How to Trim a Hedge

About different tools for different outcomes, heat waves, and how to add some silence into your gardening. This past weekend in Grimsby, the catalpas have been in bloom. In the long series of spring flowers, trees may be the most majestic, and at the end of the spring season, after the lilacs, the horse chestnuts, […]

When to Prune

About the timing of pruning, seasonal rhythms and long term thinking   It’s been a fragrant past couple of weeks in Grimsby. A succession of fragrant shrubs have been in bloom, from Korean spice viburnum to lilac to the lovely dwarf Korean lilac. These early blooming shrubs are now approaching the last of their blooms. […]

Plant Resurrection

About seasonal planters, re-potting and life after death. Hot temperatures have rolled into Grimsby, along with the frequent downpours we’ve been getting. Even though the solstice is still a few days away, summer is firmly here. It’s a great time to switch over, if you haven’t already, your spring planters for summer ones. These warm […]

When to Remove a Shrub

About decision processes, empty spaces and seeing what’s underground. Last week’s post was about shrub transplanting. This week, I found myself thinking about the opposite movement. Earlier this week, or rather last week, there was a large scale lavender removal. The lavenders had been left to overgrow and the inner portions of the shrubs had […]

How to Transplant a Shrub

About relocation, preparation, and sensing what’s really happening underground.   Last weekend, Grimsby got a thorough soak. Saturday, it rained incessantly, and even though we’re now getting temperatures in the 20’s, the nights are still relatively cool. This all means it’s a pretty good time to transplant shrubs. Timing shrub transplanting with rain events and […]

On Standing Still

About underlying structure, stability and body sustainability At this point in May, around the May long weekend, a lot of the heavier garden work begins. Moving planters, shifting pots, lifting and carrying things that have sat all winter. Earlier this week, I was preparing some of the larger planters around the garden for the season […]

Under the Blooming Spring Canopy

About spring flowering trees, energy and canons   It has been a spectacular week in Grimsby gardens. After a few weeks of bulbs emerging and shrubs blossoming, the trees are now in bloom. Cherries, pears, serviceberries, magnolias, the air pink and white and fragrant. Underneath that canopy, I’ve been tending to some more garden tidying. […]

Yoga For Gardeners

About habitual tension, pruning roses, and the value of a neutral state.   This week in Grimsby, the forsythias are still in bloom. It’s been another week of pruning shrubs,  especially roses. Over the last two weeks, I’ve been working on a large bed of carpet roses, which have matured over the past couple of […]

Pruning Hydrangeas

About spring pruning, hydrangeas and taking a step back Early spring, before woody plants leaf out, is a time for preparatory garden work. Pruning woody shrubs, like hydrangeas, can seem daunting at first. Before beginning anything, take a step back and have a look. What is the shrub you’re looking to prune? With your full […]