Did you know that the first Thursday in May is Arbor Day in Calgary? Today is the day we celebrate trees. Trees play an important role in our environment. Specifically, trees: convert carbon dioxide into oxygen improve air quality control climate control soil erosion support wildlife In the home garden, trees can be a focal point and provide aesthetic value. A mature tree has many thousands of dollars of property value. Trees should outlive other plants in the garden and therefore should be managed appropriately to ensure a long and healthy life. Here's a summary of how NOT to care for a tre ..read more

Peat moss is used in many bagged potting soils as well as bulk soils and amendments that can be purchased by the cubic yard. I try hard not to use it personally and professionally, but sometimes alternatives can't be found locally. Perhaps as a community we can push back with garden centers and landscaping supply companies, and not support peat moss harvesting. This article from Better Homes & Gardens will give you the details you need to make informed decisions regarding greener alternatives. The Problem with the Peat Moss in Your Pots (and What to Use Instead ..read more

Why urban gardens are crucial for conserving bees and butterflies – and how you can help them Maljalen/ShutterstockNicholas Tew, University of Bristol; Jane Memmott, University of Bristol, and Katherine Baldock, Northumbria University, Newcastle As humans have industrialised farming to feed a growing global population, pollinators – animals vital for plant reproduction – have seen their food supply decline. In the UK, intensive agriculture has eroded biological diversity in large portions of the countryside, with vast swathes of cereal crops and ryegrass pastures now replacing flower-rich habi ..read more

To add some vertical interest to your garden, clematis is my favorite choice. Growing up a trellis, covering a fence, twisting up some tree trunks, or even as a ground cover, clematis offer vigorous growth with the addition of colorful flowers. There are actually 3 types of clematis based upon their growth characteristics: type A - blooms on old wood in the spring type B - can bloom on both old and new wood type C - blooms on new wood later in the summer Since our winters are so long, I do appreciate plants that can provide flowers in the spring. There are two type A species of clematis, C. a ..read more

I have been apprehensive about writing a blog on fertilizing gardens, because it is a complex subject. In addition, there are so many untruths about gardening practices that people truly believe. I strive to share and use evidence-based practices for clients citing articles written by horticultural scientists (PhD level), and ask that you question any conflicting information you receive from the following sources: garden centres focused on selling product where staff may not have any horticultural qualifications community garden clubs authors of gardening books without appropriate qualif ..read more

As I look out my back door, my entire yard is awash with fallen leaves. A tapestry of yellow. Am I going to spend time gathering up and bagging these leaves? Absolutely not! Instead, I will follow Mother Nature's lead and return them to the soil.  Grasscycling: Reference - https://www.calgary.ca/uep/wrs/recycling-information/residential-services/organics-recycling/grasscycling.html Leave grass clippings on the lawn Leaving grass clippings on the lawn after mowing is the natural way of breaking down grass also known as grass, also known as grasscycling or grass mulching. The next ti ..read more

As we approach the end of October, winter is on it's way. Some of you may have added tender bulbs to your garden such as gladiolus, dahlias, and canna lilies to name a few. As these plants will not survive a Calgary winter, they must be properly cleaned and stored to be planted again in the spring. This gives you the opportunity to multiply your garden stock by harvesting offsets and enjoy your favorite flowers year after year. GardenGate Magazine has a comprehensive article on this topic ..read more

An article just popped up on my news feed regarding the ongoing litigation in the United States about the herbicide glyphosate. This is something I use and recommend for aggressive perennial weeds in the garden. Unfortunately, there is some hysteria over the use of this product, which to date has not been backed by objective data. I direct you to the article I'm referring to as published in the Financial Post.  business.financialpost.com/opinion/terence-corcoran-junk-science-extorts-10-billion-from-bayer ..read more

Frequently I have clients that have decided there is something wrong with their soil and we should dig it up and replace it or at least remove several inches of soil and add something to it to make it better. In Calgary, our soil is clay rich, which helps it retain moisture as well as nutrients. I usually recommend adding one inch of compost to flower beds if the soil is particularly heavy as compost can improve soil structure, drainage, and add nutrients. Unfortunately there is now a lot of information/misinformation available to consumers about gardening practices. Some of these ideas are n ..read more

Have I mentioned I love roses? Luckily enough, there are some cultivars that can grow well in Calgary. The Canadian Hardy National Rose Program develops winter hardy, disease resistant, low maintenance roses that have a long bloom period.  For further details and photos of the Canadian Shield, Chinook Sunrise, and Aurora Borealis roses , click here ..read more