Santa Claus is coming to town!

In the penultimate episode of The Growing Season for 2025, Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss the some of your horticultural holiday favourites.

Could you start a holiday themed decking company?  Famous Christmas music and moves kick the show off. Bing Crosby becomes a topic of discussion. 

"All I want for Christmas," Mariah Carey's ubiquitous holiday hit has sold some copies.  LIKE A LOT OF COPIES. 

Christmas Vacation, It's A Wonderful Life, Home Alone and Miracle on 34th Street are all talking points. 

Frakincense and myrrh have a horticultural history.  

50,000 trees are cut down, yearly, to make wrapping paper.  How can we reduce that number? 

Potted rosemary as a small, indoor, Christmas tree is a wonderful option.  Lynne discusses "flocking" of Christmas Trees. 

A word slip becomes a moment of hilarity.  The surgeon general stops by for some holiday advice. 

The poinsettia and all its vibrant colours become a focus.   Matt tells a story about changing their leaf colour in a commercial setting.  How do you choose the perfect poinsettia? 

Christmas cactus are a short day plant.  WHAT?  

Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that likes to grow on other trees.  It takes all the water and nutrition from its host.  How did it become the focus of kissing? 

Tune in.

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You knew it was coming! 

Evergreens and Christmas Trees draw the spotlight on this week's episode of The Growing Season. 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland highlight THE focal point of the Christmas Season for those of us that lean into horticultural interests. 

What came first - evergreens or deciduous plants?  You'll be surprised to know. 

Do real Christmas trees provide significant income to those selling them at this time of year? 

The pros and cons of real and artificial Christmas Trees are discussed.  Cancer, oxygen and the health benefits of either choice become a focus. 

Do Christmas Trees need a specific soil to thrive during their growing process? 

PREDATOR!   Bring the intergalactic space hunters. 

Jack McFarland used to own a tree farm.  He tells of his adventures. 

Allergies and real Christmas trees - is there a correlation? Are allergy sufferers affected by Christmases most prominent horticultural element? 

Matt outlines how to prep your real Christmas tree for decorating.  The youngest host sold Christmas trees for years and he recounts the finer points of these memories. 

The heaviest shedders all the way up to the least shedders cap the show off. 

What is done with the real Christmas tree after New Years.  You'll find out...

Tune in.

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Santa Claus is coming to town!

That's right, here we go.  Christmas 2025 on The Growing Season.  

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland are pleased to add a new entry to their annual holiday fare.  "Planted For Christmas" features 54 minutes of what you can plant in your horticultural space to harvest for Christmas decorations. 

Christmas light foibles kick the show off. Matt discusses how to plan ahead for your holiday decorating during the design phase of your landscape. Conduits and spruce are some highlights. 

Dogwoods and their family members feature prominently on Growing Season landscape designs.  Why!?  WINTER COLOUR.  Matt explains how he plans for 12 month colour in your flower beds.

The McFarlands highlight the plant materials that can be used to decorate for the holidays.

Cedars, spruce and birch are also favourites when decorating for the holidays.  Have you ever heard of a Paperbark Maple?  They are fantastic!

PINES AND CONES!   Ohhh baby!   Perfect for Christmas decorations. 

What about pruning at this time of year.  Is it recommended?  The McFarlands discuss. 

Scotch Pine talk features for the first time this season.  It won't be the last. 

What pine produces the smallest cones in the pine family?   You'd be surprised to learn. 

What if you don't have any of the heavy hitters on your property?   Can you use what you have to decorate?   Ahhhh yes!   We have answers for you. 

Winterberry, burning bush and ivory silk lilac come into focus. How do you store cuttings from your plants? 

Tune in.

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Brrrrr.  That's cold! 

Its upon us.  The rain has turned white and remains on the ground. 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss how humans navigate winter on this episode of The Growing Season.  

Matt discusses his love of The Weather Network and snow days.   Lynne delivers the bad news about this winter's forecast. 

Brine, road salt and the methods used to de-ice roads are highlighted.  "Beet-brine" is the last tech on the scene.  You read that correctly. 

The McFarland Query System returns to insult The McFarlands.  How to properly apply de-icer to your walkways becomes a discussion point. 

Jack tells a story about breaking his shoulder on a walk around the block. 

Snow ploughs and heart attacks...  There's a correlation. 

"Humans have lost the basic survival skills necessary to get them through the winter..." - Jack McFarland. 

Do you remember the show "Survivor Man?" 

A spruce tree can provide some warmth in the winter.  The McFarlands explain how. 

Waterproof matches and where to get them are discussed. 

If you fall through pond ice, Jack outlines the steps needed to survive. 

Tune in.

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Humans aren't the only ones that have to adapt to a colder climate during the winter months. 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland track the migration patterns of Canada geese.  Why do they fly south for the winter.  "Whiffing" is a landing maneuver used by geese.  What is it used for? 

Matt talks about his love of the film "Predator: Badlands." Go and see it. 

Down jackets worn by birds in the winter is a real thing.  Birds have remarkable winter adaptations. 

Pets and winter boots is a hilarious sight to behold.  It was a disaster for The McFarlands. 

Road salt and how it effects birds his highlighted. 

Deer LOVE salt.  Why?  The trio discuss these creatures adoration for sodium. Matt doesn't recommend using salt on your walkway.  What should you use instead? 

Cold water has a higher degree of oxygen than warmer water.  ITS THE TRUTH!

Marathon "runters" is good for a laugh.

Coyotes and their winter homes become a focus.  Butterflies and their migration is also discussed. 

Tune in.

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More snoozy for your flower beds! 

BedTime continues on The Growing Season and The McFarlands jump in with aplomb. 

Can you plant trees at this time of the year?  Jack McFarland explains why this is a GREAT time to plant large deciduous organisms.  

Matt tells a red maple story that he is about to plant for a longtime client.  Speaking of trees, Matt explains the measures he takes when planting large trees at this time of year.  There are some slight differences between planting now and other times of the year.

Defense against deer is discussed.  High fences, tree guards and wraps are discussed as possible methods to deter deer.  HUMAN HAIR!   Its a thing! 

Rebounding Japanese Maples triggers a talk about Matt applying "Winter Sweaters" on trees and shrubs.

Coffee grounds and pH of your soil AND coffee grounds and their ability to deter deer and rodents are discussed.

Coyote urine and the farmers that procure such a material dials up the hilarity.  Save you marigold debris for the winter. 

COYOTE MILKERS AND AWARDS!

How does one bring their tropical plants into the house, safely, at this time of the year.  Its a process and The McFarlands explain. 

Why do birds change their colours for the winter? Mouldy birdseed is a problem.  

Matt discusses how to prep your water features for the winter. How about irrigation?  How do you prep irrigation for the winter? 

Matt discusses winterizing your exterior taps. 

Tool winterizing caps the show off. 

Tune in.

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Is it sleepy-time yet? 

Almost.  The McFarlands guide The Growing Season into the final stretch of the horticultural season on this week's episode of The Growing Season.

Poppies kick off the show and Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss poppy bloom time and why they don't use many poppies on designs.  Hint:  think peonies. 

Why did poppies grow vigorously in Flanders Fields?  You'll be surprised to know. 

An extended version of "Imagine If You Will" takes the listeners back 100 years to find out how homeowners were prepping their flower beds for the winter in 1925. 

What were the major changes between what was happening then vs. now in fall garden prep? LOTS OF MANUAL LABOUR.  Seed saving was fashionable. 

Matt dives into "root cellars."  Weed prevention practices in 1925 will blow your mind. 

Jumping up 50 years into 1975 changes the rules of fall flowerbed prep. 

The trio discuss how they used to fall prep clients flower beds 20 years ago vs. what they do now.  It's a drastic difference.  Do you "rough up" the garden soil before the snow flies?   Do you cut the perennials down to the ground?   Do you fertilize? 

Willows are a pain in the bottom. You'll find out why. Should you be doing a heavy prune at this time of the year? There are two schools of thought. 

Catalytic converters and leaves.  Its a thing.  

The five most common mistakes made during "bed time" are discussed. 

How do you address those piles of leaves in an efficient manner?  

Tune in.

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Challenge accepted!!!

With the horticultural season wrapping up, Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss the challenges they faced this year on this week’s episode of The Growing Season. 

Winter 2025 kicks off the show’s content.  How did it feed into this summer’s water table?

A rainy May and then blistering heat for the remainder of the summer.  Do you remember how HOT it was?

There were 18 days of temps above 30 celsius BEFORE the humid in summer 2025. 

What is the “litter layer” of your topsoil? What are “hydrophobic soils?” The trio discuss the challenges of landscape builds during insanely hot temperatures. 

Matt discusses not feeling good enough. Transplant shock mixed with high heat is a recipe for uh-oh.

Norway Maples and why you shouldn’t plant them are highlighted.  It ties into baseball. 

FFF or Frost Free Days become an interesting topic.  The number of frost free days affects when you can start planting and stop planting. 

Matt has sooooo many clients with garden hoses that ABSOLUTELY SUCK!  Matt talks about what to look for in a garden hose. 

The trio update Jack’s health.  Shade/light conditions and their ever changing illumination on-sites frustrates landscape designers. 

“Its irresponsible to design cedars onto a landscape plan…”

Step riser heights and tread depths become more of a focus for elderly people. 

What is a “pop up emitter?”  The trio explain. 

Tune in.

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Is that your Mum?

Its that time of year, ladies and gents.  The Growing Season highlights the wonders of fall on this week's episode. 

Fall Mums, bulbs and much more are the fare that The McFarlands dine out on this week.  

Halloween kicks off the show. Matt talks a little about his kids and their halloween adventures.  On the horticultural side, is it time to remove your annuals?  The trio discuss. 

Ragweed is still raging and pollinating.  How is that possible? 

The Toronto Blue Jays are World Series bound so the McFarlands dive into the horticultural side of this wonderful turn of events. 

Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and peanuts.  

On the topic of fall mums, can they survive the winter in the GTA?   What are some great companion plants for fall mums? 

Matt tells a story about planters that he recently designed and installed. 

The tulip hysteria in history is highlighted. 

Halloween movies are discussed and Matt appeals to Steven Spielberg's property for landscaping. 

Are you supposed to remove your spring flowering bulbs after they have flowered?  Is that a common practice. 

Lynne outlines how to plant a spring flowering bulb. Bulb blindness!   WHAT!?

Daffodils need to be planted at a different time then other spring flowering bulbs.  Why?  Matt discusses how to choose viable bulbs. 

Dogs and cats and bulb toxicity.  Be careful!

How to deter rodents from relocating your spring flowering bulbs caps the show off. 

Tune in.

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But wait!  There's more!

Break out your Combine Harvesters and enjoy this week's episode of The Growing Season.  Harvest continues to feature front and centre. 

The McFarland's update you, the listener, on Jack's health. 

Matt McFarland discusses how the combine harvester featured prominently into his son's formative years. 

The trio play "The Agricultural Trivia Show" to great results. 

What is to leave the field "fallow?"  Why would someone want to participate in this practice? 

Jack talks about 30" carrots.  HUGE!

Zero till has major benefits.  Lynne discusses. 

PEE CAN BE FERTILIZER!?  WHAT!? Organic matter and healthy soil are linked.  How?

How do you avoid funguses due to watering when this summer past was one of the hottest on records?  Would much have helped?

Corn smut!? Corn WHAT!?

Watering continues to be a focus even at this late stage of the year.

The McFarlands discuss the leading grain being exported out of Canada.  Its not what you think. 

Nitrogen infused apple storage facilities.  This is not science fiction.  Matt has a great movie idea...

Serviceberries are one of the best shrubs for berries.  You should plant them.

What can you be doing in garden right now?  Well, not much, but there are some tasks that can be undertaken at present. 

Tune in.

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Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland get Agricultural on this week's episode of The Growing Season. 

Turkey's, Thanksgiving, loosening the belts and much more start the show off in style. 

Pumpkin spice and pies are holiday favourites that Matt tees off on.  Matt gets ranty with Jack about cranberries. 

Do cranberries grow in water?   Why are they harvested this way? Jack thinks he may need cranberries. 

The three sisters!!! What the heck are we talking about? Lynne discusses an indigenous city and how aboriginal peoples lived off the land. 

Corn and blueberries featured prominently in ancient diets.  

Low oxygen, nitrogen and apple storage.  You'll find out something really cool.

The European settlers interacted with the land in a very different fashion than the indigenous peoples.  The McFarlands compare and contrast.  

Matt discusses a really interesting way to pull a stump out of the ground. Speaking of the ground, Jack talks about migrating rocks. 

Dynamite and stumps.  BOOM! Matt tells a story that Jack has told 92,000 times. 

WHAT IS A SPRING HOUSE?  It's really cool, actually. 

What fruits and veggies should be stored together and which ones shouldn't be. 

Tune in.

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These are the ones to watch!

The McFarlands celebrate their 6 year anniversary discussing the all-stars of the autumnal season on this week's episode of The Growing Season. 

Canada geese kick off the show.  Lynne discusses what she learned over the last year.  Jack and Matt chime in. 

Potentillas, sprinklers and irrigation also feature.  

Silver linings and record breaking heat during the summer months are also correlated. 

Jack rants about fall colour change.  Is it stress or is it actual fall colour. 

The science of fall colour change is highlighted. Why is the summer solstice so important?

Red maples vs. Crimson King maple. Jack wonders if the newer, more bespoke varieties of plants, are more susceptible to stress. 

Sedum, black eyed susie, birch, ginkgo, 

The PARKLAND PILLAR BIRCH!   OHHHHH BABY!  Matt gushes. Then he gushes some more. 

Japanese maples feature prominently in the discussion.  Are there fall coloured varieties with the Japanese Maple? 

Unusual?  Lets talk about the 'Flamethrower Redbud.'

Why don't we use the Amur Maple more? The trio discuss. Why did we stop using Viburnums?

Ornamental grasses can be glorious in the fall. 

Tune in.

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Good things come in small packages. 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland chat all things small on this week's episode of The Growing Season.  

Take the full-sized version of a large plant and miniaturize it and that's what we're talking about. 

The differences between full-sized, semi-dwarf and dwarf kick off the show. Espaliers are the first out of the gate. Squirrels and apple trees are a highlight. 

Baseball and apples.  What!?

Blueberries have been tough for The Growing Season to grow.  Matt discusses. 

Shade/light conditions play a huge role in the success of plants. 

Sugar Maples and their smaller cousins become a topic of note.  Is there a "semi-dwarf" sugar maple? Hint, hint... The answer is yes. 

Imagine If You Will and Ghostbusters... The Ginkgo tops off the first half of the show. 

A globe blue spruce is the best way to spend $300 of your horticultural money. Matt HATES Forsythia and he tells you why. 

The 80's figure into the show and Matt relishes the use of 80's music to drive the point home. 

Hydrangeas have been miniaturized.  So have Smokebush - much to the happiness of many.  

Perennial geraniums are some of the most well-behaved, contained little mounders in your garden. 

Yellow coneflowers are compared to Black Eyed Susans. 

DELPHINIUMS CAN GET REALLY BIG!

Why plant miniatures!? Jack, Lynne and Matt discuss. 

Tune in.

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"I'd love it to stay contained and grow slow..."

These are the sentiments uttered by many a client that have crossed the McFarland's path. 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into plants that are just what a client ordered on this week's episode of The Growing Season.

Algae kicks the show off and you'll find out why. Juniper tags in quick and The McFarland's give these lovely evergreens their due. 

Pfitzers, Icee Blue, Blue Rug, Blue Chip and many more junipers are discussed.

What is a "Pancake Juniper?" The Korean Spice viburnum and its lack of use on Growing Season designs are mentioned. 

Plant repetition and colour repetition are design elements that make a wonderful connection to various parts of your property. 

Black Eyed Susies... OHHHH BABY.  The McFarland's get REALLY excited about perennial geraniums. 

Why don't shrubs grow in a square shape?   It's a curious question. 

The Growing Season is award winning once again. The trio explain. 

Matt gets hormonal with Spruce and it leads to "Imagine If You Will..."

The gloriousness that are coral bells are highlighted.  Also: DOGWOODS!

The McFarlands spend some time reminiscing about the 1980's and why so many popular plants from that era fell out of favour. 

Nest spruce is something you should try.  Evergreens finish the show off in style. 

Tune in.

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What's with all the insect activity!?

Have you seen an upswing in insects in the garden of late?   Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into an increased presence of pollinators on this week's episode of The Growing Season. 

Grasshoppers and bees kick the show off.  Do grasshoppers pollinate anything? You'll be surprised to know. 

Ants and Trilliums - there is a relationship there. Wasps and timber steps = stings for Matt. 

Jack tells the same 13 stories over and over.  This comes right in the middle of a conversation about almond pollination. 

What is creating seasonal allergies at this time of the year?  

The trio play "Imagine If You Will" and become bees.  3 of 1500 brothers and sisters. 

Speaking of bees, they dominate the second half of the first part of the show.  You'll come away with some knowledge...

"Sweet swelling..."

Bee food: zinnia, perennial geranium, sedum, coneflower, daisies, lavender, bee balm and golden rod are all some of the last meals for the bees before winter. 

Nanoscale ridges...WHAT!?

Moths get their time in the spotlight.  They are wonderful pollinators and do not get enough credit. 

How do they see at night? 

Emily McFarland and her spider features.

Pollination by lawn machine and pollination by GMC are giggled about. 

Building a bee hive features on Tips For Success From The Growing Season. Nuc's and what they are start the conversation off. 

Albert Einstein and his theories cap the show off. 

Tune in.

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More WOOD!  

You WOULDN’T want to miss this. 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland continue their Woodland Garden series on this week’s episode of The Growing Season.

Picking up where last week’s episode left off, the trio dive into the plant material specifics that would look appropriate in a Woodland Design. 

Matt describes some curious behaviour on plants that he's currently observing on-sites. Jack outlines the two plants that tell you if there is enough water being applied to your flower beds. 

The lifecycle of the fern is outlined.  It sounds like science fiction.  Puddles are key.  GAMETOPHYTES!

Lindens and their recent tendency to shed is discussed. 

The King Ostrich Fern and its INSANE size becomes a focal point.  Matt compares and contrasts ferns to cedars. 

Hostas are the queen of the shade and, YET, Jack and Lynne have Hostas in full sun that are THRIVING. 

Planting proximity to tree trunks and its effect on growth comes into focus. 

Eastern Redbuds, their bark and their flowering tendencies are highlighted.  Witch hazel is THE BEST. 

The McFarland's create a "doesn't do anything" garden on-air. 

A transplanted rhododendron, and its success in transplant, is a story that Matt tells. 

The show caps-off with a discussion on lighting a woodland garden. 

Tune in.

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Sometimes you just gotta go for a walk in the woods.

The McFarland's put their face in the mulch on this week's episode of The Growing Season.  

Jack, Lynne and Matt dive into part 1 of a two part series highlighting how to design and build a "woodland garden."

What makes a woodland garden a woodland garden?   Jack spins a yarn about a large woodland area that he created, for a client, in the 80's.  

Jack and Matt guide the listenership through an estimation exercise. 

Is there a natural way to deal with mosquitos?  What chemical is being used in the foggers?

A discussion about flowering dogwood's happens naturally. Crown and skirt lifting are discussed. 

Rock gardens and slope are used to begin the on-air install of a woodland garden. 

Trilliums and foxglove come into focus. 

Size of a sitting area in a woodland setting is discussed with Matt chatting about how he designs sizes for patios.

What pavers are commonly used for woodland garden?  The trio discuss. 

Layers and textures of plant materials and the hard surfaces are key to implementing an effective woodland garden.

Birch trees are gushed over. Matt chats about the unwanted family members associated with some trees.

A listener question prompts a discussion about growing a garden fabric grow bags. 

Tune in.

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Geometric plants and small trees!

This week's episode of The Growing Season changes what you've got into something even greater. 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into lollipops, standards and pom-poms. 

WHAT!?   The trio explain.  What is the difference between a standard and a lollipop?  Can they be both?  What is a pom-pom that is not on a poodle or a cheerleader?

Matt details his cat's adventures in the recent heat wave.  How is kitty keeping cool amongst trees shedding early and farmers harvesting prematurely?

How do you properly water during a heat wave?

Hydrangeas and Japanese Maples kick the show off in style and then the paths wind off in many different directions. 

Maples, spruces, gingkoes and roses are also mentioned in a fast paced pontification. 

Why don't we use weeping mulberry anymore?   Why aren't people using Russian Cypress Standards? 

Matt HATES Edward Scissorhands.  He explains why and how much pruning standards need.  

Matt details the goings on in the 70's.

WHAT ARE ROSE TREES? Grafting and how to protect the grafts on a standard or lollipop are discussed.

Box Moths and how they are eviscerating shrubs across the GTA are discussed. 

Plant transformation via pruning caps the show off. 

Tune in.

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WHEN WILL IT RAIN!?

The Greater Toronto Area hasn't seen significant rainfall in over a month and the plants are starting to show the effects of drought.

Your grass is the colour of Shredded Wheat and the heat is making it a struggle to keep your plants happy.  What to do? 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland focus on water wise plants on this week's episode of The Growing Season. 

Lynne has changed how she's watering her flower beds.  She describes how and the results thus far.  Maybe it's time for many of us to shift what we've been doing.

What happens if a plant sheds it leaves due to drought?  Will it rebound?  

Matt develops a theory on-air. 

Where is the driest place on earth? 

Many trees on our client's properties have started to shed their leaves NOW.  Is this normal?  Why would trees do this at this time of the year?

A lawn can go three months without water and fully rebound so there is no need to panic.  

Hedges and their extensive watering needs are discussed. 

Trichomes, or "plant hairs" and their functions are highlighted.  You wouldn't believe how a hairy leaf is used.

Trees and the water transport systems become a focus.  How is soooo much water transported up and down in the tree's internal systems?

A quick clip on drip tips...

Wind, river pebbles and everything in between features. 

STOP CUTTING YOUR LAWN WHEN IT IS THIS DRY.   PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, STOP!

Tune in.

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Look up!

Its not just in the theatres these days, its on your arbours, trellises and fence lines.

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland look up on this week's episode of The Growing Season.  All things that grow up and down are discussed on the most recent episode of TGS. 

Lynne is "3 foot 12 inches..."  She's taller than that but it sets the tone for the show. 

Many clients don't know where to begin when it comes to choosing climbers.  The McFarlands make a list of the most popular ones. 

Climbing roses are rife with stigma. "The rose climber is not to be cleared..." The trio detail the ins and outs of your raised roses.

Matt details how he lines up pruning regimens for clients. 

Clematis become a focal point.  Matt outlines the various clematis groups. 

Privacy screens were incredibly popular 5 years ago but not so much now.  Why?  Matt explains why he feels that many missed the mark.

Trellis vs. Lattice.  What's the difference? The McFarlands explain. 

Any excuse to play bag pipe music is acceptable. 

What is a heat pump and how does it affect your horticultural organisms?  You won't believe how it coincides. 

What about garden statues?  What should you plant on obelisks and the like? 

Matt talks about a boo-boo on a client's site.  

Fence climbers and how to make nicey nicey with your neighbours comes into focus.  

"How old is your fence?"  The answer to that question affects if and when you utilize fence climbers.

Plants that climb brick. YIKES! 

Jack's grapevines are vigorous growers.  Why?

An airspace between your trellis is recommended.  The reason is quite simple. 

Tune in.

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It’s all about Daisies and we and we ain’t talking bout pushing them up! 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland park this week’s episode of The Growing Season in a patch of Shasta’s. 

Matt talks about Daisy Dukes. Jack responds with “Ox Eyes.”

Road Daisies and trains converge. 

10% of the plants on earth are Daisies. 

Echinacea and Black Eyed Susie are members of the Daisy family. Who knew? 

The “Fibonacci Sequence” and phototropism are discussed.

Poisonous Daisy family members? Yup, you read that right.  As well, lettuce… You won’t believe the tie-in. 

A rant about Russian Sage ups the hilarity.  The trio wonder aloud why they don’t use English Daisy more. Further, they discuss why they don’t use Blanket Flower anymore. It could be snow related. 

The parts of the Daisy flower are outlined and then The McFarlands dive headlong into Echinacea. 

“Raspberry Beret Coneflower.” TRUST US. 

Moerheim this, Moerheim that. 

Criminally underused plant materials are highlighted. Sneezeweed and Ozark Sundrops are on this list. 

Jack’s obsession with Ice Plant gets a giggle. 

Tune in.

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Its been dry and hot so how does that effect your lawn?

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland cut this week's episode of The Growing Season into your front lawn with a little grass talk. 

How do you protect your lawn against drought and heat? 

Matt discusses the ins and outs of irrigation systems.  How much does it cost to install the system and what does it cost, on a monthly basis, to run one of these systems? 

A discussion on proper watering occurs.  

THE FIRE HOSE NOZZLE IS THE GREATEST WATERING DEVICE EVER. Saturation watering is the key to success on new plantings and lawns. 

What percentage of North America is lawn? 

9 billion gallons of water is used to water lawns in the US PER DAY!   Read that again...

What is the correlation between "colonialism" and lawns.

Is it okay to let your lawn burn off in the summer?  Will it recover.

The McFarland's debunk a myth.

Artificial turf comes into focus.  MATT HATES IT!

The price between between artificial turf and real turf is compared. 

Groundcover alternatives to grass are explored, along with their pros, cons and history of use. 

Matt rages against Landscape Architect. 

Lynne tells a story about a neighbour destroying their whole lawn due to dandelion mitigation. 

"None of it is real..." In Playboy and Home and Gardens Magazine. 

How you cut your lawn will effect its health. 

Tune in.

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All stars in July aren’t only reserved for baseball!

This week on The Growing Season, Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into the horticultural all stars of July. 

Nothing blooms in July says the client. LIES. 

Matt tells a swimming story. 

HERstory returns to The Growing Seasom airwaves. Lynne discusses how the month of July got its name. What are the “Dog Days” of summer? 

TONS OF THINGS ARE BLOOMING RIGHT NOW. 

Portulaca, phlox, echinacea, delphinium and many more are discussed. 

Is July too late to be planting a landscape? Even plant materials, if taken care of properly can thrive in a summer install. 

Are you going on vacation? It affects your new garden. 

“Water till the ground is shiny…” Sod watering is also touched on. 

Matt hates hosta blooms. Touch of Class Hosta gets its time in the spotlight. 

The Seven Sons tree is revealed. The trio discuss The Purple Smokebush. It’s a cool shrub. 

Serviceberry, serviceberry, serviceberry. Matt weeps about Butterfly Bush and Bloomerang Lilac. 

Hydrangea are going bonkers right now. LETS GO!!! Summersweet is underused but AWESOME.  Many haven't heard of this gloriously scented perennial. 

Pine needles are not a great solution for acidifying soil.

Rose mallow, blazing star, blanket flower, hollyhocks and lavender are all going GREAT GUNS right now.

Why did the Ivory Silk Lilac's blooms blow out so quick this year? 

Jack and Matt argue about Russian Sage. 

Matt gushes about Phlox. 

Tune in.

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

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Currently blooming in a garden near you! 

The Growing Season highlights Lilies on this week’s episode. 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss the little blooming bombs that are currently visible in your garden. 

What makes a lily a lily? Are they native to Canada? 

What does Clint Eastwood have to do with Day Lilies? There is a correlation. 

They’re called Daylilies because they only bloom for a single day. Seriously. The trio discuss. 

Spider mite is discussed.  The name “Stella” is used continuously throughout the show. 

The McFarlands discuss their most used perennials. The blooming cycle of a rebloomer comes into focus. 

Daylilies, asiatic, calla, canna, sword lily and “ditch” lilies all share the spotlight. 

“Die-back” perennials become a focus. 

Matt loses his way. Well-behaved plants helps him find his way back. 

DARNED BLEEDING HEARTS. 

Tender bulbed varieties of Lilies are mentioned. 

Matt shies away from using delphiniums and gladiolus. Why?

What is a “Turk’s Cap?”

Epsom salts and Lilies are discussed. 

Companion plants for your Lillie’s are introduced. 

Tune in.

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THINGS ARE GROWING LIKE CRAZY!  

Pruning in July takes centre stage on this week’s episode of The Growing Season. 

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland open the show highlighting the amount of rain, heat and humidity the GTA has experienced over the last few weeks. 

How does this affect plant growth? 

How can you safely prune away from a plant?  

Is pruning in July different than pruning in early spring? Jack discusses “hardening off” in evergreens. 

What about pruning fruit trees. Is that possible at this time of year? 

Matt discusses the difference between form pruning and function pruning. 

Espaliers become a major focus. Matt tells a story about cherry trees. 

Jack highlights the rules of pruning. Can you prune when something is flowering?  

Fertilizing and pruning are discussed. 

The 6/8, 6/8 rule for Irises is revealed. 

Pruning roses down to 3 leaf groupings vs. 5 leaf groupings and how that effects bloom is a topic of discussed. 

Matt chats about how this time of the year features some challenges when it comes to major prune jobs. 

Jack HATES cornflower. 

Lynne discusses the commitment regarding hanging baskets. 

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.