May 12, 2026
This week on the podcast, Joanne speaks with Bri Petersen from Urban Gardening Canada about her new e-book, Gardening Basics for the Beginner Gardener.
In this episode:
Beginner Gardeners Need
Updated Advice, Not Outdated Rules
So much common
gardening advice is based on old habits, like turning over the soil
every spring, cleaning up every leaf, or planting by a fixed
calendar date. Bri’s e-book encourages beginner gardeners to
understand how gardening has changed with the climate and why
weather, growing zones, and local conditions matter more than old
rules.
Bri’s E-book Gives New
Gardeners the Foundations They Need
Gardening Basics for the
Beginner Gardener is designed specifically for beginners,
with 13 chapters covering core topics like annuals, perennials,
herbaceous plants, growing in containers, raised beds, in-ground
gardens, watering, fertilizing, and vegetable gardening. She also
includes practical guidance on insects and pests, helping gardeners
identify what they are seeing and manage problems without
immediately turning to chemicals.
Gardening Success Comes From Curiosity, Confidence, and Practice
One dead plant does not mean you have a “black thumb.” Learn what went wrong, adjust next season, understand your garden’s conditions, and keep going. New gardeners feel less intimidated and more confident as they build knowledge year after year.
Find Bri Petersen online:
Website: www.urbangardeningcanada.com
Order a copy of her e-book here.
Instagram: @urbangardeningcanada
Facebook: @hellourbangardeningcanada
YouTube: @urbangardeningcanada
Pinterest: @urbangardeningcanada
Have a topic you'd like Joanne to discuss?
Email your questions and comments to downthegardenpathpodcast@hotmail.com, or connect with Joanne on her website: down2earth.ca
Find Down the Garden Path on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @downthegardenpathpodcast.
Down the Garden Path Podcast
On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low-maintenance as possible.
In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide. Get your copy today on Amazon.
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