Garden Making – Inspiring ideas and information for great home gardens

A beginner’s guide to loving and growing succulents

Marian and Louis Damm, owners of Floral Dimensions, answered some of my beginner questions and I also saw some amazing ideas for displaying succulents.

4 fabulous ways to harvest homegrown garlic

Among the healthiest foods we can eat, homegrown garlic is antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Garlic can be enjoyed four ways: as young or mature bulbs, scapes and greens.

Time to move plants and tubers indoors

It’s time to move plants and tubers indoors for winter. Favourite summer annuals (like pelargoniums and tender herbs) should already be indoors.

Rose of Sharon shines on

Rose of Sharon loves heat, so it will be happy in your hottest spot. It’s hardy only to minus -12°C, and in a severe winter cold snap, the branches might die back.

The merits of a three- to four-inch blanket of leaf mulch on soil is a gardener’s autumn mission — to return nutrients to the soil, conserve moisture, promote healthy soil structure and prevent erosion.

Leave some seed for birds

When clearing plants in the fall, two little goldfinches have reminded me that birds are dependent on seedheads for their autumn diet. Leave seed for birds.