We tend to get a lot of questions about rose care, and while roses do require more maintenance than other common shrubs, they’re by no means difficult to look after. A little bit of regular upkeep leads to some pretty impressive results, so if you’re a gardening novice, it’s definitely a worthwhile project. Here’s how you can grow and care for roses in Simcoe, Ontario. 

Planting Roses In Southern Ontario

Depending on the variety you choose, you can use roses for border plants, garden bed accents, climbing plants to train over arbours and patio lattice, or as container plants. Whatever location or growing medium you select, just ensure it’s suited to the size and growth habit of your chosen rose variety, since there are so many different kinds to choose from. That being said, almost all roses will need at least 6 hours of direct sun every day, so make sure your chosen location has plenty of light. 

The best soil for roses has excellent drainage and high nutrients, to set your rose bushes off to a good start, you’ll want to loosen up the soil thoroughly. Ideally, you’ll want sandier, loamy soil with a lot of compost mixed in.

If you’ve purchased a rose bush with bare roots, you’ll want to soak the root ball in water for up to 24 hours before planting. If it’s a potted rose, you won’t have to worry about that step. Plant your roses about 1.5–2 feet deep to fit their large root system, then fill the hole back up with the soil, compost and bone meal mix. Mound it up slightly around the base of the plant. 

How Often Should I Water Roses?

Generally, roses need about 1-3 inches of water per week. The thing is, roses are pretty susceptible to mildew and other fungal diseases if they get soggy and don’t receive much air circulation. That means you’ll want to avoid getting the leaves wet whenever possible and stick to watering the soil directly. The easiest way to do this is with a trickle hose set up near the base of the plant. Just turn it on and leave it for a while, so it thoroughly saturates the ground. 

If we experience a lot of rain in a short period, you can skip on watering, and should check your roses regularly for any signs of bacteria or fungal growth. Remove any damaged pieces with sanitized shears, wiping the blades clean between every cut, and disposing of the damaged parts safely in the garbage, not the compost bin.

Rose Care: Mulch, Fertilizer, And More

Applying a layer of mulch on top of the soil around your roses will help to retain moisture and control weeds. Some gardeners insist that cocoa bean shells are the best mulch for roses, but we’ve found that classic bark mulch still works perfectly fine.

 

In spring, feed your roses with a fertilizer formulated specifically for roses. For best performance and blooms, apply the fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during the growing season. There are also special fertilizers made for transplanting, easing the transition when planting your rose. Be sure to water your rose before and after applying fertilizer as their roots are susceptible to being burnt.

Since there are so many types of roses, this means there are different times of the seasons and different styles of pruning. Use a pruning saw or hand pruners to remove any damaged branches or awkward pieces that jut out too far. If there are some densely packed areas with branches, it may help to thin them out a bit to help prevent fungal growth. 

We have so many spectacular colours and varieties of roses to grow in Southern Ontario. Visit Eising to see our full collection, or check out our online store! We have citywide delivery and curbside pickup available all summer long. 

The flavour of homegrown tomatoes is like nothing else, and tomatoes are pretty easy to grow in Southern Ontario. With all that classic, juicy flavour, it's so satisfying to serve your family beautiful and tasty tomatoes that you grew yourself. Some of the more unique varieties are surprisingly beautiful plants as well—especially when they're loaded with brightly-coloured fruit! 

Here are some of our favourite tomato varieties for 2020!

Little Sicily is the perfect patio tomato, delivering lots of tomatoes with excellent flavour on a plant that stays under 2 feet tall!

Candyland Red is a currant tomato—slightly smaller than the cherry size. The sweet flavour of these dark red fruits can be enjoyed all season long.

Glamour is an early producing tomato, with large crack-resistant fruits. These are a delicious all-around tomato, great for sandwiches, salads, slicing, and canning.

Great White is a large, yellow-white tomato with a delicate tropical flavour and low acidity. These are the best when eaten immediately after harvesting! Great White is pleasant and mild, and perfect for folks who are sensitive to acidic foods.

Green Zebra is a green and yellow striped tomato with a tart and rich flavour. It's a little smaller than your average grocery store tomato. Let them ripen fully on the vine before picking to enjoy their full, balanced flavour.

Pineapple is a sizeable bright-yellow tomato known for its refreshing citrusy flavour. These are super sweet with lower acid levels than other yellow tomatoes. Pineapple tomatoes can weigh up to 1 pound each and are perfect for sandwiches!

Better Boy is the perfect classic red tomato. Its the perfect balance of tart and sweet, and it produces an amazing amount of fruit in one season. This excellent slicing tomato grows well almost anywhere.

Bush Beefsteak is the perfect beefsteak variety for patios. It delivers large and flavourful fruit early in the season, maturing in just 62 days. The plant stays much more compact than other beefsteak varieties. 

Whatever variety of tomatoes you choose to grow, you can be sure they'll taste amazing. You'll be able to show off your delicious homegrown fruit in all sorts of meals—from salads to kebabs, soups to sauces, and burgers to sandwiches. All of these varieties are disease resistant and will grow well in Simcoe!

Tomatoes are pretty simple to care for, but there are a few basics to keep in mind. These garden favourites are heavy feeders, and they're also very thirsty. Because they grow so fast, they use up nutrients in the soil fast. Fertilize your tomatoes once a week to ensure they have the nutrients they need to produce the best possible flavour. During the summer, you may need to water your tomatoes daily, especially if they are in pots. Growing as fast and as large as they do, tomatoes use up water very quickly. Make sure they're watered consistently, without getting too dry in between, to prevent blossom end rot. 

Ready to start growing tomatoes for your summer BBQs, picnics, and block parties? Stop by our Garden Centre; we've got many more delicious and beautiful varieties to choose from!

We always get excited when our winter fashion collection arrives, but the 2019 winter season is extra special. After all, it's the end of a decade, so we've gotta ring in the new year in style! Winter fashion in Simcoe is loads of fun because it's just chilly enough without being unbearably cold, so we can dabble in the latest trends without having to layer on an extra three sweaters and a parka. Here are our favourite looks to rock during this winter season, so you can slay (...or, sleigh?) at every holiday event this year.

Winter 2019 Fashion Trends

Whether you're dressing up for the office holiday party, the family Christmas feast, getting glammed up to say "sayonara" to 2019, or simply embarking on the many, many shopping trips that will have you rushing around town, these 2019 winter style essentials should give you some inspiration!

Cozy Leggings

Just because it’s cold outside, doesn’t mean we’re ready to ditch our favourite form-fitting bottoms. Terry-lined leggings flatter your shape just like regular leggings, but the ultra-cozy lining helps to keep you toasty warm on weekend errand runs. Bamboo leggings are super-soft and comfy, not to mention beautifully breathable. They’re great for layering under your jeans for extra warmth, or for lounging around the house as you recover from NYE. Plus, bamboo is a sustainable fabric, so it’s a great choice for eco-conscious babes. We love styling both of these cozy leggings with sweater dresses or sweater tunics. The warm layers look as cute as they are comfy, and the whole ensemble is perfect for family brunch on Christmas Day.

Fur-Trimmed Knitwear

Regular sweaters and vests? Nothing to write home about. But sweaters and vests with adorable faux-fur trim? Suddenly you're a fashion-savvy snow bunny ready to hit the slopes. Top it off with a knit toque with a fur pom pom, and you'll be the queen of the ski hill. Fur trims are great for adding a hint of glamour to an otherwise casual piece, so you never end up looking underdressed. We're often quick to associate cozy clothes with ultra-casual looks that are strictly for lounging around the house, but it really doesn't get any cozier than a fur-trimmed hooded sweater or cape.

Capes

Speaking of capes, if you haven't jumped on this trend wagon yet, you are seriously missing out! In terms of comfort and warmth, it's pretty much the equivalent of wearing a warm blanket over your clothes, yet somehow it looks so dramatic and elegant. Casual capes are fantastic for when you want to bundle up at work, whereas more formal styles make a spectacular cover-up for fancy nights out. Thicker wool capes can be worn as outerwear instead of the typical peacoat. Try one in a rich berry tone, like deep red or purple, to stand out from the sea of drab grey and black parkas.

Mad for Plaid

There's just something so wintery about plaid fabrics, and that TV show Outlander has certainly brought it back in fashion! The key to pulling off tartan is by balancing it out with solid coloured pieces. Accessorizing with plaid always looks sharp, so if you can get your hands on a pair of tartan leggings, a scarf, or a cape to top off an all-black outfit, it will be the perfect pop of colour to complete your look. Or, try a buffalo check shirt with black or blue jeans for that pure Canadiana look.

As 2019 comes to a close and a new decade begins, now is as good of a time as ever to get some fresh new wardrobe pieces for winter. When you look great, you feel great, so why not start 2020 with your best foot forward? You deserve it! Come visit us at the Sassyfras Boutique, and one of our in-house fashionistas will gladly help style you up for winter.

Christmas in Simcoe wouldn't be the same without fresh greenery and beautiful holiday plants, and the Christmas cactus is undoubtedly one of the most iconic. They make gorgeous additions to your home decor, brightening things up throughout the rest of those cold winter months. They also make fantastic gifts that are very unlikely to get returned to the store—after all, who doesn't love new houseplants? Here's a rundown of how to care for your favourite Christmas flowers and plants, for a winter season that's extra merry and bright!

The Christmas Cactus And Other Holiday Plants  

These colourful cacti remain popular picks year after year, not only because of their fabulous floral displays but because they're quite hardy. With proper care, they can last for many years. The most common variety has bright red flowers, but you can also find purple, pink, white, and even gold flowering cacti! 

To keep their flowers lush and bright, keep your cactus near a sunny window and water it whenever the soil gets dry, about once per week. Don't worry if the windowsill is a bit chilly—these cacti may actually drop their blooms if it gets too warm. If you'd like it to bloom for a second year, fertilize it once a month from April until October, and put it outside for a few weeks at the end of the summer. They prefer to be cozy in their pot, so you won't have to worry about repotting them for several years. 

Our Other Favourite Christmas Plants

Poinsettia: These quintessential winter flowers never fail to add an extra dose of holiday cheer to your home decor. You can find poinsettias in stunning shades of cardinal red, creamy white, and soft pink. When it comes time to pick one out, always make sure they've got tiny little yellow flowers in their centre. These are called cyathia, and if they've dropped from your poinsettia, that means it's well past its prime. When you take it home, make sure you cover it to protect it from the cold. Overwatering can cause poinsettias to wilt, so it helps to poke some holes in the bottom if it's in a pot wrapped in decorative foil. 

Amaryllis: These fast-growing bulbs are so much fun to watch as they grow and develop. Their bulbs make great stocking stuffers, maturing within 4 to 6 weeks after planting. Keep them near a sunny window, because if they don't get enough light, they'll start to wilt. Give the pot a 90 degree turn each time you water it, so your amaryllis grows nice and evenly. Contrary to popular belief, you can keep your amaryllis for another year with proper care. Once the blossoms fade, you can snip off the stalk, keeping the leaves intact, then wait until spring to plant your amaryllis outside. By summer, you can bring it inside with no light or sunshine from June until the end of October. Start watering it again in November, and get ready for round 2 of beautiful blooms!

Christmas Rose: Also known as the black hellebore, this lovely evergreen flower looks quite similar to the buttercup, only white. They're incredibly low-maintenance and last quite a long time if you cut them and add them into mixed arrangements. Indirect sunlight and a bit of water should keep your hellebores happy. They usually bloom in December, but they may surprise you with blossoms from any time between November and February. Be careful when removing any dead leaves, because the sap will irritate your skin. 

White Chrysanthemums: Often considered a fall flower, the snow-white variety of these bushy blossoms are perfectly suited to the winter season. Chrysanthemums look fabulous on their own in a pot or added into a festive container arrangement. They need at least 5 hours of direct sun every day and weekly watering. They're generally quite easy to care for, but if you happen to notice any spider mites pop up on the underside of their leaves, give them a spritz with some insecticidal soap, and your mum should recover just fine.

Cyclamen: These vibrant blossoms can last as long as eight weeks during the chilly winter months. They like indirect sunlight — not too bright — and they need to be watered from the base, unlike most houseplants. It should come in a pot with several holes in the bottom, which you can place in a saucer of water for 20 minutes at a time to soak up the moisture. Try not to get any water on the leaves, keep it away from warm drafts or space heaters, and when the flowers start to wilt, pluck them off from the base of their stems.

Rosemary: These fragrant herbs actually make great holiday plants! Not only are the delicious rosemary sprigs perfect for flavouring traditional dishes like roast beef and turkey, but the plants can be shaped like topiaries or mini trees with some artful pruning. Rosemary, like many other culinary herbs, is more cold tolerant than many houseplants, so they're perfect for adding a little greenery to your home and an extra pop of flavour to your recipes.  

For all your Christmas plants and winter evergreen decor, visit Eising's, and we'll help you put together a grand display for your home. We've also got plenty of DIY workshops going on this season to help you create some gorgeous arrangements of your own. Call our store to reserve your spot!