Providing Expert Advice
For the Home Gardener
Notes from
my Garden
““May is the month of expectation, the month of wishes, the month of hope.” - Emily Brontë”
After a rather changeable (and cold) April, I'm hoping May will live up to Emily's thoughts!
As I write this article, I'm gazing out at a cheery display of daffodils. I love their bright colour when so much is still brown and gloomy!
As a gardener, the weather is always in the forefront of my mind. Can I move my plants to the greenhouse? Do I dare put out my pansies yet? Can I move those plants that need re-locating? And what about pruning? All of these generally depend on temperature and moisture levels. I have been moving some plants but am finding the lack of frequent, gentle spring rain (not torrential downpours) has been lacking. The changeable temperatures are making it difficult to determine when to put some plants out, even hardy ones. I planted some peas this week as they prefer the cooler spring temperatures. It looks like night temperatures will remain above 0 degrees Celsius for the next week, so I plan to move my seedlings to the greenhouse. They will remain in the greenhouse for the next 3 weeks or so before I start to harden them off, ready for planting in the garden near the end of May when the chance of frost is gone. Hardening off takes about a week of slowly introducing the seedlings to the outside world - sun and wind. This is done gradually so the leaves don't burn, the plants don't break in the wind, and the seedlings are not too stressed. The University of Saskatchewan has a good article on how to do this.
This month, Grey County Master Gardeners are busy providing gardening information at the libraries in Meaford, Thornbury and Owen Sound. The Gardener in Residence program, which operates in spring and fall, has been very successful and well attended. Each month, we provide a short presentation on some aspect of gardening and then answer any gardening questions. While there is no charge, the libraries request you register. For details, see our Events page and plan to attend!
May is the time to get your soil into good shape, ready for veggies, flowering plants and shrubs. A soil test kit for the home gardener, can help you determine your ph level (how acid or alkaline your soil is) and the nutrient composition. This information identifies if amendments to your soil are needed. Typically, you would test several places in the garden(s). For example, some plants (e.g. blueberries, Rhododendrons, etc.) prefer a more acidic soil, while others won't thrive in an acidic soil. Adding compost to your soil is an excellent means of providing a wide range of nutrients. Using mulch (e.g. straw or shredded, non-coloured bark) is helpful to reduce weeds and retain moisture when the weather becomes warmer. You'll find some good links on our Resources & Downloads page for creating better soil.
Oh, and with all that weeding and planting, don't forget to stretch to avoid backaches, etc.!
Happy Gardening!
Susan Cox, Group Coordinator
Grey County Master Gardeners
Part of an international non-profit community service network, Grey County Master Gardeners is a group of approximately 20 trained horticulturists who volunteer their time to provide advice to home gardeners in the Grey and Bruce area. This is accomplished by providing info to the public in various forms, including in person or virtual, through presentations, clinics and workshops, or through written work such as articles, posts, blogs or social media.
All Master Gardeners have successfully completed university horticultural studies and must meet ongoing continuing education requirements to make sure that our advice to gardeners is based on current horticultural knowledge.
There are over 25 local Master Gardener groups in Ontario, focusing on sustainable gardening information for the public. There are also Master Gardener groups in many provinces, most states and in some international locations. More information about the Provincial organization can be found at (MGOI – Motivating and Inspiring Gardeners in Ontario).
Not in Grey County? Don’t despair. You can find your local MG groups, including Toronto, Guelph, Collingwood and others, at www.mgoi.ca.
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Established in 1996, Grey County Master Gardeners are part of the province-wide Master Gardeners of Ontario (MGOI). Grey County Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who offer non-biased, science-based horticultural information and advice to home gardeners and community groups in both Grey and Bruce Counties.
Our Vision
An Eco-Responsible focus in the garden
Our Values
We believe in the importance of having an eco-responsible focus when gardening. This means we encourage gardening practices that enhance biodiversity, mitigate against climate change, are healthy for the environment and support human health. As a group, we prefer consensus whenever possible, however there are times when a majority rules. We value inclusiveness, collaboration, engagement of community and cooperation.
