Special reports - page 4

Regulations regarding the Sichuan pepper plant used to be dramatically strict. In the late XXth century, any import of any plant part whatsoever

There are times when plants require topdressing to grow better and thrive. If you’re growing plants in any of these conditions,

Barberry (Berberis) can be grown into impressive bonsai specimens. Try your hand on this unusual but beautiful

Nature doesn’t think in terms of “good soil, bad soil”. Each soil type simply welcomes a different set of plants. Chalky soil is known for having excellent drainage. It’s quite light, but rather poor and rocky.

Fending off birds and other plant and vegetable feathered foes is a mission a scarecrow pulls off with glee. But frightening birds away doesn’t mean your scarecrow must look scary! Actually, what is attractive to us is repulsive to them!

Attract butterflies to your garden! Threatened because their natural habitat is dwindling, and because of pesticides, butterflies can find refuge in our very own gardens,

These feed on pests, help plants reproduce, and give the soil better structure. Beneficial insects really give us a real hand in the garden!

Raised garden boxes, elevated planters and other solutions are quite convenient for those who want to garden but can’t bend over!

Nice weather usually means eating more delicious fruits and vegetables. Why not seize the chance to garden and grow your own together with your children?

Bursting with unspent energy, children are probably among those who suffer most during these times of confinement.

Wood chips make for an excellent plant-based mulch. Layered around your trees and shrubs, they share all sorts of benefits to your plants. Wood chip mulch literally shares rich forest fertility to your very own garden soil! Key wood chip mulch facts Availability – high Cost – low Ornamental value – can be naturally dyed […]

Enhancing clay soil that is often too soggy starts with proper identification of the issue. Here is how to recognize the type of soil you have and what the options are to fix it.

Know your type of soil and you’ll succeed in growing your plants. This will point out how to make it better and which species will fare best.

Cocoa hull is an excellent mulch and an effective seasonal fertilizer. Catching the eye and offering incredible agronomic properties, it is the perfect mulch for any garden plant

Summer sends its scorching heat out but one spot in the garden offers a cool atmosphere which is perfect for the heat-struck visitor: the canopy pergola covered in plants. An unmistakable feeling of peace calls out from a plant-covered pergola, often set at the entrance of both house and garden. The charm of a pergola […]

While it’s difficult to keep microscopic pollen from flying around, there are a few things that will reduce cross-pollination. Quick read: what is cross-pollination? Promote cross-pollination instead of blocking it All our posts to understand cross-pollination Increase distance to other varieties Pollen may travel far, but in many cases having several hundred yards or meters […]

The hoverfly: even if the name doesn’t ring a bell, you’ve probably seen them before and wondered what kind of insect this was. In spring and summer, one often sees them flying around, hovering at a standstill around melliferous flowers and trees.

Whether in an apartment or in a house with a garden, gardening with children is a true pleasure that also has very educational benefits! Arousing curiosity, teaching patience and respect, this time of family bonding

Deck, hedge, plants, lawn, garden furniture… Setting up a garden often runs up quite a bill, especially when moving in. Turn into a landscaping pro with these few ideas that’ll help landscape a garden for cheap.

A garden furniture set can now be a very convenient and ornamental addition to patios, terraces and gardens. Thanks to resin, this space truly becomes

Choosing the right swing set is important when you have children, especially if you want the swingset to last a long time. They can come either in wood or in metal

For those who are lucky to have a garden, perhaps you’re dreaming of one day being able to afford a garden greenhouse. Of course, this is the dream of all plant-lovers in temperate climates.

A garden shed is the ideal solution to put basic garden and DIY tools away. It’s also great to prepare seedlings and shelter them from wind and rain. Since there are ever-increasing options and materials to choose from, what are the most important points that will help you select the garden shed that suits you […]

What if you turned your garden into a year-round exotic holiday setting? Growing an exotic garden lets you travel between continents without even leaving your home.

More comfort in the garden and more greenery around town: our new desires are inspiring manufacturers. They’re rolling up their sleeves for urban gardeners, preparing novel items that are lighter and more convenient than any gardening equipment ever before… Let’s discover a few of these products that scratch that itch so perfectly!

Ever dreamed of having a garden that stays green throughout droughts? Do your water-hogging plants keep you from taking more than a week-end off?

In the world of nature-lovers and horticulture, certain plants are marked with a ® or ™ symbol. This is the mark of a plant patent.

Russian olive is a beautiful shrub, but in North America it’s declared unwelcome! This invasive shrub tends to out-compete native plants. In time, entire ecosystems are altered forever. So what makes Russian olive invasive? It hurts the environment! Interestingly, regular olive (Olea europaea) is also detrimental to the environment in some areas! Impact on the […]

If a certain corner of the garden is rebellious and resists all the plants you’ve tried growing in it, don’t give up! No need to let weeds

Small gardens, patios, urban gardens, subdivisions… Whenever buildings line the garden left and right, very often you’re left with a long strip of greenery to populate.

With its “Ergoflex” handle system, Bosch brings decisive added value to its Rotak lawn mowers. This new handle makes its lawn mowers even more maneuverable and reduces efforts exerted on the arms and back of the user.

Stephanotis is a beautiful vine that deserves to grow for years. Keep it alive for more than a season by transplanting it to a pot to bring it indoors over the winter!

Mahonia is a rather quiet, slow-growing shrub that bursts to life in winter with amazing yellow blooms. Not only is it beautiful, but it also shares many benefits!

Annuals are often amazing in their variety and they bring fresh change to the garden. The  pot-in-pot technique is a great way to make replacing them and

Garden stores have all sorts of mulches, designed to perfectly match the needs of plants and protect them through summer and winter. Did you know you could make mulch yourself?

Did you know you could grow a new pineapple from the leafy tip of the fruit itself? Making this pineapple cutting is great way to get a perpetual supply of this fabulous vitamin-full fruit! Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a fruit that is now famous the world over. Though best results will happen in tropical countries […]

Root-dipping means to bathe and coat the roots of a rose tree, tree or shrub with a special mix – called root dip – that will speed up root growth during the planting.

Why not set up a couple hives? Some hive designs recreate the natural nooks bees make their homes in. They will provide you with a little organic honey and will increase pollination for your fruits and vegetables.

Here is a typical Mediterranean garden for show, presented at the 2010 Chelsea Flower Show. English natives adore French Provence and this garden drew quite a crowd.

Topdressing means spreading a fresh layer of rich soil mix directly atop the ground. This gives plants the organic matter

Weather is drab and gray – isn’t that a good reason to battle the droopy mood with color-packed winter planters?

Wondering about harvesting rainwater for the garden? Apart from the usual environmental and ethical considerations that may drive you to find something better than tap water to water the garden, there’s also that simple reality check we sometimes overlook: your wallet! Indeed, tap water as provided by utilities tends to be quite expensive, and prices […]

Repotting a plant is easy and it’s an important step for plants to grow well.

Bone-dry soil? Worry not! There’s other options for you than that crisp-brown lawn for a garden. Shrubs, perennials, climbing plants…

How to add color to your garden? Combine plants, garden furniture and mark out selected portions of the garden for specific functions, learn the art of creating a garden full of colors!

One of the most important beneficial insects in the garden is the ground beetle family. This fearsome predators have a voracious appetite which will certainly serve you well to control pests in your garden. Slugs and snails beware!

Zero efforts to convert food and plant waste into rich organic fertilizer, a dream come true? Yes it is! Go for vermicompost, it produces and excellent soil without any smelly side-effects.

Soil mix is a growth substrate that influences the development of plants, their root extension and correct nutrient intake

Even though these two products are often confused, they do have very distinct uses and very different results.

From North to South, along the vast oceans of the world, French coasts are among the most beautiful in the world. They have mild, temperate climates which means that a great many plant options are open to their seaside gardens – botanically speaking!

Setting up an outdoor kitchen opens up a whole new space where friends and family can gather outdoors. Welcome everyone to your garden around a delicious meal where each guest can pitch in and help out!