Live gardening chat Monday July 6 at 12:30 p.m.

Want to have the best lawn in your neighbourhood? Join our live gardening chat on Monday at 12:30 p.m. Ask any question that might help your garden grow. Experts are standing by. Also listen to the call-in show with Ontario Today's Ed Lawrence. Dial 1-888-817-8995.

Live chats with expert gardeners every Monday

CBC News · Posted: Jul 02, 2015 2:27 PM EDT | Last Updated: July 7, 2015

Join our live gardening chat on Monday at 12:30 p.m. Ask any question that might help your garden grow. Experts are standing by. Also listen to the call-in show with Ontario Today's Ed Lawrence. Dial 1-888-817-8995.

Check out our live #gardenchat to build a better garden.

While you're waiting, see Mohawk College's web series on sustainable living. Their latest edition provides tips on staking and tying tomatoes.

On Monday listen to Ontario Today's call-in show with Ed Lawrence. Click on the image at the top of this page to do that, also starting at 12:30 p.m. on Monday. Call in to the show by dialing 1-888-817-8995 on Monday June 22, 2015.

Upload your photos and videos. Share the stories of your best and worst gardening adventures.

Post your questions on this page or Tweet to @CBCHamilton or send an email to Conrad.Collaco@cbc.ca. In 2014, our team answered hundreds of questions from gardeners in need.

Need gardening advice? Ask your question in the box below

Meet the gardeners

Our rotating group of online panelists includes Jon Peter, Curator and Manager of Plant Documentation at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Hamilton and Toronto-area Master Gardeners Claudette Sims, Tena Van Andel and Donna Parker as well as Master-Gardener-in-training Marie Clarke. Our newest experts are Master Gardener Lorne Sparrow, Tina Cesaroni of Toronto Master Gardeners and Alex Henderson of the Royal Botanical Gardens.

Jon Peter

Jon L. Peter has diplomas in horticulture from the University of Guelph and from the prestigious Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture. Since graduating, Jon has worked at some of the finest botanical institutions in North America, including the Arnold Arboretum, The Morton Arboretum & the New York Botanical Garden. Jon is currently Curator & Manager of Plant Documentation at the Royal Botanical Gardens.

Claudette Sims

Claudette Sims, a retired educator, has been a member of Halton Region Master Gardeners since 2005 and is the President of the Master Gardeners of Ontario. She is passionate about gardening and loves to attract and observe wildlife in her garden. Over the years, she's gained a better appreciation of the role and beauty of native plants in our gardens.

Donna Parker

Donna Parker, a retired educator with a background in Environmental Science, has been a Master Gardener since 2000.
She has worked with woody plants at Sheridan Nursery and had her own garden design and consultation business in the greater Hamilton area. She volunteers on the gardening hotlines at the Royal Botanical Gardens and for Halton Master Gardeners. Donna gardens in Ancaster and loves the challenge of designing and creating beauty among the wonderful old trees.

Marie Clarke-Davies

Marie Clarke-Davies, an executive producer at CBC News and has been involved with Halton Master Gardeners since 2011. Her passions are creating bird — and pollinator— friendly gardens and working with native plants, though she admits to a weak spot for the garden designs of Japan and Italy.

Tena van Andel

Tena van Andel is delighted to have been a Toronto Master Gardener since 2003. She enjoys her role as Past Coordinator for Toronto and as Event Coordinator on the board of the Master Gardeners of Ontario Inc. She will talk to anyone about anything horticultural, although orchids, large trees and the exotic bring a special gleam to her eye.

Lorne Sparrow

Lorne Sparrow is our newest addition to the CBC Hamilton gardening team. He is a retired electrical systems designer and has been a member of the Master Gardeners for over 25 years. He's particularly fond of roses and peonies. Lorne is a member of the Hamilton & Burlington Rose Society.

Tina Cesaroni

Tina Cesaroni studied horticulture and garden design while living in England. She just received her 5 year pin as a Toronto Master Gardener. She keeps busy in her role as Best Practices Coordinator for the Toronto group.

Did you know?

Master Gardeners in Ontario are experienced gardeners who have studied horticulture extensively and continue to upgrade their skills yearly through technical training. Master Gardeners start out as master gardeners in training until they complete the educational and volunteer component of the mandate.

Master gardeners and master gardeners in training provide free garden advice to the public by participating in volunteer activities such as garden advice clinics, answering questions via email and now in online chats!