Denise Hodgins, London Free Press Journalist Profile

Articles

Growing Concerns: Roses easy to grow and bloom all summer

6 days ago | simcoereformer.ca | Denise Hodgins

Advertisement 1With advances in breeding and cultivation, roses have become much easier to grow with a lot less work. Author of the article: • Special to The London Free Press • • Article contentWith advances in breeding and cultivation, roses have become much easier to grow with a lot less work. Advertisement 2Article contentWhen we buy roses at the grocery store or flower shop, they tend to be long stem hybrid tea or miniature tea roses. You can also buy these roses to grow in your garden.
Growing Concerns: Roses easy to grow and bloom all summer

1 week ago | lfpress.com | Denise Hodgins

With advances in breeding and cultivation, roses have become much easier to grow with a lot less work. When we buy roses at the grocery store or flower shop, they tend to be long stem hybrid tea or miniature tea roses. You can also buy these roses to grow in your garden. To get the same log stem rose requires what is called disbudding. As the roses begin to grow, the side buds and branches are removed to create that long stem effect.
Growing Concerns: Enjoy the colours of June

1 week ago | thesudburystar.com | Denise Hodgins

June is one of my most favorite times of the year. There is so much colour in the garden. Author of the article: Denise Hodgins • Special to The London Free PressPublished Jun 14, 2025 • Last updated 1 day ago • 2 minute readBearded irises are easy to grow in most parts of Canada. Article contentJune is one of my most favorite times of the year. There is so much colour in the garden. Advertisement 2This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Growing Concerns: Enjoy the colours of June

2 weeks ago | lfpress.com | Denise Hodgins

June is one of my most favorite times of the year. There is so much colour in the garden. The irises are in full bloom. There are lots of different sizes, styles and colours of iris. I suggest only buying irises when they are in bloom, when you can confirm their colour. Once the irises are finished blooming, they can be dug and shipped. Irises do not like to have their rhizome (bulb) buried too deep in the soil. About half the rhizome should be showing. June is one of my most favorite times of the year.
Growing Concerns: Spring flowering shrubs need pruning

2 weeks ago | thesudburystar.com | Denise Hodgins

If you want blooms next year, prune nowAuthor of the article: Denise Hodgins • Special to The London Free PressPublished Jun 07, 2025 • Last updated 15 hours ago • 2 minute readForsythia needs pruning only after it blooms. (Postmedia Network file photo)Article contentWith all the rain and cool temperatures, everything is growing well, even the weeds. Advertisement 2This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Growing Concerns: Spring flowering shrubs need pruning

3 weeks ago | lfpress.com | Denise Hodgins

If you want blooms next year, prune nowIf you have a forsythia, prune it now. Forsythia blooms on last year’s growth. To get it to bloom next year you need to take up to two-thirds of its overall growth off now. By cutting it back now, you leave it enough time to start new growth which will set buds in late August to be ready to bloom next spring. Here are a couple of things which need to be done now. With all the rain and cool temperatures, everything is growing well, even the weeds.
Growing Concerns: Map blooming cycles before buying plants

4 weeks ago | lfpress.com | Denise Hodgins

I know why they call this month May: It may rain, it may snow, the temperature may be 5C or it may be 30C. Anything is possible in May. All the plants are already, but even though they have grown so much so quickly, they still need to be fertilized. What energy the plant has stored through the winter will be gone very quickly. I use a water soluble fertilizer, but other gardeners use manure or granular, slow-release fertilizer. Whatever you choose, it is important to provide it often.
Growing Concerns: Mind where you pile on the dirt and mulch

1 month ago | lfpress.com | Denise Hodgins

There are a few things to consider when adding soil or mulch to garden beds. Don’t pile dirt against walls or fences not designed to take the weight or, in the case of wood fences, not rot-proof. In one case, I know of, a neighbour built a raised flowerbed and used the fence at the back of the bed for the fourth side. The soil was about one metre deep and, after a couple of years, the wooden fence started to rot from the exposure to soil moisture.
Growing Concerns: Keep weather eye out for frost

1 month ago | lfpress.com | Denise Hodgins

We had two last week and I’m sure there are more to come. I am talking about cold nights, when the temperature drops below 5 C. Why is this so important? This time of year. the weather is beginning to warm, but it is still unpredictable. It is not unusual for Southwestern Ontario to have daytime temperatures of 20 C or above and with clear nights with no clouds the temperatures can and often do drop below the five-degree mark. When this happens, frost is common.
Growing Concerns: Flowers not the only gifts for gardening mom

1 month ago | lfpress.com | Denise Hodgins

Share this Story : Growing Concerns: Flowers not the only gifts for gardening momTaking your mom to the local garden center and letting her enjoy the colours, sights, sounds and smells might be the best gift of all. Many folks gravitate to hanging baskets of annuals, which always are a wonderful gift. If you are looking for something different than the traditional geranium or petunias consider dragon wing begonias, which can take full hot sun and will tolerate drying out a little bit.