have always dreamed of adding to your yard? Winter is a great time to be planning

Growing Together: The magic of marcescent trees

There is one thing that you can always count on in the world of horticulture – there is always more to learn about. I am always fascinated to learn the details of what

Growing Together: More gardening trends for 2024

In last week’s article, I wrote about a few of the gardening trends for 2024. They all had to do more with environmentally friendly practices such as planting native species, attracting pollinators, sustainable

Growing Together: Getting ahead of 2024 gardening trends

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy New Year and all the best of things to come in 2024. Looking forward to the coming year, I

Growing Together: Sprucing up your winter garden

Now that our gardens are all cleaned up for the winter and things are tucked away, what is left in your garden for you to enjoy during the winter? Does it look like a

Growing Together: Reflecting on the past year

With the end of another year coming quickly upon us, many of us are likely reflecting on the happenings of the last 12 months. Even when it comes to the world of gardening,

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