Plant-Specific Care

Detailed guidance for specific plant types and varieties

13 Minutes

Tree and Shade Gardens

Tree Pruning Made Simple: Expert Secrets for a Healthier Garden

barbara August 20, 2025 0 Comment

Master the art of tree pruning with three fundamental cuts: heading cuts to control growth direction, thinning cuts to improve air circulation, and reduction cuts to maintain size while preserving natural form. Proper pruning...

12 Minutes

Plant-Specific Care

Beautiful But Deadly: Protecting Your Family from Common Toxic Garden Plants

barbara August 10, 2025 0 Comment

Behind the stunning beauty of <a href="https://bluestem.ca/plant-specific-care/discover-the-enchanting-world-of-ornamental-plants-beauty-and-purpose-combined/">ornamental plants</a> lies a hidden danger that every gardener must understand. From the elegant foxglove to the beloved lily of the valley, many of our most cherished garden...

12 Minutes

Perennial Gardens

Save Your Perennial Garden: How to Spot and Stop These Destructive Pests

barbara August 7, 2025 0 Comment

Garden pests can transform your thriving <a href="https://bluestem.ca/plant-specific-care/perennial-paradise-create-a-blooming-oasis-that-comes-back-year-after-year/">perennial garden care</a> into a battle for survival overnight. From voracious Japanese beetles skeletonizing rose leaves to sneaky aphids colonizing tender shoots, these unwanted visitors pose constant...

12 Minutes

Tree and Shade Gardens

Transform Your Garden with Trees That Dazzle All Year Long

barbara August 6, 2025 0 Comment

Transform your landscape into a living masterpiece by selecting trees that captivate through all four seasons. While most gardens fade during winter, a thoughtfully planned four-season tree collection maintains its splendor year-round. Learn to...

12 Minutes

Plant-Specific Care

Make Your Shade Garden Thrive: Expert Techniques That Actually Work

barbara July 29, 2025 0 Comment

Transform your shaded garden spaces into thriving oases by mastering essential shade gardening techniques. Select <a href="https://bluestem.ca/plant-specific-care/shade-garden-secrets-15-stunning-plants-that-thrive-in-low-light/">shade-loving plants</a> suited to your specific light conditions, whether it’s dappled shade beneath deciduous trees or deep shade...

13 Minutes

Plant-Specific Care

Transform Your Garden with These Stunning Ornamental Ferns

barbara July 25, 2025 0 Comment

Transform your indoor or outdoor space into a lush sanctuary with ornamental ferns, nature’s most elegant <a href="https://bluestem.ca/plant-specific-care/discover-the-enchanting-world-of-ornamental-plants-beauty-and-purpose-combined/">ornamental plants</a>. These versatile beauties thrive in filtered light and humid conditions, making them perfect companions for...

9 Minutes

Perennial Gardens

Stop Drowning Your Perennials: Smart Watering That Saves Your Garden

barbara July 7, 2025 0 Comment

Stick your finger an inch deep into the soil before watering – moist soil means your plant doesn’t need more water yet. Master proper <a href="https://bluestem.ca/plant-specific-care/perennial-paradise-create-a-blooming-oasis-that-comes-back-year-after-year/">perennial garden care</a> by learning to recognize the telltale...

11 Minutes

Plant-Specific Care

Beautiful Zone 9 Trees That Transform Your Garden Into a Paradise

barbara June 25, 2025 0 Comment

Transform your Zone 9 landscape into a year-round paradise by <a href="https://bluestem.ca/plant-specific-care/tips-for-growing-ornamental-trees/">growing ornamental trees</a> that thrive in our warm, sun-drenched climate. From the graceful Crape Myrtle’s summer-long blooms to the Japanese Maple’s striking autumn...

6 Minutes

Tree and Shade Gardens

Keep Your Young Trees Thriving: Smart Shade Solutions for Every Season

barbara June 22, 2025 0 Comment

Protect young saplings from intense sunlight during their critical first growing season by creating movable shade barriers with burlap or shade cloth mounted on wooden stakes. Monitor <a href="https://bluestem.ca/plant-specific-care/9-secrets-to-help-your-newly-planted-trees-thrive/">newly planted trees</a> for signs of...

10 Minutes

Specialty Gardens

Beautiful Edible Plants That Transform Your Landscape Into a Food Garden

barbara June 10, 2025 0 Comment

Transform your backyard into a feast for both eyes and plate by strategically planting edible perennials like rainbow chard, purple sage, and decorative kale along garden borders. Position striking fruit trees as natural focal...