Houseplant Chat: Fertilizer
Down The Garden Path Podcast
In the fourth episode of Down the Garden Path's "Houseplant Chat” series, Joanne discusses the basics of fertilizing houseplants. Topics Covered When to start fertilizing Wait until days are noticeably longer (sometime after daylight savings time) when plants begin active growth again. How to read fertilizer labels (N-P-K) The three numbers represent Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K). Leafy plants may benefit from higher nitrogen; flowering plants often need more phosphorus. Choosing an “all-purpose” fertilizer Balanced blends (e.g., 10-10-10) can work for many...
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Houseplant Chat: Propagation Made Simple
Down The Garden Path Podcast
In the third episode of Down the Garden Path's "Houseplant Chat” series, Joanne discusses propagation, a simple and rewarding way to expand your plant collection. Topics discussed: Quick recap of and : winter light, soil refresh/repotting, and watering What propagation is (and why it’s easier than starting from seed) Best beginner-friendly plants to propagate: pothos and philodendrons Fixing a long, “leggy” trailing plant by trimming and replanting rooted cuttings back into the base to fill it out How to take cuttings: clean tools, cut around leaf nodes, and root in water How long...
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Houseplant Chat: Soil & Watering Tips
Down The Garden Path Podcast
In the second episode of Down the Garden Path's "Houseplant Chat” series, Joanne focuses on soil and watering techniques during the winter months. Topics discussed: Joanne emphasizes the vital role that soil plays in the health of our houseplants. Steer clear of potting soils with added fertilizers or unnecessary ingredients, as houseplants generally do not require fertilization during this period. Instead, opt for a basic, nutrient-rich potting mix that supports healthy growth without overwhelming your plants. For those with existing plants, it's essential to check if they need repotting....
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Houseplant Chat: Getting the Light Right
Down The Garden Path Podcast
This week, Joanne kicks off the 12th season of the Down the Garden Path podcast with the first episode in her “Houseplant Chat” series: Getting the Light Right. Tune in to learn how to keep your houseplants happy when winter light disappears. Topics discussed: Joanne emphasizes the importance of light for houseplants, especially in January, and shares practical tips for ensuring plants receive adequate light. She discusses her personal experiences with moving plants around her home to optimize their light exposure and highlights specific plants that thrive in low-light conditions, such as...
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Canada Gardener's Journal with Steven Biggs
Down The Garden Path Podcast
This week, Joanne welcomes horticulturist Stephen Biggs back to the podcast to talk about his latest project, the newly expanded About Steven Steven was recognized by Garden Making magazine as one of the “green gang” making a difference in Canadian horticulture. His home-garden experiments span driveway straw-bale gardens, a rooftop kitchen garden, fruit plantings, and an edible-themed front yard. He’s a horticulturist, award-winning broadcaster and author, and former horticulture instructor with George Brown and Durham Colleges in Ontario, Canada. His other books...
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Soil Testing with Amy Ellard-Gray
Down The Garden Path Podcast
This week on the podcast, Joanne discusses soil testing with The Hobby Homestead's Amy Ellard-Gray, who grows 75% of her family’s fruits and vegetables in her Guelph backyard. About Amy Amy runs The Hobby Homestead in suburban Guelph, where she cultivates over 100 varieties of native plants to support the local ecosystem. Through her , , , and in-person consultations, she helps people design and troubleshoot their own food-growing spaces. Her mantra, “growing food in harmony with nature,” guides everything she does, from tending soil life to welcoming wildlife into the garden....
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Transitioning to Indoor Gardening
Down The Garden Path Podcast
This week on Down the Garden Path, Joanne shares her passion for indoor gardening with practical winter houseplant care tips and a reminder that there’s always something new to learn and grow. Topics discussed: 1. From Annuals to Houseplants It's time to turn your attention to houseplants as gardening shifts indoors. Don't rush out to buy new plants: friends and family often have extras or cuttings to share. 2. Winter Care Basics During shorter days and lower light levels, houseplants slow down their growth. Do not fertilize in winter; they’re not actively growing. Keep watering...
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Mythic Plants with Ellen Zachos
Down The Garden Path Podcast
This week, Joanne welcomes Ellen Zachos, author of 11 books on plants, including her latest, . About Ellen A Harvard graduate, Ellen's first career was on Broadway (Les Miz), but the gift of a peace lily on opening night opened her eyes to the wonderful world of plants. Ellen taught at the New York Botanical Garden for many years and also served as Coordinator of the Gardening Department in Continuing Ed, before moving to Santa Fe, NM. She was named a Great American Gardener by the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. Her 11th book, , was published this year. Inspiration & Research ...
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The Suburban Gardenista
Down The Garden Path Podcast
This week on the podcast, Joanne welcomes Brandie, the Suburban Gardenista, an avid gardener passionate about supporting pollinators with native plants. Brandie is Pollinator Stewardship Certified by Pollinator Partnership Canada and loves sharing her learnings through podcasts, workshops, and social media. You can find her online on and @thesuburbangardenista. Brandie’s Gardening Journey Began gardening ~20 years ago after moving into a home with no plants Inspired by her mother’s lush gardens Discovered native plants through growing Obedient Plant — her “gateway”...
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How to Overwinter Your Annuals
Down The Garden Path Podcast
If your summer containers still look surprisingly lush, don't toss them out just yet. This week on the podcast, Joanne discusses how, with a little care, you can enjoy them again next year. Tune in to learn how to overwinter your annuals. Topics discussed: Many annuals are still looking great in mid-October — don’t toss them yet! You can successfully overwinter several annuals to save money and enjoy them again next year. There’s no single foolproof method; success depends on the type of plant, growing conditions, and care. Joanne shares three main methods: bringing the whole plant...
info_outlineIn this episode of Down the Garden Path, Joanne Shaw speaks with Barbara Pratt about the 29th annual Gardens of Uxbridge Tour, taking place this Saturday, June 21st, 2025, from 10 am to 5 pm.
The Gardens of Uxbridge Tour
On this self-guided driving tour around the Uxbridge countryside, participants view eight private residential gardens in both town and country settings. The gardens featured change every year and offer a variety of sizes, designs, unique plantings, and inspiration for your own garden. A charitable fundraiser, produced in partnership with The Lucy Maud Montgomery Society of Ontario, this tour benefits the local National Historic Site commemorating this Canadian author of Anne of Green Gables fame.
Here are some of the topics discussed in this episode:
Lucy Maud Montgomery Society
- Barbara Pratt is one of the founding members of the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society
- Montgomery lived near Uxbridge for 15 years, and her journals were published in five volumes by Oxford University Press
Gardens of Uxbridge Tour
- The annual Gardens of Uxbridge Tour is a major fundraiser for the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society of Ontario
- Barbara explained how the society restored the Leaskdale Manse, where Montgomery lived as a minister's wife, using her historical photographs to guide the restoration
- The tour, now in its 29th year, was originally run by Community Care in Uxbridge before being taken over by the society, which continues to maintain both the house and gardens to attract international visitors interested in Montgomery's life and work
- The tour focuses on showcasing personal and unique garden styles, overcoming obstacles, and providing inspiration for gardeners
- This year’s tour will take place on June 21st, featuring eight gardens (4 in town and 4 in the countryside) that can be visited in a single day
- Participants receive a passport with a map and descriptions of the gardens, along with a list of interesting side trips, such as Richters Herbs in Goodwood
- Tickets must be purchased online at gardensofuxbridge.org, with all proceeds supporting local community projects
- This year, due to road construction, the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society will serve refreshments at Showbrook Gardens instead of the manse, where they will offer their signature tea and scones along with displays
- The tour will highlight various artists, including Linda Virio for encaustic painting, Daniella Boerhof for metal sculptures, and Anja Kooistra for fabric sculptures.
- Barbara discussed the upcoming two-day conference in Leaskdale dedicated to Lucy Maud Montgomery, which will attract attendees from around the world, including South Africa, the United States, Europe, and Japan.
Lucy Maud Montgomery Summer Events
- Barbara discussed the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society's summer activities, including weekly Wednesday teas at the historic Leaskdale Church
- Learn more at LucyMaudMontgomery.ca.
Get your tickets for this weekend’s Gardens of Uxbridge Tour at www.gardensofuxbridge.org.
Have a topic you'd like Joanne to discuss?
Email your questions and comments to downthegardenpathpodcast@hotmail.com, or connect via her website at down2earth.ca.
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Down the Garden Path Podcast
On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low-maintenance as possible.
In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide.
Get your copy today on Amazon.
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