We recently had the opportunity to learn how to successfully lift and divide irises from local expert gardener Anne Ritcey. Thank you so much for walking us through the entire process and generously sharing your expertise with us. We truly appreciate your time and guidance. Here are the step by step instructions: A MESS!!. A clump that is very overdue … Continue reading →
What To Do With Overgrown or Root‑Bound Containers By mid‑summer, even the healthiest hanging baskets and planters can start to look tired. When plants are growing in the ground, they have endless soil and space to expand. But in containers, roots eventually run out of room — and that’s when baskets begin to decline. The good news? Overgrown containers are … Continue reading →
Keep Summer Containers Blooming Hanging baskets and planters bring instant colour to patios and entryways, but they also dry out quickly and burn through nutrients faster than garden beds. With a little steady care, you can keep them lush, full, and blooming beautifully all summer long even in Kamloops’ 30–40°C heat. Watering: The Most Important Task Containers dry out far … Continue reading →
A shade cover for heat sensitive plants can reduce UV rays by 70%. Photo: Lee Valley Tools It’s a well-known secret that Kamloops gardeners have a gambling problem. One variety refuses to accept the conventional wisdom that you shouldn’t plant tomatoes before the May long weekend. “But it’s so hot already. A couple of weeks won’t matter,” … Continue reading →
Heat, Harvests, and Keeping Plants Thriving July in Kamloops brings long, hot days, warm nights, and the first big flush of summer harvests. Watering wisely, keeping plants tidy, and staying ahead of pests will help your garden sail through the heat. Here’s what to focus on this month. Fruits & Vegetables Water deeply every 3–4 days — Aim for long … Continue reading →
Peonies are one of the most beloved perennials in Kamloops gardens, and their lush June blooms are worth every bit of care. Once the flowers fade, the plant shifts into a critical phase: storing energy for next year’s blossoms. What you do in the weeks and months after blooming has a direct impact on how well your peonies flower next … Continue reading →
A Simple June Trick for Better, Later, Tidier Blooms What the Chelsea Chop Is — and Why It Works The Chelsea chop is a pruning technique used in late May to early June to control height, improve structure, and delay bloom time on certain herbaceous perennials. It’s named after the Chelsea Flower Show in London, which happens to fall at … Continue reading →
Steady Growth, Warm Days, and Plenty to Do June brings long daylight, warmer nights, and that wonderful sense that everything is growing at once. It’s a month of maintenance, gentle shaping, and keeping plants hydrated and healthy as summer settles in. Here’s what Kamloops gardeners can focus on this month. Lawn Care Mow at 2–3 inches — Taller grass … Continue reading →
Hydrangeas are among the most beloved flowering shrubs, admired for their lush blooms and graceful presence in gardens across the country. Versatile and dependable, they shine as foundation plantings, border accents, or eye‑catching potted specimens on patios and porches. With an impressive range of species and cultivars—each offering its own combination of colours, shapes, sizes, and hardiness levels—there’s a hydrangea … Continue reading →
Spring pruning can rejuvenate many shrubs and encourage fresh, healthy growth. But some of our most beloved spring bloomers form their flower buds the previous year. Pruning these plants too early removes those buds, reduces flowering, and can stress the shrub. To enjoy the fullest spring display, avoid pruning the following shrubs in early spring. Azaleas & Rhododendrons These favourites … Continue reading →
