Down The Garden Path Podcast Podcast By Joanne Shaw cover art

Down The Garden Path Podcast

Down The Garden Path Podcast

By: Joanne Shaw
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On Down the Garden Path Podcast, landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. She believes it is important and possible to have great gardens that are low maintenance. On Down the Garden Path, she speaks with industry experts and garden authors to educate listeners on how to seasonally manage their gardens and landscapes.Joanne Shaw
Episodes
  • April in the Garden

    April in the Garden
    Mar 31 2026
    After a long winter, it's tempting to get outside and start tidying, digging, and checking everything off our spring to-do list. But April is such a gentle, in-between month in the garden, and it really asks us to slow down, pay attention, and let nature lead a little. This week on the podcast, Joanne reviews what you should and shouldn't be doing in your April garden. Why is patience so important in the April garden? Because early spring gardening depends more on weather and soil conditions than the calendar. Joanne emphasizes waiting for the ground to dry, the frost to leave, and nighttime temperatures to rise before raking, planting, digging, or cleaning up too much. Acting too early can damage lawns, compact soil, and disrupt beneficial insects. What garden jobs can you safely do in April? April is a good time for gentle, low-risk tasks such as starting seeds indoors, refreshing spring containers, adding compost to the vegetable garden, sharpening tools, and lightly cleaning up only when conditions are right. Joanne also suggests using April to plan, take photos, and observe what is happening in the garden rather than rushing into heavy work. How should gardeners handle pruning and cleanup in early spring? Carefully and selectively. Joanne warns against pruning spring-blooming shrubs too early, cutting back perennials before insects emerge, or shaping evergreens in April. Instead, she recommends watching for insect activity, removing only winter damage where needed, and timing pruning based on the type of plant so gardeners do not sacrifice blooms or stress plants unnecessarily. 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. Don't forget to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe! You can now catch the podcast on YouTube.
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    30 mins
  • Landscape Designer Spotlight: Abby Rupsa of Botanical Living

    Landscape Designer Spotlight: Abby Rupsa of Botanical Living
    Mar 23 2026
    This month on Down the Garden Path, Joanne welcomes five talented landscape designers, each with their own style, story, and specialty. What connects them all is a shared passion for creating beautiful, thoughtful outdoor spaces for their clients. Tune in each week in March as they share their experiences, perspectives, and the many ways landscape design can shape how we live outdoors. In this episode, Joanne speaks with Abby Rupsa, founder and lead designer of Botanical Living in Colorado, about her path into landscape design, the evolution of her "design bid" service model, and what it really means to offer a high-touch, client-focused experience. Their conversation explores the value of professional planning, collaboration with contractors, material and plant choices, and how thoughtful landscape design can create beautiful, functional outdoor spaces that add lasting value. Topics Covered Abby explains her "design bid" model, in which she stays involved throughout construction without doing the installation work herself.She says many homeowners do not understand the design process and need help seeing the full picture.Unlike traditional design-build firms, Abby focuses on the best outcome for the client rather than pushing sales.She emphasizes "value engineering" so projects can be built realistically within budget.Abby now works closely with one trusted contractor to create a smoother client experience.Contractor meetings happen with the client, designer, and builder together to review the estimate in detail.Joanne notes that this shared meeting format reduces confusion and speeds up decisions.Abby says landscape designers are educators and problem-solvers, not just creatives.She explains that homeowners often become blind to problems and miss better possibilities for their yard.One project revealed major structural problems that required a more honest renovation approach.Abby says trust and authority matter because clients need confidence in the guidance they receive.Good design sometimes means challenging what a client asks for to create a space that truly works.Abby uses software and furniture layouts to show how a space will function in real life.Joanne stresses the importance of planning the whole landscape before adding features in stages.Abby agrees, noting that early planning avoids rework and prepares for future additions.She describes her "white glove" approach, with 3D presentations and a more thoughtful client experience.Abby wants the process to feel easier and more supported for homeowners.She uses digital lookbooks and physical samples to help clients compare materials.3D visuals help clients picture the finished landscape and feel excited about the result.Abby discusses xeriscaping in Colorado and the need for drought-tolerant, climate-appropriate planting.She explains that xeriscaping should still feel lush and intentional, not just rocky and sparse.Her planting designs balance structure, blooms, texture, evergreen interest, and lower maintenance.Abby also educates clients about plant establishment and care in Colorado's dry climate.Her design packages are detailed enough for any contractor to build from.She notes that 3D renderings require clear communication so clients understand that plant growth takes time.Even unbuilt landscape plans can add appeal and value if a homeowner decides to sell.Joanne and Abby close by discussing how landscape design can improve both lifestyle and property value. Takeaways and Tips Start with a full landscape plan before making construction decisions so the entire space works together cohesively over time.A good landscape designer does more than make things look pretty. They solve problems, educate clients, and help prevent costly mistakes.Design decisions should be based on how a space will actually function, not just on what sounds good in theory or looks fine on paper.Bringing the designer, contractor, and client together early can improve communication, speed up decision-making, and create more realistic budgets.Value engineering is not about cutting corners. It is about spending wisely and making strategic adjustments that protect the integrity of the design.In dry climates, xeriscaping should focus on smart plant choices and water stewardship, not simply replacing everything with rock.3D renderings can be powerful tools, but homeowners should understand that mature landscapes take time to grow into the vision shown.Investing in professional landscape design can improve not only daily enjoyment and function, but also long-term property value. Find Abby online at www.botanicallivingdesigns.com, and on Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. 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 ...
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    50 mins
  • Landscape Designer Spotlight: Jeff Collins of REWILD Landscapes

    Landscape Designer Spotlight: Jeff Collins of REWILD Landscapes
    Mar 16 2026
    This month on Down the Garden Path, Joanne welcomes five talented landscape designers, each with their own style, story, and specialty. What connects them all is a shared passion for creating beautiful, thoughtful outdoor spaces for their clients. Tune in each week in March as they share their experiences, perspectives, and the many ways landscape design can shape how we live outdoors. In this episode, Joanne speaks with Jeff Collins of Ottawa's REWILD Landscapes about ecological landscaping, native plants, edible gardens, and outdoor spaces that support both people and wildlife. Topics Covered Jeff Collins is the owner of REWILD Landscapes, a queer-owned ecological landscaping company in Ottawa.Their work combines horticulture, landscape design, food security, and ecological restoration.Jeff's childhood experience with food insecurity strongly influenced their interest in growing food and building community through landscapes.They studied horticulture at Algonquin College, where they focused on urban agriculture, sustainability, and native plants.Their landscape philosophy centres on creating spaces that support life from the soil microbes up to people and wildlife.Jeff encourages homeowners to rethink the role of the front lawn, replacing it with meadows, native gardens, rain gardens, and habitat-rich planting.They focus primarily on native plants and also incorporate non-invasive edible plants where appropriate.One of their favourite plants is the pawpaw, a native fruit tree they describe as delicious and underappreciated.Jeff looks for plants that do more than fill space; they should also provide ecological function, food value, or habitat.They often replace invasive plants with alternatives that match both the look and the ecological role of the original plant.Examples of native replacements discussed include serviceberry, sweet crabapple, switchgrass, little bluestem, and false sorghum.Jeff often uses plugs instead of one-gallon nursery plants for large-scale planting projects.They explain that plugs are more affordable, easier to plant in large numbers, quicker to adapt to site conditions and better at forming strong root systems over time.While plugs require patience, Jeff believes they create a more resilient, cooperative plant community.They encourage clients to accept a more natural look and allow landscapes to evolve.A recurring theme is that larger garden beds can be lower-maintenance than tightly packed, narrow planting strips.Jeff challenges the common assumption that "small garden = less work."They emphasize that native gardens often become easier to care for as plants establish and fill in naturally.Joanne and Jeff discuss how homeowners often begin with hesitation, then become more engaged as they notice wildlife, seedlings, and seasonal changes.Jeff sees gardens as a way to rebuild a connection to nature, food, childhood memories and place. They talk about the emotional pull of foraging, berry picking, and growing food at home.Jeff notes that many clients are motivated not just by food prices but also by a desire for meaningful outdoor experiences.Their three common client groups include families with children, professionals seeking a restorative retreat at home and retirees wanting to give back and reconnect with nature.Water management is another major focus of Jeff's work.They incorporate features such as rain gardens, permeable bases and dry creek beds and deep-rooted plantings that improve infiltration.They explain that lawns do a poor job of recharging groundwater compared to diverse plantings with deeper roots.Joanne and Jeff discuss Ottawa's Rain Ready rebate program and how it helps create opportunities for stormwater-friendly landscapes.Jeff uses flagstone and cedar structures rather than interlock whenever possible, aligning hardscape choices with their ecological values.Joanne reflects on the importance of sharing knowledge among landscape designers, rather than reinventing the wheel.Jeff shares their experience appearing on Dragon's Den, where they pitched their business as an ecological, food-focused, inclusive landscaping company. Takeaways and Tips Replace at least part of your lawn with planting that provides habitat, beauty, and ecological function.Do not assume a smaller garden is easier: well-sized planting beds are often lower maintenance.Native plants can support pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects while also reducing long-term upkeep.Consider adding edible plants to create a stronger personal connection to your outdoor space.Use rain gardens and deep-rooted plants to help manage water and reduce runoff.For larger naturalized projects, plugs can be a smart and affordable planting strategy.Be cautious about accepting shared plants from friends and neighbours, since invasive species can spread that way.Focus on creating a garden that invites you outside to observe, harvest, explore, and participate.A thoughtful design plan can save money, reduce mistakes, ...
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    1 hr and 17 mins
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