Mid-June 2014
Mark Cullen e-newsletter
Gardening with Mark
In This Issue
To Do in the Garden
Connect with Mark
Farewell Groundskeeper

 

Mark's

Gardening Connections

  
  
   
  
  
Home Hardware 
  
  
Golfgreen 
  
  
  
Toronto Star 
  
  
  
Ottawa Citizen  
  
  
  
CTV Canada AM 
  
  
  
Facebook 
  
Join Our Mailing List
"Pumps for Food" Golf Tournament

Date: August 26

Location: Pheasant Run Golf Club,

Time: shotgun start at 1:00pm

Cost: $150 per person

 

Register today for the "Pumps for Food" golf tournament, hosted by Dr. James Clubine and Mark Cullen to benefit S.H.A.R.E. Agriculture Foundation

 

Join us for a day of excellent golf and great food and fun, while raising much needed funding for "Pumps for Food".

 

"Pumps for Food" is a Mark Cullen and Dr. James Clubine initiative that raises fund for irrigation systems to produce food in the long dry season in Honduras and El Salador.  A 'game changer' for co-operatives of subsistence farmers.

 

Sign up today!  Space is limited!

To Do in the Garden  

  

Grub Busters

1.  Treat your lawn for grub control.  Now is the time to apply dormant nematodes - those microscopic sized predators that you spray from a hose-end sprayer.  

 

Nematodes occur naturally in your garden soil already - by applying them now you are enhancing their population in a natural fight against white and grey grubs.  Nematodes are harmless to kids, pets and the environment. You have, weather depending, until the first week of July to get this job done.

 

2.  Cut peonies and roses and bring them indoors.

 

3.  Fertilize roses with Green Earth or CIL Rose food once a month in June and July.

 

4.  Mulch with finely ground up cedar or pine bark mulch 6 to 8 cm thick to reduce weeding by up to 90% and watering by up to 70% the first year.

 

5.  Set up rain barrels at your down spouts. Rain water is 30 to 40% oxygen charged. All plants perform better when watered with rain water. I use 4 rain barrels around my house to water all of my container plants. The results speak for themselves!

 

6.  Plant your potatoes, corn, zucchini, potatoes and all other hot crops that you have been holding off for. The heat is finally 'on'.

 

7.  It is not too late to sow seeds for fast germinating flowers and veggies. Sunflowers, zinnias, asters, nasturtiums, calendula, peas, beans, radishes and carrots can be sown now with expectations of a full crop before the end of the season.

 

8.  Stake your tomatoes to double your crop. Apply Bordo Copper mixture to prevent early and late blight- once every couple of weeks until the middle of August. 

Connect with Mark
 

- Did you know that I have a YouTube channel? Check out Mark Cullen Gardening on YouTube for 'How To' videos to help with your lawn & garden.

 

- Watch my weekly segment on CTV Canada AM with Jeff. Every Wednesday, between 8:30 and 9:00am. If you miss a segment, watch them online.

 

- My weekly newspaper column can be found online at The Toronto Star.

 

- Follow my daily Tweets on Twitter (@MarkCullen4)

 

- Listen to my weekly gardening tip 'The Green File'. I post a new audio clip every Wednesday.

 
- Follow my daily postings on my Facebook page
Farewell to Groundskeeper
 

In the past, the Groundskeeper answered your gardening questions through my website www.markcullen.com.  

We will no longer be answering gardening questions in this way.  Do not expect a direct answer to your gardening questions. 

 

I encourage you to visit My Library to search for information.  And join the discussion on my Facebook page to receive advice from other gardeners.  

Where to Find Mark
 

Mark June 19 - Proudfoot's Home Hardware Building Centre, Stellarton, Nova Scotia. 6-8pm. Contact the store for more details 902-752-1500.

 

June 21 - Annapolis Home Hardware Building Centre, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia.  1-3pm.  Contact the store for more details 902-532-7080. 

Submit Your Event Listings 


Events

Do you have a 'gardening' event you would like to promote, I would be happy to include your event listing in my monthly e-newsletter.

 

Send your info to [email protected] with the subject line 'Newsletter Event Listing'.  Please provide a brief description of the event, along with a website for further information.

 

Annapolis Royal's Historic Gardens 
Nova Scotia
 
Annapolis Royal

Stop and Smell the Roses.  

 

In a beautiful setting overlooking a tidal river valley, the Historic Gardens is a premiere Nova Scotia attraction showcasing gardening methods, designs and materials representing more than four hundred years of local history.

 

Our Rose Collection boasts hundreds of rose cultivars and thousands of fragrant and colourful blossoms.

More info.  

Beach Garden Society

Ontario

 

Date: June 17

Time: 7:15-9pm

Location: Adam Beck Community Centre, 79 Lawlor Avenue, Toronto

 

Presentation: Good Bugs?  Bad Bugs?

Presenter: Cynthia Brown

New members and guests welcome - come early and enjoy informal discussions with members or check out the library.

More info.

Brandon Garden Club - Living Outdoors
Manitoba 
 

Date: June 18

Time: 7pm

Location: Park Avenue Activity Centre, 311 Park Avenue East in the Don Glen Hall

 

Living Outdoors - creating an outdoor living space and our favourite looks, with Cory Messel & Christine Raupers.

Visitors can attend for $5 per meeting.

More info.

Bobcaygeon and District Horticultural Society

Ontario

 

Bobcaygeon

Date: June 19

Time: 7pm

Location: Knox Presbyterian Church Hall

 

Trilliums - with Craig McLeod

More info.

Woodbridge Garden & Horticultural Society

Ontario

 

2014 Garden Tour

 

Date: June 21

Time: 10am - 3pm

Rain or Shine

Tickets: $10

 

More info.

 

Peterborough and Area Master Gardeners

Ontario

  

25th Anniversary Garden Tour

 

Date: June 21

Time: 10am - 4pm

Learn from 10 interesting Peterborough Gardens.

Cost: $20

More info.

Leaside Garden Society

Ontario  

  

Magical Gardens of Leaside Tour

 

Date: June 21

Time: 11am - 4pm

Passports, which include garden addresses and a tour map, are $10 each.  The tour will proceed rain or shine.

More info.

Leslieville Tree Festival

Ontario

  

LEAF Date: June 21

Time: 12pm - 4pm

Location: Leslie Grove Park, 1158 Queen Street East, Toronto

 

A free community celebration for the whole family.  Green vendors.  Local food.  Music and dancers.  Kids' zone.  Ceremonial tree planting.

More info.

Amherstburg Fort Malden Horticultural Society

Ontario

  

Annual Garden Centre Bus Tour

 

Date: June 21

Time: 8am - 5pm

 

Includes lunch and admission to Zonta's Great Garden and Pond Tour featuring 8 gardens to tour and stops at garden centres.

Members $55, non-member $60

More info. 519-736-6049

Artists in the Garden Tour

Ontario  

  

Date: June 21

Time: 10am - 5pm

 

Celebrating our 15th anniversary, this year's tour promises to showcase some of the best gardens in Oshawa and Whitby. 

Tickets: $15/person in advance or $20/person at the garden gates.

 

All funds raised support Durham Region's only cancer support centre, Hearth Place in Oshawa.

More info.

The Hamilton & Burlington Rose Society

Ontario

   

Rose Society

Annual Rose Show: Exhibit of Cut Garden Roses and Floral Design

 

Date: June 21 and June 22

Location: The Royal Botanical Gardens Centre (Atrium)

More info.

Schomberg Horticultural Society 

Ontario

  

Events

Annual Garden Tour

 

Date: June 22

Time: 10am - 4pm

$10/person

This is a self-guided, driving tour of King Township's most beautiful gardens.  Come and see estate and small back yard gardens and enjoy the beautiful countryside that King Township has to offer.

More info. 905-939-2216

Georgetown Horticulture Society

Ontario 

   

Events

Through the Garden Gate Garden Tour

 

Date: June 22

Time: 10am - 4pm

Cost: $10

Tickets may be purchased on day of Tour at 80 Ontario Street, Georgetown.

More info.

49th Annual Cloverleaf Garden Tour

Ontario

    

Plant sale

Date: June 22

Time: 10am - 4pm

Tickets: $15

Walking garden tour in Mississauga.

Explore 14+ private gardens in west Port Credit, as well as guided tours of the Brueckner Rhododendron Garden.

More info.

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Ontario  

  

Heart of Northumberland Garden Tour

 

Date: June 22

Location: Port Hope and Cobourg

Tickets: $30 or $25 for 10+

 

There are eight gorgeous gardens, a birdhouse boutique, and lunch is available for purchase.

All proceeds of the Tour go to support the at-risk kids on Northumberland County.

More info.

Beach Garden Society

Ontario

 

2014 Garden Tour

 

Date: June 22

Time: 2-5pm

Rain or shine.  The tour takes in a variety of gardens on a (more or less) downhill walking tour starting at Main and Kingston Road and meandering down to Queen at Glen Manor, terminating close to the Main Street Bus at Queen and Wineva.

Tickets are $10 

More info.

The Brantford Master Gardeners

Ontario    

 

Events

Annual "Gardens on Parade"

 

Date: June 22

Time: 10am - 3pm

8 home gardens for viewing in the City of Brantford.  Including a plant sale and door prizes.

Tickets: advance $8 each, day of the tour $10 each

More info. 519-442-3458

Markham Garden & Horticultural Society

Ontario    

 

Events

Date: June 23

Time: 7:30-9pm

Location: Markham Village Community Centre, Markham Road and Highway 7

 

Guest Speaker: Dan Cooper, from 'Gardening from a Hammock'

Topic: Low-maintenance gardening

Everyone welcome

More info. 416-897-9346

The Butchart Gardens

British Columbia   

 

Date: June 28

Time: 7:15-9:15pm

Tropic Mayhem

Fun in the sun & cool surfin' sounds! Tropic Mayhem Location: Concert Lawn Stage

 

Saturday Night Fireworks

All ten summer Saturday nights feature a jaw-dropping, dazzling Firework show with both aerial and ground displays choreographed to show tunes.

Time: 10:15 pm - 11:15 pm

 

More info.

Communities in Bloom Garden Tour

Sarnia, Ontario    

 

Date: June 29

Time: 1-5pm

 

8 gardens featuring: shaded, sunny, hobbyist, and more!

 

Tickets: $12/person