Spireas are generally bulletproof shrubs, easily found at most garden centres. Many of us are familiar with the ubiquitous bridal wreath variety (Spiraea x vanhouttei), blooming in early June. New cultivars of Japanese spirea (S. japonica) are popular, too. “There’s something about spirea” describes some of the best varieties of these compact, long-blooming shrubs. I like … [Read more...] about Pink wands of early spirea
raised beds
Creative ways to use raised beds
In her new book Raised Bed Revolution: Build it, Fill it, Plant it ... Garden Anywhere! Tara Nolan explains the basics and benefits of gardening with raised beds. Tara suggests creative ways to use raised beds, and demonstrates how gardeners can: Expand the growing season: Soil in raised beds thaws much quicker than soil in ground gardens, allowing gardeners to get a head … [Read more...] about Creative ways to use raised beds
Building a raised garden bed
We finished our raised garden bed last week and learned a few things along the way, mainly that making one isn’t that difficult. There are several advantages to a raised garden bed, but the two that convinced me that it was the best option for my new veggie garden are 1) the chance to improve the soil and control its makeup better than an in-ground bed and 2) the soil warms up … [Read more...] about Building a raised garden bed
Raised beds for gardening are great
In a garden, raised beds — beds with soil higher than the surrounding area — are a popular way to corral the chaos when growing vegetable or cutting flowers. Making a raised bed can be as simple as mounding soil up and then planting in it. However, without some sort of barrier to keep the soil in place, the depth of a raised bed is limited, and the edges of the bed … [Read more...] about Raised beds for gardening are great
