The Growing Season

Matt McFarland
  • 5.0 (3)
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The lighter side of landscaping. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland, chat about horticulture served with a hearty helping of humour. With over 70 years of design and installation experience the McFarland boys dig into topics in a way you've rarely heard. Packed full of guests that represent various corners of the industry, The Growing Season is smile worthy.The Growing Season: No politics or pulpits, just plants and muddy workboots.

  1. The Growing Season, April 11, 2026 - LawnSense 2026 pt. 1

    1D AGO

    The Growing Season, April 11, 2026 - LawnSense 2026 pt. 1

    “Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! POP QUIZ TIME!!! Matt McFarland is about to teach a course on turf at Humber College and decided that his students' first assignment could be incorporated into this week's episode of The Growing Season.  The McFarland's dive into some wonderful, and unknown, facts regarding that green carpet that covers your lawn.  Jack kicks off the show with a "new age" discussion that sends the start off on a tangent.  What is "No Mow May?"  Its a popular idea and the TGS trio dive into it. The pros and cons of this little event are highlighted.  When is the proper time to start cutting your lawn?  The ins and outs of fertilizer become a topic of focus.  What do the various numbers mean? Slow release is only for nitrogen.  WHAT!? Photosynthesis...ROIGHT!  Gypsum is an industry secret that is revealed to y'all. A pH reset! What is an aerator?  What is a dethatcher? Grass takes in carbon and expels oxygen.  Its a pretty beneficial plant. Everything plus the carbon sink is highlighted.  Comparisons and contrasts between artificial turf and natural turf come into focus. Can we eliminate the use of fertilizer altogether? What are the wildflowers that grow in your lawn that are the first foods for our pollinators?  Matt RANTS.  Nematodes to the rescue... Tune in. Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE. What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.

    54 min
  2. The Growing Season, April 4, 2026 - Easter 2026

    APR 4

    The Growing Season, April 4, 2026 - Easter 2026

    “Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! DON'T EAT THOSE CHOCOLATE RAISINS.  Its that time of year that chocolate raisins, aka Bunny Poop, comes into focus horticulturally. The largest bunny of them all appears this weekend - The EASTER BUNNY. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland detail what Easter means to their family.  Jack and Lynne have an especially important event tied to the Easter weekend.  The tree that gives chocolate is the first in line at the horticultural party. The TGS trio highlight its history.  The "midge fly" has a major role in chocolate and Matt asserts that Easter's prototypical creature needs to be reassessed.  Easter and Australia is discussed.  What is a Nelly White? Why are we talking about Komodo dragons? Where are Easter Lily's grown? How do you care for them when they find their way into your home?  Lynne details the how-to. A brand new gadget could be the key to perfect tropical plant watering. Lynne eats.  Matt vomits.  Forced air and radiators in homes tie into the care of your Easter plants.  Chrysanthemum, poinsettias, deciduous trees and soya beans factor into a discussion.  A brand new hydrangea variety is created on the fly.  Speaking of hydrangeas, getting all sciency with their bloom colour caps the show off. How do you "harden off" an easter hydrangea to allow it to be transplanted into your flower beds. Can you plant dahlia bulbs right now? Tune in. Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE. What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE. Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.

    53 min
  3. The Growing Season, March 28, 2026 - They're Here...

    MAR 28

    The Growing Season, March 28, 2026 - They're Here...

    “Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! No!   It's not Halloween yet.  But, "THEY'RE HERE!"  That famous line uttered in Steven Spielberg's 1982 classic "Poltergeist" becomes the jumping off point for this week's episode of The Growing Season.  Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into all the horticultural items that are current emerging at this time of the year.  "This is not the time to be out on job sites..."   We know, its a downer BUT that doesn't mean we can't talk about what's to come... Movie trivia kicks the show off.  With the amount of snow and cold that gripped the GTA this winter passed are we to expect a reduced amount of Japanese Beetles this season? The McFarlands discuss. Matt has some news with regards to Humber College. What pollinators emerge first?  You'd be surprised to learn.   Matt discusses "No Mow May" and its pros and cons. Trilliums and ants.  There's a link.  Let's uncover it.  Tundra Swans.  WHAT?  Some birds make a 90,000km trip to return to our borders in the spring.  Why do certain birds migrate and others don't? Why does Daylight Savings Time exist?  Why is it still being used? Migration is driven by nature, not by bird feeders. Which birds return to our trees first in the earliest parts of the spring? Ravens are remarkably intelligent. Plants that "bloom on old wood" need to be pruned at a specific time.  The McFarlands discuss.  The trio's favourite flowering spring plants are revealed.  Tune in. Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE. What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE. Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.

    54 min
  4. The Growing Season, March 21, 2026 - Built To Survive

    MAR 21

    The Growing Season, March 21, 2026 - Built To Survive

    “Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Jack McFarland is built to survive!  Jack calls in for the final time from Sunnybrook's St. John's rehab facility for final time on this week's episode of The Growing Season.  Jack, Lynne and Matt highlight the plants that can tolerate the wild swings in weather and temperature that are common at this time of the year.   There are so many that respond with "is that all you got?" whilst raging at Mother Nature.  The time of year makes the clients go squirrely and Matt has to talk them into a peaceful mindset.  Snow is an insulator.  What happens when it recedes and the temperature drops?  How do emerging plants survive this?  Mosses are able to engage in reproduction while being covered in a blanket of snow.  Snow mould and its effect on allergy sufferers.  The resin in evergreens creates a wonderful defence against cold. Speaking of evergreens, the giant coastal redwoods feature prominently on todays show.  Matt highlights a few movies you should spend some time with.  What are the "White Mountains?"  Jurupa Oaks - the oldest oak on earth.  You'd be surprised to know how long these trees can live.  The longest living flowering tree is revealed.  Its 2000 years old.  Bleeding Hearts, Hostas, Sedum, Yarrow, Echinacea and Russian Sage are built to survive.  Tune in. Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE. What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE. Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.

    54 min
  5. The Growing Season, March 14, 2026 - Spring Break: New Zealand

    MAR 14

    The Growing Season, March 14, 2026 - Spring Break: New Zealand

    “Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Lets get EPIC for this year's Spring Break. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland board a plane and take off for New Zealand on this week's episode of The Growing Season.  Matt confuses New Zealand and Australia.   Jack and Lynne correct his mistake. "The father south you go in New Zealand the cooler it is..." RIGHT.  Time to recalibrate the operating system. Humans, sheep, kiwis and The Maori all feature heavily in New Zealand. Automated sheep shearing and grape picking correlate. What are there SOOOO many sheep in New Zealand?  The North and South Island of New Zealand feature very different biomes and climates.  Maybe that's part of why it was chosen as the place to film Lord Of The Rings. What fruit trees grow in New Zealand?  You'd be surprised to know. The McFarland Query System makes its triumphant return. What is a "Dry Kiwi?" Complex flavoured New Zealand fruit is discussed. Passion fruit, kiwi, tamarillo are just some of the exotic edibles grown in New Zealand.  Are the Volcanoes in New Zealand active?  Weather ranges from sub-zero to tropical areas.  FERNS, FERNS FERNS... SOOO MANY FERNS.  Of course, Lord Of The Rings features HEAVILY in discussions on this week's episode.  New Zealand is home to lizards that give birth to live young. You read that right.  Famous movies, TV shows and more filmed in New Zealand are highlighted.  Tune in. Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE. What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE. Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.

    54 min
  6. The Growing Season, March 7, 2026 - Eco Builds 2026

    MAR 7

    The Growing Season, March 7, 2026 - Eco Builds 2026

    “Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! We get by with a little help from our friends. Toronto's own Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre comes in with the ultimate save this week. Jack McFarland, fresh off of a shoulder replacement surgery, joins Lynne and Matt, by phone, for this week's episode of The Growing Season.  Calling in from a patient lounge, Jack details the ins and outs of how to make a construction project more sustainable.  Jack and Matt discuss keeping the job site clean.  LIKE EXCESSIVELY CLEAN!  How do you keep a job site from getting muddy.  How do you reduce the amount of noise on a job site? Are there noise pollution regulations?  The McFarlands discuss the "circular economy" - the ability to reuse materials to save on construction waste.  Venus Fly Traps have taken over The McFarland's house. Machines falling in holes and sodding over plywood.  Tales from the job site abound.  Did Jack get a shoulder cannon installed as part of his surgery?   Matt hopes so.  Sea cans are becoming a popular choice when building structures.  Jack and Matt detail their experiences.  Matt details "Red Listed" chemicals.  Tune in. Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE. What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE. Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.

    54 min
  7. The Growing Season, Feb 28, 2029 - Houseplants 2026

    FEB 28

    The Growing Season, Feb 28, 2029 - Houseplants 2026

    “Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! RETREAT!   The winter has been so harsh maybe we should just accept our fate. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland retreat to the joys of interior horticulture on this week's episode of The Growing Season. Houseplants take centre stage as the snow continues to dominate our landscapes.  How to water and WHAT to water with kicks off the proceedings.  "Snow Water" vs. tap water is discussed. What basic elements does rainwater contain?  Which plant is the one that is the most susceptible to leaf drop due to winter draft? You'd be surprised to learn what water you're able to use to water your plants.  Salt's that are contained within tap water can become a problem for indoor plants.  The McFarlands discuss how to combat the issue. How much light does the average houseplant need? CROTON!!!!   OHHHH BABY! Chlorophyll and houseplants are correlated.  Spielberg's Poltergeist is discussed.  Birds and bombs and boisterous neighbours... Cast Iron Plants will grow in the darkest of areas. How many houseplants do you need to purify the air in your home. "Greenhouse air?" WHAT!?  Spider plants are great mothers. Lemon trees, lime trees, orange trees and fig trees are all able to be grown indoors with great success.  Orchids are the holy grail of houseplants.   How would one get their cacti to bloom? Tune in. Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE. What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE. Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.

    54 min
  8. The Growing Season, Feb 21, 2026 - Salt And Horticulture Pt. 2

    FEB 21

    The Growing Season, Feb 21, 2026 - Salt And Horticulture Pt. 2

    “Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Sodium, sodium, they showed from their podium! Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland add another grain to their pile of salt with this week's Salt And Horticulture Pt. 2 on The Growing Season.  With the level of ice on walking and driving surfaces all across the GTA the trio felt it prudent to discuss salt tolerant plant materials.  Jack discusses an upcoming surgery.  He's a little nervous. Rising temperatures due to climate change causes our lake water to evaporate quicker, increasing the salt content in the soil. Sea Asparagus and Suaeda Maritime can live in places like Death Valley, one of the saltiest places on earth.  Matt rants about boxwoods and that leads to a chat about how street trees react to an over salted growing environment.  Salt Cedar leads to an episode of Strange But True. Purple Loosestrife and Hogweed join the chat.  Correlations between wildfires in Los Angeles and Australia are drawn.  How can Epsom salts diffuse salt exposure.  HYDRANGEA, HYDRANGEA, HYDRANGEA!  Also, SUMAC!   You know it.  Tiger Eyes Sumac is GORGEOUS.  Are dandelions salt tolerant?  Beebalm, horizontal Juniper, daylily, rugosa rose and many more plants are labelled 'salt tolerant.' Tune in. Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE. What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE. Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.

    54 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The lighter side of landscaping. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland, chat about horticulture served with a hearty helping of humour. With over 70 years of design and installation experience the McFarland boys dig into topics in a way you've rarely heard. Packed full of guests that represent various corners of the industry, The Growing Season is smile worthy.The Growing Season: No politics or pulpits, just plants and muddy workboots.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt McFarland
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    197
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Growing Season
  • Show Website
    The Growing Season

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