Although September marks the end of summer and the gradual change to fall, it doesn’t have to signify the end of the gardening season. In this episode, Joanne offers some practical tips and advice for making the most of your September garden.

Topics covered in this week's episode:

September Reset

• Reality check: Hot, dry summer stressed many plants. Use September’s cooler nights/rain to reassess.
• Goal: Keep what thrived, replace what struggled with drought-tolerant options.
• Evaluate & Document

Walk-through: List plants that thrived, survived, and failed

• Take photos now: Capture beds to guide spring moves and timing of blooms.
• New gardens: Observe 1–2 seasons before big changes.

Disease: Powdery Mildew

• Look for: White, talc-like film on peony, lilac, ninebark, and perennials.
• Fix: Improve airflow, remove affected leaves, or cut peonies down.
• Don’t: Cut everything back—September still has interest.

Divide & Relocate 

• Peonies: Divide/move now; eyes at original depth (shallow).
• Hostas: Move sun-stressed clumps to cooler/shadier spots; fall divisions avoid leggy spring growth.

Rescue Stressed or New Plants

• Priority: Root establishment, not top growth.
• Steps: Trim crispy foliage, keep plant tags, and water consistently through September–October.

Clearance Rack Buying

• Inspect roots, not leaves: Healthy = firm, white/tan roots with soil; avoid slimy/sour/rotting roots.
• Perennials: “Sleep, creep, leap," cosmetic top damage is fine if roots are good.

Soil Care 

• Add: Compost, composted mulch, or manure (not more “garden soil”).
• Why: Better nutrients + moisture retention for next year.

Lawn Strategy (Early Fall)

• Dormant does not mean dead: Expect rebound with dew + cooler nights.
• Mow high: Especially before/through heat.
• Weeds: Pull crabgrass before seed set; clear curb/edge weeds to limit spread.
• Overseed/top-dress: Mostly an October task; focus on moisture now.

Japanese Beetles

• Apply nematodes (late Sept): Only if you can water deeply and consistently; they’re swimmers.
• Deterrence: Avoid their favourite plants; instead, place annual geraniums in your garden as they act as a mild repellent.

Tropicals & Houseplants

• Temperature trigger: Start bringing in when nights drop below 16 °C.
• Prep: Inspect, rinse, insecticidal soap, flush soil; stage in garage if needed.
• Figs in pots: Can overwinter in unheated garage; prune in fall to encourage fruiting.

Late-Season Colour (Pollinator-Friendly)

• Shade structure: Sun King aralia (chartreuse), bugbane (burgundy foliage + white spikes).
• Perennials: Japanese anemone, toad lily, native asters (choose over mums; better for insects).
• Compact shrubs: Panicle hydrangeas—‘Bobo’, ‘Fire Light Tidbit’, ‘Little Lime Punch’

Evergreens: Critical Watering

• Need: Deep, infrequent soakings going into winter (cedars, conifers).
• Why: Prevents winter burn; burlap/windscreens are last resort—moisture is key.

Resources Mentioned in the Show:

Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden

Are you a landscape or gardening expert?

We'd love to have you on the show! Click here to learn more.

Find Down the Garden Path on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @downthegardenpathpodcast.

Down the Garden Path Podcast

On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low-maintenance as possible. 

In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide. Get your copy today on Amazon.

Don't forget to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe! You can now catch the podcast on YouTube.

Thinking about a starting a new landscape project? This week on Down the Garden Path, Joanne draws on her experience as a landscape designer to share insights on planning, selecting high-quality materials, and collaborating with professionals.

Topics covered in this week's episode:

1) Go for a walk in your neighbourhood or drive to another neighbourhood and walk there to look at landscapes so that you can see what you like and don't like.

• Pay attention to homes that are the same style and or colour
• Look at the colour of the paving material used. This can help for choices in the front or backyard.
• For front yards, focus on features like front entrances etc.
• Do you see an aesthetic you like?
• Gardens: do you want more garden and less lawn, or the other way around?
• Again, do you like clean lines and minimal plantings, or do you want a colourful all-season garden?

2) Ask for referrals from neighbours, family, or friends who have completed successful landscape projects.

• Research landscape companies on social media and websites before contacting them.
• Look at the type of jobs they are building, the material they are using.

3) Call Landscape Companies: Ask about design services

• Don’t fall for “We can do anything you want!”
• You don’t know what you don’t know
• Many contractors have design services, and if they don’t, many independent landscape designers can help you with a plan.

4) Ask potential landscapers questions and read through proposals thoroughly.

• Ask about how deep they dig their base, what base materials they use, what type of edging techniques do they use.
• Will they repair or replace the sod?
• What is their preferred landscaping material?

5) Once you have chosen your landscaper, you will need to choose your material before your project starts.

• You can narrow down the options by reviewing different catalogues, but it is more helpful to visit material yards in person. Visit with your landscaper or designer to select appropriate materials.
• Choices can be overwhelming, so do not go alone. It is important to make sure that all the different materials coordinate
• Consider future needs like irrigation and lighting if your budget is limited. The landscaper can add during the initial project to make it easier to add lighting and irrigation later.

Resources Mentioned in the Show:

Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden

Are you a landscape or gardening expert?

We'd love to have you on the show! Click here to learn more.

Find Down the Garden Path on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @downthegardenpathpodcast.

Down the Garden Path Podcast

On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low-maintenance as possible. 

In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide. Get your copy today on Amazon.

Don't forget to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe! You can now catch the podcast on YouTube.

August is a busy but rewarding month in the garden. Although heat stress and plant fatigue can be a challenge, with attentive care, tidying up, and strategic watering and fertilizing, your lawn and garden can thrive into the fall.

Tune in to hear Joanne's tips and advice for keeping your lawn and garden thriving in August.

Topics covered in this week's episode:

Bulb Preparation

• Start thinking about fall bulbs (both flowering and garlic) now, especially if you want specific varieties.

Vegetables and Herbs

• Trim tired herbs (dill, basil, chives, oregano, thyme) for rejuvenation—stagger cuts for small crops to extend harvests.
• Monitor vegetables—harvest tomatoes and sow a second crop of lettuces and other cool-weather crops for fall.
• Keep gardens tidy: remove dead leaves and debris to prevent mildew and fungal diseases, especially after frequent watering.

Watering Tips

• Due to a lack of rain and prevalent heat in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), consistent watering is vital.
• Overhead watering (oscillating sprinklers) is inefficient—Joanne recommends a circular, ground-level sprinkler for deeper, targeted watering.
• Test soil moisture with a wooden stick/spoon for accurate watering, especially for new plants.

Fertilization and Soil Care

• With heavy summer watering, nutrients may be depleted—top up with compost or hen manure, especially in raised beds and containers.
• Annuals and hanging baskets may also need fertilizer boosts (water-soluble or pellet) and a haircut to encourage new growth.

Container Gardening

• Refresh tired annuals in containers or hanging baskets—replace or trim as needed for continued success through fall.
• Consider adding or dividing perennials like hostas in containers.

Pest and Disease Watch

• Look out for mildew, spider mites, and aphids; ladybugs can help control aphids (ensure they are native).

Lawn Care

• Lawns may look brown but are likely dormant, not dead—no need to fertilize or mow dormant grass.
• Focus on watering deeply rather than frequently. Use a rain gauge or simple container to check water penetration.
• Pay attention to weeds, especially crabgrass—remove before seed heads spread.

Trees and Hedges

• Water trees deeply—target the feeder root zone, not just trunk; mature trees benefit when you water your lawn.
• Avoid spraying tree leaves or trunks.
• Prefer ground-level, slow watering instead of overhead for all garden areas.

Pruning

• Prune flowering shrubs (weigela, lilac, spirea) by cutting older/dead branches from inside the shrub for rejuvenation.
• For evergreens (cedar, yew), light trimming and shaping are appropriate now; major pruning is best left to professionals if needed.
• Shape hedges so the base is wider than the top to ensure sunlight reaches the bottom branches.

Hydrangea Tips

• Highlight on hydrangea varieties that thrive in heat and drought (Paniculata types like Bobo, Firelight Tidbit, Little Lime Punch, and Arborescens/Annabelle types).
• Water hydrangeas thoroughly—wilting signals the need for water.

Enjoyment and Planning

• Observe visiting butterflies, bees, and birds; consider water features (birdbaths, fountains) that attract pollinators and wildlife.
• Take photos of garden gaps for future planning, especially for plants that bloom in late summer or fall.

Resources Mentioned in the Show:

Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden

Are you a landscape or gardening expert?

We'd love to have you on the show! Click here to learn more.

Find Down the Garden Path on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @downthegardenpathpodcast.

Down the Garden Path Podcast

On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low-maintenance as possible. 

In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide. Get your copy today on Amazon.

Don't forget to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe! You can now catch the podcast on YouTube.

In this encore episode of Down the Garden Path podcast, landscape designer Joanne Shaw offers mid-season advice for your lawn and garden.

Topics covered in this week's episode:

YES, you can still plant this summer. You do not need to wait until fall.

• Summer is always a good time to pick up a good sale on plants, just check that the roots are healthy.
• The roots are the most important thing to look at in mid-summer, especially on discounted plant material. It may not do much this year, but it will be even better next year.
• Tree and shrub planting is fine, but you need to be around home to water in case of drought.
• If you are away for a few days, that is fine. Consider using a tree watering bag for your trees or even timers for sprinklers. The important thing is to be around to keep an eye on your newly planted trees.
• Also, remember the sign of too much water is the same as not enough. So, check the soil deeply if your plant appears to be struggling.

Mid-summer is Japanese beetle season.

• I want to reassure you that Japanese beetle traps work, when used according to instructions. Read the instructions! Place the trap far away from the garden and plants (including your neighbours’ plants)
• Communicate with your close neighbours; you don’t all need a trap.
• Follow the distance guidelines in the instructions and you will be fine. The key is to capture as many as possible before they lay their eggs in your lawn, which turn into grubs.

Native Plants

• There’s so much talk about native plants and only using them in your garden.
• If it is overwhelming, don’t worry. There are a lot of non-native plants that pollinators love.
• There is no need to remove plants or shrubs to add native plants -- unless you have invasive plants, or you want to.
• I suggest a few mid-season native bloomers that can be added now. Many native plants are spring or fall bloomers and many can become invasive or spreaders, so keep that in mind when choosing them.
• Removing seed heads will help with their spread.

Mid-summer is also crabgrass season.

• It is important to pull it out before it goes to seed.
• Try not to cut grass when it has gone to seed because that spreads the seed to create more weeds for next year.
• If you have a large lawn and or a large amount of crabgrass, consider bagging your grass for the rest of the season to try to prevent as many weeds as possible for next year.

Resources mentioned during the show:

Permeable Landscaping Products with David Maxwell from Romex

Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden

Are you a landscape or gardening expert?

We'd love to have you on the show! Click here to learn more.

Find Down the Garden Path on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @downthegardenpathpodcast.

Down the Garden Path Podcast

On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low-maintenance as possible. 

In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide. Get your copy today on Amazon.

Don't forget to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe!

You can now catch the podcast on YouTube.

In this encore presentation of Down the Garden Path, Joanne discusses some of the issues you may be experiencing with your hydrangeas this month and what you can do about them.

Topics covered in this week's episode:

Hydrangeas not blooming?

• Knowing what variety of hydrangea you have is the first step
• In Joanne's experience, if you have a nice large green bush but no or few flowers then you have a Macrophylla variety
  • They bloom on old wood that is unfortunately susceptible to late spring frost damage
  • The buds form on the old wood in early spring, and then a late frost comes and kills the buds
  • The plant still grows nice and lush and you don’t know anything is wrong until it doesn’t flower.
  • Extra water and fertilizer provide a nice full-leaved plant, but no blooms
  • I have tried all the techniques to try and prevent this and protect the plant, but I gave up and replaced it with a hardier variety
• If you are in an area where you often get a late frost after a nice warm-up, then consider swapping to another variety
• Hydrangeas discussed:
  • Macrophylla
  • Paniculata
  • Quercifolia
  • Serrata
  • Arborescence
• Which hydrangeas grow on old or new wood

Hydrangeas getting too large/floppy?

• Preferred pruning practices 
• Smaller variety recommendations of each type to have a hydrangea that stays smaller:
  • Munchkin Oakleaf Hydrangea
  • Invincibelle Wee White Hydrangea
  • Invincibelle Limetta
  • Little Lime or Bobo Hydrangeas
  • All are a great way to have more hydrangeas in a smaller space

Related Episodes/Resources Mentioned in the Show:

Tips To Extend The Blooming Season Of Your Endless Summer Hydrangea

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas Part One

Hydrangeas Part Two

BLOG POST -- Hydrangeas: When They Don’t Work And What You Can Do About It

Are you a landscape or gardening expert?

We'd love to have you on the show! Click here to learn more.

Find Down the Garden Path on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @downthegardenpathpodcast.

Down the Garden Path Podcast

On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low-maintenance as possible. 

In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide.

Get your copy today on Amazon.

Don't forget to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe! You can now catch the podcast on YouTube.

In this encore presentation of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing show you how to keep your garden and landscape cool and colourful in the summer heat with tips for your July garden.

Here are some of the questions and topics covered in this episode:

• Pros and cons of the recent hard, fast rain and things to consider with your garden and containers.
• Lawns
  • The importance of watering deeply but less frequently
  • The best type of fertilizer for your lawn situation
  • The best time to fertilize
  • Staying on top of weeds
• Perennials/Annuals in the Garden
  • Deadhead perennials to clean up or encourage new growth 
  • It may be time to clean up your annual containers and replace individual plants if they are dead or not growing well
  • Make sure the annual containers are not being overwatered or underwatered
  • Time to fertilize containers as well
• Shrubs: Pruning spring bloomers after flowering
• Trees: Fertilizing shrubs and trees, the best timing depending on the weather.
• Best ways to deep-water trees: do not rely on rain only
• Matthew and Joanne’s vegetable garden

Are you a landscape or gardening expert?

Find Down the Garden Path on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @downthegardenpathpodcast.

You can also email your questions and comments to [email protected], or connect with Joanne via her website: down2earth.ca

Down the Garden Path Podcast

On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low maintenance as possible. 

In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide.

Get your copy today on Amazon.

Don't forget to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe! You can now catch the podcast on YouTube.

Joanne Shaw welcomes Carla Bailey back to the podcast to discuss how Women in Landscaping empowers women in the landscaping industry through networking and mentorship opportunities. 

About Carla Bailey

An HR professional for over a decade, Carla Bailey honed her expertise working for a leading landscaping company in London, Ontario. Dedicated to creating a positive work environment and resolving employee matters, her commitment to staff growth led her to discover and implement various government initiatives to support employee development.

In 2018, Carla and three other green professionals founded Women In Landscaping to introduce women to green professions and provide a community to help them thrive.

Here are some of the topics covered in this episode:

• The need for a Durham chapter of Women in Landscaping, which is a registered nonprofit
• The success of chapters in other regions, like Toronto and Ottawa, emphasizes the importance of local champions reaching out to contacts
• Carla explained their funding model, which relies on donations from contractor and vendor companies
• Joanne and Carla discussed their experiences with customer service, particularly focusing on gendered treatment and communication challenges
• The growth and expansion of Women in Landscaping, and their transition from quarterly sessions to monthly drop-in events at local venues
• Women in Landscaping’s success in reaching 4,500 attendees annually, and their plans to expand into new communities across Ontario and potentially Alberta and BC
• The upcoming Congress 2026, which will feature two events: a Landscape Ontario women's event during the day and a WiL-hosted evening reception
• Empowering Women in Landscaping: the importance of promoting landscaping as a career for women and the need for support networks within the industry
• The benefits of having a community of women in landscaping, where they can share experiences, provide support, and collaborate on projects
• Joanne emphasized the value of networking and learning from each other, while Carla noted the unique open-book mentality in Ontario's landscape industry, which fosters innovation and collaboration
• Initiatives and events organized by the National Association for Landscaping Professionals and Landscape Ontario to support women in the industry
• They highlighted the importance of retaining women in the workforce and shared strategies for creating a more inclusive and flexible work environment
• Carla emphasized the need for transparent wage structures and career advancement opportunities, while Joanne shared her personal experience of balancing work and family life
• The upcoming women's luncheon and networking events, including a cocktail reception followed by a tailgate party at Landscape Ontario's Congress
• They explored challenges faced by new entrants to the landscape design industry, particularly regarding business skills and insurance needs, and agreed that supporting young professionals through mentorship and education is crucial
• The importance of business acumen and market awareness for landscape designers operating in different regions, and the value of women's networks in the industry
• Women in Landscaping's monthly meetings, which take place on the fourth Thursday of each month at 7pm local time, with locations varying between local cafes and bars
• The group has chapters in London, Ancaster, Ottawa, and Toronto, with attendance ranging from 10-15 people per meeting
• Landscape Ontario is hosting Touch A Truck events across the province on July 19th, with the London event being co-hosted by Women in Landscaping. Learn more here.
• The group is seeking sponsorship to create a professional website, and Carla encouraged listeners to follow them on their social media platforms

You can find Women in Landscaping on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Are you a landscape or gardening expert?

We'd love to have you on the show! Click here to learn more.

Find Down the Garden Path on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @downthegardenpathpodcast.

Down the Garden Path Podcast

On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low-maintenance as possible. 

In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide.

Get your copy today on Amazon.

Don't forget to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe! You can now catch the podcast on YouTube.

In this episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw speaks with Barbara Pratt about the 29th annual Gardens of Uxbridge Tour, taking place this Saturday, June 21st, 2025, from 10 am to 5 pm.

The Gardens of Uxbridge Tour

On this self-guided driving tour around the Uxbridge countryside, participants view eight private residential gardens in both town and country settings. The gardens featured change every year and offer a variety of sizes, designs, unique plantings, and inspiration for your own garden. A charitable fundraiser, produced in partnership with The Lucy Maud Montgomery Society of Ontario, this tour benefits the local National Historic Site commemorating this Canadian author of Anne of Green Gables fame.

Here are some of the topics discussed in this episode:

Lucy Maud Montgomery Society 

• Barbara Pratt is one of the founding members of the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society
• Montgomery lived near Uxbridge for 15 years, and her journals were published in five volumes by Oxford University Press

Gardens of Uxbridge Tour

• The annual Gardens of Uxbridge Tour is a major fundraiser for the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society of Ontario
• Barbara explained how the society restored the Leaskdale Manse, where Montgomery lived as a minister's wife, using her historical photographs to guide the restoration
• The tour, now in its 29th year, was originally run by Community Care in Uxbridge before being taken over by the society, which continues to maintain both the house and gardens to attract international visitors interested in Montgomery's life and work
• The tour focuses on showcasing personal and unique garden styles, overcoming obstacles, and providing inspiration for gardeners
• This year’s tour will take place on June 21st, featuring eight gardens (4 in town and 4 in the countryside) that can be visited in a single day
• Participants receive a passport with a map and descriptions of the gardens, along with a list of interesting side trips, such as Richters Herbs in Goodwood
• Tickets must be purchased online at gardensofuxbridge.org, with all proceeds supporting local community projects
• This year, due to road construction, the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society will serve refreshments at Showbrook Gardens instead of the manse, where they will offer their signature tea and scones along with displays
• The tour will highlight various artists, including Linda Virio for encaustic painting, Daniella Boerhof for metal sculptures, and Anja Kooistra for fabric sculptures.
• Barbara discussed the upcoming two-day conference in Leaskdale dedicated to Lucy Maud Montgomery, which will attract attendees from around the world, including South Africa, the United States, Europe, and Japan.

Lucy Maud Montgomery Summer Events

• Barbara discussed the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society's summer activities, including weekly Wednesday teas at the historic Leaskdale Church
• Learn more at LucyMaudMontgomery.ca.

Get your tickets for this weekend’s Gardens of Uxbridge Tour at www.gardensofuxbridge.org.

Have a topic you'd like Joanne to discuss?

Email your questions and comments to [email protected], or connect via her website at down2earth.ca.

Are you a landscape or gardening expert?

We'd love to have you on the show! Click here to learn more.

Find Down the Garden Path on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @downthegardenpathpodcast.

Down the Garden Path Podcast

On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low-maintenance as possible.

In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide.

Get your copy today on Amazon.

Don't forget to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe! You can now catch the podcast on YouTube.

In this episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw speaks with author Susan Poizner about her latest book, Fruit Tree Pruning: The Science and Art of Cultivating Healthy Fruit Trees. 

About Susan Poizner

Susan Poizner is an award-winning author, journalist, urban orchardist, and fruit tree care educator based in Toronto, Canada. She trains arborists, master gardeners, and community and home orchardists in fruit tree maintenance through in-person workshops, online courses, and webinars. Her books include Grow Fruit Trees Fast, Growing Urban Orchards, Fruit Tree Grafting for Everyone and Fruit Tree Pruning.

Here are some of the topics discussed in this episode:

Fruit Tree Pruning and Care

• Pruning techniques for both mature and newly planted fruit trees
• How to approach neglected trees
• Susan mentions her previous book on fruit tree grafting and discusses whether homeowners should be encouraged to plant fruit trees, given the maintenance involved.
• Planting a fruit tree is a long-term commitment
• Avoid impulse purchases at garden centres
• Research disease-resistant varieties suitable for your climate and order from specialist fruit tree nurseries
• Start with younger, bare-root trees that can be shaped through pruning rather than older potted trees
• The importance of proper site selection, ensuring full sun and space for root growth
• Susan recommends annual mulching with compost to nourish the tree and advises against planting other plants directly under the tree
• Pruning timing: wait a year for transplanted potted trees, but prune bare-root trees immediately upon planting in spring

Fruit Tree Pruning Basics

• The importance of pruning fruit trees from the day they are planted
• The first three years of formative pruning are crucial for shaping the tree's structure
• Two main tree shapes: central leader (Christmas tree shape) and vase-shaped (goblet)
• Remove healthy branches to improve air circulation, sunlight penetration, and fruit quality
• Thin fruit to ensure better size and flavour
• For mature trees, focus on improving air circulation by removing congested branches, limiting removal to 20-25% of the living canopy per year
• Prune after blossom time to avoid disease spread and encourage the tree to invest energy in fruiting buds rather than new growth
• Fruit tree pruning is a DIY activity that anyone can learn, emphasizing that even arborists often lack specific training in fruit tree care
• Learn proper pruning techniques before hiring professionals
• Use the right tools, such as Japanese handsaws and pole pruners, and maintain them properly
• Conduct a soil test before planting fruit trees and use compost for regular feeding, with occasional foliar sprays like diluted blackstrap molasses to boost tree health
• Susan recommends a dormant spray of lime sulphur and dormant oil in early spring before bud break as a preventative measure against pests and diseases

Fruit Tree Education and Community

• Fruit trees are generous, providing food for generations with a single planting
• Susan shares her experience at community cherry harvesting events
• Pests and critters: With proper planning, there's usually enough fruit for both humans and animals
•  Susan mentions her books on fruit tree care, including titles on pruning, fast-growing techniques, urban orchards, and grafting, which can be found on her website orchardpeople.com or on Amazon.

Find Susan Poizner online at orchardpeople.com and Fruit Tree Pruning: The Science and Art of Cultivating Healthy Fruit Trees on Amazon. You can also check out her YouTube channel or listen to the Orchard People podcast.

Have a topic you'd like Joanne to discuss?

Email your questions and comments to [email protected], or connect via her website at down2earth.ca.

Are you a landscape or gardening expert?

We'd love to have you on the show! Click here to learn more.

Find Down the Garden Path on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @downthegardenpathpodcast.

Down the Garden Path Podcast

On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low-maintenance as possible.

In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide. Get your copy today on Amazon.

Don't forget to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe! You can now catch the podcast on YouTube.

This week, Joanne speaks with horticulturist and author Steven Biggs about his latest book, Grow Olives Where You Think You Can’t: How to Grow an Olive Tree in a Pot. 

About Steven Biggs

Steven was recognized by Garden Making magazine as one of the “green gang” making a difference in Canadian horticulture. His home-garden experiments span driveway straw-bale gardens, a rooftop kitchen garden, fruit plantings, and an edible-themed front yard. He's a horticulturist, award-winning broadcaster and author, and former horticulture instructor with George Brown and Durham Colleges in Ontario, Canada. His books include Grow Lemons Where You Think You Can't, Growing Figs in Cold Climates, Grow Figs Where You Think You Can't, and No-Guff Gardening, available at foodgardenlife.com.

Here are some of the topics discussed in this episode:

Growing Olives in Cold Climates

• Olive trees are well-suited for cold climates
• They can live for hundreds of years
• Olive trees are available at garden centres
• Steven recommends the self-pollinating variety, Frantoio, for home gardens
• Can be used for screening or framing garden spaces

Olive Tree Care in Containers

• Growing olive trees in pots: the importance of full sun, well-draining soil, and regular pruning for size control and fruit production
• You'll also need a simple all-purpose fertilizer and amending potting soil with garden loam and sand for added weight to prevent toppling
• Store potted olive trees in a cool, dark place over the winter to satisfy chill hours for flowering and fruiting
• Joanne noted that olive trees can be brought indoors as houseplants during the winter and taken outside in the spring after new growth has hardened off

Olive Tree Care, Propagation and Pruning

• Steven shared his experience growing olive trees, including a method used by a Vancouver Island grower who protects his trees with horticultural fleece and Christmas lights during cold weather
• Olive trees can be propagated through cuttings, air layering, or by taking advantage of suckers that naturally develop at the base of the tree
• Olive trees are relatively easy to care for, but common issues include overwatering in winter, leading to root rot and letting the soil dry out in summer
• Steven’s potting technique: root pruning every 3-4 years by lifting the tree from its 14-inch pot, trimming the roots, and replacing the soil
• Olive trees need bright light indoors and can be pruned to minimize alternate bearing, which causes heavy crops in one year followed by none the next

Find Steven Biggs online at www.foodgardenlife.com and Grow Olives Where You Think You Can't on Amazon.

Have a topic you'd like Joanne to discuss?

Email your questions and comments to [email protected], or connect via her website at down2earth.ca.

Are you a landscape or gardening expert?

We'd love to have you on the show! Click here to learn more.

Find Down the Garden Path on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @downthegardenpathpodcast.

Down the Garden Path Podcast

On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low-maintenance as possible.

In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide. Get your copy today on Amazon.

Don't forget to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe! You can now catch the podcast on YouTube.