The Growing Season

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat!

Children of the wind, rejoice!

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland unearth the secrets of ornamental grasses on this week's episode of The Growing Season. 

All grasses can be linked back to something called "The Timothy Grass."   What's the history of said grass?   How does the lineage work?

What about grasses in shade?   They exist and THEY ARE WONDERFUL!

Matt tells a story about lilac's pollinating and by-law officers.  Not kidding.

Forest grass, festuca, Red Baron grass, ribbon grass, zebra grass and sedges all come into focus.

Jack explains how to transplant your potted grasses and keep them for the winter to include in your gardening adventures next season.

Why are grasses so prominent in modern landscapes?

How do you prune ornamental grasses?  Lynne explains.

Tune in.

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You’d be amazed at how many horticultural organisms have cancer fighting elements built in.

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland base this week’s episode of The Growing Season on Jack’s recovery from cancer.

Jack details his stay at the Princess Margaret Cancer Lodge and how The Growing Season can get involved in the gardens there.

Black Walnut, maple, pines are just some of the plants that are discussed.

BUT!  Insects. Insects come into focus. Ants are being used to “sniff out” cancer tumours. Studies are being conducted but the early results are interesting.

Wasps and dogs are also known to be used to fight cancer.

Thyme can be used for many an application but it’s effect on cancer is discussed.  How about maple syrup. Good for pancakes AND for cancer.

Jack licks toads or at least Matt imagines he should.

Lynne details a cancer treatment using almonds that was prominent decades ago.

Tune in.

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So they're not as much work as everyone says!

ROSES.  Years ago this word struck fear into the hearts of many a gardener.  Roses, renown for their beautiful blooms and fragrance BUT along with that comes disease, fungus and insects. 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland cautiously guide this week's episode of The Growing Season into the world of roses. 

Matt rants - which is becoming commonplace. 

The correlation between pollinators and roses starts the show. 

The history of the rose, the cultivation methods and the various sub-groups of these lovely plants are highlighted. 

The latest "tech" in roses is discussed.  What are the newest varieties on the market and how do they differ from the classic varietals?

Are there roses geared for ultra cold climates?   

Reblooming, ever-blooming and pruning of roses is heavily discussed.

Tune in.

Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE. 

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat!

"Splish splash I was taking a bath...."

One of the most maintenance heavy features for your garden takes centre stage on this week's episode of The Growing Season. 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland uncover the ins and outs of installing a water feature.

Matt discusses why he moved away from installing the outdoor water holes and what drove him to get back into it. 

Has the technology changed since he was away?   What is new and exciting?

Leaking used to be a real issue but there have been developments in the tech to remedy that situation.   

How do you make the waterfall look "natural?"   What location on your property serves the feature best?

The McFarlands detail the construction of their new waterfall and how that dovetails into builds brought to you by The Growing Season.

Tune in.

Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.

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“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat!

The GTA has had record levels of rainfall over the last 6-8 weeks. What does that mean for gardeners.

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland open this week’s episode of The Growing Season with a rant from Matt.

Matt is offended!

Fear does all this rain mean for the growth of your plant material outside of rapid growth?

Disease and fungus can be exacerbated by rain. What should you look out for when it comes to moisture and disease.

The trio chat about pruning at this time of year.

“Windowing” is discussed and Matt explains why it’s necessary. Amending with much isn’t essential and the McFarlands explain why.

Tune in.

Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE. 

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat!

LLLLLEEEETTSS GET READY TO RRRRRUUUUUMMMMBBBBLLLLEEE!

In what will be called the greatest battle horticulture has ever seen The Growing Season has ringside seats in the fight between annuals and perennials.

Which will come out victorious? 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland weigh in on the debate on this week's show? 

Aren't annuals more financially feasible?   Why choose perennials? 

What is an annual?   Is a Butterfly Bush an annual?  For The Growing Season it kinda is! Dahlias - are they annuals? Kinda.

The McFarland's chat about how to pick an annual at the nursery.  What is the most popular annual for 2024?

AND THEN PERENNIALS!  Tickseed, Blanket Flower, Black Eyed Susie, Helenium, Echinacea, Ligularia, Asters and more are the plants that feature in this week's show.

An update on Jack's health is broadcasted. 

Tune in.

Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE. 

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat!

Follow my lead!   Green is all you need. 

In some cases, the statement above is correct.  Horticulturally, green is used to keep your plant pals growing strong. 

But what about colour?   Is it possible to have all that green hold hands with some prolonged colour over the course of the spring, summer and  fall?

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland talk about long bloomers on this week's episode of The Growing Season.

What is a long bloomer?   How long is long in a bloomer?  The McFarland's reveal a little about how they design with prolonged flowerers.

Monarda, Roses, Goldenrod, Japanese Kerria, hostas, Coreopsis, Rozanne Geranium, Phlox, Lilac and the new Bloomerang Lilac come into focus.

Is the reblooming weigela?   Yup!   Its really cool!

Tune in.

Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.

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“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat!

Easy now!   There's no reason to get upset.

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into trees that tear tirelessly.  They WEEP!    You get it?

The various organisms that are pendulous in nature become the focus of this week's episode of The Growing Season. 

"Pleaching" is discussed but Matt has no idea what it is.

Weeping beech, weeping willow, weeping redbud, weeping Japanese maple and the HOLY GRAIL of weepers - The Camperdown Elm are just some of focus.

This is flowering cherry season!   Many cherry trees weep so why not chat about it?

CRABAPPLES!   Friend or foe?

A new variety of Goldenrod is fawned over.

Tune in.

Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE. 

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat!

Oh-oh-ah-ah-oh! Oh-oh-ahhhh-oh!

So what the heck are The McFarland’s using on landscape designs in 2024?

The Growing Season follows Matt into his annual practice of wiping the slate clean and starting over with his choices of plants.

Yucca is back on the menu!  For over 20 years the McFarland’s refused to use a yucca on a design. They explain why.

Phlox!  The science of hybridizing plants is discussed. Why the phlox are there sooo many new varieties of phlox!?

A new variety of pyramidal/pencil birch, a classic viburnum returns and roses, roses roses galore are touched on.

Matt shied away from roses for years and he explains why he’s rekindled his relationship with them.

Why is a serviceberry called a serviceberry?  You’ll be surprised.

Hydrangeas are almost discussed. Hehehehe. You’ll find out why.

Cherry Truffle sedum is not a dessert but it’s a sedum as sweet as a dessert!  The trio discuss. 

Tune in.

Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE. 

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat!

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland steer this week's episode of The Growing Season into all things Yellow.

The Growing Season's Colour Series continues with a colour that tends to be a divisive topic amongst gardeners.

Are you a fan of the colour yellow?   Do you dislike it?   If so, why?

Many of the heavy hitters in a yellow variety feature:  Dandelions, witch hazel, forsythia, daylily, tickseed, black eyed susie.

Matt detests forsythia and he explains why.

The trio discuss the loveliness of Japanese Kerria.  IT IS THE BEST.

Yellow hostas are a subject of discussion to great effect.

Matt plays "imagine, if you will" with Jack.  They step back in the mid 1980's. 

Tune in.

Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.