Ben Cullen

1 month ago | nexthome.ca | Ben Cullen

To keep perennial plants performing at their peak, it’s necessary to lift and divide most of them every few years. Both spring and autumn are good times to do this. You’ll end up with more plants than you started with, so begin a new flower bed or give the extras to a friend, local horticultural society or schools. As a last resort, the discards can go on the compost. Many gardeners prefer to divide their crowded perennials in the fall.

2 months ago | harrowsmithmag.com | Ben Cullen

The year 2022 has been declared the Year of the Garden, and rightly so, as many Canadians are looking to add more gardens to their lives. For us, that means adding more planting square footage by creating new beds. A planting bed is the foundation of any new garden you decide to create, whether it is to grow vegetables or to attract pollinators. An existing lawn is a great place to locate your new bed, as grass is not productive in the yard for much more than walking on.

2 months ago | harrowsmithmag.com | Ben Cullen

“We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.” ~Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732We tend to take for granted the things we view as having greatest abundance. We are fortunate to live in an abundant place, which means we are prone to lose sight of our good fortune. Often, we are told that Canadians have 20% of the world’s fresh water, but even that requires some perspective.

Feb 22, 2025 | nexthome.ca | Ben Cullen

Dirty knees and gardening go together, just not at this time of year. Fact is, many of us “garden” indoors in the Canadian winter. We grow tropical plants, amaryllis, windowsill herbs, bean sprouts and more. The need to nurture plants through the winter months is a good thing. There is nothing like getting some real dirt under your finger nails. Here is our primer for mid-winter gardening success:Low light means poor performanceMost tropical plants need sunlight to perform and grow well.

Jan 29, 2025 | harrowsmithmag.com | Ben Cullen

We enjoy growing tropical plants indoors. After a full season of gardening, the idea of nurturing green, living things where we live indoors has great appeal. For new and seasoned gardeners alike, it’s good to know that many of the skills you have developed during the outdoor gardening season are transferrable when your aspidistra needs attention, or your rosemary needs gentle pruning. Moreover, understanding the language of plants is not an exclusively “outdoor” skill. Take watering for example.