Choosing a tree or shrub can feel daunting, especially if you are a new gardener. There are hundreds of choices, but only some will thrive in your backyard environment and suit your personal preferences. Trees and shrubs are an investment in the future and a little planning can avoid problems in the long run. Before you commit to any tree, check out our Trees to Plant Cautiously video.

Insects, disease and sapsuckers can damage trees but more often than not, it isn't the fault of the pest. This means that dealing with the pest won't necessarily solve the problem longterm. Many of these pests are there as an indicator of an already stressed tree.

Two very common tree stressors on the prairies are drought and improper planting techniques. Drought can be significantly improved by good mulching techniques. Improper planting is a major concern. You cannot just dig a hole and plunk your tree in it and expect to have a healthy tree. Planting issues tend to show up 3-10 years after planting so many people don't often realize they are to blame. We urge you to read the updated planting guidelines here before you start!

Trees beautify your outdoor space, provide habitat for birds and insects, improve curb appeal and even increase your property value.

The old saying "select the right tree for the right space" really holds true. Every plant has its own basic needs for light, moisture, soil and space. When one or more of those needs are not met, the plant will not thrive. The plant becomes stressed and in turn, stressed trees are far more susceptible to insect and disease problems. Deciding what tree to plant in your space is a big committment. You should never choose a tree lightly - they're meant to last generations. Before you commit to any tree, check out our Trees to Plant Cautiously video.

We've featured some fantastic tress here. We also recommend you look at The Western Nursery Grower's Group Prairie Tested Trees for detailed information on more trees that grow well on the Prairies.

Shrubs are a great way to deliniate space, control traffic, and add beauty and biodiversity to your yard. A good shrub will ask little maintenance and provide year long reward. A poor shrub will spread, require constant maintenance, and may be in such poor health that it becomes susceptible to insect or disease. The same is true with a good shrub planted in the wrong spot.

The biggest issue we tend to see with shrubs is that they're usually planted far too close together! Each individual shrub should be about one meter away from its neighbouring shrub, perhaps more depending on the shrub, or shrub health will suffer. Plants suffer quietly. Often this looks like poor autumn coloring, poor flowering, and susceptibility to insect and disease.

A shelterbelt is a collection of trees, shrubs, and understory plants that are strategically planted to create diversity, protect soils, and adjust local microclimates. Most people think about shelterbelts in big rural areas, protecting large land parcels, but they're also a useful design option for acreages and large urban spaces. The modern shelterbelt is a mix of different species and plant heights, ranging from the tall conifers to block wind, down to the edible fruiting shrubs in the understory. Groundcovers should be a mix of thoughtfully selected understory plants (excluding grass and invasive weeds) or, in dry enviroments, a 4-6" layer of woody mulch.

Considering a tree for your yard? Practicing your tree ID skills? It might be useful to see a full size specimen! Patterson Arboretum is a botanical collection of tree specimens hardy to Zone 2b, located on our USask campus. It is free for the public to visit, just open the fence!

The University of Saskatchewan's Arboretum was established in 1966 as part of the Prairie Regional Trials for Woody Ornamentals experiment. Today an informal experiment continues to test the hardiness of woody plant species, while working towards plant conservation and genetic diversity. Dozens of new specimens are added each year, often sourced from wild seed of Canadian species or obtained from botanical gardens of the northern hemisphere. The arboretum has grown into one of the most compelling collections of trees, shrubs, and vines in the Canadian Prairie Provinces. 

For more information, see the Patterson Arboretum website or view the tabs in this section for more details on the trees.