The Growing Season

Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland steer this week's episode of The Growing Season into all things Yellow. The Growing Season's Colour Series continues with a colour that tends to be a divisive topic amongst gardeners. Are you a fan of the colour yellow? Do you dislike it? If so, why? Many of the heavy hitters in a yellow variety feature: Dandelions, witch hazel, forsythia, daylily, tickseed, black eyed susie. Matt detests forsythia and he explains why. The trio discuss the loveliness of Japanese Kerria. IT IS THE BEST. Yellow hostas are a subject of discussion to great effect. Matt plays "imagine, if you will" with Jack. They step back in the mid 1980's. 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.

"Coming up we'll talk to you about edible herbs and how they can be considered 'sage advice!'" [BA DUM CHING!] Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland celebrate Earth Day in style with a 54 minute discussion on plants that produce fruit, berries and nuts. EDIBLES - not marijuana, but plants that produce stuff that can be eaten... Apple trees, specifically espaliers, are highlighted. Its a case of making lemons out of lemonade, so to speak. Blueberries, raspberries, currents, strawberries are subjects of discourse to the surprise of absolutely no one. How do you prune fruiting plant materials? There are simple rules that will steer you away from trouble. Is there a pruning method that will help to increase yield when it comes to fruiters. YUP! And we guide you through it! 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.

Landscape design is in FULL SWING for The McFarlands. Jack, Lynne and Matt discuss the ins and outs of Landscape Design on The Growing Season. Matt outlines how his business model works. The differences between a landscape consult, design and install are discussed. Why do you, as a homeowner, need a landscape design? Does the design make the landscape process easier for you? The trio discuss. The McFarlands chat about how a site meet with a potential contractor will go. Its nothing to be scared of. How can you make sure your designer includes as many of your ideas as humanly possible in the final product? The Growing Season crew help you out. Your mobile phone is a useful tool in landscape design but not in the way you'd think. Listen to find out. Your shade/light conditions, soil conditions and drainage are all areas of interest to your designer. We chat about why. 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.

Its safe to finally prune your plants, people! Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland guide The Growing Season into the heart of spring pruning and all of its related topics. When can you prune? If its been 10 degrees during the daytime over the course of 7 days you are good to go. How do you transition plants from indoors to outdoors? What about those hydrangeas that you received for easter? Can those be transplanted? How? Jack McFarland creates a sound bite for the ages. "Your plant is not sick because its being attacked by insects, its being attacked by insects because its sick..." This becomes a topic of discussion. Pruning for plant health is addressed. Coppicing of plant materials and how to use the technique to rejuvenate an older plant becomes chat fodder. The central leader of a tree and its importance is highlighted. Proper pruning practices are discussed. 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.

Bunnies, bulbs and bougainvillea! We’ll, not the last one but it started with “B” so it fit. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland continue to celebrate spring on The Growing Season. McFarland Park is about to undergo an expansion. The trio detail the new elements to be installed. Jack and Lynne offer an update that may impact the show slightly over the next few months. We’d love your positive thoughts and energy. Onto horticulture! Being that it’s Easter weekend why not focus on Hydrangeas and Easter Lilles. How do you care for these little plants indoors? How do you transfer them outdoors and have them survive? Matt talks about plant field trips. Battling chinch and Japanese beetle naturally is discussed. Avoiding stepping on emerging plants Cole’s into focus. Matt hates bulbs. He explains why. Why perennials should you be splitting at this time of year? What perennials shouldn’t be split right now? What perennials should not be split EVER? Spring fertilizer is discussed. 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.

LET'S SPRING INTO...WELL...SPRING. Its here and, even though there is snow on the ground for much of the GTA, Spring is here. Jack, Lynne and Matt kick off the growing season in style. What can you being doing in your flower beds RIGHT NOW? Spoiler alert - NOTHING. The trio explains. Sharpening shovels and landscape pruners come into focus. What brand of pruners should you buy? Matt gushes about FELCO's. How do you sharpen a shovel? How often do you sharpen them? What about pruners? When should you do a light service on your lawn equipment? The McFarlands explain. The crew chat about fertilizer and how to get your lawn into a spring type feeling. Gypsum becomes a focal point. Is it possible to damage your soil if you work it too early. YUP. BEWARE!!!!! Epsome salts could be a band aid for your plants. The McFarland's explain how. 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.

Lets get down to some horticultural history. Gardens through time are the focus of this week's episode of The Growing Season. The Aztecs, The Myans, The Romans, The French, The Indians and The Japanese come into focus as some of the innovators in garden tech. The French, in particular, have some sordid history intertwined with their horticulture. THEY HAD THEIR CAKE AND ATE AND ATE AND ATE! Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland meander through the history books and uncover some of the most discussed horticultural spaces that have ever graced a landscape. Matt also details The Growing Season's new position featuring in horticultural segments on The Weather Network. Being so close to St. Patrick's Day the trio discuss the ins and outs of how horticulture intersect with Green Beer Day. What was the main cause of the potato famine in Ireland? How does this tie into St. Patrick's Day. All that and more... 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.

So you're looking to take a vacation. Let The Growing Season guide you through a tropical destination The McFarland's have longed to visit. FIJI. Let's travel to Fiji via the radio waves. Jack, Lynne and Matt continue their "Destination Tropical" series into one of the most beautiful places on earth. The flora, the fauna, the language, the food, the ins and outs of the Fijian culture are explored. What do they farm in Fiji? You'll be surprised to know that its not exactly what you would think. Even their exports - you'll be surprised to learn what Fiji exports in high amounts. The Flametree is an interesting plant. The Fijians adore it and its foliage will amaze you. Santa Claus show up on a Jet Ski. So there's that. Relatives of the palm tree are discussed. 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.

We know, we know, you're ACHING to get out into your garden and start the wheels in motion. Can you do ANYTHING in the garden right now? How about pruning? Is it too early to prune? Many of us would like to get a head start on gardening activities so this week's topic dovetails perfectly. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into the topic of dormancy pruning and why/when it can be done. The various types of pruning are discussed and when they are to be used. New wood, old wood and all the in-betweens are explored on this week's episode of The Growing Season. What if you've had ice damage on a tree? Do you prune now or do you have to wait? 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.

Soooo, how exactly does that dandelion grown AND THRIVE in the asphalt on the 401? Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss extremes and how horticultural organisms have adapted to exist in such environments. Alpine areas, extreme cold, extreme heat, lack of oxygen and many locations come into focus on this episode of The Growing Season. How exactly do they grow plant materials on the space station? What measures are taken to ensure success? The adaptations of plants growing in extremely moist areas is an interesting topic. To make a long story short, these plants grow in the most inhospitable environments imaginable and The McFarland's uncover it. 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.

Knickers made of nettles? Wouldn't that hurt? This week Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss how horticulture and textiles converge. The Growing Season tackles the putting on of your plants, as in how textiles are created using plants in an effort to increase sustainability. Athletic supports, dresses, tops, bottoms, hand bags and many more garments are all being made using materials like potato skins, pineapple parts and apples. Can you get high if your hemp hoodie burns? The trio pontificate. Matt rants on organic farming. Parblex... Popular in Ireland AND during the Superbowl. You'll find out what we're talking about. 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.

Let’s gather around the Yohimbe tree and get frisky! Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland guide The Growing Season into all things planted and sexy on this week’s episode. In honour of Valentines Day the trio discuss the upcoming plants that put a tilt in your kilt. Is there any truth to the rumour of aphrodisiacs being a part of certain plants’ operating system? Which profession gets the most action? You’ll be surprised to learn. Onions, garlic, chocolate, Spanish fly, nettles and ants are linked to arousal. Yes. Nettles. Will honey get your honey in the mood. Yes. Listen in to find out how. Bananas and pomegranate. Stock up. Pansies, violas and morning glories are also known to start engines. 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.

Life finds a way… Matt McFarland’s love of Jurassic Park takes centre stage on this week’s episode of The Growing Season. Are there any prehistoric plants still around in present day? You’ll be surprised to learn that the answer is resounding yes. A breakdown of the lifecycle of the Gingko tree is tasked on the trio. Trees the size of skyscrapers, bees changing size, and volcanic soil all fit into the McFarland’s trip into prehistoric plants. A group of super secret pines in Australia is discussed. Is black pepper prehistoric? Is it possible to bring prehistoric plants via cloning a la Jurassic Park. Let’s find out. 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.

At the time of recording, the Greater Toronto Area has seen 30 hours of clear skies, so far, this winter. WHAT!? Yeah. Its been THAT dreary. With that, Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland guide The Growing Season into a chat about low light houseplants. You can't get your gardening fix outdoors? No matter, lets move things inside. Are there any easy tips to ensure vitality for indoor plants? Are they easier or tougher to care for in comparison to their outdoor counterparts. Using snow and rain as a water source is discussed. What about tap water? How is that for the watering of plants? Indoor plants and your pets becomes a topic. Croton, Snake plant, Schefflera, Money Plant, Jade Plant, Spider Plants, Aloe Veras, Bamboo Plants and many more are discussed. 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.

It's cold out there. Like really cold! In honour of the plummeting temps, Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into a topic near and dear to the hearts of horticulturalists and contractors alike. WOOD. We burn it, we build with it, we depend on it for shelter and heat. Should we even be using wood as heat? Is burning it a bad thing? The differences between softwood and hardwood are discussed and the ins and outs of how each varieties functions is outlined. What wood burns best? What wood burns the worst and how do you properly season wood that will be fuel in the near future? Wood for furniture, interior and exterior construction is discussed. What does that little SPF stamp that adorns construction lumber mean? Why is it there? The trio get wood! 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.

So....uhhhh.... what would happen if the sun went out. For, like, ever. The inaugural episode of what will become a series features a discussion on what would happen if the yellow orb in the sky turned its switches off. This week's episode of The Growing Season finds The McFarlands venturing into an extreme version of "what if?" Jack, Lynne and Matt discuss the temperature on the surface of the earth if there was no sunlight. Start to think about the implications of this. How would we survive in insane sub-zero temperatures? Where would humans live? What about animals? What would they do to survive? Energy sources, food sources and travel are all discussed. All is not lost though. Oxygen would come from sources that you wouldn't think, even though the plants producing our current O2 would be frozen off. Matt stumbles upon a new idea. Uh-oh. Vitamin D and where humans would acquire it become an interesting chat. 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.

Lets turn the lights out. On this week's episode of The Growing Season, The McFarland's kick off the New Year in style with a topic they've never covered. Jack, Lynne and Matt dive into "Night Vision." As in creatures that are either equipped with great nocturnal sight OR creatures that don't. Where do you humans rank on the ability to see at night list? You'd be surprised to learn where we feature. Further, do human children see better at night than their adult counterparts? There's a correlation with age. Surprisingly bats don't appear much on this show as the trio intends to do a sequel later on in the year that will heavily discuss our winged friends. Spiders, skunks, worms, cats, dogs, fish and more are discussed. Owls. Yup you know we had to go there. What about Nighthawks? Light and mice. There's an interesting way to control mice using illumination. All that and more. 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.

And that's a wrap, ladies and gents. The final episode of The Growing Season focuses on the horticultural aspects of the final party of the year. Beverages of all sorts are discussed. Terroir and its effect on the taste of wine and coffee becomes a topic of interest for Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland. Does the mineral content of the rain in your area affect how your coffee will taste? What about the micro particles that make up your soil? Alcohol... You knew it was coming. What, on the plant list, goes into the creation of beer. How about mead? What is the difference between gin and vodka? How do hops affect the flavour of your beer and how would one grow a votive of hops? Matt discusses champagne and its history. What is the difference between champagne and sparkling wine? 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.

How to they celebrate Christmas in [INSERT PLACE HERE]? The McFarlands guide The Growing Season into international waters as they explore Christmas Around The World. Wreaths, garlands and their history are uncovered by Lynne McFarland. Jack McFarland has an audio snafu and his family run with it. Why is fruit cake so heavy and where did it come from? Matt asserts that you can build a house with fruit cake. Spotted Richard, from the UK, is discussed. CLOVES! What its a clove? How do they celebrate in The Yukon? What about Ireland? El Salvador, Caracas and Bolivia are explored. The Christmas Rooster is discussed, much to the bewilderment of Matt. Yule Lads, roller skates and opening your doors to unsavoury people are just some of the ways Christmas is celebrated in other parts of the world. 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.

"Lynne!!! ARE YOU HOME?" Its the time of the year that visitors just drop by for a...well... visit. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss some of the runners up for most popular holiday fixtures on this week's episode of The Growing Season. The trio discuss the making of a Christmas urn to adorn your front door. Its not as daunting as you'd think. Also, is there a way of growing plant materials on your property to use in your urns? DOGWOOD...spoiler alert...dogwood. How is a poinsettia forced to change colour? Are botanists involved? Succulents and their cousins are a hot topic. Mistletoe is a bad, bad plant. Its a parasitic nightmare of a organism. Strap in as The McFarlands discuss "flocking." 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.