Having a beautiful garden is one of the surest ways to surround your home with a fundamental element of luxury. But if you want to have a gorgeous garden and you're faced with a short growing season like we have in Calgary, you have to work a bit smarter than you do in say, California. With this in mind, here a few tips to help bring out the best in your yard.
The Quicker the Better
The growing season in Calgary is relatively short, amounting to about 170 frost free days a year. So whatever you plant, make sure it gets to the point quickly. Fast growing plants are the way to go if you want to be surrounded by greenery and flowers this summer.
As Beautiful as the Day is Long
Fortunately, Calgary gardens have a distinct advantage when it comes to the growing season. Though there may not be many days for growing, those days are long. In the summer, the sun shines from 5 am to 10 pm with dusk stretching as far as midnight. In fact, at the height of summer, it never really gets dark for long. While we're on the topic, Calgary is actually one of the sunniest places in the county with an annual average of 2400 hours of brilliant sunshine.
Everything's Coming up Roses
It's easy to have a rose garden if you stick to wild roses. Hardy and abundant, the prairie rose makes a great border that blooms early and provides colour all season with very little help from you.
Rock On
Rock gardens are a go in Calgary. Use local rocks for the best effect - they look better and cost you nothing. Did I also mention they look better? Fortunately, most of the plants that grow in a traditional alpine rock garden will also do nicely in Calgary. Visit the Reader Rock Garden for a supreme example of how beautiful this type of garden can be.
Turn Your Face to the Sun
Before you plant a thing in the ground, turn your attention to the sky. Figuring out where the sun is going to hit your little patch of paradise and from which direction, should be the first thing you consider when planning your garden. A north facing yard will call for shade tolerant plants, while a south or southwest facing yard will soak up the rays. If you want vegetables, plant them in the sunny spot. You'll also want to look for elevations and slopes when you are making your site selection while avoiding depressions and low areas that allow water to pool.
Everyone Knows it's Windy
The first thing you need to know about the prairies is that they're flat. For gardeners, this means that unless you intervene, there will always be days when there's nothing to stop the wind from whipping itself into a frenzy and making your garden shiver with wind chill. Nothing that is, unless you create a windbreak, which you definitely should do. Windbreaks stop the wind from lowering the temperature on the property which is good for the garden, good for your house and good for you. Fences are the quickest way to enjoy the benefits of a windbreak and open fences (picket style) will always do better than solid fences which just seem to make the wind angrier.
Satisfy Thy Soul in Drought
Though you can stand outside everyday watering your lawn to make it green, hopefully you have better things to do with your time. Besides, it's always wise to accept things for what they are and Calgary's climate is dry. Choose drought tolerant grasses and ground cover. Save money on your water bill. Be at peace.
A Snowball's Chance
Your garden, your yard and your view don't only exist from frost to frost. Give your garden and your family the full benefit of the seasons by making this space a fun and beautiful place all year round. Plant trees and bushes that will not only survive the winter but will add colour and interest. There's nothing nicer than red berries contrasted with white snow in February. Evergreens and conifers are another classic choice. Pay attention to shapes and silhouettes when you are planning your winter garden. There's also nothing more deliciously defiant than hanging out in the hot tub when the thermometer has dipped well below zero. Saunas, out door fireplaces and heated spas all make the cold months a bit warmer and open up a whole world of possibilities when it comes to winter parties. If you have children (or even if you don't) you might also want to consider allowing space for a backyard rink. Forget the tarps and the flooding if you want to go this route. There are some great portable skating rinks on the market right now that just need to be unrolled and filled up for a season of ice skating fun times.
And finally, if you're really serious about turning the yard around your Calgary home into an abundant wonderland, there are some great books that deal specifically with gardens in our climate zone and plants that do well here. The Calgary Horticultural Society is also a fantastic resource for local green thumbs.
If you're looking to relocate to Alberta, be sure to check out Justin Havre's Calgary Real Estate site. Visit JustinHavre.com today for the latest information on Downtown Calgary condos. |
