General

**NEW SERVICE** I will now be using colour to enhance my landscape drawings! This is to help my customers better visualize their new yard.   Sometimes a little colour goes a long way! Contact me to find out more.    

Here are some inspiring photos of the work of World Renowned Landscape Designer, John Brookes:             credit: www.johnbrookes.com

1. If you have large trees in your yard please contact an arborist to make sure they are pruned properly 2. If you have winter damage on your boxwood or yews as shown below, cut back the tips of the damaged branches just above a green living leaf. Use sharp pruning shears so that you …Read more About “Essential Garden Maintenance This May”

I think we can all do our part in helping the bees. There are many low-maintenance plants that we can add to our gardens to attract this important pollinator. Here are a few that have a place in almost any garden: PERENNIALS Purple coneflower Catmint Blanketflower Russian Sage HERBS A low-maintenance solution and can even …Read more About “6 Low Maintenance Plants That Will Help You Help Bees”

My route to become a Landscape Designer was  certainly a I have spoken about or mentioned how I ended up becoming a Landscape Designer a number of times in .]0 0. ‘?+9a number of ways; my website, speaking engagements or ne on one with my clients. But until a recent chat at my local Pickering …Read more About “Little Known Facts About Horticultural Societies – And Why They Matter”

Even if you’re as passionate about your garden as my loyal customer, Donna George, it doesn’t mean you have to go it all alone.  I’m happy to welcome Donna as a guest author. Donna is a retired gardening enthusiast or as I affectionately call her, “my gardening from the deck lady”.  She shares with you …Read more About “Gardening By Observing”

One of the most common requests I get when visiting a customer is what will grow on my fence? Well I know firsthand that both popular vines, Boston Ivy and Virginia Creeper, will cover the fence nicely and without the need for trellises to boot! I have both in my back yard that is surrounded …Read more About “A Tale of Two Vines – The Quest To Cover The Fence!”

Do you plant impatiens every year in your garden or containers? A popular low-maintenance annual for shady areas of the yard, this year you might want to consider something else. Downy Mildew is currently wiping out plantings of this common shade annual and even causing growers to stop growing them. In my time working at …Read more About “Impatiens, Gone For Good?”

1)DON’T walk on lawn or in garden while it is still wet:  you will do more harm compacting the soil than good. 2)DON’T rake lawn until it has REALLY dried out:  you will disturb the healthy roots more than you benefit the dead roots. 3)DON’T let the lawn companies aerate your lawns until after Easter:  …Read more About “Thinking About Spring Gardening? 5 Things To Consider For Spring Gardening Success”

My early spring tip for you is surprisingly simple… Stay out of the garden! I know it might not seem too inviting right now but the weather will warm up in the next few weeks and the remaining snow will melt and you will be tempted to go wandering through the garden and lawn. Please …Read more About “Stay Out Of The Garden!”