Calling all amateur gardeners! Your opportunity to shine has arrived in the form of chaos gardening, a carefree and versatile way to develop your green thumb. The new approach to landscaping has been gaining traction on TikTok, and the trend is sprouting up again this spring. 

Read on to learn more about this fresh approach to gardening, including the benefits and how to get started.

Related: How to Plan the Best Layout for a Vegetable Garden

What Is Chaos Gardening?

In its simplest terms, chaos gardening is a casual way of creating a beautiful garden without the restrictions of traditional gardening methods. The concept involves tossing a handful of assorted seeds onto the soil and waiting for the magic to happen. This unique process allows flowers, plants and vegetables to grow wherever they land, creating random patterns and patches to be admired by all.  

The Benefits of Chaos Gardening 

There are many benefits to chaos gardening. The most obvious is that it’s easy to start and maintain, but there are a few other highlights worth exploring. 

Save Time (and Money!) 

One of the top benefits of chaos gardening is higher efficiency. It saves you time building up your plant beds, while avoiding detailed preparation, planting and all of the maintenance that comes with it. You’ll also enjoy saving money on seeds, soil and food for your garden by leaning on less costly flower and veggie options. You can select those that require very little of you, such as herbs, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, marigolds, black-eyed Susans and assorted wildflowers. 

Related: 5 Reasons to Start Lasagna Gardening Now

Low Maintenance  

Perhaps the most appealing benefit is the promise of low-maintenance gardening. The word chaos may not immediately spark feelings of calm, but the idea hinges on the “set it and forget it” mindset. You won’t need to plot sections, rows or bunches; nor do you have to cater to lighting, soil and water specifications. Instead, select like-minded seeds, toss them, water them and return to them for regular watering as required. 

Encourages Biodiversity 

While it depends on the seeds you plant, chaotic gardening can promote biodiversity in your garden space. That’s especially true if you focus on native plants, which can quickly adapt to the environment. In addition, chaos gardening offers wildlife food and shelter, providing extra protection and nourishment for the winter months.

A Fun Conversation-Starter

The wildness of chaos gardening can also be a great talking point for guests, neighbours and admirers. The eccentric array of colours, patterns and the all-over vibe draws on-lookers’ positive attention and curiosity, allowing you to flex your skills and pass along the trend to others who might find it enjoyable. 

Related: The Easiest Vegetables to Grow in Each Canadian Province

How to Create a Chaos Garden

As we mentioned, chaos gardening is relatively simple without the rigid rules. However, some research will be required to ensure you’re selecting the ideal seeds for your outdoor project. Here are a few other considerations to get started.

Choose a Location 

If you don’t already have a space carved out for your garden, look to areas in your front or back yard that offer the best sunlight. Doing so will afford more options for vegetables, flowers and herbs that thrive in the light. Of course, some shady areas are acceptable to cover, but try your best to strike a balance so all seeds have a chance to flourish as needed.

Related: 5 Reasons to Start Lasagna Gardening Now

Select the Proper Seeds 

Not all seeds are created equally, so do your homework to confirm which plants and vegetables will play nicely together in your garden. A good start is to select plants known for their self-seeding ability, such as echinacea, poppies, cosmos, fleabane, verbena, nigella, coriander and more. 

Next, consider native wildflowers that can attract pollinators and much-needed insects — like bees and butterflies — to help them prosper in your garden. Companion planting is also an option, which promotes growing vegetables and flowers together that offer mutual benefits to each other’s growth, add shelter and deter pests.

Lean Into the Chaos

Remember: variety is the spice — or, in this case, the garden of life. There is little need to focus your attention on the size, volume and spread of the plants, flowers, and veggies you select. The real fun in chaos gardening is the variety and unexpected results of your attempts to build a beautiful space. Just get planting, water accordingly and see what magic begins to bloom in the weeks after. 

As the chaos gardening trend continues to grow, so will your inspiration and ability to transform your outdoor living space into an area that welcomes a variety of colours, textures and patterns. Toss the traditional rules aside, let go of your inhibitions, and allow the soil, sun and water to do the work for you.

Related: 10 Most Invasive Plants in Canada to Remove From Your Garden

If you’re looking for a low maintenance solution for your garden this year, now is the time to jump on the lasagna garden bandwagon.

And no, the name doesn’t suggest that you will be growing all the ingredients to make the perfect pasta dinner. Lasagna gardening — also known as sheet composting — is an organic gardening method in which you prepare a raised bed of nutrient-dense soil from composed organic matter.

Read on to learn the benefits of employing this gardening method this fall. 

1. It Doesn’t Require Much Prep

A lasagna garden is even less fuss than the dinner recipe. You can get yours started with just an afternoon of labour. First, scout out a good spot. You want the plot to be in an area that gets good sunlight — at least six to eight hours a day, depending on what you’ll be growing — and is at least smelling distance away from your deck or windows (don’t forget, with great composting comes not-so-great smells!). Once you have the area plotted, define your boundaries with rocks or timber and then get layering.

2. It’s Less Labour-Intensive and Doesn’t Require Weeding

Perhaps the most appealing feature of a lasagna garden is the fact that it doesn’t require hours of exhausting digging. This raised garden method requires some prep work to get started, but it’s not nearly as taxing as other traditional gardening methods. No tilling or turning the soil is required here, just removing rocks or debris from your gardening plot. 

It’s not necessary to weed or turn over the soil since the layers of compost will smother down anything at the surface. At most, stomp down weeds rather than pulling them.

Related: 10 Most Invasive Plants in Canada to Remove From Your Garden

3. It Makes Use of Kitchen Scraps and Organic Waste

If you have a yard, you probably already have all the materials that you need for your lasagna gardening journey. The garden starts with a layer of newspaper or cardboard and then alternates between brown and green compost layers. The brown layers should be made of yard waste like shredded leaves, pine needles, and shredded newspaper, while the green layers use kitchen waste from your organic bin and grass and leave clippings. Not only do you not need to buy anything to create this compost plot, but it’s putting your scraps to work. 

4. It’s Low-Cost

While growing produce yourself is incredibly satisfying, it’s not always cost-effective during the first year or two as you invest in the materials you need for a thriving garden. The beauty of lasagna gardening is that it makes use of materials you already have. That means there’s less need to buy fertilizer and plant foods to help the growth of your garden. The nutrients are already right there, in your freshly composted soil. And if you were interested in composting already, it’s a way to get started without investing in materials — like a compost bin. 

Read More: Here’s How to Plan the Best Layout for a Vegetable Garden

5. It Needs Less Watering

Lasagna gardening is pretty much a set it and forget it task. Set it up in the fall, an ideal time because the rain and snow through the colder months will keep it good and moist, which helps the composting process. And in a few months, by spring, you should be set to plant. It won’t require much maintenance or water throughout that time. To decompose the organic matter, you’ll want a moist — but not overly wet so as to create rot — plot. 

Are you ready to start your own garden yourself and make use of that organic matter you already have? Get started with your lasagna garden today. If you already have your soil prepped and are ready to plant, why not check out some of the best fall vegetables to plant before winter hits?

The lawn is getting longer, those weeds need pulling and you have already made a few trips to the garden centre in anticipation of the raised garden bed you’re building this weekend. Summer is right around the corner, and now is the perfect time to take stock of your power tools and garden gadgets. After all, if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing right — and with the right tools. In partnership with Home Hardware, we’ve compiled a list of everything you need to keep your property and projects in check this summer.

What Is a Power Tool and Why Are They Handy?

Power tools are what their title implies: powered by a power source, such as electricity, gas or battery. They can also be powered by compressed air. Power tools are great for completing a job faster since they reduce manual labour and increase efficiency. They are also handy for heavy-duty or specialized jobs and can help avoid injuries that could occur when attempting a tough or dangerous job by hand.

Related: These Are the Biggest Hazards to Watch Out for When Using Tools at Home

What Are Some Examples of Power Tools?

Common power tools include saws (circular, jig, miter), power drills, drivers, angle grinders and electric sanders. Meanwhile, power lawnmowers, blowers, and trimmers are also essential outdoor power tools.

What Is the Best Make of Power Tools?

There are many brands of power tools on the market, so it’s essential to do your research. If you’re low on storage space, invest in power tools that can complete various indoor and outdoor tasks. You may also want to consider tools that work together or use a universal battery or power source.

You also don’t need to buy the most expensive power tools to get the job done. Reliable and budget-friendly options, like Benchmark power tools, offer solid performance and durability.

Related: 4 Fool-Proof Tips to Help You Stop Putting Off That DIY Project

What Are Some Essential Power Tools?

There are many power tools to choose from, but beginner to intermediate home users should consider these four Benchmark power tools to start. Available at Home Hardware, they all work with the universal 20V Omega Battery System. The system, which powers all compatible Benchmark and power tools, features zero memory loss and a slower loss of battery charge when not in use. Having an integrated battery system allows you to move seamlessly from one project and tool to the next. Take a look as Kenny Brain expertly builds a versatile garden box using Benchmark’s power tools, made even easier with one of their universal batteries.

Benchmark Cordless Drill Driver

You can use power drills to quickly create holes in a variety of surfaces, while drivers are great for fastening screws and bolts and are less likely to strip your fastener. This drill-driver combo does both tasks with one cordless machine. Plus, it’s lightweight and has an LED spotlight to get a clear view of your project.

You can use it to hang shelves or curtains, replace cabinet hardware or drawer slides or complete small at-home projects. Some social media users have also used an auger bit on their power tool to drill holes into compact dirt to quickly plant flower bulbs.

Benchmark 20V Max 1/2” Cordless Drill Driver Kit, Home Hardware, $135.

Benchmark Circular Saw

Circular saws quickly cut materials like wood, plastic and metal, completing projects faster. This saw is usually best for woodworking, though. You can use it to build shelves, fences, frames or put together outdoor planters.

This circular saw is lightweight and easy to use, with aluminum upper and lower guards for safety. The footplate is adjustable, and it includes a sightline blower so you can make more precise cuts. There’s also a removable dust chute to minimize mess.

Benchmark 20V Max 7-1/4” Circular Saw, Home Hardware, $100.

Benchmark Max Cordless Reciprocating Saw

Reciprocating saws are often used for demolition and renovation projects. They’re advantageous because they’re portable and lightweight. You can use them for various tasks, like cutting nails and frames, plumbing etc, creating notches or even trimming branches outside.

They can also cut through a wide range of materials, from metal to plastic. This heavy-duty reciprocating saw has variable speeds for maximum control and ergonomic grips to minimize user fatigue.

Benchmark 20V Max Cordless Reciprocating Saw, Home Hardware, $55.

Benchmark Cordless Brad Nail & Staple Gun

If you have a project that requires a lot of nails or staples, this power tool is quite helpful. Use it for trim (baseboards, window casings and crown molding), building shelves and cabinetry, assembling planter boxes or even securing upholstery.

Brad models shoot smaller nails and staples required for delicate and lightweight projects, making them a home handy person’s best friend. Benchmark’s model can drive up to 2” nails or staples from its narrow body, which allows you to easily position it, even in tight corners. There’s also a safety mechanism to prevent accidental firing and an LED work light to maximize visibility.

Benchmark 20V Cordless Brad Nail & Staple Gun – 18 Gauge, Home Hardware, $280.

 What Are Some Essential Power Garden Tools?

Keep your yard trim and tidy all summer long by working smarter, not harder with these essential Benchmark power tools from Home Hardware Canada. They each work with the universal 20V Omega Battery System, helping you jump from task to task with ease. Watch the video above as Kenny Brain makes yard maintenance look like a walk in the park thanks to a variety of Benchmark garden power tools.

Benchmark Cordless Lawn Mower

This powerful lawn mower features a 1,000W brushless motor and a two-in-one design that allows mulching or rear-bagging options. It comes with six cut-height adjustments for the perfect cut, foam handles for maximum comfort and a safety bail and overload protection to ensure overall safety. It can collect up to 50 litres of grass at a time, and charges in just over two hours.

Benchmark 19.3” Cordless Lawn Mower – 40V Max, Home Hardware, $350.

Benchmark Cordless Lawn Trimmer

This fast-loading, dual-line spool trimmer knocks down overgrown grass and awkward corners in a flash. With its 15” swath and powerful brushless motor, you can tackle broad sections at a time without overexerting your arms. It has a retractable guard to protect those flowerbeds and two speeds for custom work.

Benchmark 15” Cordless Lawn Trimmer – 40V, Home Hardware, $250.

Benchmark Cordless Hedge Trimmer

Embrace the art of hedge and bush maintenance with this powerful hedge trimmer. Its brushless motor and dual-action, 22” blade cut through thick foliage. You can also use it to cut down dry weeds and overgrowth, prune perennials and eliminate tiny branches. The tool features a full, wrap-around handle with a safety switch on three sides and upgraded bearings for longer life.

Benchmark 22″ Cordless Hedge Trimmer – 20V Max, Home Hardware, $180.

 

Planting a vegetable garden is one of the most rewarding — and delicious — hobbies you can take on. However, haphazardly throwing seeds in the soil probably won’t produce the bountiful backyard vegetable garden of your dreams. For productive results, your best bet is to carefully plot out your vegetable garden layout.

Whether you’re a home gardener looking to boost your veggie harvest or a green-thumb newbie wondering how to start a vegetable garden for the very first time, we’ve got you covered. Read on for our tips for planning an efficient vegetable garden layout — so you can enjoy fresh veggies all season long.

Related: How to Build a Cocktail Garden (Our Favourite Late Summer Trend)

What Are the Benefits of a Vegetable Garden Layout?

Before we get to our tips for how to create a vegetable garden layout, you may be wondering why you should take the time to make one.

While it may take some extra effort and a bit of trial and error, an efficient layout at the start goes a long way towards making it easier to maintain your garden throughout the year. When plants are arranged in a logical way that makes it easier to weed, water and harvest them, you’re more likely to stay on top of your garden.

And, if you’re rotating your crops for an ongoing harvest (for example, if you plan to swap out spring veggies for a fall or winter vegetable garden), a structured layout can be a big help.

A good layout can also make it much easier to successfully implement a companion gardening plan to help make your veggie plants thrive (and help keep pests to a minimum).

Step 1: Consider the Space You’re Working With

The first step to an effective garden layout is to assess the space and conditions that you have for your garden. Think about questions like:

What type of garden space will you use? Are you planning to plant in a raised garden bed or do you have space for a big backyard vegetable garden with in-ground rows? Or, will you be getting creative with container gardening?

How big of a garden do you want to plant? As Scott McGillivray notes with his gardening tips here, “When it comes to vegetable gardens, bigger is not always better.” So, even if you have a large garden space, that doesn’t mean you have to use it all for your veggie garden. Decide what size of garden works for you and your space before you plan your layout.

What are the growing conditions? If it’s your first time planting a veggie garden in a particular spot, take some time to consider your local climate and temperatures, potential pests and how much sun or shade your garden will get.

Where will your garden be? Think about how close your garden is to your living space. Is there an easy water source nearby? How often will you see the garden in your day-to-day life? If you walk by it often, you’ll be more likely to keep up maintenance than if it’s hidden in a corner, for example.

What are the soil conditions? Consider the drainage and depth of soil for where you’ll be planting.

Related: Vegetable Garden Planners to Help You Grow All Year Round

Step 2: Do Some Pre-Planning

Once you’ve decided where your garden will be, it’s time to think about what you want to plant and when.

A good way to start is to make a list of all the veggies and herbs that you and the people around you like to eat. After all, there’s no point in growing rows of spinach if no one in your household will eat it.

If your garden area is compact, you might also want to consider including some vertical-grow or vining vegetables in your plan (think: cucumbers or tomatoes) to help maximize the space.

When you have a list of vegetables you’d like to plant, you’ll want to note when each veggie would need to be planted. This will vary depending on where you live, so it’s a good idea to find a planting calendar for your location. The Almanac, for example, has an online tool that lets you search by postal code to find the ideal times to plant veggies in the spring and fall.

Step 3: Draw it Out

Now that you’ve collected all the information you need, it’s time to design your garden so that you can create an efficient layout.

There are many strategies you can try — whether you prefer to draw your garden by hand (freehand, graph paper or on a printable vegetable garden planner template) or use a garden layout app.

Whichever tool you use, you’ll want to arrange your plants in a logical way for maximum efficiency, considering factors like:

Plant arrangement
Depending on your garden space, you can lay out your vegetable plants in a variety of ways, such as in blocks, rows or using a square-foot gardening style.

Generally, you’ll want to arrange plants by height, so that the tallest plants are furthest away. This is key to your plan’s efficiency, as it allows for the easiest access to all of your veggies when it comes time to weed, water or harvest them. Planting small plants in front of taller ones can also help ensure that each gets its share of sunlight (be sure to consider which direction the sun is coming from while planning).

For a garden bed with access from one side, plan to plant taller vegetables at the back of each garden bed, shorter vegetables in the middle and the smallest plants at the front.

Related: The Easiest Vegetables to Grow in Each Canadian Province

Similarly, for a garden bed with access from all sides, plan to plant your taller vegetables in the middle, surrounded by shorter veggies and with the smallest plants at the front or edges of the garden space.

Remember to include proper space between plants in your plan. The ideal spacing for plants will vary by veggie, but you can look for guides online (like this guide from Gardening Know How).

If you have multiple garden beds in your garden, you’ll want to plan your layout to include space for you and your tools (like a wheelbarrow) to move freely between them.

Plant pairings
In addition to considering factors like sunlight and ease of access, you’ll also want to think about which plants work best when planted in close proximity.

Companion planting, which is the practice of strategically growing certain plants close together to help them thrive, can offer benefits like pest control, improved soil quality and even better-tasting veggies. If you’re planting spinach and onions, for instance, you may want to plan to place them close together in your garden as a strategy. Why? Onion bulbs can help to repel pests and the two crops work well together, spatially, as onions grow vertically and spinach grows horizontally.

You may also want to consider planning to include some pollinator-friendly plants in your garden layout.

Related: Beautiful Native Canadian Plants to Grow by Province

In my (admittedly biased) opinion, houseplants are amazingly versatile – they make for great decor, can be fun to collect, and caring for them comes with a wide variety of mental health benefits. But the journey that is plant parenthood isn’t always a smooth one. It isn’t always as simple as bringing a plant home and watching it thrive (although I really wish it were!) unless you’re a fan of no-care artificial potted plants.

When you bring lots of live leafy friends into your life, it’s totally normal to encounter a few issues. From wilty yellowing leaves, leaf loss and crispy tips to lack of growth and pests, here’s how to figure out what’s going on with your plants and what you can do about it. And, if all else fails, I’ll share a few signs it may be time to give up on your plant.

How to Rescue Plants From Common Ailments

If you have an unhappy houseplant on your hands, the first step is triage: figuring out why your plant is dying. This is by far the most challenging part of plant care, because many of the symptoms that a struggling or dying plant may exhibit can be attributed to a variety of causes.

For example, wilting can be caused by overwatering or underwatering, which are actually opposite conditions (too much water and too little water, respectively). It can be hard to pinpoint what’s going on and what to do about it, so when in doubt, turn to your favourite search engine, type in your plant and the symptoms it’s exhibiting (for example, “monstera leaves yellowing”) and peruse the results to help figure it out.

Related: These Indoor Plants Will Boost Your Mood for the Winter Months

Ailment: Wilting Plants

If your plant’s leaves are wilting, as mentioned earlier, it could be a sign of either overwatering or underwatering. To help you figure out which, feel and look at the plant’s soil. If the soil feels damp or looks moldy, it may be overwatering. Let your plant dry out thoroughly before watering again. If the soil feels dry or appears to be pulling away from the sides of your pot, that’s a sign of underwatering. Give your plant a thorough drink and see if it perks up.

Another tip to help wilting plants is to add some support, either with a stick or rock, to help encourage their growth. This will help the plant’s upright growth as it grows stronger.

Ailment: Plants With Yellowing Leaves or Leaf Loss

If your plant’s leaves are yellowing and falling off, don’t panic! It’s totally normal for plants to lose old leaves as they put out new ones. However, if your plant’s leaves are yellowing and dropping in alarming quantities, it may be a sign that it needs nutrients. Try adding a fresh layer of soil to the top of your plant’s pot or giving your plant some diluted fertilizer the next time you water.

Related: The Most Invasive Plants in Canada to Remove From Your Garden

Ailment: Lack of Growth

Maybe you’ve had your plant home for a while and notice that it hasn’t been putting out new growth. It’s totally normal for plants to go through an adjustment period when they first get home. Most plants also tend to go dormant during the winter (though there are some plants that thrive in the winter), meaning they put out less new growth and instead focus on sustaining the leaves they already have. However, unless your potted plant is artificial, you want to encourage new growth. If necessary, it may be appropriate to add more nutrients to the plant’s soil through a fertilizer.

Related: The Easiest Ways to Care for Your Plants When On Vacation

Ailment: Edema

Edema is little brown or red spots on a leaf, usually on a new leaf. The good news is that, on its own, it won’t kill your plant. Edema usually occurs due to irregular watering. When new leaves are forming, sometimes the plant’s roots can suck up more water than the plant can use, causing cells to burst in the leaves. This in turn causes those little brownish red spots. Edema isn’t fatal, and often the spots will go away as the leaf matures. However, it can be a sign of irregular watering, so consider implementing a regular watering schedule.

Ailment: Overwatering or Underwatering

Overwatering and underwatering are some of the most common plant issues. Crispy-edged leaves are often signs of underwatering, whereas rotten-looking, dark brown patches tend to be indicate overwatering.

If you suspect underwatering, water your plant thoroughly and regularly, allowing it to dry out slightly between waterings. Overwatering can be a bit more challenging to recover from, as it can easily lead to root rot. Soggy, overwatered soil that accompanies it can be a breeding ground for anaerobic bacteria, which in turn can cause the roots of your plant to rot. If you suspect root rot, check the roots – if they’re brown and mushy, trim the rotten roots, let the plant dry out, and repot the plant in sterile soil.

Ailment: Brown Crispy Leaves

If your plant has brown crispy leaves – sometimes brown crispy-tipped leaves – but you’re pretty confident it’s not underwatered, this could be a sign of low humidity.

There are two ways to boost humidity. The first is misting the plant with water frequently; the other is to add a humidifier to your space! Your humidity-loving tropical plants will thank you!

Ailment: Pests

Pests are a common issue for plant parents with many plants. Identifying and treating pests could be a blog post on its own! If you see signs of pests (splotchy yellow leaves, small brown spots, cobwebs, white fuzzy spots) use your preferred search engine to try to identify what the pest is and how best to treat it.

In general, when it comes to pests, neem oil is your new best friend. Mix one or two tablespoons of neem oil into a spray bottle of warm water. Shake it up and spray it onto the plants. Even if you don’t have pests, neem oil is a great preventative measure as well!

Insecticidal soap is your other best friend. It smothers and kills many pests and their eggs. Follow the instructions on the packaging, and apply regularly.

When to Call it Quits With a Dying Plant

Losing a plant is such a disappointing feeling, and deciding whether to give up can be a difficult and emotional call to make.

Some signs that there may be no recovery left for your plant: if the pest population is out of control, if your plant has no healthy leaves left, or if your plant problems are negatively impacting your mental health. Don’t let it discourage you from your journey to plant parenthood, though you can always consider a stylish artificial potted plant, too.

The cocktail garden is one of the hottest new trends among mixologists and gardeners alike, and it’s easy to see why! Planting a cocktail garden simply means planting veggies, fruit and herbs you’d use to make your favourite cocktails and mocktails. This practical, easy approach to gardening is a great way to make sure you have lovely, fresh ingredients on hand for all of your mixology adventures.

Related: This Beyonce-Inspired “Pure/Honey” Cocktail is the Perfect Renaissance Sip

How to Create a Cocktail Garden

When it comes to creating a cocktail garden (or any garden, for that matter), the best approach is a kind of reverse engineering. Think about what kinds of drinks you enjoy, and then plant the fruits, veggies and herbs featured in those sips. Love herbaceous, bitter bevvies? Mint, rosemary and thyme are your best friends. Big fan of sweet, refreshing drinks? Berries and melons are a must.

The bottom line is, if you’re growing a garden with the express purpose of using it to make delicious drinks, plant the things you find delicious!

That said, another important factor is space. Cocktail gardens can be any size, but whether you have a vast backyard or a cozy balcony will determine what you can plant – it would be pretty hard to grow watermelons in a pot on a windowsill.

Cocktail Garden Plant Ideas

Rosemary

Rosemary is a great addition to a variety of cocktails and mocktails. Keep it simple by adding a sprig of this fragrant herb to a classic gin and tonic, or go all in with a more complex cocktail like a rosemary gimlet.

Basil

Basil isn’t just for sauces and salads – it also makes for a refreshing addition to cocktails! For a creative twist on a classic, substitute basil for the mint in your favourite mojito recipe. When it comes to keeping your basil in good shape, prune the leaves regularly to encourage new growth.

Thyme

Thyme may not be the first herb you think of when it comes to cocktails, but a thyme Aperol spritz is a fresh twist on an old fave. There are many varieties of thyme, and your best bet is to smell them and choose the one that appeals to you most.

Related: This Is Why Your Herbs Keep Dying (And 5 Tips to Bring Them Back!)

Mint

You and a cocktail garden are mint to be! Having plenty of mint on hand means you can always whip up a classic mojito, or bring the taste of summer into fall and winter with a tasty cranberry mojito. Mint is notorious for spreading like a weed, so try planting it in a container so it doesn’t take over your garden.

Jalapeños

Jalapeños are another versatile cocktail garden option. Spice up Taco Tuesdays with a jalapeño margarita, customizing the spice level by removing some or all of the seeds. If you also grow watermelons, you’ll have all the fixings for a spicy watermelon margarita.

Berries

For fresh and fruity cocktails, raspberries and strawberries are a great staple to have on hand. Raspberries are one of the many berries that grow wild across Canada, and along with strawberries, will come back year after year. Try a delicious strawberry daiquiri, or add a raspberry twist to your favourite cocktails by making a raspberry simple syrup.

Ginger

Finally, give growing ginger a try, and then use it to make your own gingerale or ginger beer – perfect for Moscow mules or ginger beer peach floats.