Savvy Gardening

Brighten up dark areas of the garden with annual flowers for shade

I have a pretty sunny property, but there are a few little pockets that don’t see as much sun, if any. In these spots, I’ll pop in some annual flowers for shade to add little sprays of colour—a thin strip on the north side of my house; under a loose hedge of unmanicured cedars in the side yard; in my backyard near the ravine where the tree canopy is thick.

The easiest vegetables to grow in garden beds and containers

Written by Niki Jabbour

It’s a fact; certain crops are easier to grow. Maybe it’s because they’re faster to go from seed to harvest or maybe they’re bothered by fewer pests and diseases. Either way, new food gardeners or those with little time may want to stick to these below crops which I’ve found to be some of the easiest vegetables to grow.

Pruning blueberries: Step-by-step instructions

Written by Jessica Walliser

For backyard blueberry growers, winter means it’s time to break out the pruning shears and folding saw. Pruning blueberries is a task best performed yearly, when the plants are dormant. Closely tied to crop production, plant health, and fruit quality, pruning too aggressively – or not aggressively enough – impacts your blueberry’s performance.
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Raised bed designs for gardening: Tips, advice, and ideas

Written by Tara Nolan

My first two raised beds were your standard rectangles anchored by 2x4s. My husband and I found the plan online. He surprised me by building them one weekend while I was away. They may have been simple, but they introduced me to all the benefits of gardening in raised beds. When it came time to work on my book Raised Bed Revolution, coming up with the different projects was one of the most fun aspects of the putting the book together. And since then, I’ve come across even more raised bed designs for gardening — if only I had more space!

Houseplant fertilizer basics: How and when to feed houseplants

Written by Jessica Walliser

Today, I’d like to review the basic ins and outs of houseplant fertilizer, and cue you in on how and when to feed your houseplants. Being a houseplant parent can be confusing business! Unlike human babies, houseplants don’t cry when they’re hungry or uncomfortable. Instead, they respond to their environment in different, far more subtle, ways. Knowing when it’s time to feed houseplants is challenging stuff, even for long-time houseplant growers. In this article, you’ll learn the best houseplant fertilization schedule season-by-season and which fertilizers are the best ones to use, based on whether your houseplant boasts gorgeous flowers or lush foliage. Let’s dive in.
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Vegetables to grow in winter: 8 crops for winter harvesting

Written by Niki Jabbour

I live in a region where winters can be long, cold, and very snowy. But, I still enjoy a homegrown harvest from my vegetable garden year-round. The key to a successful winter harvest is to know the right vegetables to grow in winter and pair them with the right season extenders. That means growing cold tolerant crops in structures like cold frames, mini hoop tunnels, greenhouses, or polytunnels. In this article you’ll get tips on winter harvesting and learn about 8 awesome vegetables to grow in winter.