Planning to garden this weekend? We have some major landscaping projects to tackle this spring. Here are some of the most useful Alberta sites I've discovered.
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| ...from a few years ago. |
This
is an absolutely amazing site created by the Oldman Watershed
Council's Urban Team. Their goal “is
to demonstrate the beauty and benefits of having a xeriscaped garden
in southern Alberta. Xeriscaped yards utilize native and
drought-tolerant plants that naturally thrive in the dry prairie
environment that we depend upon, requiring less water, pesticides and
fertilizers. They allow homeowners to enjoy a beautiful landscape at
home that requires less maintenance, and can conserve water and
protect water quality.”
Their
home page will link you to information about xeriscaping. Be sure to
read the detailed article by the Lethbridge couple who completely
redid their front yard – amazing!
Best
of all is the section, “Native Plants”. Scroll
down to find the PDF entitled, 50 Best Plants for Prairie Urban
Gardens in Southern Alberta. Each plant has a brief description and a
photograph. For more details about each plant, see the additional
links on the “Native
Plants” page:
Perennials, Flowers, Trees, Shrubs, Grasses and Groundcovers.
This
is Ann Van de Reep's Calgary garden design and consulting business
website. I've bookmarked a great article on ornamental grasses.
Ann also has an excellent page outlining Calgary gardens you can visit for ideas.
Ann also has an excellent page outlining Calgary gardens you can visit for ideas.
Sue's
blog is very easy to read. She has a considerable amount of
information on planning your garden. A Calgary gardener herself, she
also has a landscape design and consulting business. Each week
during the gardening season, Sue posts her Weekly Plant Pick. Check
out her Top Twenty Plant Picks for 2013 as well as her Top Twenty for Twenty Twelve. Good photographs and clear descriptions.
“Making
the most of Alberta's growing season” is the focus of Pat's
website. I especially liked her page on Lawn Care – crabgrass,
quackgrass, clover, fairy rings, dandelions and chickweed. That's my
lawn! Nice to see someone who doesn't think a jug of chemicals is
the best solution.
Bylands
Nursery Ltd. has a very detailed list of creeping junipers that I've
printed out for reference.
Here's
a landscaper from Red Deer with some strong opinions. Read his
article, “Ten Best and Ten Worst Shrubs for Central Alberta”.
An
amateur gardener but someone who dearly loves her Edmonton garden.
She has a great photo record of shade loving plants.
Maggie -- if this comment shows up twice, just delete one. The first one I wrote just disappeared but I've heard this has been a problem for others. The picture of your yard from a few years ago is beautiful, hope it grows as well this year after the hard weather. Some great resources for other gardeners in your neighborhood.
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