Welcome to Shifting Roots
Finding solutions to the challenges of growing in cold climates with short growing seasons, all while inspiring you to grow something beautiful.
Have you been scrolling through Pinterest and binging gardening content on YouTube, but are struggling to find gardening advice that will actually work for where you live?
I’ll never forget flipping through gardening magazines when I was a teenager, pouring over those gorgeous yards complete with the plan and plant list to make your own version of this perennial flower oasis. I excitedly showed my parents what I found, only to have them inform me that none of these plants would grow here–we lived in too cold of a growing zone.
Despair!
Years later I’d see gardeners in warmer climates harvesting vegetables straight through winter, or my favourite YouTubers starting the bulk of their seeds in February. . . when I was up to my eyeballs in snow and still convincing myself that -30 degree days were necessary to have blooming peonies and tulips in the spring.
Sound familiar?
You’re among friends. While a lot of my gardening advice will work for those of you in warmer climates, everything you see in this blog is designed with the Northern Gardener in mind. If I can’t grow it in my zone 3 garden (or haven’t seen someone in the same zone who has) I don’t write about it.
I’m searching for
Start a Garden
Most Popular Posts
Seed Starting40+ Canadian Seed Companies & Nurseries to Order the Garden or Landscape of Your Dreams
Zone 3 GardeningWhat Grows in Zone 3
Vegetable GardeningCold-Climate Vegetable Gardening for the Complete Beginner
Vegetable Gardening10 Easy-to-Grow Vegetables for Beginners (Plus 5 You’ll Want to Avoid)
Additional Resources
Quick start gardening guide
Take the complication out of gardening, and get started with the quick start gardening guide.
Ultimate Spring Gardening Checklist
38 Must-do tasks to prepare and plant your garden.
Growing Roots Beginner Gardening Ebook
New to Gardening? This guide has everything you need to go from gardening newb to confident in one growing season.
Seed Starting
Most Popular Posts
Seed StartingDIY Seed Starting From Your Window
Seed StartingIndoor Seed Starting Schedule for Easy Vegetables & Flowers
Seed StartingThe Best Grow Lights for Seedlings (From Budget to Bougie)
Seed StartingHow to Start Seeds When Your Home Has No Light or Space
Additional Resources
Seed Starting Success
Avoid many of the most common newbie seed starting mistakes and have more of your seedlings both survive and thrive.
What to plant when seed starting
Exactly what seeds to start, and when!
Pretty Practical Garden Planner
Organize every inch of your garden. Checklists, Trackers, Maps and more!
Cut Flowers
Most Popular Posts
Cut FlowersHow to Start a Cut Flower Garden
Seed Starting10 Easiest Annual Cut Flowers to Grow From Seed (Plus 2 to Avoid)
Cut FlowersHow to Design a Cut Flower Garden in Raised Beds
Additional Resources
Cut flowers made simple
Learn how to completely plan out and grow your own backyard cut flower garden for beautiful bouquets all summer long.
Free Raised Bed cut flower plan
Grow tons of flowers in a 4’x4′ space.
make money flower farming
Take your flower farming dream and make it into a business.
Vegetables
Most Popular Posts
Zone 3 GardeningHow to Grow Ground Cherries in Zone 3
Vegetable GardeningHow to Get Free Lettuce Seeds for Life (with this Seed-Saving Method!)
Vegetable Gardening6 Organic Ways to Keep Bugs Out of Broccoli
Vegetable GardeningHow to Pinch Pepper Plants for Healthier Plants and More Peppers
Additional Resources
Beginners guide to tomatoes
Go from confused to confident and grow drool-worthy tomotoes.
Garden Harvest cheat sheet
Never waste your garden vegetables again! Know exactly what to do with the vegetables you harvest.
GROWING ROOTS BEGINNER GARDENING EBOOK
New to Gardening? This guide has everything you need to go from gardening newb to confident in one growing season.
Small space
Most Popular Posts
Vegetable GardeningHow to Start a Square Foot Garden
Vegetable GardeningAvoid These 10 Mistakes for a Better Vegetable Container Garden
Zone 3 GardeningDIY Plastic Flower Pot Makeover
Vegetable GardeningHow to Build Beautiful Raised Beds for Square Foot Gardening
Additional Resources
Square foot gardening templates
Grow a garden in minutes with these easy-to-follow plans.
Raised Bed Cut Flower Plan
Grow tons of flowers in a 4’x4′ space.
4 Free container garden plans
Get 4 free done-for-you plans with fun themes. Tea garden, tacos, and more!
Flower gardening
Most Popular Posts
PerennialsHow to Plan & Design a Low Maintenance Flower Bed
Perennials32 Flowers, Ground Cover, and Shrubs That Grow Under Trees
Perennials21 Practically No-Fail Perennials to Plant in Zone 3
Perennials57 Best Perennials to Plant in Zone 3
Additional Resources
100 Zone 3 perennials
Growing perennials in Zone 3 can feel discouraging.Get the list and see the possibilities.
100 Cut Flower Gardens for the west coast
With a little planning, create a beautiful cut flower garden for under $100!
Constant colour garden
How to create a perennial garden that blooms all season long.
