Plant Hardiness Zones: Learn which plants are best for your property
Plant hardiness zones are areas defined by a variety of climatic conditions that dictate whether a plant can survive and thrive in an area.
- Just like temperature, the higher the zone’s number, the warmer the climate will be
Southern Alberta’s plant hardiness zones
Our plant hardiness zone ranges from 3 to 4, depending on the municipality:
- Brooks is in plant hardiness zone 4a
- Lethbridge is in plant hardiness zone 4b
- Medicine Hat is in plant hardiness zone 4b
- Crowsnest Pass is in plant hardiness zone 3b
Find your specific plant hardiness zone by municipality
Now, this doesn’t mean you can’t keep a 2a or 5b plant alive in Southern Alberta, but it does mean that it will be more difficult. And, for plants that thrive in warmer climates, it may mean they will perish during the winter. For annuals that may be acceptable, but you want to be careful when buying perennials, shrubs or trees that won’t flourish in your plant hardiness zone.
Now that you understand your plant hardiness zone, it’s time to dive into some seasonal, year-round guidance curated by our experts here at 360 Landscapes.
24 seasonal tips to keep your yard healthy and beautiful, year-round
Spring
1. Check your irrigation system
Turn on underground sprinklers and check for leaks or poor drainage. Now is the time to schedule repairs or get a whole new underground irrigation system for more efficient, hassle-free watering.
2. Test your soil
To understand the state of your lawn, it’s a good idea to check the pH and nutrient levels of your soil. This will help you determine how much fertilizer you should use on your grass (and when to apply it). You can pick up affordable basic soil test kits at local stores like Canadian Tire or Lowes.
3. Refresh mulch and landscaping fabric
Examine your landscape fabric for rips or tears and replace it to keep those weeds at bay. Add an inch-thick layer of fresh mulch around plant beds and trees to maintain moisture and nutrients, and to keep things smelling fresh!
4. Kickstart grass growth
Power rake (dethatch) to remove dead grass and leaves, then aerate to optimize your lawn to receive nutrients. Finally, fertilize to jumpstart new grass growth. Once those cores from aerating are dried out, remember to rake up or crush and spread them across your lawn for more nutrients.
5. Nip weeds in the bud
Apply a pre-emergent herbicide over your lawn to stop annual weeds from cropping up.
6. Plant trees, shrubs and other greenery
Create privacy, shade and wind-protection with trees and shrub installations from trusted local nurseries around your area. For garden plants and flowers, a great time to seed is after May Long Weekend, so there’s no real danger of frost. *Remember to keep your plant hardiness zone in mind.
Summer
1. Lay sod (or hydroseed)
If you have a barren, open space, consider getting professional sodding services for an instant, healthy green lawn. If the area is particularly large and cost-prohibitive, hydroseeding is an excellent alternative option.
What Is Hydroseeding?
You’ve likely seen it before and not even realized it! It’s the process of spraying a slurry of water, nutrients and seeds over a large area. This creates super-fast grass growth (sprouts can be seen in as few as four days!) to quickly green-up your property. Hydroseeding helps with erosion control, is more affordable than sodding, and grows much faster than traditional seeding.
2. Cut your grass once per week at the most
To keep your grass healthy, manageable, and protected from Southern Alberta’s hot, dry summer weather, cut it once per week at a height of 2 ½ – 3 inches. For optimal health, be sure to alternate your cutting pattern/direction.
3. Water correctly
Lawns in summer tend to get overwatered. However, with our scorching summers, it’s a good idea to water your lawn for at least 15 – 20 minutes, every morning (or every other day). A good general rule here is give your lawn about 1 – 1 ½ inches of water per week, and you can use an upside down frisbee to measure how much you’ve accumulated. This is also a good time to get a whole new underground sprinkler system to make watering much more manageable.
4. Nix problem-weeds
Apply a post-emergent herbicide directly to weeds to keep your grass healthy and weed-free.
5. Refresh fencing
Repair wooden fencing or decks; lubricate or replace rusty hinges and latches; and re-seal/stain for an instant refresh.
6. Install paving stones
Set the scene with gorgeous paving stone pathways, barbecue areas, firepits and more. Pavers add contrast, style – and ultimate durability to your outdoor living space. In fact, there are even paving stones still in existence from when the Romans built them!
Fall
1. Blow out sprinklers
It’s time to start winterizing your property. Your first step should be to shut off your outside water, then blow out your underground irrigation lines. This protects your underground lines from freezing, which will damage the system.
2. Prepare your lawn
Keep cutting the grass regularly until the first frost. Then, tidy the yard, raking up leaves and other debris to allow your lawn to go into a healthy dormant state. You can even over-seed dead spots to give your grass a leg-up come spring.
3. Harvest all your veggies before the first frost
Remember to pluck out all the veggies and herbs from your garden before that infamous first frost that can creep up when you least expect it. A good time to aim for is that first week of September, just to be safe.
4. Trim hedges and prune plantlife
Cut back perennials and hedges to get your greenery ready for their winter hibernation.
5. Protect your trees and shrubs
Cover shrubs and the base of trees with burlap to help protect and insulate them from the extreme cold, as well as hungry deer who may want to ‘snack’ on your dormant greenery!
6. Winterize lawn equipment
Sharpen your mower blades, change the oil and clean all your garden tools before you move them into storage for winter.
Winter
1. Redesign your landscaping
If you’ve been considering new landscaping, now is the time to dream and collaborate with a landscaping professional. Booking early will ensure you’ll get a spot come springtime, when landscaping season ramps up. Then, when spring has arrived, your property will be the first to be transformed into your dream yard.
2. Set your grass up for success
Before snow accumulates on your lawn, apply a slow-release fertilizer so that when the weather does warm up, your lawn can immediately start to draw nutrients from the soil.
3. Install retaining walls
Weather-permitting, winter is the time to look at planning for a retaining wall installation. Retaining walls help to maximize your yard’s space, and installation’s a great first step if you’re considering redesigning your landscaping. They also help to prevent erosion, making them an excellent preservation method for your property.
4. Repair hardscaping
Broken paving stones, damaged fencing, or any other outstanding repairs can be done now (preferably during a chinook) to get a jumpstart on spring.
5. Protect your hardscaping
Take care when removing snow from your hardscaping so you don’t nick or damage it. Avoid using salt to melt ice on your hardscaping as it can be quite wearing. Instead, try using sand!
6. Plan your blooms and gather the seeds
Now is the time to dream about your spring landscaping designs – especially the plantlife. Think about where you’ll plant your flowers, veggies and herbs. You can even order your seeds and plant them indoors to help get your greenery started before it gets warm enough to transplant them outdoors.
Enjoy your yard, year-round!
We hope these tips help you in your efforts to keep your property thriving and beautiful all year long. And remember, if you need help with any landscaping services, 360 Landscapes is ready to serve you!
We provide these services:
- Underground Sprinklers
- Paving Stones
- Retaining Walls
- Sod Laying
- Tree & Shrub Installations
- Hydroseeding and Erosion Control
- Light Excavating & Skid Steer Services
- Fence Building
Let’s get started on your landscaping project!
