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John Degroot

John Degroot

Sarnia Observer

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GARDEN CLIPPINGS: The right mulch for your backyard

Four cubic yards of mulch in the backyard and one more to go. Four cubic yards of mulch in the backyard and one more to go. Last week’s nice...

latest 2

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: The right mulch for your backyard

Four cubic yards of mulch in the backyard and one more to go.    Last week’s nice weather had us putting down fresh mulch over the...

yesterday 2

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: The six-week rule for starting seeds indoors

Six weeks. If you're starting veggie or flower seeds indoors, I recommend doing so six weeks before the last frost. Six weeks. If you’re starting...

12.04.2024 6

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: The six-week rule

Six weeks. If you are starting veggie or flower seeds indoors, I recommend doing so six weeks before the last frost.     Most of us get the...

10.04.2024 3

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Wildlife refuge not discriminating

There is always something intriguing about a walk in the woods. There is always something intriguing about a walk in the woods. A recent stroll...

05.04.2024 4

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: A walk in the woods can be revealing

There is always something intriguing about a walk in the woods.   My recent stroll through the Art Teasell Wildlife Refuge in Sarnia caused me to...

02.04.2024 8

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Baby’s breath appreciated up close

Bookworms easily could spend an hour or two in a bookstore, just to see what might spark their interest. Bookworms easily could spend an hour or two...

29.03.2024 6

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Baby’s breath flowers appreciated up close

Bookworms could easily spend an hour or two in a bookstore, just to see what might spark their interest.

26.03.2024 9

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Pussy willow catkins appear in early spring

Not for me. Not in my yard. But if you’d like a pussy willow in your backyard, don’t let me stop you. Not for me. Not in my yard. But if you’d...

22.03.2024 7

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Pussy willow catkins appear in early spring

Not for me. Not in my yard. But if you’d like to have a pussy willow in your backyard, don’t let me stop you.   Pussy willows are prized for...

21.03.2024 5

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Taking precautions to avoid ticks

Temperatures this winter have been milder than ever, boding well for ticks, but likely making life miserable for those of us who love to spend time...

15.03.2024 6

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Finding the potential in your backyard

Increasingly, backyards are becoming oases where folks can relax, be physically active, worship nature, harvest crops or whatever suits your fancy....

08.03.2024 4

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Finding the potential in your backyard

Blame it on the pandemic. Or blame it on a movement, a renewed understanding that backyards should be extensions of our home. Or blame it on ...

08.03.2024 2

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Redbuds have seen a rise in popularity with expansion of territory

It won’t be long. Spring will be announced not by the calendar, but by the flowering shrubs. It won’t be long. Spring will be announced not by the...

01.03.2024 4

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Redbuds have enjoyed a rise in popularity

It won’t be long. Spring will be announced not by the calendar, but by the flowering shrubs that open their blooms in a magnificent array of...

29.02.2024 5

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Thai constellation becoming next big tropical plant

A few years ago, fiddle leaf fig was the tropical plant everyone wanted, but no one could find. A few years ago, fiddle leaf fig was the tropical...

23.02.2024 8

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Spinach best planted in early spring

We didn’t eat spinach often. But when we did, it wasn’t the most pleasant experience. We didn’t eat spinach often. But when we did, it wasn’t...

16.02.2024 4

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Spinach best planted in early spring

We didn’t eat spinach often. But when we did, it wasn’t the most pleasant experience.   Mom would often ask me to go to Dominion Food store...

15.02.2024 2

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Peas a favourite vegetable for home gardeners

Vegetable and flower seeds have arrived, and gardeners would be advised to make their selection early before certain varieties are hard to find....

10.02.2024 4

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Plants budding in the dead of winter

At first glance, in the dead of winter, trees and shrubs look like a collection of lifeless stems and branches. At first glance, in the dead of...

02.02.2024 5

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Plants budding in the dead of winter

At first glance, in the dead of winter, trees and shrubs look like a collection of lifeless stems and branches.   Not so. Take a closer look and...

01.02.2024 5

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Florida’s tropical plant expo offer insights into consumer trends

Florida leads the U.S. in citrus fruit juice production, while California is a close second. Florida is the sunshine state. Florida also leads the...

26.01.2024 6

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GRADEN CLIPPINGS: Notes from Florida’s tropical plant expo

Florida is the Sunshine State. Beaches, attractions, golf, sun, relaxation and all things in between.   Florida also leads the way in citrus...

24.01.2024 5

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Tissue culture can make new plants quickly

Tissue culture is a ticklish propagation technique, giving nursery growers one more way to make plants quickly, accurately and in great numbers. When...

19.01.2024 2

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Most nursery trees made from grafting

If you plant a seed fallen from a Japanese red maple, it woon't grow into another Japanese red maple. If you plant a seed fallen from a Japanese red...

12.01.2024 3

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Most nursery trees made from ‘grafting’

Try as you may, but if you planted a seed fallen from a Japanese red maple, it would not grow into another Japanese red maple. Rather, it would...

11.01.2024 4

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Climate determines success of broadleaf evergreens

For lack of a better term, they are called broadleaf evergreens. No needles, no cones, just glossy green foliage that remains on the plant all year...

06.01.2024 4

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Climate determines success of broadleaf evergreens

For lack of a better term, they are called broadleaf evergreens. Glossy green foliage, no needles, no cones, with foliage that remains on the plant...

03.01.2024 6

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: A walk in the woods

All but a few of us want order in our lives.

29.12.2023 7

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Native plants good choice if you want to avoid landscape 'lemons'

Thirty and 40 years ago, the two most popular plants in our nursery were euonymus Gaiety (Euonymus fortuneii ‘Gaiety’) and purple leaf plum...

22.12.2023 5

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Oops, we goofed – errors in horticulture

Oops, we goofed.     Periodically the horticulture industry makes a mistake. Sort of like lemons in the auto industry.  Nothing critical and...

21.12.2023 6

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Some native trees making a comeback

Our affection for native plants is growing. Our affection for native plants is growing. Nature lovers and friends of the environment are slowly...

15.12.2023 3

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Some native trees making a comeback

Our affection for native plants is growing. Nature lovers and friends of the environment are slowly ditching the likes of geraniums and gerbera...

15.12.2023 2

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Adding pops of red to festive decorations

The colours green and red have long been associated with Christmas. The colours green and red have long been associated with Christmas. Green, of...

08.12.2023 6

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Adding red pops of colour to festive decorations

The colours green and red have long been associated with Christmas.   Green, of evergreens, represents eternal life while red is to remind us of...

08.12.2023 6

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Not all grasses are created equal

She hates them. I admire them. She won. I dug them out.   To be fair, the ornamental grass right behind the house was rather ugly. I planted...

30.11.2023 2

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: How to deter the deer population

It has been a while since I’ve seen a deer. We would spot a few when we lived in the rurals, but since moving to town, the only time I’ve seen a...

09.11.2023 2

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Reintroducing nature to urban environments

Canadians love progress. Because progress makes for a stronger economy. And rarely do we question the need for larger airports, new roads, more stores...

03.11.2023 4

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Reintroducing nature to urban environments

Canadians love progress. Because progress makes for a stronger economy. And rarely do we question the need for larger airports, new roads, more...

02.11.2023 6

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Adding native plants to urban properties

A decade ago, there were a lot of climate change deniers. Today, those who think climate change is a hoax are few and far between. A decade ago, there...

27.10.2023 6

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Adding native plants to urban properties

A decade ago, there were a lot of climate change deniers. Today, those who think climate change is a hoax are few and far between.   A decade...

26.10.2023 2

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Establishing naturalized areas requires paradigm shift

My friend Mike Smalls, retired landscape designer and landscaper and tireless advocate of restoring natural spaces, got 10 minutes at Monday’s...

20.10.2023 2

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Establishing naturalized areas will take a paradigm shift

My friend Mike Smalls, retired Landscape Designer and landscaper, and tireless advocate for restoration of natural spaces, was given ten minutes at a...

19.10.2023 4

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Asters, goldenrod, milkweed blooming at roadside

The Parable of the Sower tells of a farmer who sows seeds indiscriminately. The Parable of the Sower tells of a farmer who sows seeds...

13.10.2023 3

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Asters, goldenrod, milkweed blooming on roadsides

In the Parable of the Sower, we are told of a farmer who sows seeds indiscriminately. Some seeds fall on the roadside with no soil, some on rocky...

12.10.2023 2

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Goldenrod often blamed for ragweed’s faults

My friend Mandi has become frustrated with a garden at her daughter’s school. My friend Mandi has become frustrated with a garden at her...

06.10.2023 2

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Goldenrod often blamed for ragweed’s faults

My friend Mandi became frustrated with the situation at her daughter’s school. A few years ago, the school decided to carve out a corner of the...

04.10.2023 2

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Making a statement with your address sign

Where do you live?   Whether you live at 123 Main St. or the third house past the corn crib on the 9th Concession, your municipal address is...

29.09.2023 2

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Here's how to keep mums

Garden mums are heroes of the fall garden. Garden mums are heroes of the fall garden. Easy to care for and inexpensive, they offer a splash of colour...

22.09.2023 8

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: How to keep mums

Garden mums are heroes of the fall garden. Easy to care for and inexpensive, mums will give a splash of colour that will last until we decorate the...

21.09.2023 2

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

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