Blue Grass Garden Blog, May 2024 Container gardening is simply defined as growing plants in pots or any vessel that holds growing medium. Gardening in containers has a very versatile and everchanging appeal. Perfect for those with small spaces or balconies, garden containers are suitable to grow all sorts of plant material from big blooming florals to yummy grow-your-own veggies. The Basics The container. Container choice depends on use, plant selection, size, and colour. While colour is usually a personal choice, it is an important consideration in one capacity, darker pots may heat up faste ..read more

Blue Grass Garden Blog, April 2024 This upcoming garden season is going to be an interesting one. Most of us are planning and preparing for a very dry season. While the latest, seemingly unending snow flurries this past month, have been welcome as ‘we need the moisture’, it may be too little too late. We’ve talked at various times about gardening in drought, but how about adopting a gardening style that will thrive in dry conditions? Have you ever considered a xeriscape garden? Xeriscape gardens or water conserving landscapes are not new ideas. This style of landscaping uses plants that requir ..read more

Blue Grass Garden Blog, February 2024 February Follies The winter of 2024 has been mild to say the least, although early this year, the short-term deep freeze tried to knock us all down. Early February was once again showing us unseasonably warm temperatures and had us all eagerly anticipating spring. Although, maybe no one as much as Balzac Billy and the results are in! On February 2nd, Groundhog Day morning, Balzac Billy saw his shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of winter! Our Groundhog Day festivities and pancake breakfast were a resounding success, thank you to all that attended. Eage ..read more

The start of the new year may have us looking at the past, what’s is our current situation and what will the future bring. New Year’s resolutions are being made, new day planners are being opened and written in with precision, colour and hope for fun ahead. With a mild winter (up to this month) at play, our minds are easily swayed to setting our sights on spring. It feels as if it is just around the corner. What are your plans in you yard and garden this year? Are you a trend follower in your outdoor spaces? Garden Media Group have predicted several trends for the season ahead, some trends are ..read more

Blue Grass Garden Blog, July 2023 Continuing our series of what we can grow and what we should plant in Zone 3/4, we turn our attention to the colour and personality of the garden. Perennials and annuals are herbaceous plants that are the filler to the structure created by woody ornamentals. Perennials are plants that return every year as their growth allows, annuals grow just through the current growing season (they will not overwinter). Both provide a cornucopia of colour, texture, and size. Annuals are the crayons for your garden, they create the summer long colour that we all enjoy. There ..read more

Blue Grass Garden Blog, June 2023 Gardening in Zone 3/4 certainly has its challenges, but with some basic knowledge and a little fortitude we can grow some beautiful gardens in the prairies and foothills. Any new gardener to our growing area should fundamentally understand the growing or hardiness zone, how to create a fertile garden foundation and which plants to choose. Check out our Gardening in the Prairies blog for more detailed growing zone information across Alberta. Creating or building a good soil foundation for your gardens is very important for successful growth as you have heard fr ..read more

Gardening in the prairies certainly has its challenges but we continue to dig in and grow. Whether it’s big, beautiful trees, lush green lawns, beautiful blooms of carefully tended gardens, or the food we eat, we love to grow. In the last few years, the gardening industry has boomed with a staggering increase of over 18 million new gardeners in North America alone. We see it every day at the Garden Centre. As demand has increased, strategies to extend our growing season are being implemented and indoor gardening is as important as outdoor gardening for many. There are a few basic things to kno ..read more

Are you ready to embark on a delicious and nutritious journey into the world of vegetable gardening? Look no further! This beginner-friendly guide will give you the essential steps to kickstart your vegetable garden adventure. With a little bit of patience, persistence, and tender loving care, you’ll soon be enjoying the fruits (or, rather, vegetables) of your labour. So, let’s dig in and get started on your path to a thriving vegetable garden. Step 1: Choose the Perfect Location The first step in creating a flourishing vegetable garden is selecting the right spot. Here are some factors to co ..read more

Spring is just around the corner, and if you’re a gardening enthusiast, you know what that means – it’s time to get your hands dirty and prepare your garden for the upcoming season. But before you jump right in, you need to complete a few essential things to ensure your garden thrives this spring. Here are eight must-do tasks to prepare your garden for the new season. 8 Must-Do Gardening Tasks this Spring Spring is the perfect time to start gardening. The weather is warming up, the soil is rich, and the plants are eager to grow. With these eight must-do tasks, you can ensure your garden thriv ..read more

Selecting trees that will grow in shady sites can be difficult. Most trees need some sun to thrive but there are some trees that are adaptable and will tolerate lower light locations in the landscape. Blue Grass recommends trying Balsam, Poplar, Bylands Green Poplar, Dancing Flame Trembling Aspen, Golden Willow, Guardian Aspen, Harvest Gold Linden, Hawthorn Hicks Yew* Laurel Leaf Willow, Prairie Skyrise Aspen, Redmong Linden*, River Birch, Serviceberry, Silver Queen Maple*, Swedish Aspen, Tower Poplar, Trembling Aspen and Tristis Poplar. The post Shade Tolerant Trees appeared first on Blue Gra ..read more