Spot the three caterpillar species eating your brassicas and treat them safely without broad‑spectrum sprays
I remember the first time I found holes in my brassica leaves—little crescent bites and ragged edges on my kale and cabbage—and my heart sank. Brassicas are such reliable garden stars, and seeing them chewed by caterpillars is always frustrating. Over the years I’ve learned to spot the three...
Featured
Convert a one-by-two metre shady balcony into a productive edible shade garden with a step-by-step planting map
When I first inherited a narrow, shady balcony that measured just 1 by 2 metres, I figured edible...
How to stop rosemary tip dieback after winter and nurse vigorous new shoots in three simple weekend steps
Winter can be hard on rosemary. After a few cold snaps or a long stretch of damp weather I often...
step-by-step: retrofit an ikea hackney bench into a winter cold frame for hardy seed starting
I kept a small Ikea bench for years because it was sturdy, inexpensive and had a perfect footprint...
how to build a pollinator-friendly berm with native plants that blooms from spring to frost
I built my first pollinator-friendly berm after a summer of watching bees struggle across a sea of...
how to stop whiteflies on greenhouse tomatoes using sticky cards, neem and a targeted release schedule
I grow most of my tomatoes in a small greenhouse—it gives me earlier harvests and more...
which cheap self-watering planters actually keep balcony herbs alive for two weeks without topping up
Keeping herbs alive on a sunny (or sometimes scorching) balcony while you’re away for a long...
Latest News from Groupegarden
Plant Care
The best container mixes for fast draining pots and bigger root systems
I often find that the difference between a pot that struggles and one that thrives comes down to the potting mix. When you want fast-draining containers and bigger, healthier root systems, the right mix is everything. Over the years I've tested dozens of blends on balconies, raised tubs and patio...
Read more...
Plant Care
How to revive soggy soil in raised beds without digging everything up
I often get questions about raised beds that stay waterlogged — soggy, smelly soil that seems to suffocate roots and zap plant vigour. I’ve had my share of beds that looked promising after a big planting project, only to turn into a sponge after the first heavy rain. Over the years I’ve...
Read more...
Eco Gardening
How to create a pollinator corner with native perennials on a tight budget
I love creating small, buzzing pockets of life in corners of the garden that weren’t doing much before — and a pollinator corner is one of my favorite weekend projects. With a tight budget, a little planning and a focus on native perennials, you can turn an overlooked patch into a refuge for...
Read more...
Garden Design
A simple waterwise planting plan for a small south facing balcony
South-facing balconies are tiny pockets of sunshine and possibility — I’ve turned a narrow 1.5‑metre balcony into a productive, fragrant and low-maintenance spot by focusing on smart plant choices, right-sized containers and a few waterwise tricks. If your balcony bakes in the midday sun,...
Read more...
DIY Projects
Step by step: build a recycled pallet vertical herb garden that lasts
I love turning simple materials into useful garden features, and a recycled pallet vertical herb garden is one of my favorite weekend projects. It’s cheap, stylish, space-saving and—when built well—surprisingly durable. Below I’ll walk you through how I build one that lasts, step by step,...
Read more...
Seasonal Planting
Planting calendar for beginners: what to sow now for steady summer harvests
I love the promise of a summer harvest that keeps giving—tomatoes ripening one after another, beans climbing the trellis, salads that never run out. For beginners, the secret isn’t magic; it’s timing and simple routines. Here’s a practical planting calendar and the “what to sow now”...
Read more...