A few weeks ago, a Gardening Guru column talked about the positive effects on mental health. This column talks about additional health benefits that gardening can provide. Physical Health Benefits Gardening is a form of exercise as digging, raking, planting, weeding, or harvesting, all these tasks engage multiple muscle groups […]
Melanie Mathieson – Gardening Guru
Most people consider ants to be pests. They are not a direct pest to plants but their burrows in the soil can loosen the roots of young plants and cause them to die. But on the positive side, if you have heavy clay soil these burrows can break up the […]
A gardener should never use the potatoes from the pantry that have sprouted. These potatoes are meant for eating, not for planting. Potatoes sold for human consumption are sprayed with chemicals to help them store over the winter and inhibit sprouting. If you plant these in your garden they may […]
Growing potatoes seems to be one of the most popular topics among gardeners. There are many myths created about the proper way to grow potatoes. This article is meant to provide you with an outline of what conditions a potato needs to thrive and produce a large crop, a few […]
Every detail counts when it comes to growing a record-breaking fruit, from pruning strategies to managing the pumpkin’s weight, so this column will provide some advanced techniques and tips to maximize the growth potential of your pumpkin. Managing the Vine As your pumpkin plant matures, you’ll need to manage its […]
Growing giant pumpkins can be one of the most rewarding challenges for a gardener. While producing a pumpkin weighing a few hundred kilos may seem daunting, with the right knowledge and care, even beginners can succeed. This column will introduce you to the fundamentals of growing giant pumpkins and outline […]
As we all know there is nothing like the first scent of the lilac to tell us spring is officially here. What we refer to as the common lilac in North America, is actually native to mountainsides in southeastern Europe but was brought across the Atlantic, to North America, in […]
Although there are many different species of irises, the bearded iris is one of the most popular perennial flowers. Not only a popular garden plant, but also often seen in artwork and logos. There are hundreds of varieties of bearded irises available on the market today, including a range of […]
Everyone who gardens, enjoys receiving tips and tricks to make the job of gardening a little bit easier. I offer these tips, all of which I have tried and used in my own garden with many being part of my everyday regime. My two favourites are the first tip about […]
Gardening offers a holistic approach to wellness that is deeply rooted in nature. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a beginner, the benefits of spending time in the garden are undeniable, such as enhancing physical health to fostering emotional well-being. When the demands of daily life can often leave us […]
By now you have your seedlings started and they are growing successfully. With a few more tips, you will get the best from these seedlings so when you plant them outdoors you will have strong plants that will get a jump on the gardening season. Now that the seedlings are […]
By starting seeds indoors you can often extend your growing season by up to ten weeks. This can be very beneficial for plants that have a longer “days to maturity” time frame. You can even start some of the newer hybrid varieties with shorter “days to maturity” time frames indoors […]
