Our phone is ringing non-stop lately, and what is the most common thing we are asked? “Are you open?” The answer is “YES!” As per government rules, garden centres are exempt from the current provincial lockdown. We are grateful that we can remain open at 25% capacity so you can come in and shop for all your garden needs.

As we have since the start of the pandemic, we are continuing all recommended COVID protocols. Masks are mandatory to enter our building; if this is not medically possible for you, please give us a phone call at 905-623-2300 and we can help you in other ways like providing curbside service.

It looks like it’s going to be another busy season, but we are committed to keeping our level of quality and service to as close to our usual standards as we possibly can. We look forward to seeing our old familiar customers and all the new gardeners as well!



To help you fill your shopping list, the following is an approximate delivery timeline of product we have ordered...

• Trees, Shrubs, Evergreens, Perennials & Fruit: have started coming in and will continue to arrive weekly; should be fully stocked by first to second week of May.
• Clematis & Roses: arriving first week of May, weather dependent                   
• Annuals, Vegetables & Hanging Baskets: some selection now; fully stocked by end of April
• Seed Potatoes, Starter Onions & Garlic Bulbs: arriving by the end of April
• Soil, Mulch, Gravel & Grass Seed: in stock now
• Seeds: racks are in and full
• Houseplants: great selection of tropical indoor plants and pots in stock now and more arriving weekly

Keep in mind, we are doing our utmost to bring you the best selection and to keep stock on our tables for you. However, due to the pandemic, we are at the mercy of our suppliers and the delivery companies so cannot always guarantee exact dates when our merchandise will arrive.



Spring Lawn Care

Raking: It’s best to wait until the lawn begins to green up which indicates the grass is firmly rooted. Rake in the spring, even if you also did this in the fall.

Aerating: Heavy traffic on your lawn can cause soil compaction, which makes it difficult for the grass to root and prevents oxygen and water from reaching the roots. Fall is a better time to aerate, but if you feel it’s needed, contact a local landscaper or rent an aeration machine to take care of this task.

Repairing Bare Patches: These may need some soil and seed to fill in. Rake the dead grass off, loosen the soil and/or apply a layer of good soil and rake smooth. Sow seed thickly on top and tamp it down so it is firmly stuck to the soil. Water well and keep it moist until grass is established.

Overseeding: Sowing seed over your existing grass every spring and fall will help thicken it up which helps prevent weed seeds and insect infestations. Applying a good quality soil mix when seeding in the spring will help feed your grass and keep the soil refreshed.

Fertilizing: Too much fertilizer in spring can lead to disease and weed problems. Instead, use a slow release lawn food in the late fall which will continue to release nutrients to your lawn in the spring.

Controlling weeds: For weeds growing from seeds, use a pre-emergent product containing corn gluten to smother the seeds before they can sprout. This needs to be applied in mid-April but cannot go down along with grass seed as it will work against that, so save your overseeding for a couple of weeks after.

For perennial weeds already established in your lawn, you will need to dig them out or apply an herbicide for broadleaf weeds (dandelions, etc.).

Controlling grubs and cinch bug: Grubs feast on grass roots in late spring, from end of April until early June. When grubs are present, you can apply GrubBGon Max which uses a biological control to kill them. Late summer and early fall sees grubs coming back to feed again so re-apply the product then. It also works on cinch bug which appear in summer to suck the moisture out of the grass so watch for infestations and apply accordingly.



• Clean up your perennial beds in April by cutting back dead stems and clearing away old leaves and debris. Pull mulch back from base of plant to prevent excess moisture from spring showers which can lead to rot.
• Be careful not to compact your garden soil by walking on it too much while it is wet. It does become too compacted, loosen carefully between plants so as not to disturb their roots. Otherwise, just leave it for the earthworms to break up for you!
• Divide perennials like daylilies, hostas, grasses and other clumping perennials now before they fully leaf out. This can be done by lifting the whole clump out and dividing with a knife, two garden forks, or pruners. Or you can leave them in the ground and just use a sharp shovel or knife to cut off side shoots and roots.
• Moving perennials when they are small is easier on your and causes less stress on the plant too! Looking at photos of your garden from last summer may help you remember what needs to be shifted.
• If your garden is lacking in spring bloom, visit our perennial house to find a great selection of colourful spring blooming perennials. See photos below for a sampling of what's in stock!