Advice From The Ritchie Team Experts

Ottawa’s tulips aren’t just pretty, they’re a living thank-you note.

Canada’s Tulip Festival exists because of a rare piece of history that ties Ottawa and the Netherlands together through World War II, friendship, and a tradition that still blooms every spring.

That spring soundtrack is back, and it’s more than just a cute vibe. When birds return to Ontario, they bring something your yard actually benefits from: natural pest control.

A bird-friendly yard is often a healthier, more balanced garden, because birds help keep insect populations in check while also supporting the ecosystem around your home.

Southern and Central Ontario (Zones 4–6) are home to some of the rarest plant habitats in the province, like tallgrass prairies, oak savannahs, alvars, fens, dunes, and Carolinian forests. The plants that live there aren’t “just uncommon”… many are officially at risk.

Learning which species are endangered (and why) helps gardeners make better choices at home, protecting native habitat, avoiding invasive plants, and supporting biodiversity in a real, local way. 

Peonies are the definition of “plant once, enjoy forever.” In Zones 4–6, they’re hardy, reliable, and can bloom for decades, but when they don’t bloom well, it’s usually because of a few fixable details.

This guide walks you through everything in one smooth plan: where to plant, how to boost blooms, when to prune, and the different types of peonies, so yours look fuller every year.

If you’re new to gardening, it’s easy to assume compost, manure, and fertilizer are basically the same thing. They’re not, and choosing the right one can be the difference between “my plants are thriving” and “why is nothing happening?”

Yes, you still have to sow seeds! May is one of the busiest planting months in Ontario, especially for warm-season veggies and easy direct-sow flowers.

Below you’ll find May planting separated into what to start indoors vs what to sow directly outside, organized week-by-week by zone.

A great garden bed isn’t just “a pile of soil.” It’s a layered setup that controls weeds, supports roots, and matches the sun + mature plant size, so your garden looks good and stays easy to maintain.

Here’s the full step-by-step, from cutting the grass to finishing with mulch or stone.

That flash of green and red you’ve been waiting for? It’s here. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are returning to Ontario, and bringing energy, colour, and serious pollination power to our gardens.

And if you’ve ever wondered, “Where did they go?”.... the answer is wild.

If you’ve ever spotted a bug on a leaf and immediately thought “uh-oh”… you’re not alone. But here’s the twist:

Most insects in your garden aren’t the enemy.
Some are pollinators, some are predators that eat pests for you, and some are just passing through. The key is learning who’s who, so you can protect the good ones while stopping the damage.

If you’ve ever looked at a golf course and thought, “How is their grass always THAT nice?”, here’s the fun part: that level of lawn isn’t reserved for fairways.

The same quality seed blends that create that clean, professional look can be used at home too. Whether you want low-maintenance and tough, or lush and showy, the secret is choosing the right mix for your conditions.

If you loved the “seedling to snack” idea, this is the same concept, just for the classic spring planting crew: roots, bulbs, and tubers.

These crops are some of the most rewarding things you can grow. A little prep now = years of harvest (rhubarb/asparagus) or big summer payoff (onions/garlic/potatoes).

This is the simple, practical guide: where to plant, when to plant, how to plant, and what they like nearby.

It’s officially that time… the benches are filling up and the growing season is starting to feel very real. From bold summer blooms to homegrown berries, we’ve got everything you need to get planting.

This week’s spotlight: berry + fruit seedlings (because nothing beats harvesting from your own yard).

Imagine a yard that’s as rewarding as it is beautiful. A space that thrives naturally, with less work and more to enjoy. That’s the idea behind West Coast Seed's Lawn Solutions: eco-friendly seed blends that can reduce mowing, watering, and fertilizing, while inviting pollinators and beneficial insects into your outdoor space.

If you’ve ever thought, “My lawn takes too much time,” or “Why does it always look tired by July?”, this is your sign to try a smarter approach.

If you’re tired of fighting lawn weeds every year, corn gluten is one of the simplest “prevention-first” tools you can add to your routine.

Corn gluten is a natural pre-emergent. That means it helps stop certain weeds before they sprout, not after you already see them.

Beneficial insects, pollinators, and small wildlife are still using your “mess” (leaf litter, stems, seed heads) as shelter while nights remain cold. In Zones 4–6, the safest rule is to wait until daytime temperatures are consistently around 10–12°C+ before doing a full cleanup.

But if you’re itching to get started (we get it), you can begin, just in the right order. Think of early spring as a prep and structure reset, not a “strip everything down” moment.

Here’s how to do it like a pro.

First, quick reality check: not everyone agrees that “weeds are weeds.” Some plants we call weeds are genuinely beneficial (pollinators love them, soil loves them), some are invasive in Ontario and should be taken seriously, and some simply have a bad rap because they show up where we don’t want them.

So instead of “kill everything,” this guide helps you decide what you’re dealing with, and what level of action makes sense.

If you’ve got dead patches in your lawn, loose turf that peels up easily, or skunks digging like they own the place, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with white grubs.

In many Ontario lawns, those white grubs are most likely Japanese beetle larvae.
So when you treat grubs, you’re not just protecting your grass, you’re also taking a key step toward reducing Japanese beetle damage in your yard later on.

Think of it as prevention at the source: target the grub stage first-hand, and you can reduce the adult beetles that chew through your plants in summer.

If you’ve ever wondered why your lawn looked great last year… and looks thin, weedy, or patchy this year, you’re not alone. Lawn success isn’t about one magic product. It’s about matching the right seed to the right spot, timing your seeding and feeding, and fixing the root causes (compaction, shade, moisture, pet traffic) before you keep throwing seed at the problem.

Here’s a simple, practical guide that covers the most common lawn questions we hear every spring.

Using the right cutting tool is one of the fastest ways to level up your garden. Cleaner cuts heal faster, plants stay healthier, and you’ll spend way less time fighting through stems with the wrong tool.

Here’s a simple guide to the most common cutting tools, what they’re for, when to use them, and which ones are worth keeping in your gardening bag.

Bee hotels and bug hotels have become one of the most popular “small garden upgrades” in the last few years, and for good reason. When they’re used properly, they can support beneficial insects, boost pollination, and add a little life to your yard.

But there’s also a lot of mixed info online. Some people love them, some people say they’re “bad,” and most of the truth lives in the middle: 

Spring is around the corner, and our local birds are getting ready to return, or are already here, searching for food and shelter. After a long winter, natural food sources are still limited, so a little help goes a long way.