Welcome to the Helpful Gardeners, a weekly podcast diving into the home and garden topics you want to learn more about. We hope to inform, inspire, and bring the fun as two friends who work together and go wild over gardening. Colin is a certified horticulturist with decades of experience working in landscaping, gardening and houseplants in various climactic zones. Brandi is a beginner with a passion to ask questions. Subscribe to catch new episodes every Sunday!
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8 Planting Errors... And How To Avoid Them
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Heading into the highly anticipated planting season, the Helpful Gardeners wanted to send out a little PSA on 8 common planting errors and how to avoid them. ************************* CONNECT WITH US Thank you so much for supporting our podcast and for making the world a more planty place. Please subscribe, leave a rating or review and listen in fo…
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Mother's of Nature: Celebrating Garden Mums
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35:38
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This week is a very special week because we’re giving some extra love and appreciation to Garden Mums! We'll spotlight two special ladies in gardening and bring it home with memories about mum in the garden. ******************************* CONNECT WITH US Thank you so much for supporting our podcast and for making the world a more planty place. Ple…
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Acclimatizing Plants and Transplanting Tips
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There has been a word drifting around the greenhouse lately, and it's "acclimatizing". What does that mean and how does it benefit your plants especially at transplanting time? Plus, when it does come time to transplant your annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs, what is the best way to go about it? We'll talk about water, fertilizer, and more this…
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Gardening with Grass W/ Sheryl Normandeau and Janet Melrose of the The Prairie Gardener Go-to Series!
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This week, we're visited by two of the coolest ladies gardening in Southern Alberta; Sheryl Normandeau and Janet Melrose! They are the coauthors of the popular "Prairie Gardeners How To" series! In a digital world full of general information, their books provide specific knowledge for gardening in climates like Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. P…
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Ground Cover - How to Benefit from it in your Garden
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We've got a lot of ground to cover this week... ha ha ha All kidding aside, there's a lot of benefits to utilizing ground cover in your garden! Together, lets explore mulch, fabric, rock, and straw. We'll talk about how you can use it, how much to buy, and how to maintain it. Plus, Colin has a great garden hack for soaker hoses in your garden to ac…
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I Bought a Home... How do I Tackle a Garden?
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Are you a moving into a new home and not sure how to approach the garden? One of the helpful gardeners just bought a home and is not sure how to approach their new garden! Learn how to tackle lawn, existing structures/plants, and where to begin. Visit the shownotes for links from today's episode, and other fun extras!*****************…
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Enjoying Nature in your Own Backyard W/ Myrna Pearman
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If you build it, nature will come. No matter what type of garden you have, whether it's in an established neighbourhood or newly built in the suburbs, you can enjoy nature from your very own backyard. Learn how to attract birds, including hummingbirds, to your garden! Myrna is a biologist, author and nature photographer living on the south shore of…
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Rounding out our Seed Starting Mini Series is a look into growing flowers from seed! In many ways, this will be a total 180 degree shift from growing veggies and fruit. Flowers aren’t targeted as much by bugs and disease, they benefit from deadheading, and they’re grown more for aesthetic purposes rather than consumption.Visit the shownotes …
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Gardening from Seed: Ground Dwellers - Squash, strawberries, and more.
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This week, we're crouching down to explore all those fruits and veggies that grow close to the ground. These ground dwellers include Broccoli, squash, kohlrabi, and even strawberries! Learn more about how use the entire squash plant in cooking, a hack to protect pumpkins from pests, and we have a surprise melon taste test!Visit the sh…
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Gardening from Seed: Leafy Greens and Herbs
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This week, we're exploring fresh leafy greens and flavourful herbs. Learn more about flexibility of growing lettuce and why you should livehead your herbs when they go to flower. Visit the shownotes for links from today's episode, and other fun extras!TIMECODES01:55 Herb or 'erb? 05:34 Seed Varieties 11:34 Leafy Greens & Her…
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This week, we 'rooting' around the subject of root vegetables! How do we start them from seed, maintain them, and harvest them! Visit the shownotes for links from today's episode, and other fun extras!TIMECODES00:00 Introduction04:00 Sweet like a Beet05:08 Seed Varieties11:00 Growing Veggie Flowers13:44 Companion PlantingCON…
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Gardening from Seed: Tomatoes, Peppers, Corn, Peas and Beans
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52:17
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What will your garden grow in 2024? This week, the gardeners explore how to cultivate the juiciest tomatoes, the spicy kick of peppers, the sweet crunch of corn, and the wholesome goodness of peas and beans. Visit the shownotes for links from today's episode, and other fun extras! TIMECODES00:00 Introduction 03:50 Seed Varieti…
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What's the one thing we're seeing in every basket and cart at the greenhouse this week? SEEDS! We are buzzing with excitement! Before you settle on your seed haul, listen to this weeks episode outlining what you should be thinking about this time of year. Visit the shownotes for links from today's episode, and other fun extras! …
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Floral Symbology – Flowers to Celebrate LIFE
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This week, we celebrated Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day which got us thinking about all the ways flowers help up mark life’s big moments. Colours and varieties play into floral symbology, and we're even going to find out which flower represents Colin's soul! Visit the shownotes for links from today's episode, and other fun ext…
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The gardeners unearth some interesting, and perhaps shocking, garden laws that you should be aware of as we head into the 2024 growing season. Garden Crime Radio Play In the world of botanical crime, every leaf tells a story and every petal hides a clue. Detectives Bloom and Basil uncover the culprit behind the destruction of a prized rose garden a…
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Tiny Titans: The Marvels of Microgreens and Sprouts
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Welcome back to the garden! This week, the gardeners explore sprouts and microgreens to figure out why they're so good for us, how to grow them, and even what they taste like! Plus, find out what microgreen the gardeners identify with the most in the Hypothetical Question of the week. Information and Samples provided by: Prairie Sun Microgreens | C…
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The Truth Behind 10 Common Gardening Phrases
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Welcome back to the garden! Have you ever wondered where the term "green thumb" came from? Why do we "Touch wood"? We'll review 10 common phrases in the gardening world and see if they are truly rooted in gardening and if they're still relevant now! Plus, we'll "weed out negativity" with a dive into our most positive plant! Visit the shownote…
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Gardens During a Polar Vortex and Domesticated Bugs
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The term 'polar vortex' may have been living rent free in your brain the last couple of weeks. As temperatures plunged across the country, we saw people doing boiling water to throw into the air, people eating frozen noodles, and toilet paper sculptures. In this episode, we explore how this extreme weather event impacts our gardens and houseplants?…
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8 Planty Destinations & Plant Care While Away
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Do you have the travel itch heading into 2024? If you're a plant nerd like us, and need some inspiration, then explore our 8 planty destinations. Then, we'll drop some handy plant care tips so you can rest easy knowing your plants will be there when you return. Visit the shownotes for a complete breakdown, links from today's episode, and fu…
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What do you intend to do in 2024? Let's rethink the 'resolution' and just taking this time to reflect, chill out, and set some intentions for our gardens and plant education. In today's episode, Colin and Brandi each bring their 5 garden goals to the table, and perhaps some fun ones that will cause you to think outside the box a little bit. Visit t…
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Year in Review: Our Favourite Episodes, Guests, and Moments of 2023
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we're wrapping up 2023 with a look back at all our favourite moments, guests, and fun we had talking plants and gardening! Visit our shownotes for the complete breakdown of episodes and other fun extras TIMECODES 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Prepping Your Garden for Spring 02:13 Behind the Poppy 03:36 Fertilizer: How to buy it, use it and store it …
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Holiday Episode: Traditions, Treats, and Santa's New Reindeer
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December is full of celebration and reflection. Whatever you're celebrating, we welcome you to our planty chat about all things fun this holiday season. Colin and Brandi dive into Global festivities, holiday treats, and a special story created by ChatGPT! Visit our shownotes for the complete holiday story and other fun goodies TIMECODES Global Ho…
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If you're looking to show the gardener in your life some appreciation this festive season, then dive into our 2023 gift guide complete with fun and functional ideas to suit them in the garden, indoors, and out in nature next year. Visit our shownotes for links these products. TIMECODES 10 Gardening Guides | 02:55 5 Totally 'Extra' Gifts | 23:15****…
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Unwrapping the Poinsettia for #NationalPoinsettiaDay
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To celebrate #NationalPoinsettiaDay, we're unwrapping this iconic houseplant and its Christmas roots. Learn how to care for them, and ways to celebrate this special relationship in North America. 'The Flower of the Holy Night' Christmas Legend | 03:20 Poinsettia Anatomy | 05:00 Poinsettia Varieties | 07:41 Poinsettia Care - Wrap, Light, Water, Fert…
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Christmas Trees - History, Care, and Famous Trees
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49:37
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Whether you love the scent and tradition of going out and finding a real tree or love the ease and familiarity of your artificial tree, how did Christmas trees become one of the more popular symbols of the festive season? We're going to talk about their roots (haha), types, care, and also a look into some of the more famous trees we flock toward ev…
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DIY Winter Planters & Our Dreamiest Plant Sale
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42:30
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'Tis the season for Winter Decorating, and living planters work for pretty much every climate, especially the colder ones. Learn how to gather materials, plant one up, and how to care for it throughout the season. Plus, we're dreaming up our dreamiest plant goals for a hypothetical Black Friday sale. Materials | 08:30Secret Weapon: Floral Foam or O…
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Planting Amaryllis and bringing fictional plants to life
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This week, we're unearthing one of the most vibrant houseplants admired during the holiday season. The Amaryllis flower has a big personality and we're going to talk about how to plant them, care for them, and store them after they've finished blooming. Also, stay tuned for our extra fun hypothetical question of the week!Greek Mythology - Amaryllis…
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Behind the Poppy - Honouring Remembrance Day
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We pay tribute to those who served and sacrificed for our freedom, and we delve into the poignant symbol of the poppy. Join us as we explore the rich history and deep meaning behind this iconic flower, understanding why it became a symbol of remembrance and hope.Behind the Poppy | 00:30Learn more about Remembrance Day Donate to the Veterans Associa…
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"Fall Back" and Building a Winter Bucket List
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Many regions across Canada and even the world are wrapping up daylight savings and thinking ahead to winter... or dreading it. We've decided to embrace the beauty of the season and build a winter bucket list! Daylight Savings Time | 00:30Where did it start? Do you benefit from it? Winter Bucket List | 14:00See our complete list here Hypothetical Qu…
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Halloween Special: Garden Gnomes, ChatGPT, Toxic Gardens, and more!
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The “Garden Gnomes” ventured out of the garden to celebrate the spooky season! For the first time ever, you’ll get to SEE the podcast! Let us know what you think and enjoy gnome facts, england traditions, seasonal snacks, a story from ChatGPT, and more! CONNECT WITH US Thank you so much for supporting our podcast and for making the world a more pla…
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These are the final days of harvest before winter comes and we're all in the same boat. What do we do with our bountiful harvest? We'll also dive into harvesting more than just food and how you can bring the beauty of nature into your homes. 03:10 | What to with your harvest 39.20 | Question of the Week - Effectiveness of UV light on ripening veggi…
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What does your autumn to-do list look like? Let's go over it together and discuss how the work you do now in the garden will greatly benefit you come spring. ************************* CONNECT WITH US Thank you so much for supporting our podcast and for making the world a more planty place. Please subscribe, leave a rating or review and listen in fo…
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This week, the gardeners chat about spring flowers - what?! Yes, why do we plant spring flowering bulbs in the fall, how do we plant them, and are they really worth it? ************************* CONNECT WITH US Thank you so much for supporting our podcast and for making the world a more planty place. Please subscribe, leave a rating or review and l…
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Fall Houseplant Care | Autumn Mini Series
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This week, the gardeners are chatting about our indoor companions and how we can prepare them for the colder months ahead. Lighting, watering, repotting, fertilizing —these factors can make all the difference between a thriving plant and one that's merely surviving. If you're a beginner, we'll highlight some forgiving, and not so forgiving, options…
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This week, the gardeners are embracing autumn from the perspective of our towering trees and steadfast shrubs that deserve attention this time of year. We're excited to have Jean Mathieu-Daoust back on the show to help us prepare these arboreal wonders for the winter months ahead. How should we approach watering, fertilizing, harvesting and pruning…
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As the days grow shorter and a chill fills the air, our focus turns to putting our gardens to bed including our lawns. You may have been facing summer water restrictions and are hoping to breathe some life into tired grass. You may have put the pool and lawn furniture away and noticed your lawn is looking a little flat. The good news is it's the be…
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We're embracing the changing seasons and exploring the wonderful realm of autumn annuals and perennials. Get ready to unlock the secrets of preparing your steadfast perennials for the impending winter chill. We'll share essential tips and tricks to ensure your garden's most cherished inhabitants brave the frost with grace and emerge even more vibra…
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Perennial Prosperity: Dividing and Transplanting Perennials in Your Garden
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Have you ever wondered how to expertly split that overcrowded clump of daylilies or hostas? Curious about the reasons why dividing perennials is essential for their health and vigor? Get ready to unearth the secrets of perennial division and transplanting, and discover how to nurture your plants' growth for years to come. Ever wondered if the princ…
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Water Talk: Nurturing Gardens and Houseplants with Effective Watering
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Whether you're a seasoned green thumb or just dipping your fingers into the soil for the first time, we've got a refreshing episode lined up for you. We'll be unraveling the mysteries of proper watering techniques, discussing just how much liquid love our leafy friends really need, and sharing a few chuckle-worthy mishaps that have left gardeners a…
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Horticultural Hoaxes: Unveiling Garden Myths
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In every gardener's journey, we encounter a plethora of tips, tricks, and age-old myths that have been passed down through generations. But have you ever wondered if those 'golden rules' are actually based on solid ground or merely sprouting from hearsay? Today, the gardeners will bring clarity to the muddy waters of gardening myths. **************…
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Gardening for your Health and Community Featuring Erin Neal
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Gardening is good for our health and our community. We are so fortunate to have our friend, and neighbour, Erin Neal on the podcast! Learn more about Erin's important work in community support and the impacts gardening has had on her and on her role with the Calgary Drop-in Centre. The partnership between Golden Acre and the Drop-in Centre is a bea…
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Beyond Grass. Alternatives for the Traditional Lawn
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There are SOOOO many ways to design your ideal garden and this includes your grass. We know folks who looove a manicured lawn and take pride in caring for it all season long. I mean, there's an entire sub culture on YouTube dedicated to lawn mowing videos. On the flip side, we also know folks who prefer low maintenance and perhaps not to keep a law…
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Edible Plants - what to eat, what to avoid, and recipes!
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What plants are you willing to eat? Would you eat a dandelion? A sugared pansy? A natural Sumac berry? If you're looking to become the next Bear Grylls, this episode will scratch the surface of the world of edible plants. Learn what to find, what to avoid, and how to prepare some of natures easter eggs! ************************* In this weeks episo…
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What's the most common topic of conversation among gardeners? THE WEATHER! Yep, our gardens are always exposed to the elements, and every weather event from sun to rain to snow can have an impact...good and bad. Let's do what we gardeners do best. Let's talk about it! ************************* In this weeks episode .... 00:00 | Introduction 05:30 |…
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Canadian Symbols: Plants, gardens, and horses, OH MY!
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What's your favourite symbol of Canada? The gardeners are nerding out on all the national symbols that represent our country. While our focus is plants and gardens, we digress... a lot. It's a lot of fun! ************************* In this weeks episode .... 00:00 | Introduction 04:44 | Maple Trees in Canada 07:55 | National Animals 10:25 | National…
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You can garden in any size space. It's true! Whether you have a balcony, a concrete slab, or a small space within your large garden, we can help you use that space effectively. On today's episode, the gardeners marry creativity with functionality to create beautiful small space gardens. ************************* In this weeks episode .... 00:00 | I…
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World Pollinator Week Featuring Elise Watson of ABC Bees
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The buzz is...It's World Pollinator Week! Yep, this is our opportunity to celebrate and learn more about the pollinators that frequent our gardens and communities. We're joined by Elise Watson from 'ABC Bees' who is a honey beekeeper and educator. She supports folks all across North America! ************************* In this weeks episode .... 00:0…
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Deadheading: What is it and how do I do it?
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Do you deadhead the flowers in your garden? Depending on the plant, deadheading can be massively beneficial! The gardeners are helping you navigate which ones to clean, which ones to leave, and which ones to throw at your coworkers.... just kidding ;) ************************* In this weeks episode .... 00:00 | Introduction 03:50 | What is deadhead…
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Weeds: Identification, Control, and Prevention
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This week, the Helpful gardeners are in the weeds.... but not for long! Let's all agree that weeding isn't the most exciting garden chore, but it is essential and should be done regularly. The gardeners will talk about about what defines a weed, various techniques, and will explore our responsibility toward limiting noxious weeds in our local regio…
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Fertilizer: How to buy it, use it, and store it
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Fertilizer... what is it good for? Turns out, absolutely everything in your garden! Yep, you can give your flowers, veggies, and established plants a big old boost in production and overall health. It's a big topic and usually get it's own WALL in any local garden centre. The Helpful Gardeners are breaking it down to talk about how to buy fertilize…
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