Trowel Talk Newsletter September 15, 2026

Trowel Talk Newsletter, September 15, 2026 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. 

This issue contains the following articles: 

•  Ecological and Aesthetic Goals for My Garden;
•  How to Plant a Tree 
•  The Joy of Alliums 

 Our Master Gardeners answer the questions: 

    ? How can prevent powdery mildew on my peonies? 

    ? Are there better choices for planting trees that withstand storns without breaking or uprooting?

   If you would like to subscribe to the Trowel Talk Newsletter email lanarkmg@gmail.com 

  Photo by Irene Tobis of her yard in Carleton Place.

Trowel Talk Newsletter August 15, 2026

  

Trowel Talk Newsletter August 15, 2026 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. This issue contains:

• Garlic--Grow Your Own.
• Gardening on the Vertical. 
• Where you can find Master Gardeners.

Our Master Gardeners answer the questions:

• Why did some of my Ninebark flower heads not flower?
• Can I harvest Rhubarb in the summer?

To subscribe to the newsletter, send an email to lanarkmg@gmail.com.

Photo of Virginia Bower Clematis (Native to Ontario) taken by Lanark County Master Gardener, Deb Crosby. The climbing vine covers the side of her garage. Great attractor for bees and other pollinators!

Trowel Talk Newsletter June 15, 2026

 

Trowel Talk Newsletter June 15, 2026 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County.

This issue contains the following articles:

• Zinnias Like it Hot. 
• How to Grow Vegetables in Containers.
• Garden Skippers and their Host Plants.

Our Master Gardeners answer the question:

        ? How do I ger rid of moss in my lawn and garden

        ? Do you have suggestions for creating a Japanese-inspired garden.

If you would like to receive your newsletter directly in your inbox email lanarkmg@gmail.com

Photo of tomato plants growing on a windy balcony by Dale Odorizzi

Trowel Talk Newsletter May 15, 2026

 

Trowel Talk Newsletter May 15, 2026 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County.

This issue contains the following articles:

  - Warm-loving Vegetables;

  -   Integrated Pest Management;

   -  Native Shrubs: Canadian Serviceberry.

Our Master Gardeners answer the questions:

    ? What is the best and simplest kind of water system

    ? I want to move my daffodil bulbs growing in my lawn. Can I dig them now.

If you would like to subscribe to Trowel Talk email us at lanarkmg@gmail.com

Photo of a young Serviceberry by Dale Odorizzi

Trowel Talk Newsletter April 15, 2026

 Trowel Talk Newsletter April 15, 2026 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County.

This month's newsletter contains the following articles:

• Cold-Hardy Vegetables for Zone 5;
• Highbush Cranberry--Viburnum trilobum;
• Book Review: Entangled Life.

Our Master Gardeners answer the questions:

    ? How can I improve a really tough spot in my garden.

    ? What ground covers are good for replacing a lawn.

If you would like Trowel Talk delivered to your in box each month, contact lanarkmg@gmail.com.

Photo "Its spring! or is it?" by Lanark Master Gardener Tim Deslippe. Helleborus niger Christmas Rose.

Trowel Talk Newsletter March 15, 2026

 Trowel Talk Newsletter March 15, 2026 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County.  This issue contains the following: 

• Creating a Japanese-inspired garden.
• Japanese Beetles.
• New Jersey Tea--Ceanothus americanus.
• Book Review--The Hidden Life of Trees
• Find us.

Our Master Gardeners answer the questions:

• Can I make multiple Sweet Potato slips from 1 tuber?
• Will luffa sponge gourds grow here in Zone 5?

Come to visit our Master Gardeners at lectures or Farmers Markets across Ottawa and Lanark County.

If you would like to subscribe to Trowel Talk see the link at the top of Page 1 of the newsletter or email us at lanarkmg@gmail. com

Photo by Dale Odorizzi. New Jersey Tea is not only beautiful in the spring, its red leaves add beauty to the September landscapre.

Trowel Talk Newsletter February 15, 2016

 Trowel Talk Newsletter February 15, 2026 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. This issue contains the following:

• Five Things I Wish I'd Been Told as a Beginner Gardener.
• Native Shrubs: Spicebush--Lindera benzoin.
• Where to Find Us.

Our Master Gardeners answer these questions:

• Does Ivy have a lifespan?
• I pruned my miniature fuchsia plant but it hasn't bloomed since. Can you tell me what I did wrong.

If you would like to receive the newsletter each month, email us at lanarkmg@gmail.com

Photo by Dale Odorizzi Black Eyed Susans are a wonderful Native plant much loved by birds and bees. Note mulch between the Black Eyed Susans an Purple Coneflowers.

Trowel Talk Newsletter January 15, 2026

 

Trowel Talk Newsletter January 15, 2026 is now available brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County.

This month's issue contains the following articles:

• Another Chance for Viburnums.
• Pesticide Usage in Ontario.
• Winterberry--Ilex verticillata.

Our Master Gardeners answer a question about growing aloe vera.

If you would like to receive our newsletter in our inbox, email us at lanarkmg@gmail.com

Photo by Dale Odorizzi of Arrowwood in bloom. a couple of months later, the blooms changed to small blue berries  that were not tasty to a human but much loved by birds. One day there were at least 15 species of birds on the 3 shrubs.

Trowel Talk Newsletter December 15, 2025

 

Trowel Talk Newsletter December 15, 2025 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County.

This issue contains the following articles:

• Four Season Gardening in my Greenhouse.
• A Garden Ecosystem for All.
• Button Bush--—Cephalanthus occidentalis.
• Book Review: The Comfort of Crows.
• Nettles--Urtica spp.

Our Master Gardeners answer these questions:

    ? What are these brown bumps on my dogwood.

    ? My button bush got uprooted. What should I do?

If you would like to receive our newsletter directly, email me at lanarkmg@gmail.com

Photo of a Jack in the Pulpit poking through its warm blanket of leaves, by Dale Odorizzi

Merry Christmas to you all and I hope you have a wonderful 2026!

Test Links

 

Christmas Tree--Real or Fake Which one do you choose? Our friend the beaver has made his choice.

Trowel Talk Newsletter November 15, 2025

 

Trowel Talk Newsletter November 15, 2025 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County.

This issue contains the following articles:

• Building a Greenhouse;
• The Not so Rare Norfolk Island Pine;
• More about Food Preservation;
• Canada Elderberry--Sambucus canadensis;
• Detritivores: Tiny Perfect Recyclers.

Our Master Gardeners answer the questions:

• What are your suggestions for controlling or eradicating Crab Grass?
• What is wrong with my gladioli?

If you would like to receive Trowel Talk in your inbox send a request to lanarkmg@gmail.com.

Photo of Elderberry Fruit by Heather Clemenson, Master Gardener of Ottawa Carleton

 

Trowel Talk Newsletter October 15, 2025 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. This issue contains:

• Preserving Tomatoes.
• The Wonderful World of Flies.
• American Hazelnut.
• Birch - The Tree of Life
• Where to find us.

Our Master Gardeners answer the questions:

    ? My carrots have a netting of tiny roots. The main root is often forked and woody.

    ? How do I overwinter a fig tree.

If you would like to subscribe to Trowel Talk, email me at lanarkmg@gmail.com

Photo by Dale Odorizzi, Lanark County Master Gardeners.

Trowel Talk Newsletter September 15, 2025

 Trowel Talk Newsletter for September 15, 2025 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County.

This issue contains the following articles:

• Stinzenplanten: A European Tradition Springing Up Across Ontario.
• Identifying Birds in the Garden.
• Crickets, Songsters of Summer.
• Witch Hazel.

Our Master Gardeners answer the following questions:

• My Oregano has small round dark spots. How can I stop it?
• My neighbours boxwood shrubs are dying back. How can I protect my own boxwoods?

If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter, contact lanarkmg@gmail.com

Photo by Kim Allen (my brother) of Juvenile Cardinal turning red.

Trowel Talk Newsletter August 15, 2025

 Trowel Talk Newsletter August 15, 2025 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County.

This issue contains the following articles:

• Wildscaping: Wild Planting in a Strong Design.
• More than Just Pretty Native Plants in Pots.
• Spidey Sensing in the Garden!
• Maple Tree in Indigenous Culture.

Our Master Gardeners answer the questions:

• After producing strawberries, my plants are putting out runners. Should I be keeping them to develop into new plants or cutting them off?
• When is the best time to move my Oriental Lilies?

To subscribe to the newsletter, Visit www.mgottawa.ca

Photo by Dale Odorizzi Goldenrod Crab Spider on Arrowwood shrub.

Trowel Talk Newsletter July 15, 2025

 Trowel Talk Newsletter for July 15, 2025 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. In this month's issue, we discuss:

• Growing Vegetables in Small Spaces;
• Showing Moths Love Too;
• Cattails and Indigenous Wisdom.

Our Master Gardeners answer the questions:

        ? What is wrong with my Cherry tree;

        ? Why are my Oriental Lilies turning yellow.

If you would like to subscribe to our Newsletter visit www.mgottawa.ca

Photo of Io Moth Caterpillar by Dale Odorizzi. Photo taken in Florida but Moth is native to Ontario.

Trowel Tak Newsletter June 15, 2025

 Trowel Talk Newsletter June 15, 2025 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County.

This issue contains the following articles:

• Companion Planting;
• Aphids, Food Chain Essential;
• I am not Sage.
  

Our Master Gardeners answer the questions:

• How do I make spent spring bulb foliage less of an eyesore?
• Is there a way to amend clay soil and make it better for gardening?

If you would like to receive the newsletter in your email, visit www.mgottawa.ca.

Photo of Aphids on Heliopsis. A little creepy close up but does the plant little harm. by Dale Odorizzi

Trowel Talk Newsletter May 15, 2025

 

Trowel Talk Newsletter May 15,2025 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County.  This issue covers the following topics:

• Don't Diss That Radish
• A Garden to Welcome Beneficial Insects;
• Three Sisters Gardening.

Our Master Gardeners answer the questions:

        ? How can I avoid introducing Jumping Worms to my Garden when planting Trees;

        ? How can I move a yucca.

Check the back pages to see where to find us over the next month.

To subscribe to the newsletter, visit www.mgottawa,ca

Photo of Dragonfly by Dale Odorizzi

Trowel Talk Newsletter April 15, 2025

 Trowel Talk Newsletter April 15, 2025 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. This issue contains the following articles:

• High Performance, Low Maintenance Plants.
• Gardening with Peat Moss--Why an Issue?
• Gardening Beetles can be Fab!
• What is Traditional Tobacco?
• Book Review: The Seed Detective.

Our Master Gardeners answer the questions:

• Can I get tomatoes from seeds sprouting inside a tomato?
•  How can I keep rabbits out of my garden? 

If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter, email lanarkmg@gmail.com

Photo by Dale Odorizzi, Lanark County Master Gardeners of garden full of low maintenance, high performing plants.

Trowel Talk Newsletter March 15, 2025

 

Trowel Talk Newsletter March 15, 2025 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. This issue contains the following:

• My Foray into Hydroponics;
• Ants: Tiny Creatures with a Giant Impact;
• The Indigenous Gardens at the University of Ottawa..

Our Master Gardeners answer the questions:

        ? What is wrong with my kalanchoe;

        ? How can I bring my potentilla shrub under control.

Where can you find our talks, events and clinics over the next month.

To receive the newsletter in your email inbox, contact us at lanarkmg@gmail.com

Photo by Dale Odorizzi.

When do I plant Seeds and Transplants?

 When do I plant seeds and transplants into my garden?

I had a recent question about an article I wrote some time ago and thought it an appropriate time to share start dates for starting seeds, inside and out and also when to plant out your seedlings.

This is a bonus article. Trowel Talk will be published on the 15th of the month as usual.

Photo by Helen Halpenny--tray of Marigold seedlings.