Kitchener Master Gardeners
11 Floral Cresent N2G 2N9 Kitchener, ON, Canada

I have been watching the Norway Maples in our area go steadily downhill these past few years. I did a search and learned that they could be suffering from verticillium wilt. I had thought another possibility might be that the root girdling. But today I asked Google for the lifespan of a Norway Maple. It said that normally it was maybe 250 years but in North America, it was about 60 years. The trees in our area of the City are 60 years old, planted in or around 1965. What think you?

Treasure Hunt time to destroy Gypsy Moth cocoons before they hatch and defoliate & potentially destroy Trees in our Neighbourhoods and backyards <3 #gypsymoth

You're a gardener when...

Leaf blowers blast away life from our properties. Sterilizing everything for a 'perfect lawn'. #leavetheleaves

Shrubs are a great way to add structure and character to your garden, provide four-season interest, and offer birds and pollinators valuable sources of food and habitat throughout the year. Find out more and place your order today! https://reepgreen.square.site/

Join us in this Free, online event! The incoming Coordinator, Sarah van der Stam is speaking Wednesday, November 17th at 7:00 pm... Urban Trees & Our Shared Heritage! The trees in our cities are windows into our past. Through cycles of boom and bust, peacetime and war, trees have been witness to the monumental events that shape the cities we live in today. Join us on a journey to explore how we have come to think about our woody companions and get to know them a little better. We’ll talk about some common species you’ll find in the City and some of their unique characteristics https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/urban-trees-and-our-shared-heri

Congratulations Rhonda Grein!!

Sharing & Swapping plants is a great way to make your garden beautiful and affordable but... Have you ever wondered what an Invasive species is and How it negatively impacts ecosystems? Ontario Invasive Plant Council offers reputable, science research-based information that is both easy to understand and accessible on their website plus additional outside reputable resources. ... Sometimes those neat, interesting,or even free plants could be more harmful than good. Being a responsible gardener, home owner or even professional means doing your research and ensuring that plant isnt on an invasive species list. Some plants and trees can leave chemical residues that disrupt or even kill the natural microorganisms in the soil that wont allow many plants, especially native species from growing below, or even greatly stump their growth. Norway Maple, Acer platanoides Crimson King, is a good example. Other plants such as grasses spread aggressively by thick, compacted roots system which can be laborious to remove and have hundreds of seeds per seed head dispersed by wind and birds. Examples include many Miscanthus species, Pampas grass, Cortaderia selloana and Phragmites. When removing invasive (and diseased) plants its important to ALWAYS place the full plant into heavy-duty contractor type garbage bags to fully contain leaves, seeds/flowers, branches and roots. These heavy-duty contractor bags will ensure that the branches dont rip through the sides, after all we want to contain the plant material by reducing the risk that the plant cannot reproduce or spread disease. If seeds are present cut seed heads into bucket/bag first to prevent from spreading by air or ground. Please DO NOT place Invasive & Diseased plants into your personal compost and/or the city/municipal compost or yard bags as the invasive & diseased plants can spread into the compost. Some plants can be killed by the heat in the garbage bag or compost, but many diseases and seeds can and prefer to reproduce in high temperatures this encouraging further spread. When in doubt, reach out to a local Master Gardener group or other professionals to help to correctly Identify plants and/or diseases by their correct scientific or botanical name. Note- Common Names can and often change depending on the region or country, but the scientific name remains the same (some exceptions when reclassifying). A common name is like stating its Joe from Ontario. Well, which Joe is that? https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/ You can also refer to the "Grow Me Instead Guide for Southwestern Ontario http://www.invadingspecies.com//grow-me-instead-southern/ Kindly, Sarah van der Stam Kitchener Master Gardener

Congratulations Karen!!!!

A lot of folks are suddenly interested in learning how to grow their own food. So, through the end of April, we are making OSUs online Vegetable Gardening course FREE. https://workspace.oregonstate.edu//master-gardener-short-c

Waterloo Region now designated a 'bee region': Steps will be taken to protect pollinators by creating habitats and educating communities about the importance of pollination

Waterloo Region now designated a bee region: Steps will be taken to protect pollinators by creating habitats and educating communities about the importance of pollination

Bloom{in} Box is back! Our all-in-one garden kits include 15 native perennials that bring your yard to life, attracting birds, bees and butterflies for sun, shade or rain gardens. Proceeds go towards projects that help people live sustainably | http://ow.ly/uoPQ50yATYh

Take the Challenge !!!

Excellent scientific article on deconstructing seven widespread gardening myths on landscape trees by way of reviewing research-based literature. https://www.nacaa.com/journal/index.php

Master Gardener Sarah van der Stam will be speaking on Tuesday, January 21st -- Kitchener Horticultural Society meeting. KPL- Central branch Fruit Trees for Beginners... 7:00 pm http://www.kitchenerhs.ca/cms/events/2020/seminar-01/ See more

Kelly of our Kitchener Master Gardeners volunteering at Doon Heritage Village. Looks good Kelly !

Interesting information on Canadian vs US plant hardiness zones

This is Not a Kitchener Master Gardener event- Check out this Free Family event! https://tinyurl.com/RockwayScavHunt2019

Excellent resource

Join us at the 2019 Technical Update for Master Gardeners hosted by LMMG's. This year we study the "What, Why & Wonderful" of Therapeutic Gardens! http://londonmiddlesexmastergardeners.com/therapeutic-gard/

Join us at the 2019 Technical Update for Master Gardeners hosted by LMMGs. This year we study the "What, Why & Wonderful" of Therapeutic Gardens! http://londonmiddlesexmastergardeners.com/therapeutic-gard/

Great time at our Master Gardener trip to Whistling Gardens this week. Special thanks to our great tour guide, Darren.

Pop in to visit the Master Gardener table for some pollinator seeds. https://www.facebook.com/events/2268389686749068/?ti=icl

We have several new members who have expressed interest in becoming Master Gardeners. You can watch this short video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZWSnsEKdWwhttp://www.mgoi.ca to learn about our volunteer organization, or visit our website: www.mgoi.ca and complete the contact form. Locate a group in your area and attend a meeting. Groups often have great programs with guest speakers. Check us out. We seek to provide support to the public, engaging them in learning to use unbiased, research-based gardening information and practices that support a healthy environment.

Cant recall ever seeing or noticing something like this before. There is a Silver Maple on our street with another tree growing out of the crook of the tree. The major tree stands about 50 tall and appears quite healthy. The small tree looks like it may be a Mountain Ash that is about 2 tall.

*****Due to high winds (and cold snowy weather) this event has been cancelled. Tree planting will be rescheduled ****** Drop by to say hello to the Master Gardeners. Bring the kids to plant a seedling to take home !!!

Can't recall ever seeing or noticing something like this before. There is a Silver Maple on our street with another tree growing out of the crook of the tree. The major tree stands about 50' tall and appears quite healthy. The small tree looks like it may be a Mountain Ash that is about 2' tall.