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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.

Trowel Talk Newsletter February 15, 2025

 

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

• Downsizing ideas for senior gardeners;
• Bonsai: The art of miniaturized trees;
• Yes, Wasps are a gardening friend;
• Plant Books by Indigenous authors.

Our Master Gardeners answer the question about dealing with dead lawn under birdfeeders.

 

Learn where you can find Master Gardeners at Talks and Events in Eastern Ontario and all about the Master Gardener Lecture series with Friends of Central Experimental Farm.

Email us at lanarkmg@gmail.com to subscribe to the newsletter.

Photo by Tim Deslippe of Carpet Juniper bonzai plant.

Trowel Talk Newsletter January 15, 2025

 

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

• Orchid Care;
• Seed Catalogues have Arrived;
• Exploring New Brunswick Botanical Gardens;
• Changing the Way We See Bugs;
• Snowberry.

Our Master Gardeners answer the question:

    ? My cotoneaster shrubs look sparse. What can I do to make them look fuller?

If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter, send an email to lanarkmg@outlook.com.

Photo of Philippine Ground Orchid (Spathoglottis plicata) by Dale Odorizzi, taken at Foster Botanical Garden, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Trowel Talk Newsletter December 15, 2024

 

The Trowel Talk Newsletter for December 15th, 2024 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. This issue contains the following articles:

• Native Cranberries Bring the Festivities;
• Everything you Always Wanted to Know about Biocontrols;
• Celebrating the Season with Indoor and Outdoor Arrangements;
• Wild Clematis.

Our Master Gardeners answer the following questions:    

• Why are the flowers on my peonies decreasing in numbers?
• Is it too late to dig up some tender plants (dahlia and canna) from my garden?

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

Photo: by Dale Odorizzi Lanark County Master Gardeners enjoy a delicious pot luck luncheon and then create festive arrangements using plant material we brought in from our gardens. 

Trowel Talk Newsletter November 15, 2024

 

Trowel Talk Newsletter November 15, 2024 is now available. Brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County.

This issue contains the following articles:

• Sitting in the Garden Thinking Positive Thoughts;
• Everything you always wanted to know about bio controls;
• How to take great nature and garden photos;
• Spiderwort.

Our Master Gardeners answer the following question:

        ? What do I need to know to give a Japanese maple a chance of survival.

        ? My weeping larch is looking unhealthy, What could be the matter with it.

Photo of Black Swallowtail Butterfly caterpillar dining on my carrot tops. by Dale Odorizzi

If you would like to subscribe to Trowel Talk Newsletter, send an email to lanarkmg@gmail.com

Trowel Talk Survey

 

We are conducting a survey on the Trowel Talk Newsletter. Please click the link below and take a few minutes to complete the survey. Thanks in advance. From your Master Gardener Trowel Talk team in Ottawa and Lanark County.

Link to Survey.

Trowel Talk Newsletter October 15, 2024 revised

 

Trowel Talk Newsletter for October 15, 2024 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. This issue contains the following articles:

• To Wrap or Not to Wrap?
• Visiting Montreal Botanical Gardens.
• The Garden Edger.
• Sneezeweed.

Our Master Gardeners answer the questions:

    ? Should I be worried about the mushrooms growing on top of my indoor planters.

    ? My purple coneflowers started budding but never got any further. What was it?

Photo of Grass-Leaved Goldenrod by Dale Odorizzi--Mystery native plant that appeared this spring in my 9th Floor planter.

If you would like to receive the newsletter each month in your email inbox, send a message to lanarkmg@gmail.com

Trowel Talk Newsletter October 15, 2024

Trowel Talk Newsletter for October 15, 2024 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. This issue contains the following articles:

• To Wrap or Not to Wrap?
• Visiting Montreal Botanical Gardens.
• The Garden Edger.
• Sneezeweed.

Our Master Gardeners answer the questions:

    ? Should I be worried about the mushrooms growing on top of my indoor planters.

    ? My purple coneflowers started budding but never got any further. What was it?

Photo of Grass-Leaved Goldenrod by Dale Odorizzi--Mystery native plant that appeared this spring in my 9th Floor planter.

If you would like to receive the newsletter each month in your email inbox, send a message to lanarkmg@gmail.com

Trowel Talk Newsletter September 15, 2024

 

Trowel Talk Newsletter September 15, 2024 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. This issue contains the following articles:

• Crocus: Welcome Spring with Bursts of Colour
• Creating a No dig Border
• Best Trees for Aroma
• My Handy Root Knife
• Tall Meadow Rue.

Our Master Gardeners answer these questions:

    ? When would you use a hedge trimmer or shears on shrubs instead of pruners.

    ? What are the best spring bulbs for planting in the lawn.

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

Photo by Dale Odorizzi

Trowel Talk Newsletter August 15, 2024

 

Trowel Talk Newsletter August 15, 2024 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. This issue contains the following articles:

• Seizing the Moment with Herbs.
• Feed the Soil, not the Plant.
• Northern Bushes for Aroma.
• My Favorite Gardening Tool--Flathead Screwdriver.
• Wild Bergamot.

Our Master Gardeners answer the questions:

        ?    Can I use herbs after they flower.

        ?    How can I keep my hydrangeas standing  after a heavy rain.

Photo Mock Orange a northern bush that fills the air with a sweet smell by Dale Odorizzi.

If you wish to receive our newsletter each month in your inbox, send an email to lanarkmg@gmail.com