How to turn heavy clay into fast-draining raised beds without hauling in tons of topsoil
I remember the first time I faced a yard full of sticky, smearing clay. I wanted raised beds that drained quickly and fed plants well, but the thought of hiring a truckload of screened topsoil felt wasteful and expensive. Over the years I’ve developed and refined a method that turns heavy clay...
Featured
Which low-maintenance native hedges give year-round privacy for a small urban garden
I often get asked by readers with small urban plots: “How can I get reliable, year‑round...
Save week-long watering: set up a cheap ollas system for balcony pots
I’m a big fan of simple, low-cost solutions that make a garden feel cared for without demanding...
Turn a shady 2x corner into a low-maintenance pollinator garden with native perennials
I turned a small, shady corner of my yard—an awkward 2x nook under an overhanging maple—into a...
Fix blossom end rot on tomatoes in seven practical steps for container growers
I remember the first summer my patio tomato plants started showing small, sunken brown patches on...
Build an upcycled rain barrel filter that keeps mosquitoes out and delivers clean water to raised beds
I’ve been collecting rainwater for years, but one summer I noticed mosquito larvae wriggling in...
Troubleshooting yellowing leaves: 7 specific causes and how to treat each
I always get a little pang when I see leaves going yellow on a plant I care about. Yellowing — or...
Latest News from Groupegarden
Garden Design
Turn a shady 2x corner into a low-maintenance pollinator garden with native perennials
I turned a small, shady corner of my yard—an awkward 2x nook under an overhanging maple—into a low-maintenance pollinator haven using mostly native perennials. If you have a similar tight, shady corner that seems impossible to plant (too dark, roots competing, soil a little compacted), I’ll...
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Pests & Diseases
Fix blossom end rot on tomatoes in seven practical steps for container growers
I remember the first summer my patio tomato plants started showing small, sunken brown patches on the bottoms of the fruits — maddening when you’re nursing container tomatoes through heat, water and pruning. That problem was blossom end rot (BER), and once I learned to treat the cause instead...
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DIY Projects
Build an upcycled rain barrel filter that keeps mosquitoes out and delivers clean water to raised beds
I’ve been collecting rainwater for years, but one summer I noticed mosquito larvae wriggling in my old barrel—and I realized I needed a better system. I wanted something simple, budget-friendly and made mostly from upcycled parts that would both keep mosquitoes out and deliver relatively clean...
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Plant Care
Troubleshooting yellowing leaves: 7 specific causes and how to treat each
I always get a little pang when I see leaves going yellow on a plant I care about. Yellowing — or chlorosis — is one of those common garden signals that can come from many different problems. Over the years I’ve learned that the key is to look at the pattern of yellowing, feel the soil, check...
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DIY Projects
Step by step guide to grafting apple trees for better fruit and disease resistance
I still remember the first time I tried grafting an apple tree: my hands were sticky with sap, my bench was cluttered with budding scion wood, and I was alternately nervous and thrilled. That year the grafts took, and the satisfaction of watching a new cultivar thrive on a hardy rootstock hooked me...
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Pests & Diseases
Companion planting pairs that reduce pests and boost tomato yields
I’ve always treated companion planting as one of those simple garden strategies that rewards you over and over: a few smart plant pairings can cut pests, improve pollination and even increase tomato yields without reaching for chemical sprays. Over the years I’ve tried dozens of combinations in...
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Plant Care
How to use mulch correctly around shrubs to prevent rot and encourage deep roots
Mulch is one of my favorite garden habits — it transforms bare soil into a tidy, moisture-retaining layer, suppresses weeds and feeds the soil as it breaks down. But I’ve also learned the hard way that mulch can cause problems when used incorrectly around shrubs: too much or piled against the...
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Pests & Diseases
Eco friendly slug control strategies that protect pets and wildlife
I hate finding half-eaten hosta leaves or a row of tiny holes across my lettuces — and I’ve learned that slugs are as persistent as they are sneaky. Over the years I’ve tried every trick in the book, and I’ve also learned to choose methods that keep our cats, neighbour’s dog, hedgehogs...
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Garden Design
Design a cozy garden seating nook using thrifted finds and white string lights
I love creating small garden moments that feel like a quiet retreat — a place where you can sip tea, read a book, or linger with friends as dusk falls. One of my favourite weekend projects is designing a cozy seating nook using thrifted finds and white string lights. It’s a budget-friendly way...
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DIY Projects
How to choose the right drip irrigation kit for a 10 m² flower border
When I first tackled irrigation for a 10 m² flower border, I wanted something that was simple, water-efficient and low-maintenance — not a full sprinkler system, but better than hand-watering every evening. After testing a few setups and helping friends fit kits into narrow beds and...
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