(spoiler: yeah you do!) This is a great way to make sure your plants are getting enough water while saving yourself time to enjoy all the fun activities summer has to offer.
here is what you will need to get started.
drip irrigation system set
drill
sharp scissors or shears
water barrel
let’s gro #plantproject
step one
Choose a drip irrigation system that’s right for you and your garden. Some systems connect to a hose and water at intervals set on a timer, and others are automated solar systems that pull water from a rain barrel.
For the watering mechanism itself, you can get a system with little openings that will deliver droplets of water exactly where you want, or a system with a permeable hose that will slowly leak water along the whole length of the hose. The one we used is a solar-powered mix of the permeable hose and water droplet systems.
step two
Prep the rain barrel. For our system, we drilled two holes in the barrel to insert the water intake tube and water level sensors.
step three
Run the water supply lines to each garden bed. Use sharp scissors or shears to cut lengths of tube so that the water will drip where you want it or so that the permeable tube will fit the lengths of your garden bed.
step four
Turn the on the system to test to see if it works. If there are leaky connections, you may need to adjust.
step five
Keep an eye on your garden over the next few days. Is the soil soggy? The system may be overwatering. Wilty plants and dry soil? Could be underwatering. Adjust until your plants seem happy with the setup.
Mint is an easy, fast-growing herb that is used in drink and food recipes. It is a perennial herb that grows little white and purple flowers. There are over 30 different variations of mint, but the most commonly grown is spearmint and peppermint.
Mint does not need to be fussed over which makes it perfect for first-time gardeners. When planting your mint consider using a well-draining soil that can help with moisture control, like Miracle-Gro® All Purpose Garden Soil. This soil helps to prevent from over- and under-watering your mint plant.
Luckily, mint is an easy herb to find companion plants for. You can take your pick of popular home garden veggies such as: carrots, cabbage, kale, tomatoes, bell peppers, beans and even zucchini.
Frequent harvesting is important to keeping your mint flourishing. Young leaves have more flavour than older leaves. With this in mind, you can start harvesting your mint as soon as it comes up this spring.
If you see your mint plant drooping, there might be a pest problem. Common pests you might see with mint plants are aphids, mealy bugs, spider mites, or flea beetles. If you are seeing curling leaves or holes in your leaves, these are tell-tale signs of pests. Don’t worry, there is an easy fix. You can use a gentle insecticide like Ortho® Bug B Gon® ECO Insecticidal Soap Ready-To-Use to safely and quickly get rid of those little nuisances.
Once you pick a few sprigs from your mint plant, you can keep them in water for a few days. It is best to use your mint while it is fresh, about 3-5 days. If you are looking to dry your mint leaves, cut them right before flowering and let the leave air dry. Once dry, store the dried mint in an air-tight container.
Or you can just pick the leaves from your mint plant as you need them.
More sunlight. Most of the time, if your mint plant is looking thin and leggy it is lacking sunlight or water or nutrients. The best way to prevent mint from getting leggy is to make sure it is growing in a warm spot that gets lots of light. Keep it in a big pot with well-draining and nutrient rich soil.
Under-watering. This is easy to fix. Try watering your mint on a schedule, aiming for once or twice a week. Be sure to water under the leaves and close to the soil so you don’t damage the leaves.
Healthy, ready to use mint is a deep, rich green. If your mint is yellow and falling, it is likely due to its growing conditions. Keep your mint plant in full or partial sun, with a well-draining potting mix like Miracle-Gro® All Purpose Garden Soil. Make sure you water your mint whenever the top of the soil is dry, usually about twice a week.
Whether you grow edibles or ornamentals, in the ground or in raised beds, caring for your summer garden doesn’t have to be complicated. Follow this guide to develop good summer garden care habits that will benefit your plants all the way into fall.
water and feed
Just like humans, outdoor plants require plenty of water and a balance of nutrients to be at their best. Summer weather can dry out soil quickly, especially in containers and raised bed gardens. Plants also deplete the soil’s vital nutrients simply by growing. You can supply the moisture and food your plants need by watering and fertilizing regularly. Plus, regular feeding helps your plants grow bigger, stronger, more productive, and better equipped to handle summer stress.
Your summer watering schedule will vary depending upon your growing zone and weather conditions, and you will need to stay vigilant. Test whether you need to water by feeling the soil—some plants wilt naturally in hot weather, and overwatering can also cause wilting, so don’t rely on looks alone! Whenever the top inch of soil surface feels dry, give the soil a good soaking to ensure that moisture reaches all the way to plants’ deepest roots. Make sure to aim the flow of water at the base of your plants so the leaves stay dry, which helps prevent disease. Plan to water your garden thoroughly about twice each week, or more especially when the weather is hot &dry. If you are growing in containers, you may need to water daily.
Nutrient-rich soil helps plants grow healthy roots. Prepare your garden or containers in early spring (but after the last frost) with Miracle-Gro® All Purpose Garden Soil or Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix. Both contain continuous-release plant food to give your vegetables, herbs, and flowers a strong start—plus their first serving of vital nutrients.
Already-established perennial flowers and herbs also need plant food as they begin to emerge at the start of the growing season. Lightly work a granular fertilizer, like Miracle-Gro® Shake ’n Feed® All Purpose Plant Food, into the surface soil around each plant base, being careful not to disturb the roots or new growth, then water thoroughly to release the nutrients into the soil.
choose your feeding style
When picking a plant food, you have some choices.
If you prefer to feed instantly and while you water, choose a water-soluble plant food like Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food. Measure and mix it directly into your watering can and pour the solution around the bases of your plants, or use with your hose end sprayer (like the Miracle-Gro® Garden Feeder) for larger areas. Plan to feed every 7 to 14 days.
For less frequent feeding, choose continuous-release plant granules, like Miracle-Gro® Shake ’n Feed® All Purpose Plant Food.. Sprinkle the easy-to-use, granules onto the soil surface, gently rake them into the top few inches of soil, then water thoroughly to start the feeding process.
feed regularly (even in summer)
Plants experience a burst of early growth when they are first planted. Many plant types also have growth spurts in the early or mid-summer, so it is important to replenish nutrients throughout the growing season. After all, you are looking to coax your plants into growing their best and producing the biggest blooms and harvest, right? Annual vegetables and flowers respond especially well to continuous-release feeding that reaches deep down to their roots, promoting bigger, more productive plants.
consider plant food “flavours”
While all plants will gobble up nutrients from the soil, different varieties require different nutrient balances. Nitrogen grows green leaves and stems. Phosphorus promotes strong roots and abundant, colourful flowers. Potassium helps plants protect themselves from disease, drought, and other stressors. So, while all-purpose plant food is a solid choice if you grow a mix of plant types, consider tailoring your choice if you are all about veggie gardening or prefer to surround yourself with flowers.
Tomatoes, squash, peppers, cucumbers, and other vegetables (and herbs!) will thrive when they’re fed every 7 to 14 days Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food. This plant food is great for your garden, and is packed full of micronutrients and contains calcium which helps to prevent plant diseases.
When the soil is short on nutrients, you will see it in your plants. Keep an eye out for warning signs like pale or yellowing foliage, fewer flowers, or slower growth than usual, or droopy, limp, weak stems. If you have been watering regularly (but not too much!) and have not had problems with insects or disease, chances are your plants need feeding.
don’t feed the weeds!
If you let them, weeds will compete with the plants you like for moisture and nutrients. Pull weeds before you fertilize and concentrate plant food around the bases of your plants, to keep nutrients where they are needed most. Be sure to continue to check for weeds regularly throughout the growing season, pulling ‘em whenever you see ‘em.
Here is one final tip: Keep plant food in an easy-to-see place—like next to your gardening tools—to help keep feeding top-of-mind. (Keep it out of reach of little ones, though!) You can also set reminders on your smartphone. Then, when the time is right, head on out and feed those plants!
Tired of plain-jane plant labels in your veggie garden? These illustrated plant markers are a fun way to add some colour and pizazz to your garden before your plants ever start to flower and bear fruit!
here’s what you need to get started:
wooden plant markers ( possible alternatives: wooden spoons or paint stirring sticks)
Using pencil, sketch out the basic shapes of the type of plant you want to label: an elongated oval for peppers, rounded triangles for strawberries, circles for tomatoes, and so on. Write out the name of the plant in pencil as well. Use your best handwriting or get creative with different writing styles!
step two.
Pour your desired paint colours onto your plate or palette. Use the colours you have to mix up any colours you’re missing: red and blue make purple, blue and yellow make green, and so on. You can also a tiny amount of black or white to your mixtures to darken or lighten them respectively.
step three.
Time to start painting! Choose a dark or light solid colour for the plant name, depending on the background you’re painting on. To paint the fruits, veggies, and flower illustrations begin with a solid base layer of paint and gradually add in additional layers for opacity and details. A white highlight on a pepper or various shades of red on a tomato go a long way to making your illustrations really pop!
step four.
Let paint dry thoroughly – ideally overnight – before erasing any stray pencil marks. Finish by spraying with sealing spray to preserve your designs through those summer rainstorms.
Working with your hands, creating and sustaining life, watching plants thrive, each of these key parts of being a gardener have exponential benefits on our mental wellbeing.
But while tending to a garden might usually feel like therapy, it can also be equally as stressful if done without the proper knowledge. There are so many gardening rules to keep up with, many of which novice gardeners learn through trial and error. But don’t stress! To help you put your best green thumb forward, we gathered these simple, straightforward gardening “do’s and don’ts” you need to know.
Read your seed packets: They typically have all the information you need to make sure you’re planting your seeds deep or shallow enough, using the right amount of light, and watering the ideal amount and frequency.
DO
Give your plants space: Overcrowding can cause real conflict! Plants that grow too close together will compete for sunlight and nutrients, which will negatively impact their growth and chances of survival.
DO
Time your watering: The best time to water your plants is in the AM. During the day, water will evaporate from their surface, protecting them from fungal diseases that happen when plants stay wet for too long. Can’t commit to an AM watering routine? The second best time is in the early evening.
DO
Remember to include flowers: They do more than just add colour and beauty. They also attract bees, which help keep your garden thriving by pollinating your other plants.
DON’T
Ignore signs of pests or disease: Notice something off about your garden? Take action immediately. Pest invasions and plant diseases, if left untreated, can become much more difficult to control as they get worse.
DON’T
Overwork your soil: Course, textured soil is full of healthy organic matter. It allows for easier water and nutrient penetration, because it’s less compressed than fine soil. So keep that in mind when working yours!
DON’T
Work the soil while it’s wet: This can make it more tight and compact – which leaves less room for water and air to get through. As worked soil dries, it forms clumps, which are hard to break apart and contribute to slower drainage. It can take YEARS to rebuild healthy soil once that happens!
DON’T
Walk in your garden beds: This compacts the soil – which, as we mentioned above, reduces its ability to retain water and nutrients that your plants need to survive. Instead, use a board to walk on, which can help distribute your weight more evenly.
DON’T
Forget to roll with the punches: Gardening is about the journey, not the destination. It’s about learning new things, experimenting with new methods, and letting your creativity shine. It’s inevitable that you’ll experience roadblocks throughout your journey – but the key is to learn from them, and roll with it!
QUICK TIP
Add a layer of mulch around your plants! It can help them retain moisture, inhibit weed growth, and regulate your soil’s temperature.
your go-to guide to seed starting for late starters
If the idea of starting seeds just crossed your mind, or you simply didn’t have the time to tackle this project earlier in the year, do not fear!
Because yes – contrary to popular belief, you absolutely CAN start your seeds in April. It’s not too late.
Especially if you’re into delicious late bloomers, like asparagus, beets, peppers, and even catnip (your furry friends will love you forever!).
let’s get started! but first…
Check the last average frost date in your region with this helpful chart. It includes useful guides for which seeds you can start now, which seeds prefer direct over indoor sowing, and when the best time to transplant your indoor seedlings would be.
there are two ways to sow your seeds. Let’s get into them!
option 1: indoor Sowing
Indoor sowing is the process of starting your seeds indoors, and then gradually exposing and transplanting them outdoors. Almost every seed can be started using this method – but particularly long-season crops, which, as the name implies, take a longer time to grow.
Fill a large bowl with your potting mix, and add in a sprinkle of water to ensure even soil moisture.
2
step 2: prepare your seed tray
Place your seed tray inside your drip tray, and fill each cell with soil, just below the top of the cell.
3
step 3: sow your seeds
The rule of thumb with seed sowing is: plant yours two to three times as deep as they are wide. So if your seeds are tiny, you can sprinkle a few over the soil. If they’re larger, you can push a couple of them into the soil in each cell, ensuring they’re covered by a layer of it. To better understand how deep you need to place your seeds, read the packaging they come in.
4
step 4: prepare for growth!
Add labels to each seed container. Then, place your plastic cover on top of your tray, and put it on the heat mat, under your LED or glow lights. Once your seedlings start growing, gradually expose them to the outside environment. Then, mid May or June, they’ll be ready to be transplanted.
This method involves planting your seeds directly into your garden or outdoor space, rather than sowing them indoors first, and then transplanting. While indoor sowing gives you more control over your seeds’ environment, direct sowing allows for the development of stronger, healthier plant roots.
here’s what you need to get started:
Your seeds
Craft sticks for labeling
1
step 1: prepare your soil
Take the time to get your soil fully ready, by removing all the weeds, rocks, and debris. Then, loosen your soil with a garden fork, raking it until you have a level surface.
2
step 2: prepare your seeds
Depending on the type of seeds you have, you might need to manipulate them slightly before placing them in the soil. For example, some seeds need to be softened, by being soaked in water prior to planting. Others need to be scarified, by being rubbed against sandpaper to thin their hard shells. Read your seeds’ instruction packet to ensure you’re preparing them properly.
3
step 3: plant your seeds
Just like with indoor sowing, try to stick to the seed size-to-soil depth rule. The bigger the seed, the deeper you want to sow it. Tiny seeds can simply be sprinkled on top of the soil, while bigger seeds will need to be buried at a prescribed depth. But don’t stress! Seeds aren’t particularly picky, and will likely germinate regardless of soil depth.
4
step 4: moisten your soil
Never – we repeat, NEVER- let your soil dry out fully after planting your seeds. Nothing gets in the way of seed growth more than dry soil. To give your seeds the best chance for success, gently water them using a light-pressure setting on your hose, and make sure to not leave any puddles – or you risk overwatering.
5
step 5: X marks the seeds
Use your labeled craft sticks to mark where you planted your seeds. This will help you keep track of their germination, monitor their growth, and not accidentally overcrowd them with new seeds or mistaken them for weeds.
Looking to “spruce” up your porch this holiday season? Create a beautiful and inviting entry way that will make your guests want to snap insta-worthy pictures before coming inside!
Looking to “spruce” up your porch this holiday season? Create a beautiful and inviting entry way that will make your guests want to snap insta-worthy pictures before coming inside!
Here are 5 festive ways to decorate your porch for the holidays.
1
Wrap your door. There are a few ways to make your home look like the perfect present. Try your hand at giftwrapping your front door with wrapping paper. If that’s too much for your vibe, consider a big ribbon with a Christmas bow. Kick up the present theme with a gift tag too!
2
Be generous with greens. Wrap columns in garlands and introduce evergreen wreaths for a classic holiday look.
3
Buffalo plaid accents. Add a pop of vibrant colour to your porch by including buffalo plaid accents. A few outdoor throw pillows strategically placed on all season furniture will punch up your patio. These red accents will really pop against natural, evergreen décor.
4
Make small spaces pop. A statement wreath and a few accents are a great way to make small spaces feel welcoming. Transition your summer lanterns to winter by filling them with Christmas ornaments.
5
Add some lights. The addition of white string lights add sparkle to your porch. Bonus points to these lights for letting your décor be seen at night!
Garlic is one of the most commonly used vegetables in cooking. It offers a variety of health benefits and can be consumed in a myriad of ways including cooked, preserved in oil or even eaten raw.
variations
There are about 11 different types of garlic. They are classified as “hard neck” or “soft neck” variations.
share
light
full sun
Plant in a place where they can get 6 – 8 hours of sun
water + feeding
not too thirsty
It’s best to water deep, but garlic only requires between a half to a full inch of water per week.
toxic
yes and no
Garlic is toxic for cats and dogs, but delicious for humans
size
small-ish
Average garlic bulbs have about 6-10 cloves, but their foliage can reach up to 2ft in height.
pro tip
plant in the fall
Plant your garlic 4 – 6 weeks prior to first frost
fun fact
keeps more than vampires away
Garlic is known as one of the healthiest foods, containing healing properties such as: anti blood coagulation, antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial, lowers cholesterol, reduces blood pressure, anticancer properties and can be used to help fight off colds.
Plant garlic cloves 4 to 8 inches apart, and about 2 inches deep. Be sure you plant the cloves with the root side pointing down. Your garlic needs well-draining soil, such as Miracle-Gro® All Purpose Garden Soil. Add a little compost to bump up the nutrients of soil.
Garlic can be planted next to other veggies such as beets, celery, lettuce, potatoes, strawberries or even tomatoes. It’s best to avoid planting near peas or beans.
Once your garlic has sprouted some leaves, and a few of the lower leaves have turned brown, your garlic is ready to pick. The only way to tell is to pick a few bulbs as a test. If the cloves have filled the skin, they’re ready to harvest. Be sure not to let them wait too long once you notice the lower leaves browning, otherwise the protective layers around the cloves will be too thin. This means the garlic won’t store well.
White rot is a common disease that can wipe out an entire garlic crop. This is identified by little poppy seed sized bumps on the stem, and white fuzzy growth on the bottom of the bulb. If left untreated it can remain in the soil for many years. Keep an eye out for symptoms from mid-summer to autumn. If you’re noticing this has been a problem where you’re planting, apply a fungicide. For best results, apply the fungicide in a 6 inch band over the planting trench. This should happen immediately before planting.
Could be time to harvest. When garlic is ready to be harvested, a few of the bottom leaves will turn brown and droop. The easiest way to tell if your garlic is ready to harvest is to count back. Garlic needs about 240 days to mature.
Extreme weather conditions. Sometimes after a particularly harsh winter, garlic crops can come out a bit crumpled or very small. One way to prevent this is to water and mulch immediately after planting. Be sure not to add too much mulch though! Too much mulch applied too late in the season will insulate the ground and delay it from going dormant. This can cause root rot once the real cold weather sets in.
Autumn is in the air. This means it’s time to switch up your seasonal décor! Not ready for a full switch to winter holiday décor? We’ve got tips to help you swap your summery porch vibe for a more festive fall space
Here are 4 tips to get you started.
1
Refresh your flowers. Summer blooms have come and gone, but fall florals can make an impact. Consider a selection of chrysanthemums, violas, or pansies.
2
Nothing says fall like pumpkins. Whether they’re placed symmetrically or stacked on stairs, the addition of pumpkins will make your entry-way look picture perfect. Try out white, pastel, or the classic orange for added drama.
3
Hay isn’t just for horses. Hay can be a versatile way to showcase your front door. Add hay bales of different sizes to create levels to show off your mums, pumpkins or other fall faves.
4
Wreaths aren’t just for Christmas. A new season means a new wreath! Experiment with different textures and colours to add that finishing touch to your front door. Pro tip: be sure to measure the width of the door so you don’t overpower the space with too large of a wreath.
Patio season is coming to a close and it’s time to prep your garden for next year.
Taking the time now to clean up your garden will make a HUGE difference next spring. Not sure where to start? Use this checklist to prep your garden for next year.
Do you have any tips or tricks you use to make sure your garden is primed for the next spring? Share your knowledge with the community in the Plant Chat.
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