Trees, natives, and what the deer leave alone
Species proven here, matched to the soil and the season. Sourced from MSU Extension and the 2023 USDA map, not a national template.
The Best Trees for Montana: What Survives the Wind, the Cold, and the Alkaline Soil
Three summers ago you planted a maple. You watered it when the tag told you to water it, you staked it against the wind, you did everything right. Today it stands…
Montana Native Plants for Landscaping: 40+ Species That Belong Here
The nursery rack is full of plants that evolved somewhere else. They evolved for rain in August, for soil that is not full of calcium, for a winter that lets up.…
Deer-Resistant Plants for Montana (and the Honest Truth About "Deer-Proof")
You planted it in May. You watered it all summer, mulched it, bragged about it to the neighbor. Then you walked out one morning in September and found a stem…
The Best Shrubs for Montana: What Survives the Wind, the Cold, and the Lime
You planted a hedge. It was green on the rack, it was on sale, and the tag said "hardy to Zone 4," which was your zone, so you bought six. It went in, it looked…
The Best Perennials for Montana: Bloom Timing Matters as Much as Hardiness
You bought the plant rated two zones colder than you are. You put it where the tag told you, full sun, and you watered it all summer. It came back in spring, and…
Drought-Tolerant Plants for Montana: What Actually Survives When the Water Runs Short
Your water bill went up again. Or the city mailed the card that tells you which days you are allowed to run the sprinklers, and you taped it to the fridge and…
Vegetables That Actually Grow in Montana
The tomatoes went in during June and set a little green fruit by August. Then September came, the first hard frost landed, and nothing ripened. Maybe you planted…
