The City of Calgary, in partnership with The Calgary Horticultural Society, is helping Calgarians get their yards and gardens ready with YardSmart – a program that offers a suite of resources and practical advice tailored to Calgary’s unique climate. YardSmart’s resources empower Calgarians to make sustainable choices, from plant selections to water-wise watering practices.
New for this year’s gardening season is YardSmart’s guide on shrinking traditional lawns and replacing them with water-wise alternatives like micro clover and creeping thyme. Lawn alternatives use less water and are low maintenance, especially during hot and dry conditions.
YardSmart also provides easy, affordable, water-wise tips to keep your yard thriving this summer. Here are a few ways to make the most out of every drop:
- Watch the weather forecast: skip watering when it has rained or is forecast to rain.
- Use a rain barrel: capture free rainwater in a rain barrel and use it on trees, shrubs and flowers.
- Water when it’s coolest: water in the early morning or later in the evening, avoiding the heat of the day.
- Water low and slow: water plants by hand to direct water to a plant’s roots and help avoid losing water to evaporation.
- Raise your mower: keep lawns at least 3 inches high. Taller grass shades the soil, keeping it healthier and requiring less water.
- Protect your soil from the sun: add bark, wood chips or mulch to reduce evaporation from your soil.
- Put rainwater from roofs to good use: point your downspouts on lawns or garden beds.
“Making our yards more resistant to drier conditions is not necessarily about digging them up and starting again,” says Kath Smyth, Horticulturist with The Calgary Horticultural Society. “Instead, it’s thinking about appropriate soil cultivation, plant choice and garden maintenance.”
YardSmart yards and gardens are designed to thrive in hot and dry conditions, as everything from yard design to plant selection and maintenance are built around water-wise practices. They also support biodiversity by attracting local pollinators, including butterflies and bees.
YardSmart offers:
- Steps to create a resilient, water-wise yard.
- Plant lists tailored to yard areas, including full sun, partial sun, shady or wet areas.
- Step-by-step planting and maintenance tips.
- How-to videos, from gardening on a budget to creating a pollinator-friendly yard.
- Design-your-yard workshops and events hosted by The Calgary Horticultural Society throughout the spring and fall.
YardSmart makes it easy to create and maintain sustainable yards and gardens thanks to its partnership with The Calgary Horticultural Society, who has been encouraging beginner and experienced gardeners to successfully garden in Calgary’s unique geography and climate since 1908. Their involvement ensures YardSmart provides quality resources tailored to every experience level.
To learn more about creating a beautiful, resilient yard and garden, visit calgary.ca/YardSmart.
