How to stop squash vine borer fast: identify damage, use collar barriers and a targeted Bt schedule
I remember the first summer I lost an entire squash patch to squash vine borer (SVB). One morning the vines looked strong, and by afternoon one half of the bed had wilted to a brown tangle. After ripping plants apart and finding a fat orange caterpillar deep inside the stem, I swore I’d never be...
Featured
How to transplant mature perennials without shock: a step-by-step plan for late summer moves
Late summer can feel like a strange time to move mature perennials: the days are still warm, but...
How to plan a year-round balcony edible rotation for three 30 cm pots and double your harvest
I’ve gardened in pots on balconies for years, and one of the best tricks I’ve discovered is how...
How to build a pet-safe slug barrier with copper tape, beer alternatives and garden-friendly nematodes
I hate finding nibbled seedlings and slimy trails on my patio pots, and I know many of you feel the...
Simple weekend plan to retrain an overgrown rose bush into a productive, bloom-rich shrub
I inherited my first overgrown rose bush from a neighbour who was moving away. It arrived as an...
Which biodegradable seed trays actually compost away: tested options for beginner seed starters
I test a lot of seed-starting gear every spring and one question I hear constantly is: which...
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...
Latest News from Groupegarden
Pests & Diseases
How to build a pet-safe slug barrier with copper tape, beer alternatives and garden-friendly nematodes
I hate finding nibbled seedlings and slimy trails on my patio pots, and I know many of you feel the same. Over the years I’ve tested lots of methods to control slugs that are safe for dogs, cats and wildlife, and that don’t wreck the soil life I care about. In this post I’ll share the...
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Plant Care
Simple weekend plan to retrain an overgrown rose bush into a productive, bloom-rich shrub
I inherited my first overgrown rose bush from a neighbour who was moving away. It arrived as an elegant tangle of old canes, a few stubborn blooms and plenty of mildew—intimidating at first, but secretly full of potential. Over a single weekend, with a clear plan and a few basic tools, I turned...
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Eco Gardening
Which biodegradable seed trays actually compost away: tested options for beginner seed starters
I test a lot of seed-starting gear every spring and one question I hear constantly is: which biodegradable seed trays actually break down in a real garden compost pile — and which ones just sit there looking eco-friendly while refusing to disappear? I’ve put a dozen common options through...
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DIY Projects
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...
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Garden Design
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 privacy without endless pruning or toxic sprays?” Over the years I’ve learned that the smartest answer is to choose low‑maintenance native hedges. They’re adapted to local soils and climate, support...
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DIY Projects
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 every spare minute of my time. On hot summer weeks when I want to leave town or just spend more time enjoying my plants than dragging watering cans, I turn to an old technique: ollas. These unglazed...
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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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