Best tips for dealing with shrubs and evergreens for tough (dry, exposed) Calgary conditions - by Jim Hole

Here is Jim's answer to the Calgary Gardening question competition sponsored by the Calgary Horticultural Society:

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While a wide variety of shrubs and evergreens grow very well within the microclimate of the City of Calgary, the more exposed outskirts can be a challenge.

 

The first step on the path to any successful garden is to improve the environment for growing shrubs and evergreens. Good soil is the foundation of a good garden—regardless of where you live—so it’s important to ensure there’s plenty of organic matter in the soil. Therefore, compost, well-rotted manure or rich topsoil to your garden is an essential first step.

 

Keeping the landscape well watered and using that water efficiently is the next critical step. Remember soils with plenty of organic matter hold more water than sandy soils and have less surface run-off relative to clay soils. Watering at the base of trees and shrubs, rather than irrigating overhead, will also get more water to the roots and reduce evaporation loss. And collect rainwater whenever you can. It’s a great free resource!

 

Lastly, choose tough, drought-tolerant shrubs and evergreens. Some of the toughest are buffaloberry, caragana, Russian olive, sea buckthorn, junipers and mugo pines. Most importantly, remember that gardening is about the experience, so don’t be afraid to try things that might fail. After all, nothing is ever a mistake if you learn from it. Enjoy gardening!

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Thanks Jim, thanks Calgary Horticultural Society, and thanks to all you readers for playing!  See you at the Garden Show!

Comments

[Manda]

Great article. I find it very handy and useful. Gardening is fun.