What are pollinator gardens, and why are they important? Pollinator gardens are essential to the reproduction of native plants. Native pollinators are very sensitive to environmental and man-made threats, and require very specific plant selection to thrive. From small rooftop gardens to vast gardens, even the smallest space can have a big impact and can help struggling pollinators.

here’s how to start your own pollinator garden at home:

step 3. select and analyze the site.

Make sure you’ve got the right plants for the right place. The important site attributes to consider are: sunlight, soil type and treatment, moisture levels, wind exposure, which animals are naturally present and, of course, aesthetics.

step 4. prep your garden site.

Start to prepare your site by removing all the old sod, if necessary. All weeds and other invasive plants should be removed as well. Once the site has been cleared, till the soil and add a top soil. Add a few inches of organic compost. Check out our article about building your own compost.

step 5. plan your garden and select your plants.

An important part of planning your garden is creating “massings” which are groups of 4 or 5 plants. This makes it easier for foraging. Pro tip: group moisture loving plants together! This can help you save on watering. Don’t forget to leave a border of a few inches, this is to give your plants room to grow.

step 6. get planting.

Lay your plants according to your desired design. Get digging and plant your native pollinators. When you’re ready to add mulch, make sure you’re not putting mulch right against the plant.

step 7. care for your garden.

Aside from the regular watering, there is some maintenance required to keep your garden happy. Keep an eye out for weeds and other invasive species, and weed by hand. The purpose here is to help your garden thrive naturally, so avoid using pesticides. During the fall, you can leave see heads and stalks. This provides a natural habitat for birds and insects. Cut back in the springtime and add compost.

And just like that, you’re well on your way to a fully functioning pollinator garden! Don’t forget to share your progress with our community in the Plant Chat.

#happygardening

Ready to raise a family of healthy veggies? Well begin with a raised vegetable garden! We make it easy to DIY a raised garden bed brimming with a nutritious bounty.  

strong foundations

Adding a high-quality soil to your raised garden bed will significantly improve the existing soil. This will allow your veggie plants to grow strong roots and render robust veggies. A specially designed soil, like Miracle-Gro® All Purpose Garden Soil  will continually release plant food. 

water & feed

Depending on the weather, water your plants regularly and feed them a couple of times a week with Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble Tomato, Fruit and Vegetable Plant Food.  

#easypeasy

Why do gardening pros and newbies alike pick daylilies? They are easy to grow and easy on the eyes, for starters. They are also perennial and drought-tolerant, making them low maintenance flowers for your garden. 

be choosey

Daylilies come in a vast variety, including small yellow plants in landscaping to towering orange ones growing wild by the side of the road. From purple petals to ruffled fringes, part of the fun of daylilies is deciding which ones to grow. To enjoy flowers all season, plant a mixture of early-, mid-, and late season bloomers and look out for re-blooming varieties. 

it’s all in the timing  

Late spring or early fall is best for planting these pretty perennials. If you find a flowering friend in your garden store in the summer, transfer it to the ground right away. It will need some extra TLC so water it frequently during this summer transition but with attention it should grow to be tough like its shoulder-season counterparts. 

prep your daylily bed

Knowing how to prepare soil for daylilies properly is key. Adaptable to an astonishing variety of soil, planting daylilies in well-drained, slightly moist soil will render the best blooms, especially if you use fortified organic matter like Miracle-Gro® All Purpose Garden Soil mixed in the planting areas. Mix 3 inches of the garden soil with the native soil, or in individual planting holes in a 50:50 ratio.  

finding a home  

The daylilies will start in two ways, usually as container-grown plants but sometimes clumpy bare-root plants that have roots and a growing stem. Either type can be planted by digging a hole that should measure twice as wide as the plant’s root system and just as deep. 

Container daylily plants must be gently settled in the hole, nestling the soil around the roots. Bare-root daylilies should be planted by making a mound with some of the soil mixture in the planting hole. Spread out the roots on top of the mound, surround them with soil. Make sure When the daylily is planted, ensure its crown (where the roots meet the stem or leaves) lies slightly above the soil line. Plants must be watered well, and pro tip: hug mulch around them to keep soil moist. 

thirsty daylilies

The first few weeks from planting, your daylilies should be watered every couple of days. After a few weeks you can reduce watering once or twice a week. Unless you are experiencing a drought, which is classified as 4-plus weeks without measurable rainfall, natural precipitation will water them for you. Once daylilies are established, magnificent daylilies are drought-tolerant. 

daylilies get hangry

Give your daylilies their best lives by feeding them with Miracle-Gro® Shake ‘n Feed® Ultra Bloom® Plant Food. Introduce it about a month after planting to fortify these flowers. Its natural ingredients nourish plants from root to bloom. Follow the package directions to know how much to use and how often. 

dead heading, it’s a snap 

Daylilies are named after the fact their flowers only last for one day. To keep plants neat and healthy, you’ll have to dead head your blooms by snapping off the dead flowers in the morning. If the flowers are blooming on a stalk, level it to the ground and if foliage withers midway through summer, give it a trim. 

#easypeasy

Does the idea of a DIY wood garden bed make your knees buckle? Follow our 5 easy steps and you’ll be building your own 4X4 garden bed (and your neighbours will be admiring it.) 

step two. assess your garden

Find an area of your yard that is level, exposed to sunshine and is near a water source. If you have chosen a grassy area, mow it short first before adding your new garden bed. 

step four. make your bed

Put the landscape fabric over the spot you chose for your garden bed, extending it beyond the frame to help protect the wood. Set down the bed frame. Through the fabric, hammer one 2X2 stake into the ground on the inside of the frame to fortify the corners. Next, cover the fabric with the cardboard or a few layers of newspaper. This will help prevent weeds from growing through. Now it is time to fill the square box with soil, using a rake to level it.

Congrats, it was easier than you expected, right? Perhaps it won’t be just plants but your collection of garden beds will grow, too. 

#easypeasy

If you didn’t think to add radishes to your dishes, you will now. Here’s how to grow your own radishes that will make Fraggles jealous. 

grow rad radishes

When your radish babies reach 1 inch in height, begin thinning them so the radishes can spread their roots and leaves, ideally 2 to 3 inches apart.

raising radishes right

The most important thing to do for your radish plants is to keep them watered so the soil is moist and remove any weeds that may surround them. Radishes grow best in partial shade or beside taller plants that can protect them from strong sun rays. 

they grow up so fast

Radishes are a precocious bunch; they mature before you know it. The grow quickly but left in the ground they will break open, so pluck ‘em when they look like they’re ready to eat.  

#easypeasy

The best thing about growing basil of course is when it is ready to eat. To get there faster, opt for young basil plants You say bay-sil, I say bah-sil… tomato or tomAto, there’s definitely one way to make basil grow – and that’s the easy way!

planting your basil

Robert Plant might have sung Stairway to Heaven but the mighty basil plant is one of the most heavenly herbs by far. Its intoxicating aroma has been the basis for fine perfumes and is a welcome addition to any home or indoor garden just for that reason alone. 

The best thing about growing basil of course is when it is ready to eat. To get there faster, opt for young basil plants instead of seeds. If growing from seed is your thing, given their cultural roots (and literal ones!) wait for the soil to have warmed, by waiting for the final frost to pass. You could also grow the indoors six to eight weeks prior to the last expected frost date. 

here’s how to grow your basil from seed

• Sow basil seeds one-half inch deep in Miracle-Gro® Seed Starting Potting Mix.  

• Place three seeds in each seed-starting cell (egg cartons do nicely).  

• After the seeds germinate, about one to two weeks, you will see the first set of teardrop-shaped basil leaves appear.  

• Snip away the seedlings leaving the most robust looking one in the cell. 

• Use larger containers to transfer seedlings or go straight to planting in the  garden or use a 12 inch container or more for growing basil in a pot. 

• Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart in the garden. 

• If starting basil from seeds directly in the garden, sow the seeds ½ inch deep in the soil, one inch apart. Prune to 12 to 18 inches apart once the leaves appear. 

your basil baby all grown up

To really grow like a pro, check out these essential basil gardening tips. 

• Aw, those little basil plants are so cute, couldn’t you just pinch them? Then do it! Pinch the tops of your basil plants once they reach 4 to 6 inches in height to make those babies busher and branched out. Repeat once they have grown another 5 or so inches. If you don’t pinch, flowers will grow and decrease leaf production and poorly affect flavour. 

• Those basil babes are a thirsty bunch, and basil plants in containers need watered more often than garden-grown basil. Regularly check the soil and if the top inch is dry, it’s time for a date with the garden hose or watering can. 

• Basil, true to its warm Mediterranean roots does not live well in cold temperatures, including your refrigerator, where their tender leaves can get damaged and brown. If they are outside in your garden and the temperature dips down to 5C, it’s time to harvest and enjoy.

• Grow like a pro and add mulch around your basil (and other plants) to fend off weeds and retain soil moisture. Scotts® Nature Scapes® mulch was designed for this purpose.  

• To boost leaf production, use a high-quality soil. One month into planting, fortify your soil with Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food® every one to two weeks. 

happy harvesting

Once your basil plants are a healthy 6 to 8 inches high, prune or pinch the leaves or stems. Freshly picked basic leaves keep well for a few days, especially in a vessel of room temperature water. Pro tip: do not put basil in the fridge as the cold air browns the leaves. You can however freeze it in cubes of water or oil to cook with at a later date. 

your secret homegrown ingredient

This verdant, versatile herb tastes like it makes Italian food sing opera, Mediterranean food say OPA and Asian dishes burst with depth of flavour. We all know the savoury uses of basil in pizza salads, sauces, and sandwiches, but it also packs a fresh flavour punch to fruits and smoothies. 

Use Thai basil in Southeast Asian dishes like stir-fries, soups and marinades. Chef’s tip: tear, don’t chop, your basil leaves to release the natural oils and flavour and add it last. 

basil the international herb 

This verdant, versatile herb tastes like it makes Italian food sing opera, Mediterranean food shout, “Opa!”and Asian dishes burst with depth of flavour. We all know the savoury uses of basil in pizza salads, sauces, and sandwiches, but it also packs a fresh flavour punch to fruits and smoothies. 

Use Thai basil in Southeast Asian dishes like stir-fries, soups and marinades. Chef’s tip: tear, don’t chop, your basil leaves to release the natural oils and flavour and add it last. 

#easypeasy

a tomaTOTALLY versatile garden essential,

Tomatoes are a must-grow plant, whether your vegetable garden is just getting started or you’re a seasoned pro. No matter what the variety, is there any tomato tastier than a homegrown tomato? Their grocery counterparts simply do not compare. 

Here we show you how to grow a tomato plant from seed, in 7 steps. 

are we ready to go outside yet?

To avoid your tomato babies facing hard knocks, harden them off!

· Gradually introducing them to outdoor conditions, known as hardening off, will allow them to adapt to the elements.

· Find a spot protected from direct sun and wind gusts, and leave the tomato seedlings outside for a few hours daily. Bring them back indoors in the evening or when temperatures go to 10 C / 50 F or less.

· Do this every day for 10 to 14 days. You may also wish to purchase cold frames or DIY your own plastic sheeting protectors for windier or cooler days outside. 

prepping the ground

You may have protected your tomato babies from hard knocks, but they still should be grounded!

· Once the ground is warm enough, optimally two weeks after the last frost, mix a generous amount of high-quality soil like Miracle-Gro® Organics Garden Mix for Vegetables & Herbs then add 3 inches of mulch, like Scotts® Nature Scapes® Mulch around your tomato plants to keep them moist and weed-free.

· Leave at least 6 inches between the tomato plants and the mulch. 

sauce, salads it’s time to harvest

Fruit on the vine should appear from 45 to 90 days after planting. You can decide if your tomatoes are ripe by richer colour and firmness. Although there should be a slight softness, a very soft tomato is too ripe and past its best. Now pick them and enjoy! 

healthy tomatoes make happy gardeners

To ensure your tomato plants thrive, water them regularly. Tomatoes love sunshine and therefore soil can dry up quickly, so they need plenty of h2o. Plants can decline rapidly without enough water. You will see a notable response when you feed your tomato babies plant food, so continue to feed at  two-week intervals or more if they seem to do better that way. Prune branches that grow on or near the ground to prevent  disease and remove any fallen tomatoes or buggy or wormed ones. 

#easypeasy