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. 6d ago

    The Growing Season, August 29, 2026 - Spruce

    “Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Pie-see-you!   Actually, that would be "Pica-you..."   In latin, Picea is the word for spruce and it just happens to be the focus of this week's episode of The Growing Season.  Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into all things spruce and the show kicks off in style, highlighting the "Baby Blue Eyes" spruce - the Ferrari of spruces.  It's everything that you would want in a spruce.  The trio discover that the Baby Blue Eyes has been around for longer than they think.  The Colorado Blue Spruce and The Japanese Maple are the plants that EVERY client wants on their site.  What is a Koster Blue Spruce?   What is a Moerheim Spruce?   What is a Hoopsii Blue Spruce? That's a lot of spruce. How big is your property?  Can it accommodate a spruce?  Matt talks about Muscle Cars. They also talk about Sugar Maples. The oldest spruce resides in Sweden and its not a good looking spruce by any means.  Google "Old Tjikko." Can you grow a Spruce in a container? What about planting procedures with regards to spruce?  Is there a specific way of planting them?  Many spruce needles are almost square - 4 sided even.  What is "Needlecast?" Are there any "Needlecast" resistant spruce?  What is a Norway Spruce? SPRUCE WANT SUN!    LOTS OF SUNNNN!!!! What is a Serbian Spruce.   Unique would be a great descriptor... Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE

    The Growing Season, August 29, 2026 - Spruce

  2. Aug 22

    The Growing Season, Aug 22, 2026 - Hostas 2026

    “Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Does having Hostas in your garden “devalue” its aesthetic?  Some of Matt McFarland’s clients think so.  Hostas get their time in the shade on this week’s episode of The Growing Season.  A ditch in Jack and Lynne McFarland’s neighbourhood kicks the show off. It’s an interesting conversation.  Bylaws, bees and blowing wind feature prominently.  “Hostas are the queen of the shade”. Slugs lurk in the shadows and are the main enemy of the hosta.  Slugs are also booze hounds. What!? Toads are terminators.  How should you water Hostas? What is “windowing?” How would one window in a garden? Lynne details her intensive watering routine. Her water bill is going to be high.  Empress Wu, Sum and Substance Bressingham Blue and Mouse Ears are discussion points with regards to Hosta varieties.   The original name for Hostas was Funkia. Who calls them that!?  It sounds like a 1970's trio. An "astilbe" area finds it way into a show about Hostas.  Trust us - it correlates.  Wiggle the split and you get a ground cover - that's it.  The Touch Of Class Hosta is GUSHED about.  What is "sporting" in horticulture?  The Red Ninja Hosta sounds DANGEROUS!  Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE

    The Growing Season, Aug 22, 2026 - Hostas 2026

  3. Aug 15

    The Growing Season, Aug 15, 2026 - Gardening For The Ages

    “Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Time waits for no one! Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland take an adventure on Gardening For The Ages on this week's episode of The Growing Season. How do the McFarlands design with an age group in mind?   Are there differences with how they design for the younger crowd as opposed to an older clientele.  The designers explain.  Matt rants.  He gets angry. What is Monkshood?   Its really poisonous and can kill a small child. Belladonna is discussed.  Bird baths are also discussed and Matt is grossed out by them.  Risers on steps, paving choices and many more design elements are correlated with the ages of their users.  What is playground mulch?   How do you design in such a way that allows a young human to interact with bees without getting stung? Grass!   But its other meaning. The Venus Fly Trap is a wonderful way to introduce young people to plants.  Does having extensive gardens narrow the market for those looking to buy said house?  The top 5 gardens styles for adults are discussed.  Why are boxwoods STILL being used?   STILL!!!  Matt discusses wooden planters.  Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE

    The Growing Season, Aug 15, 2026 - Gardening For The Ages

  4. Aug 8

    The Growing Season, Aug 8, 2026 - Phlox 2026

    “Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Yippie Kai Yay Mother Phloxer!  Thanks to Bruce Willis' Die Hard for the opening of this week's episode of The Growing Season.  Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into all things Phlox on the second show of August 2026.  Speaking of August - Summer is chugging along! Fall clothing and back to school advertising abounds.   Matt tells a story about a wonderful Canadian small business success story.  Bindweed has been a HUGE problem this year.  The trio discuss its insurgence.  River pebbles are a MAINTENANCE nightmare.    "Honeydew," with regards to insects, is all about poop.  Plant phlox to attract hornets and wasps and they'll do the pest control for you.  Seriously.   Phlox are native to North America.  In fact, they are a Canadian export.  You gotta do a whole lot wrong to have a birch fail to thrive... White Eyes Flame Series Phlox seem to grow to unimaginable heights on The McFarland's property.  Phlox need air circulation.  FULL STOP. Don't plant phlox anywhere near Bee Balm.  Phlox do not like coffee or tea grounds as a soil amendment.   Companion plants for phlox?  We gotchu covered.  Matt highlights how to bloom bomb using astilbe - a plant noted for short bloom times.  Jack bonked Lynne over the head on their first prehistoric date... Franz Schubert...Matt gushes. What's the difference between a Cottage Garden and a Country Cottage Garden? Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE

    The Growing Season, Aug 8, 2026 - Phlox 2026

  5. Aug 1

    The Growing Season, Aug 1, 2026 - Daisies 2026

    “Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! You're no daisy at all! Doc Holiday's famous line from "Tombstone" is the jumping off point for this week's show. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland turn The Growing Season's focus to all things Daisy on this week's episode of the show.  Strange old sayings kick the show off.  "Its enough to stick in your eye..." WHAT? Daisies, asters and coneflowers are all related.  HOW?  Matt discusses IPM - integrated pest management and how he's teaching his class about such things.  LEUCANTHEMUM X SUPERBUM!!!  Lets giggle.  The trio discuss nitrogen fixing plants.  Its a remarkable little ability.  Are there blue daisies?   Why isn't this colour more prominent in flowers?  Bees and daisies are highlighted. What is a "Country Cottage Garden?" TEA-RANNOSAURUS REX!!! Daisies were in use in gardens 4200 years ago.  You read that right.  The history of this little floral favourite unfolds.  Matt searches his tired mind for the name of a plant. He finally finds it.  The plant, not his mind.  Jack LOVES some of the new shrubs Matt is storing at his place.  The McFarlands cannot get butterfly bush to survive the winter.  Daisies are ranked by popularity. Speaking of popular, Jack prompts Matt to tell a story about a REALLY popular coneflower.  What is sneezeweed? Why is it called sneezeweed? Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.

    The Growing Season, Aug 1, 2026 - Daisies 2026

  6. Jul 25

    The Growing Season, July 25, 2026 - Lilies 2026

    “Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Its all about the Lily! This week's episode of The Growing Season dives, head first, into one of the most popular plant groups in your gardens. Whether they're Asiatic, Oriental or Daylilies, Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland highlight their wondrousness.   Matt gives an update on The McFarland's new kitten.  What is the difference between a Lily and a Daylily? The McFarland Query System makes its triumphant return.  How do you stretch out your lilies's bloom time? Matt discusses an upcoming heritage home design.  What are "window counterweights?"  The trio discuss plants that are misnamed.  Daylilies will thrive in any soil type.  What about light situation?  Jurassic Park references are always welcome. The science of extending bloom is discussed.  Daylilies allow you to design with texture.  Jack and Matt detail how.  What are "Children Of The Wind?"  A "Japaleaf Maple" is created.  Elegant Candy and Strawberry Candy Daylilies are AMAZING! Vibrant coloured and pastel coloured day lilies cap the show off.  Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.

    The Growing Season, July 25, 2026 - Lilies 2026

  7. Jul 18

    The Growing Season, July 18, 2026 - Designing With Fragrance

    “Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Something smells....GOOD! That's right - the focus of this week's episode of The Growing Season is designing a garden with fragrance in mind.  Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into all things smelly and they're not talking about Matt! Matt has a new member of the family and he explains the addition of the new addition.  Bill Reid roses kick the show off in style.  If you've never heard of these roses Google them immediately.  The difference in temperature between Algonquin Park and Bolton, Ontario is discussed.   Do women have a better sense of smell than men?  Fragrance and pollinators are linked.  How?   You'll be surprised to find out.  The trio's favourite smells are discussed.  HINT: look up Pinus mugo pumilo.  Roses, hydrangea, lilac, lavender, lemon grass, citronella and more are just some of the plants that get some air time on the show.  Moon gardens.  How would one go about creating one of these horticultural wonders.  Sweet William!   THEY SMELL GREAT!  Roses do not effectively repel mosquitos.  We did not know that.  Climbing hydrangea take a LONG TIME to get established.  LIKE, A LONG TIME!  Sam Neill is honoured.  Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.

    The Growing Season, July 18, 2026 - Designing With Fragrance

  8. Jul 11

    The Growing Season, July 11, 2026 - Long Bloomers pt. 2

    “Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! ITS ALL ABOUT THE LONGER GAME!  In part 2 of Long Bloomers, The McFarlands dive into the perennials and annuals that round out the group.  Its a fast paced, lengthly list that will have you inspired to design.  Matt gushes about his son getting his first pair of workbooks.  "What do you consider a long bloomer when it comes to perennials?" ROZANNE PERENNIAL GERANIUM!!!   Lets do it again. IT BLOOMS FOR 16 - 18 weeks.  You read that right! Dicentra formosa 'luxuriant.' AWESOME, just AWESOME.  Matt details his concerns with this long bloomer.  It's not a game changer but there is some caution necessary. This would be one of Tinkerbelle's favourite plants.  Lynne details Bleeding Heart varieties.  Phlox - the colours are to die for.  Jack highlights the awesomeness of these perennials. You have to see the "Sunset Coral Phlox" to believe it.  The City Garden Black Eyed Susie is amazing but really tough to get. What is a "spike garden?" Jack takes great delight in knocking Yarrow.  Why? He doesn't knock sedum and he's right not to! Corepsis is a really cool perennial.  You'll find out why.  Matt stopped using Lavender but he thinks that's about to change.  You'll hear the story.  The Adobe Orange Sombrero Coneflower works The McFarlands into a lather.   Clematis caps the show off. Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.

    The Growing Season, July 11, 2026 - Long Bloomers pt. 2
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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
    218
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Growing Season
  • Show Website
    The Growing Season

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