Just because fall is upon us doesn’t mean that those beautiful pots and planters have to go back in the garage for the winter. We have some plant suggestions on how to spice up your containers to get a fresh and seasonally appropriate look with bold colours and exciting textures.

Just remember that potted plants don’t have the same insulation in-ground plants have and their roots may freeze, making your perennials annuals. Speak to your local garden centre professional to find the best perennials to plant and special care needed in order to have them return next year.

Consider:
Fall Pansies: they are hardy, at least for a frost or two and have a great variety of colours. They work well as filler.

Sunflowers: these bright native American plants say “summer isn’t over” like no other. They are tough and easy to grow as long as the soil is not waterlogged.

Asters: they display vibrant fall colours in shades of blue, purple pink and white and also offer a great feeding opportunity for pollinators.

Coneflowers/Echinacea: offer beautiful sunset-like colours and can grow rather tall in your container.

Sedum: is a late foliage that can last past a couple of frosts. They can range from icy blue-green to dark burgundy, offering some great texture to your display.

Ornamental Peppers: have glossy purple leaves and fruit which can make this plant a late-season sight to see.

Chrysanthemums: these are a fall favourite that come in a wide variety of shapes and colours.

Falling leaves signal the beginning of the fall garden clean up season. With the cooler fall weather upon us, it's time to get outside and prepare your garden for the onset of a Canadian winter. Maybe you haven't spent that much time in the garden over the past few weeks, with kids going back to school, or you have managed to get away and spend some time off at the cottage, but there are a lot of little tasks that need to be completed to get your garden ready for winter.

Fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs, cut back perennials, remove annuals and get your lawn healthy for next spring. Remember to keep watering. Trees and shrubs that are deprived of water now will be easily stressed in the winter. Below is a handy guide to fall clean up tasks.

October:

♦ Transplant shrubs or young trees to new locations.
♦ Cut diseased areas out of perennials. Do not compost.
♦ Rake and compost any fallen leaves.
♦ Clean up garden debris. Remove all vegetable plants and fallen fruit.
♦ Remove dead annuals from the garden, after a frost. ♦ Cut back perennial foliage to discourage overwintering pests. Leave flowers with seeds for the birds.
♦ Continue watering trees and shrubs until the ground freezes.
♦ Sharpen lawn mower blade and pruners.
♦ Trim tall grass away from trees and corners of your home to discourage small rodents from creating nests. ♦ Dig up tender bulbs such as dahlia, canna and gladiola. Wrap them in moist material and store in a cool, dark space.

November:
♦ Fertilize your lawn
♦ Divide spring and summer blooming perennial plants.
♦ Turn off outside water connections. Drain garden hoses.
♦ Buy bulbs to force for winter.
♦ Continue watering trees and shrubs until the ground freezes.
♦ Wrap screening around fruit tree trunks to protect from small animals.
♦ Mulch rose bushes.
♦ Clean fallen leaves in downspouts and gutters.

~ Landscape Ontario  

For years, homeowners have found UNILOCK's Idea Centres to be a great resource as they  plan their products. Fortunately, given that these facilities are outdoor and large in scale, homeowners can continue to visit while maintaining new physical distancing guidelines. 

Explore the centre at your leisure to see a wide range of UNILOCK® products, compare colours and textures and imagine the possibilities for your project. Then, when ready, we can connect with you at a safe distance to answer any questions you may have and provide you with full size products samples.

Want to learn about "How to plan your landscape project"? Call 1-800-UNILOCK or email Kathryn Lotox for date/time.

National Tree Day serves as a celebration for all Canadians to appreciate the great benefits that trees provide us - clean air, wildlife habitat, reducing energy demand and connecting with nature.

To celebrate trees, the House of Commons passed a private members motion on March 2, 2011 declaring the Wednesday of National Forest Week as National Tree Day. At the insistence of Tree Canada, this special day was created to give Canadians the opportunity to learn more about the great benefits of trees while encouraging them to celebrate our country’s forest heritage. Communities across the country explored nature, enjoying its beauty, and also helped nourish it by planting new trees.

The Canada Blooms team also joined in the celebration by planting a Chinese Beech near our office. It will be enjoyed for years to come.

Past Trees Planted - 2015 Oak, 2016 Maple, 2017 Maple, 2018 Maple, 2019 Willow 

Thanks to David Turnbull and Mike Wasilewski for doing the actual digging and planting.

What is a Trial Garden?
A Trial Garden is a garden grown specifically for the purpose of testing and evaluating new plants. These gardens are operated by universities, plant breeders and garden-industry companies as well as private citizens and botanical gardens. The purpose of trial gardens is to make sure plants will thrive so that home gardeners have the best plants for their own gardens.

At Landscape Ontario, this year despite COVID-19, the University of Guelph trial garden season has taken place. Along with their regular trials that is done each year, they expanded dramatically with the introduction of a container trial, a pollinator evaluation garden and a large, herbaceous perennial trial.

Read the complete story by Rodger Tschanz

The winners of the trials are the best plants to be grown in our zone and will likely be seen in your garden centres next year.

The Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit has been extended in Toronto until January, so there is still time to enjoy this amazing experience, whether you chose to go by car or by walk through.

Wander through giant projections that highlight brushstrokes, detail, and colour as you have never experienced them. Visitors will be immersed in Van Gogh’s works — from his sunny landscapes and night scenes, to his portraits and still life paintings. (discover more)

Special Offer: Use code ADDGOGH26 to redeem Premium tickets for the price of a Basic ticket!
Valid for purchase until November 30th on Walk Thru tickets only. Tickets must be purchased 48hrs prior to selected date and time.