Joanne Young, Author at Niagara Now

Growing Together: We’re off to a bloomin’ start this spring

We are one week into spring and we are already seeing things come into bloom. No matter whether you thought this past winter was good or bad, those first signs of flowers in

Growing Together: Spring is here. Time to start seeds indoors

It is now time to start planting some vegetable seeds indoors. No matter how many times I plant seeds, it never ceases to amaze me how everything a plant needs to grow and

Growing Together: No end of ways to continue enjoying garden in winter

Have you had enough of winter yet? I know we all are eagerly awaiting spring and, for most of us, it’s just not coming fast enough. With the heavy snowfall last week, though,

Growing Together: Simple ways to create your own backyard happy place

We live in a world where anxieties seem to be growing all around us. I think it is safe to say we all are in need of spaces we can retreat to, that

Growing Together: No-till gardening offers big benefits for your soil and environment

Sometimes I think that we create more work for ourselves than we need to. I don’t know about you, but I can’t remember the last time I said to myself, “Wow, I wish

Growing Together: Five ways to take containers beyond the patio

Many of us will use container plantings to provide an accent of colour at our front doors or on our decks and patios. These pots will often be used for seasonal plantings –

Growing Together: Curb appeal and making your entrance inviting

Dressing up your front entrance is a great way to add curb appeal and make your guests feel welcome. Update your walkway: The front walkway that leads the eye to your entry and is an

Growing Together: 10 ways to keep your indoor plants healthy in winter

1. Move them closer to a light source. Winter means shorter days and a reduced number of sunny days. So, it is beneficial to move plants a bit closer to the window so the

Growing Together: How to keep your orchids happy and healthy

Although once considered an expensive plant to be grown by elitists, the orchid has become the top-selling indoor plant. The orchid family is one of the largest in the realm of flowering plants: More

Growing Together: And the winners are … high-achieving plants for your garden

At this time of year, we are flooded with award shows like the Golden Globes, Grammys and Oscars. But why should actors and singers receive all glory? Did you know that plants receive

Growing Together: Encourage kids to ‘play in the dirt’ – and be young gardeners

I think that there is one thing that we can all agree on – kids spend too much time on their phones or in front of screens. Whatever happened to the good

Growing Together: A new year brings the chance to fulfil new gardening goals

There is something about a new year that makes you want to set some new goals. Usually, those goals are centered around health, finances or self-improvement. This year why not set some new

Growing Together: Simple suggestions for decorating your Christmas tree

Your Christmas tree is your canvas, so it’s important to select a good one — gorgeous ornaments can do only so much for a scraggly tree. Some people prefer the look and smell

Growing Together: Popular Christmas traditions – and plants – are steeped in history

Mistletoe, poinsettias, holly and wassailing were not always part of our Christmas traditions. Here is a bit of history. Mistletoe: The whole idea of mistletoe started in the days of the ancients Druids (around

Growing Together: Dreaming of a green Christmas? Fresh-cut boughs are versatile

Decorating with live Christmas greenery has long been a tradition cherished by families around the globe. The fragrance of freshly cut evergreen boughs as you enter a home at Christmas time is

Growing Together: It is not essential to wrap your evergreens for winter

Well, we all knew that it was coming, against all hopes and wishes, and yes, it arrived. Last weekend’s first major snowfall is a sure sign that the gardening season has come to

Growing Together: Fall stars that can add punch to your garden

What a glorious fall it has been. The colours have just been amazingly vibrant this year and have lasted a long time. We live in such a beautiful area and there are certain

Growing Together: Clean garden tools before storing them for winter

As you start packing things away in the shed or garage in anticipation of winter, take a few extra minutes to clean up your garden tools properly and have them ready for action

Growing Together: Still plenty of fall chores to be done in garden

Over the last three weeks I have been writing about things that you can still be doing in your garden before winter sets in. I am certainly not trying to rush the onset

Growing Together: Lasagna gardening is an easy, no-dig alternative

Are you thinking of preparing new gardens next spring? Or do you have an existing vegetable garden that could use some soil improvement? Why not try some lasagna gardening. This is a no-dig,

Growing Together: Divide and conquer: Some perennials need attention now

When it comes to fall garden chores, there are two main jobs that need to be done concerning your perennials. One is dividing them and the other is cutting them back. Dividing perennials: There

Growing Together: Put away your shears. Fall is not the time pruning

As we are starting to clean up our gardens for the season, the tendency is to prune all our deciduous shrubs, evergreens and trees. In the majority of cases, my response to this

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

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