Bluestem Gardening

barbara

15 Minutes
Eco-Friendly Maintenance Structures and Hardscapes Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Gardening

The Deck Paint That Won’t Poison Your Garden (And Actually Protects It)

barbara April 1, 2026 0 Comment on The Deck Paint That Won’t Poison Your Garden (And Actually Protects It)
Choose deck finishes with VOC levels below 50 grams per liter to protect the herbs, vegetables, and flowers thriving around your outdoor space. Traditional deck paints and stains release volatile organic compounds that settle...
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12 Minutes
Seasonal and Climate Considerations

These Summer Flowers Will Keep Your Garden Blooming Until Fall

barbara March 27, 2026 0 Comment on These Summer Flowers Will Keep Your Garden Blooming Until Fall
Plant continuous bloomers like coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and salvia that naturally flower from June through September without deadheading. Combine early, mid, and late-season <a href="https://bluestem.ca/seasonal-and-climate-considerations/burst-of-sunshine-17-stunning-summer-flowers-to-brighten-your-garden/">summer flowers</a> in the same bed so new blooms emerge...
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14 Minutes
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Gardening

Why Your Garden Tools Are Secretly Harming the Planet (And What to Buy Instead)

barbara March 25, 2026 0 Comment on Why Your Garden Tools Are Secretly Harming the Planet (And What to Buy Instead)
Check product labels for FSC-certified wood, recycled content percentages, and third-party sustainability certifications before you buy any gardening tool or planter. Companies using vague terms like “eco-friendly” or “natural” without specific credentials are often...
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You May Have Missed!

14 MinutesClose-up of a straw bale being conditioned: a gloved hand sprinkles granular fertilizer while a hose showers water over the bale, with seedling trays and sunlit garden beds softly blurred in the background.
Specialized Gardening Methods
Why Your Straw Bales Need Conditioning Before You Plant Anything
April 2, 2026
14 MinutesPerson pushing a broadcast spreader to apply granular winterizer on a short, healthy lawn during autumn, with a small raked leaf pile, orange trees, and faint aeration plugs softly blurred in the background.
Seasonal and Climate Considerations
Your Lawn’s Winter Survival Depends on These Fall Preparations
April 2, 2026
15 MinutesClose-up of a gloved hand applying a clear, plant-based low-VOC wood finish to sunlit cedar deck boards, with blurred raised herb and flower beds in the background under warm golden-hour light.
Eco-Friendly Maintenance Structures and Hardscapes Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Gardening
The Deck Paint That Won’t Poison Your Garden (And Actually Protects It)
April 1, 2026
12 MinutesMixed summer flower border with pink coneflowers, yellow black-eyed Susans, purple salvia, and zinnias glowing in golden-hour light, with a softly blurred garden path behind.
Seasonal and Climate Considerations
These Summer Flowers Will Keep Your Garden Blooming Until Fall
March 27, 2026