Melanie Mathieson - Gardening Guru

Asparagus is one of the first vegetables ready to harvest in the spring.
Although native to the Mediterranean, once established it is a hardy perennial in our area. It is the only common vegetable that grows wild along roadsides and railroad tracks over a large part of Canada.

By Melanie Mathieson
The Gardening Guru

Light, temperature, humidity, and ventilation are chief home environmental factors affecting plant growth. Any one of these in incorrect proportions will prevent proper plant growth indoors.
Before purchasing any house plant, you need to do your research, as well as take a look at your home and its environmental conditions, beforehand.
Light

By Melanie Mathieson
The Gardening Guru

Epsom salts can be a way to help green up your garden naturally.
Epsom salts contain magnesium and sulfur—two elements found in nature that are important for plant growth.
Magnesium helps form chlorophyll in plants and is essential for photosynthesis. Magnesium also is critical in various enzyme reactions and other plant growth processes.

By Melanie Mathieson
The Gardening Guru

When planning a landscape or garden design, you should consider including a few shrubs.
There are hundreds of shrub species, varieties, and forms available for our growing zone. They are available in many shapes, sizes, and characteristics, as well as an array of leaf colours.

By Melanie Mathieson
The Gardening Guru

Have you ever noticed that our food does not have the same flavour intensity as it did about a decade ago?
Food today does not seem to have that taste bud-popping flavour we remember. And the reason is that much of our food has been engineered and hybridized to emphasize certain characteristics other than—and often at the expense of—taste.

By Melanie Mathieson
The Gardening Guru

Recently, I was contacted by a client to do a garden design for their front flowerbed.
This client was interested in a makeover to the current garden, with low maintenance as the ultimate goal.

By Melanie Mathieson
The Gardening Guru

Many people do not like to garden because of the work involved keeping the weeds at bay.
Ask any gardener what the most negative aspect of gardening is and they almost always reply, “Weeds.”

By Melanie Mathieson
The Gardening Guru

Many gardeners often are confused between the terms annuals and perennials, and which plants belong in each category.

By Melanie Mathieson
The Gardening Guru

If you are looking for an evergreen tree to add beauty to your landscape, then consider a spruce.
There are many spruce species that are well-suited for growing well and surviving the winters in our zone.
Spruce trees should be planted in a full sun to partial shade location. They appreciate moist, fertile soil that is on the acidic side.

By Melanie Mathieson
The Gardening Guru

1. Aphids: Plant onions around plants susceptible to aphid infections, especially roses.
2. Attracting bees: To attract bees to your vegetable garden, plant geraniums amongst your vegetables.
Flowering herbs such as bee balm, borage, and lavender also attract bees, plus can be used for their herbal qualities.