Advice From The Ritchie's Experts

Mealybugs Mealybugs are white, oval and usually covered in a white substance that looks like cotton fluff. They are found individually or in clusters on stems, leaves and where the leaf joins the stem. They suck plant juices and weaken...

Birds in Your Garden What attracts birds to your garden? There are several factors that will make a garden attractive to birds. These factors are the availability of shelter, food and water. If you want to attract birds to your...

Whiteflies are small flies with white wings that fly up in large numbers when the plant is disturbed, which can make them difficult to control. These insects multiply quickly and can spread to other plants rapidly. They are most commonly...

Nematodes Controlling Lawn Pests Naturally Nematodes are naturally occurring, microscopic worms that are applied to lawns for control of White Grubs. They infest and kill their prey within 24 - 48 hours and take 7 – 21 days to clear...

Plants for Wet Soil (tolerate some standing water) Trees : Abies balsamea Balsam Fir Abies sibiria Siberian Fir Acer rubrum Red Maple Acer saccharinum Silver Maple Betula nigra River Birch Catalpa speciosa Northern Catalpa Quercus palustris Pin Oak Salix sp....

Winter in your garden doesn't have to be dull. Many plants offer interesting texture, shape and even colour throughout the cold months. Here is a list of plants, shrubs and trees that can be planted for interest year round. Perennials...

Hardy Shrubs Zone 3 or less Evergreens: Abies balsamea Balsam Fir Juniperus communis 'Depressa' Prostrated Common Juniper Juniperus horizontalis Creeping Juniper Juniperus horizontalis 'Bar Harbour' Bar Harbour Juniper Juniperus horizontalis ‘Icee Blue’ Icee Blue Juniper Juniperus horizontalis 'Plumosa Compacta' Dwarf...

Why are we starting seeds indoors? There are many reasons why are starting seeds indoors. Some people are looking for varieties that they cannot find otherwise. Some people like to get a head start on the season and be involved...

Salt Tolerant Plants Trees: Catalpa speciosa Northern Catalpa Elaeagnus angustifolia Russian Olive Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo Gleditsia tricanthos Honeylocust Picea abies Norway Spruce Picea glauca White Spruce Picea pungens Colorado Spruce Pinus nigra Austrian Pine Robinia pseudoacacia Black Locust Ulmus spp....

Trees for Under Power Lines Acer ginnala Amur Maple Acer platanoides 'Globosum' Globe Maple Amelanchier x grandiflora Serviceberry Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula' Weeping Nootka Falsecypress Cornus alternifolia Pagoda Dogwood Crataegus x mordenensis Hawthorne Elaeagnus angustifolia Russian Olive Euonymus alatus std Burning...

Plants for Butterflies Annuals: Ageratum spp. Flossflower Comos spp. Cosmos Pelargonium spp. Geranium Gomphrena globosa Globe Amaranth Impatiens spp. Impatiens/Balsam Lantana spp. Lantana Tagetes spp. Marigold Petunia spp. Petunia Phlox drummondii Annual Phlox Verbena spp. Verbena Zinnia spp. Zinnia Perennials:...

Vines are a beautiful addition to any garden; they can be used to provide a screen or add interest to a bare wall or fence. Dutchman’s Pipe (Sristolochia durior) A fast growing, vigorous, twining vine it has large leaves; good...

Common Name Plantain Lily History Until recently, hostas were considered to be a common shade plant that was used in gardens because nothing else seemed to work. Now, so many distinctive varieties are available that an avid gardener can be seen spending up...

 RITCHIE FEED & SEED INC. 1390 Windmill Lane, Ottawa, ON, K1B 4V5 613-741-4430 www.ritchiefeed.com   Antique These roses are an excellent choice for anyone who wants something special for their rose collection. These roses have an interesting petal formation and...

Woody Ornamental Plants Rarely Damaged by Deer and Elk American holly Common boxwood Colorado blue spruce Drooping leucothoe Japanese pieris Juniper Paper birch Herbaceous Plants Rarely Damaged by Deer and Elk Annuals and biennials: Ageratum Blanket flower Blue salvia Cleome...

Picking a tree What do I need to know before picking a tree? It is really important to have an understanding of the area in which you are going to plant the tree. More important than anything is knowing how...

Plants for Hummingbirds Annuals: Fuschia sp. Fuschia Impatiens balsamina Balsam Impatiens capensis Jewelweed Lantana sp. Lantana Petunia sp. Petunia Phlos drummondii Annual Phlox Saliva splendens Scarlet Sage Tropaeolum majus Nasturtium Verbena sp. Verbena Perennials: Achillea sp. Yarrow Aconitum sp. Monkshood...

Container Gardening Perennials (zone 1-3b) Achillea millefolium Yarrow Aconitum nappellus Common Monkshood Aconitum x cammarum 'Bicolour' Bicolour Monkshood Adiantum pedatum Five Fingered Maindenhair Fern Aegopodium podagraria Goutweed Agastache foeniculum Anise-Hyssop Anemone sylvestris Anemone Aquilegia alpina Alpine Columbine Aquilegia canadensis Wild...

Rabbit Resistant Perennials Acanthus hungaricus Hungarian Bear's-Breeches Acanthus mollis Bear-Breeches Acanthus spinosus Spiny Bear's-Breeches Achillea filipendulina Fernleaf Yarrow Achillea millefolium Yarrow Achillea sibirica Siberian Yarrow Achillea tomentosa Woolly Yarrow Aconitum x cammarum 'Bicolour' Bicolour Monkshood Aconitum lamarckii Yellow Monkshood Aconitum...

Transplanting / Planting Shrubs Choose an overcast day for transplanting, preferably the morning. Dig planting hole twice the size of your root ball, setting aside removed soil. Mix, removed soil, with a triple mix soil to the ratio of 50/50....

Thinking of growing your own? First time Grower? Have a green thumb but need some advice?Growing your own food can be very rewarding.We get many questions about growing vegetables in backyards, balconies and patios.Here are the basics outlined for you....