Joanne Young, Author at Niagara Now

Growing Together: Fall means it’s time to think about lawn care

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is just a few days away? I love autumn and watching the last of the flowers showing off in the garden. Mums, bluebeard, anemones, sedums and even

Growing Together: Plant your own garlic now for July harvest

But make sure you use ‘seed garlic,’ not grocery store bulbs Nothing ever tastes as good as something that you have grown yourself. Even though our growing season for most things is finishing

Growing Together: Garden rooms are a popular new/old idea

You can hardly pick up a gardening magazine any more without reading something about creating garden rooms. We now have outdoor kitchens’ outdoor TV areas, outdoor living spaces and outdoor meditation areas. Even

Growing Together: It’s a new season – time to buy bulbs

If you are a keen gardener, you will know there are more than four seasons in a year. Sure, there is still spring, summer, fall and winter, but then there are the “mini”

Growing Together: Now is an ideal time to plant a new tree

But do your research so you make the right choice for type and location They say that the best time to plant a tree is 50 years ago, the next best time to

Growing Together: Are your evergreens losing some needles? There’s no need to worry

It’s likely just the seasonal needle drop, part of the plant’s life cycle One of the many questions that I am asked at this time in the season is, “Why are some of

Growing Together: A pinch of prevention can rid garden of powdery mildew

Wondering about that white film on the leaves of your plant? As I have been visiting gardens over the past few weeks, I am seeing more and more examples of powdery mildew –

Growing Together: Fall bloomers add sizzle to a garden starting to fizzle

Is your garden lacking interest at this time of year? Have all your shrubs and perennials fizzled out for the season? Then it’s time to turn your “fizzle” into “sizzle.” There are plenty

Growing Together: Simple solutions to have it made in the shade

Many homeowners long for a shady retreat – until they try to select plants that will successfully grow there. Most of us can only think of hostas and ferns. But a shady yard

Growing Together: Off with their heads – a simple way to keep perennials blooming

Wouldn’t it be great if you could get more than one bloom period from some of your perennials? Well, you can. Whether you are a gardening guru or just beginning on the journey,

Growing Together: Xeriscaping techniques can help conserve watering

Last week, I wrote about some proper watering techniques that will help to keep your plants thriving throughout the summer, including some ways of conserving water, (“Many of us are watering our trees

Growing Together: Many of us are watering our trees and plants all wrong

Did you know that, on a hot day, a mature shade tree can take up as much as 100 gallons of water per day? Wow, and I thought that I was drinking a

Growing Together: There’s much more to harvesting herbs than just clipping their leaves

Nothing brings a favourite recipe to life like some fresh herbs. Even better, fresh herbs from your own garden. Whether you have a large garden or just a couple pots on a balcony,

Growing Together: Echinacea is a perennial favourite

Coneflowers have been a longtime favourite flower in gardens of all types. The large flowers bloom abundantly throughout the summer and can thrive for years with little care. The botanical name echinacea comes

Growing Together: Cedar leaf miner is another pest that can attack your garden

Last week I wrote about a relatively new insect that has moved into town – the box tree moth. Now, I would like to introduce you to another pest we are seeing more

Growing Together: Check your boxwood shrubs for infestation by box tree moth

Last fall, I wrote about a new insect that was finding its way into Niagara – the box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis). As the name indicates, it is primarily found on all species

Growing Together: Flowering trees and shrubs to add a splash of colour to your June garden

When we think of flowering trees and shrubs, our minds usually turn to those early spring bloomers – magnolia, forsythia, ornamental cherries and pear trees, and redbuds. Once that initial burst of flowers

Growing Together: ‘Tis the season to be pruning your evergreens and shrubs

Early to mid-June is the best time to be pruning your evergreens. Pruning seems to be one of the most frustrating and the most misunderstood areas of gardening. The longevity of a plant

Growing Together: A little twist of lime adds a pleasing dash of colour

“Summertime and the living is easy” indeed. At this time of year, we start to move out onto our patios to enjoy the great outdoors. Our minds turn to hosting barbecues for friends and

Growing Together: Now is the time to start summer container gardening

Well, our milder night-time temperatures mean it should be safe to put our annual containers out. Container gardening is something that everyone can participate in. Whether you live in a house or an apartment

Growing Together: If your garden is a mishmash, here’s how it can be magnificent

Is your garden a bit of a mishmash? Does looking at it leave you feeling blah or even chaotic? Then you need to add some life to your garden and take it from

Growing Together: Let the planting begin: But do it right so trees, shrubs survive

At this time of year, we all seem to get the planting bug. We just can’t wait to get outside and start putting new plants into the ground or into containers, or to

Growing Together: Starting from the ground up, here’s the dirt on soil

Healthy soil is the key to any successful garden. It is the foundation on which a healthy garden is built. Over the past decades, we have relied heavily upon synthetic fertilizers as a

Growing Together: Care and feeding of your springtime bulbs

Spring bulbs are a welcome sight for the winter-weary soul. Author Jean Hersey is quoted as saying, “I love planting bulbs. It is making promises with tomorrow, believing in the next year and

Growing Together: Blueberry fields forever. And other berries, too

We don’t often think about it, but some edible, berry-producing plants can also add an ornamental element to your garden. When the pandemic began, there was a notable increase in people’s interest in

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