Savvy Gardening

Garden soil amendments: 6 organic choices to improve your soil

There are very few gardens with naturally perfect soil for growing plants. But, as gardeners we have a wide assortment of garden soil amendments we can add to build soil, improve structure, provide nutrients, and promote healthy plant growth. I rely on amendments like compost, leaf mold, and aged manure digging them into my beds in spring, between successive crops, and in autumn to ensure I enjoy a bumper crop of homegrown vegetables. Read on to learn more about the pros and cons of the organic amendments you can use to improve your soil.

Low maintenance shrubs: 18 choices for your garden

Written by Jessica Walliser

Whether you’re putting in a brand-new shrub bed or planting more shrubs into an existing landscape, low maintenance shrubs are a must-have for today’s time-starved homeowners. They offer beautiful natural plant forms that require little to no pruning, are pest and disease resistant, bloom reliably, and are tolerant of different growing conditions. Some are evergreen while others offer colorful blooms, but all low maintenance shrubs require little care beyond making sure they are well watered until they’re established in their new home.
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Pollinator garden design: How to get started attracting bees, butterflies, and birds

Written by Tara Nolan

I think it’s fair to say that pollinator garden design is at the heart of most garden planning these days. Or at least I’m hopeful that it is. I see a greater percentage of homes where the garden is becoming more of the focal point than a traditional lawn. And whether it’s more traditionally planted or bursting with blooms, I can see the intention of planting to attract bees, birds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

Pruning pepper plants for improved plant health and yields

Written by Jessica Walliser

Did you know that pruning pepper plants can result in many benefits? The debate about whether or not to prune tomato plants seems to be a constant in the gardening world. There are a million different ways to do it and everyone swears their way is best. As a result, pruning the second most popular home garden crop – peppers – always seems to be forgotten. I know plenty of gardeners who don’t prune pepper plants, and that’s okay, but there are lots of good reasons why giving your pepper plants a strategic and well-timed trim pays big dividends. In this article, I’ll introduce the many reasons for cutting back pepper plants at certain times of the year, and how to do it right to ensure maximum benefits.
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Perennial vegetables: 15 easy to grow choices for gardens and landscapes

Written by Niki Jabbour

While most food gardeners concentrate on annual vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce, there are many perennial vegetables that offer an annual crop of leaves, stems, fruits, roots, tubers, flowerbuds, or bulbs. Plus, most are easy to grow, resistant to pests, and improve soil. There are so many reasons to add perennial vegetables to your garden and landscape. Read on to discover fifteen of my favourite perennial edible plants.
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Blossom end rot: How to identify, prevent, and treat

Written by Jessica Walliser

Watching little green tomatoes mature into large ripe tomatoes is one of the garden’s greatest joys. But when something goes awry and those ripe red fruits don’t come to fruition, it can be heartbreaking. Though tomatoes are subject to several different fungal diseases that can affect fruit development, perhaps the most upsetting tomato disorder of all is blossom end rot. Thankfully, if you can properly ID this disorder and learn to prevent and treat it, you won’t have to face the heartbreak it brings in future years.
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