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Every February, somewhere in Kingston, a gardener walks out during a midwinter thaw and discovers their plant sitting on top of the soil, roots exposed and the crown unprotected against the wind. The plant didn't climb up on its own, the ground pushed it up. This is known as frost heave and is a big reason fall mulching is important in this part of Ontario. For most garden beds the timing will matter more than the mulch you use and …

When heading to grab soil for your yard its helpful to know what you're looking for as some may be better for the job than others. Let's sort out topsoil, triple mix, and garden soil so you know what to grab for your job. What Is Topsoil, Really? Topsoil is exactly what it sounds like which is a layer of ground scraped from the surface, usually the top few inches, before anyone blends compost or peat moss into it. That's not a …

By late October, the maples out front have dropped every leaf, and suddenly the view from your kitchen window includes the neighbour's shed, the road, and the driveway. That's where evergreens come in. Cedar, spruce, yew, and a handful of other hardy species hold their needles right through a Kingston winter, which means they're doing two jobs at once: blocking the view and giving your yard some backbone once everything else has gone dormant. Why Evergreens Matter for Privacy and Structure A …

You laid down sod a couple weeks back but instead of green lawn you're seeing a worrying yellow. Take a breath as this can be salvaged. Yellow sod almost never means dead sod, and in nine cases out of ten we see with yellow sod here in Kingston, Ontario, it's fixable with a change to your routine rather than a truck of new turf. The Most Common Cause: Watering Problems Walk the yard and look at where the yellow shows up. Does …

Every September-October, Kingston lawns disappear under a layer of leaves and every fall, homeowners wonder the same question: should I rake them, mulch them, or just let them sit? There's no single right answer as it depends on how many leaves you're dealing with, what shape your lawn is in, and how much time you've got. Keep reading and we'll walk through when each option makes sense for your yard. What Happens When Leaves Sit Too Long A thin scattering of leaves …

Most people pack away the trowels the moment the tomatoes come in, and figure the garden's done providing for the year. It doesn't have to be, and if you've still got a patch of open soil sitting empty right now, you're sitting on more growing season than you think. A handful of cold tolerant vegetables don't just tolerate the drop into fall, they do some of their best growing in it, so let's look at what you can still get …

If you try to push your finger into the lawn near your driveway after a dry August week you'll be able to see first hand the compacted soil. This is the moment fall lawn aeration and overseeding truly pays off and the window for getting it done right runs from about mid August through late September. The Signs Your Soil Is Compacted (Before You Even Aerate) Compacted soil builds up gradually over time whether its from a place the kids and pets …