The Growing Season

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat!

That’s a TON of material. EXACTLY! 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss rockeries and the plants that thrive in them on this week’s episode of The Growing Season. 

Rock gardens, moss and all manner of heavy material come into focus. 

The show starts off with a jobsite story. 

Where is this rock coming from? Are we tearing apart the Canadian Shield to acquire this? 

Is everything in Canada limestone? 

Matt talks about his family’s trip to Point Pelee. 

Matt dives into an Egyptian rabbit hole. 

A rock garden will alter your plant’s final size. A rockery will provide the soil with a rudimentary fertilizer. 

The difference between a rock garden and a rock wall is explored. 

Matt and Jack butt heads. 

The scale of your rock is important. Softening the look of the rock is important. 

There are so many wonderful plants that LOVE a rock garden environment. 

Bonsai and rock gardens utilize similar environments. 

The trio gush about evergreens. 

They also gush about perennial geranium. 

Tune in.

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So you wanna get finicky? 

Let’s talk about “Rose Stuff..” - Jack McFarland. 

This week, the McFarlands guide The Growing Season into English Rose Gardens. 

How long have roses been on earth? 

Rose hips contain 5X more vitamin C than oranges. 

Roses and Ecuador.  You won’t believe the connection. 

Matt explains why he shied away from roses in years past. He also reveals why he’s changed his tune. 

Red leafed roses are tougher than green leaf varieties. Why? 

The Mr. Lincoln rose is the most well known. Why? 

Roses love a soil that is fluffy with life and full of soil engineers. 

Matt outlines the rules of the rose. 

Do not plant nasturtium around roses. You won’t believe why. 

Mulch around roses increases viability because it keeps the roots cool and moist  

Imagine if you will features David Austin, roses and peonies. 

WHO IS DAVID AUSTIN?

Jack GUSHES about campfire roses. 

Trellises and arbours for climbing roses round the show out. 

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!

Trowels at the ready!  Let’s annualize the situation. 

That’s right! It’s annual season on this week’s episode of The Growing Season. 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland chat all things annual and the planting of your short term friends. 

Do annuals attract pollinators? You won’t believe it. 

The McFarlands have planted and designed millions of annual flowers. That’s not an exaggeration. 

Matt tells a story about seeding portulaca in a commercial seed setting. 

When is it safe to plant annuals?  What does the soil temperature need to be? 

“If I don’t get to the nursery right now the annuals will be picked over…” Not true. 

A dozen geraniums. Matt tells a story. 

A newspaper article becomes a topic of conversation. 

Milwaukee Tools don’t make trowels but they make AWESOME tool boxes. 

How do you pick the best possible annuals at the nursery?

The trio highlight the proper care for hanging annual baskets. It’s more involved than you’d think. 

Thrilled, fillers and spillers. The McFarlands design an annual planter on-air. 

The Growing Season crew don’t use Impatiens anymore. They explain why. 

When should you fertilize your annuals? 

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!

It’s the time of the year when one of the most lovely scents hangs in the air. 

It’s Lilac time!  

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss one of the most fragrant horticultural blooms, the Lilac, on this week’s episode of The Growing Season. 

Matt used to shy away from using Lilacs. Not so much these days and he explains why. 

Jack kicks off the show with a story about a song. 

Lilacs came all the way from Europe. Matt has a realization. 

Subdivision lilacs vs farm lilacs are discussed. 

Claus the hybridizer and his exploits are used as a way to describe the vegetative reproduction of lilacs. 

Imagine if you will features phlox and lilacs. 

How do you prune your Lilac?  Is it different than other plant materials? 

Canadian Lilac hybridizers? YUP!  Let’s discuss. 

How do you know if something should be in full sun?  Lynne assists. 

“A good, hard, stressful prune…” What is that? 

Matt discusses a fantastic client and their newly designed landscape. 

Is the ‘Sensation Lilac’ real? You have to see it to believe it. 

The trio design a scented garden on the fly. 

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!

Just in time for the May long weekend, The Growing Season focuses on The Colours Of Spring.  

THINGS ARE BLOOMING! 

Crabapples, Magnolias, Redbud, Bleeding Heart, Quince, Iris are just some of the plant materials that are in full-tilt boogey bloom at this time of the year.

Matt rants about Mothers Day and why he feels it takes centre stage over Father's Day. 

Orchids are discussed as a response to Matt's Mothers Day dealings.

Tepid water and tarantulas. 

A $15,000 Japanese Maple becomes a topic of debate. 

Dandelion talk and how they feed the bees is a focus.  Being patient with your climbing hydrangea is advised. 

Jack and Matt discuss pruning of Espaliers.

The McFarland Query System informs The McFarlands about Trilliums. 

A story about selling seeds from endangered species is told. 

Problems with Serviceberries are highlighted. 

The Holy Grails of Ornamentals are counted down.

Why do they call bearded iris bearded?   Lynne reveals the answer. 

The rudimentary prozac in soil is a reason to get your hands dirty.  Play in the garden, get dirty and feel better!

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!

Ornaments!?  Wait!   Are we talking about Christmas Trees?

Nope.   Its not that time of year.  

The Growing Season places ornamental trees front and centre this week. 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into the smaller cousins of the larger specimens that you're used to seeing.

What is an ornamental?  The trio discuss. 

Many times, new hybrids of plants are the result of a genetic mutation. 

Autumn Moon Japanese Maple becomes a topic of interest. How are the Japanese Maples related to the big ones? 

KINDRED SPIRIT OAK!   WOWZA. 

Matt discusses privacy screens and plants becoming a request for many clients in 2025.

How to address blooms in front of windows?  Jack and Matt use a recent design as an example of their approach. 

Flowering Dogwoods are a reason for applause.

On Tips For Success Matt outlines how to plant a tree.  He provides some industry insight into how to plant a tree to increase its chances of survival. 

Feeding tubes and how to incorporate them into your tree planting is 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!

The McFarlands cap off their “Celebrating Spring 2025 series” the same way they always do - discussing Landscape Design.

The men of The Growing Season dish on their exploits at the drafting table.

Matt apologizes to a listener and tells an emotional story. 

The McFarlands recount winter 2025.

Lynne outlines the importance of knowing your hardiness zone. 

What happens if you plant out of zone?

Are you able to plant under a large tree? How?

Jack discusses modern aspects of landscape design.

Flowering cherries…Matt tells a story.

Matt provides homeowners with valuable info regarding hiring a landscape contractor.

Matt talks about appeasing the neighbours of clients.

A series of questions are asked on a landscape consult. The McFarlands reveal them.

The trio design a “cutting garden” in real time.

Lynne discusses “easements.”

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!

Let's prune some edibles!

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland continue their celebration of spring with a discussion on daffodils and their link to cancer fundraising.

Matt rages against the forcing of bulbs.  

How long does an apple tree live?  Is there a legendarily old apple tree? 

The McFarland's dive into the science behind grafting and link it to modern day horticultural wonder in your flower beds.  

Why graft?  What's the reason? 

Grafting is akin to Frankenstein’s Monster. 

Suckers, waterspouts and many other interesting words are used.  Can you graft a honey crisp to a Macintosh apple?  The trio discuss. 

You can only take 10% - 20% of the trees overall leaf cover in a prune.   Jack discusses how to do it. 

Root pruning is explained.  It’s a tightrope. 

Covering up the exposed rootsystem’s of large deciduous trees is dissected. How much coverage is too much?

A “spur” on a fruit tree is explained.

Dormant oil spray and how to use it comes into focus. What is a lapet?

Matt dishes a pro tip on applying dormant oil.

The “Tim Burton” shrub is 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!

Jurassic Park and horticulture meet in the middle!  

The McFarland’s continue to celebrate spring by highlighting a significant scientific achievement. 

How can this achievement be applied to horticulture? Lumber? Medicine? 

Jack, Lynne and Matt find answers to these questions on this week’s episode of The Growing Season. 

Increasing the lifespan of your evergreen uprights comes into direct focus. 

The pruning of your large horticultural organisms and flowering shrubs is the sandbox the McFarlands find themselves in. 

Form and function pruning is discussed. 

Matt hates Forsythia. HATES. He discusses why. 

Squirrel relocation is a story to behold. 

Roses and their relationship with sun and space is outlined. 

Airflow, sunlight and rain penetration…

Centre pruning is the answer to many of your rose issues. 

Pyramids and triangles become an argument. 

How do upright evergreens keep their conical shape. Matt explains. 

Easter and plants. The McFarlands 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!

Its finally here!

Cole the cat has the ZOOMIES!   What does that mean?  SPRING FEVER. 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland celebrate the opening the outdoor horticultural season on this week's episode of The Growing Season.

Matt tells a story about workbooks, shoes and footwear galore.

Stiletto's and secateurs - typical of The McFarlands. 

Should you be out and about in your flower beds at this time of the year?  URGENT, URGENT, URGENT!!!  Take your foot off the gas!

Clay soil and the GTA.   Lets talk about the relationship. 

Lining your driveway with low landscape walls and how snow ploughs effect your walls is chatted about. 

Matt shouts out a listener. Why do skunks and racoons tear up your lawn?

Japanese Beetles and their bedazzled exterior coupled with their destructive nature is discussed. 

What is snow mould? 

The McFarland Query System drops by for an insult.

Why do they call "Crabgrass" crabgrass?

Matt hates spring flowering bulbs.  He explains why.  He also highlights a number of wonderful flowering shrubs that flower very early in the year.

What do Canada geese lay eggs in parking lots?

The guys argue about fertilizer and compost.  What a bunch of doofuses.

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.