Blog

There is a lot of confusion in mainstream circles over the difference between swedes and turnips. Swedes and turnips are just different species in the ...

Cover crops are one of the most important tools in the organic gardener’s toolbox. Although it might seem wasteful to grow plants that you won’t eat, the ...

Managing and shifting soil pH is one of the more technical skills you need to learn as a gardener. We have a great article about making the soil more ...

Aged farm animal manure is one of the most valuable ingredients you can bring to your garden. It is arguably the most important addition to your soil, which ...

Water chestnuts are delicious tubers, which are primarily cultivated and eaten in China. Normally found canned at the supermarket, it’s possible to grow water ...

Sphagnum moss, also referred to as peat moss, is one of the most common soil amendments for gardeners. This versatile material is cheap and can be used in ...

As plant parents, we’re usually preoccupied with making sure our plants are getting enough water. Not so many gardeners realize, however, how is ...

Gardening can be a challenge, but sterilizing soil has been offered up as a solution for various challenges. By learning how to sterilize soil, you can kill ...

Curious about how Christmas trees are grown? Considering if you could grow your own Christmas tree? Well, you might be wondering how long it takes for a ...

How long it takes for a tree to grow depends entirely on the type of tree, the specific variety, and their growing conditions. Each tree will take its own ...

Are you getting the sensation that your vegetables are growing slowly? Plants don’t grow overnight but you should be able to notice growth from week to week. ...

Perennial vegetables are those that come back year after year without replanting. Their long lifecycles make them well worth the initial effort and patience. ...

Ericaceous compost will be your strongest ally when growing acid-loving plants. Gardeners usually struggle to grow these types of plants because if the soil ...

Dandelions are perennial weeds that die off in the winter and return bigger and stronger than ever in the spring. The cheery yellow flowers quickly go to seed ...

Asparagus is an extremely nutritious and delicious gourmet perennial vegetable. You can grow asparagus from seed or cuttings, they are low maintenance and ...

If you have ever grown tomatoes only to discover they are suddenly afflicted with blossom end rot just as the fruit ripens, you already know how important ...

Turnips are a fast-growing root crop that is ideally suited for beginner gardeners. They are also perfect crops for the times between seasons when ...

Vegetable gardening can be a fun rewarding hobby, but there can also be many frustrations. While cultivating our desired plants, we are also creating an ...

Despite appearances, soils are filled with life. This life under the ground is part of a soil food web that decomposes organic matter, makes nutrients ...

A broadfork is an agricultural tool used to aerate the soil. Broadforks are an alternative to tilling the soil since they don’t break up the soil structure ...

Growing a vegetable garden is a rewarding and relaxing pastime. However, everyone can agree that a green thumb may not come automatically to every wannabe ...

To get that perfectly formed carrot, it’s important to grow them in sandy soil. While sandy soil is best for growing carrots, it’s not a very common soil type ...

Soil pH affects plants’ ability to grow by making certain nutrients available or unavailable. This makes it in the best interest of gardeners to test their ...

When you’ve been gardening for a little bit and have gotten a handle on the basics of seeds starting, transplanting, etc. it’s time to delve a little bit ...

Compost is sometimes referred to as ‘black gold’. Why? Because it is the best thing you can add to your soil. While other amendments only solve one or two ...

Learning how to make your own compost at home is one of the most beneficial things you can do as a gardener. Making compost is a simple process but there are ...

When researching about the perfect soil to use for your plants you might come across the term ‘soil water retention’. If you’re asking yourself, “what is ...

What are sweet potatoes? The delicious sweet potato is a plant that belongs to the bindweed family. A root vegetable, oddly shaped and has a sweet tasting ...

In January 2020 I decided with much pushing from my eldest son Harry that we should buy our own 2wd Fiat tractor to help with soil preparation, sowing and ...

Sweet potatoes like to be grown in warmer soil, unlike regular potatoes that prefer cool soil. This is because they are tropical plants, and can become ...

Rhododendrons are native to Asia, North America, Australia and Europe. There are over 1,000 species of this plant and they are widely cultivated for their ...

Even though from a distance it might seem super easy to take care of a plant baby, unfortunately they don’t cry or make a noise when they’re hungry or ...

Sweet potatoes are definitely worth considering as part of your diet. They are packed with minerals, fibre, vitamins and phytonutrients which can improve your ...

Weeds are really annoying, especially when you’ve been trying your best to make the most of your flower beds. It might feel impossible to get rid of weeds, ...

Container gardening is all the rage. You can liven up walls, fences and gates with beautiful trailing foliage and stunning blooms. And if you plan to add ...

Native to Northeast Asia, hostas have become popular with gardeners the world over. And everyone is asking: when is the best time to plant hostas? In this ...

Using peat-free products in the home and garden is one of the simplest yet most effective ways that people can make a positive environmental impact and reduce ...

Microbes. Microscopic organisms that live absolutely everywhere on the planet – from the ocean floor to the highest levels of the atmosphere. And those that ...

Hedges are one of the most common features in many prestigious and established neighborhoods. Because of their versatility – coming in a variety of sizes, ...

For hundreds of years, boxwood hedges have graced formal gardens in Europe and the Americas. Overall, these hardy shrubs require little upkeep. But they need ...

Of all the “Big 3” soil ingredients, the least understood is definitely potassium. While the effect of potassium on plants is fairly clear - we can see that ...

It’s safe to say that a successful garden begins with good soil. And while you may think that dirt is just dirt, all soils aren’t created equal. What are the ...

While snagging the last 2 bags of potting soil in the garden center, you begin to frantically calculate in your head. And no matter how you work it out, ...

Container gardening is become more and more popular. Planting in containers (that you can place on top of a stand or table) makes it easier to reach the ...

Raise your hand if you took up gardening during lockdown. For some people, growing their own fruit and vegetables guaranteed them fresh produce amid dwindling ...

In recent months, gardening has emerged as a leading pastime for many people in lockdown situations all over the world. For people living in urban areas with ...

Homeowners and gardeners spend countless hours caring for their property and ensuring it appears its best at all times. It’s plain to see that nothing ...

To achieve greatness in any sphere, you must start with – and master – the basics. Begin with the fundamentals, and build upon your foundation in order to ...

As anyone can tell you, a solid foundation is the key to success – whatever the endeavour. If you choose to build a house on a shoddy base of ragged stones ...

Spring is a fantastic time to be in the garden – everything around you is waking up and signs of new life can be seen everywhere. On your rose bushes, you may ...

Choosing from the hundreds of different outdoor equipment designs can be confusing and time consuming. If you have always cleaned or maintained your ...

Leeks, sometimes referred to as the poor man’s asparagus, are members of the onion family that, instead of forming a bulb, form a long shank. Not only are ...

At the beginning of a new season, it is a great idea to consider what you can do to give your garden a head start. Doing this will often enable you to ...

In chemistry, pH is a scale that ranges from 1 to 14 and is used to specify how acidic or alkaline a substance is. Acidic solutions have a lower pH number, ...

In chemistry, pH is a scale used to specify how acidic or alkaline a substance is. Acidic solutions have a lower pH, while ...

What is a compost tumbler?: A compost tumber is a rotating drum with a hatch or lid which is opened to empty your composting materials inside. The lid is then ...

These tiny, tart apples can be a healthy treat for dogs, if served properly. Though the flesh of the apple is safe, the leaves, stems and pips are all toxic ...

It is important when gardening to use the proper tools for the task at hand. And while any pair of heavy-duty kitchen scissors could handle basic yard work ...

It could be argued that a gardener is only as good as their tools – having the right tool for the job makes working in the garden less of an effort and ...

More than any other factor, the fertility of your soil will impact the success of your garden.  Whether you live in a new suburb or an old farming town, ...

There are few things more delicious than the taste of a ripe tomato – they are synonymous with summer, topping burgers and salads as well as making up lovely ...

All organic matter will decompose naturally sooner or later. Micro organisms – tiny living creatures invisible to the naked eye – feed on the decaying food, ...

It is no secret that homeowners all want the thickest, greenest lawn on the block. They seed it, spread fertilizer and pesticides, and water it regularly. ...

The tomato grows from a plant native to the Americas, which although it was thought to be poisonous when introduced to Europe in the 17th century, eventually ...

It’s no secret that gardeners all hope to achieve the highest yields. One of the surest methods to succeed is to start with a soil perfectly suited to the ...

Should you add perlite or vermiculite for vegetables? Which will help achieve the best result and why? Every gardener hopes for the best possible result ...

When we think of drought-resistant plants, succulents and grasses come immediately to mind - and while these are beautiful, not every gardener wants a sea of ...

Though there are as many different gardeners as there are gardens in the world, there is a common thread binding them all. Every gardener hopes to raise the ...

One of the oldest tools known to humankind, the axe has been in use since the Stone Age. They have changed and evolved over the years, every successive ...

In this article i will take you through the various steps required to show you how to build a concrete block pillar from start to finish. Positioning your ...

Many outdoors enthusiasts have a host of modern tools and gadgets they can use when preparing to go into the wilderness. Although many of these top survival ...

Flowers are ornamental plants used in designing landscapes, interiors and exterior areas of our houses. They add life and colour to our rooms and buildings ...

In this article we are going to talk about how to prune an apple tree in winter and what are the important steps to be followed and if there any issues to be ...

What do you call a cactus that isn’t a cactus? Answer - A Euphorbia Lactea. Sometimes known as the candelabra plant, the crested euphorbia, or the crested ...

Chlorophytumcomosum has many common names: Airplane plant, St. Bernard’s lily, Spider ivy, Ribbon plant, and Hen and chickens. But we know it best as the ...

This article is titled how to cut long grass by hand. It is an unusual title because in these modern times people usually use engine driven equipment for ...

What are hydroponics? Simply put, hydroponics is a method of growing plants that uses a nutrient-rich, water-based solution instead of soil to support ...

If you live in coastal areas you will understand the importance of picking your outdoor fixtures carefully, as the salt air can cause havoc with standard ...

Though it may not seem like it right now, spring is just around the corner. And homeowners everywhere will be looking for a tried-and-true method for a ...

Yes you can eat crabapples, although they have a very sharp, bitter taste if you were to eat them raw and if you ate too many of them they would cause you to ...

Windmill water pumps, which is actually an incorrect term for them - A "windmill" is something which harnesses the power of the wind to drive a grain mill. ...

You will have seen perlite when you open up a bag of compost, all the little white specks mixed throughout the compost are pieces of perlite. In this article ...

Learn how to grow parsley in this informative and easy to read post all about parsley. Parsley is a beautiful herb which really excels when pulled fresh from ...

Mark Twain once said that cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education! Thankfully, a college education is not required for growing your own ...

Dig out the hole 6 inches 15cm wider than the outside side of the pillar you want to build. It should be 2 to 3 feet/ 60cm to 100cm deep depending on how soft ...

Adding just a fist-sized portion (100g) of mushrooms to your diet can provide a laundry list of important vitamins and minerals. They are a natural source of ...

In this article i will describe to you how to hang a field gate from start to finish. How to hang a field gate Measure the length of the gate you want ...

One of the most common issues faced by gardeners – hobbyists and professionals alike – is powdery mildew. This disease is easily recognized by its ...

There’s nothing more satisfying than eating fruit and vegetables you’ve grown yourself. Yet, in most climates, it’s too cold for plants to grow outdoors for ...

The title of this article means more to me than to most people, because I have learned the hard way, the difference between ordinary floor paint and epoxy ...

Peas are one of the first things I like to plant in early spring. They love to germinate in cool temperatures and can handle being planted as early as a month ...

Having a nice looking hedge around your home or garden is something everyone enjoys. Studies have shown that homes with plenty of green space nearby ...

Yew plants require deep, well-aerated, drained and fertile soil to grow and thrive in. It will not matter if the yew is being planted to be a tree or as ...

In this article I will be covering how to grow Turnips (and Swedes), how long do turnips take to grow and how to nurture them through the early (risky) ...

It is only when you have your garden looking really good and things are growing well that you start to notice how much of a pest slugs and snails can be. ...

In this article we look at the different ways you can go about digging up a flower bed. We cover what to do if you have an existing flower bed with plants ...

Edging your lawn has to one of the most high impact jobs to improve the appearance of your property. It really does catch peoples eye and gives your home a ...

The topic of best chemical for cleaning my driveway is one which is brought up many times. If you have spent a lot of time mowing, edging your lawn and ...

In this article I will look at how to get rid of leaves without raking, using other implements rather than using the traditional hand rake. Why bother to lift ...

The main secret of how to make stripes in yard and improving the visual impact of your lawn is having a lawnmower with a heavy roller behind the cutting ...