COCHRANE— Saying goodbye to winter and hello to spring Cochrane areas gardeners are putting shovels to dirt to create their personal Gardens of Eden.
For those looking to enhance their backyard, Anything Grows Cochrane Garden Store head of marketing Andrea Heembrock said the best approach is to be creative and explore to craft a one-of-a-kind garden.
“Don’t be afraid to try new things,” Heembrock said. “The worst-case scenario is something doesn’t work and you learn from it and you get to try something new next year.”
Each summer can bring fun, new experiences she said, adding that the quickest way to learn is by trying new things.
“It’s been an interesting year and we’ve had a lot of fun encouraging a lot of new gardeners to get out there and start working on their green thumb,” Heembrock said. “Plants are resilient and I think a little bit of patience goes a long way when you’re trying to grow a garden.”
COVID-19 has transformed daily life and many people are working from home with fewer distractions in life because there are no sports, concerts or large gatherings— It is a perfect time, Heembrock said, to invest time into your yard and home.
Heembrock said Anything Grows has seen an influx of eager gardeners this year.
Gardeners can get to work planting after the last big frost of the season, a good rule of thumb is to plant after the May long weekend.
“The best way to help your garden thrive is to start preparing early,” Heembrock said. “Now is a great time to be raking your lawn, starting to fertilize your grass, cutting back any old dead stuff from last year and making space for that new growth you’re going to encourage at the end of May.”
The Cochrane area is in general classified as a Zone Three for plants, she said, adding that every yard has a unique micro-climate.
To transform your yard into a personal oasis Heembrock said it is critical to ensure the trees, perennials, annuals and shrubs that are planted are for Zone Three or lower.
She added that some Zone Four or Five plants can make it through the winter if they are well protected or in a sheltered yard.
“Don’t be afraid to try those things,” Heembrock said.
There are a wide variety of annuals, a plant that needs to be planted every year, and perennial, plants that live more than two years, that can thrive in the Cochrane area and its ever-changing weather.
Popular annuals include petunias, pansies, vines, alyssum, snapdragons and lobelias. Great perennials for gardens include daylilies, lamium, sedums, ferns, bleeding hearts, hostas, hydrangea and coneflowers.
Heembrock said for those looking to support pollinators in the environment it is best to fill the garden with blooming plants.
“Anything that has a nice beautiful flower,” Heembrock said. “That usually attracts your pollinators.”
She added a trend this year has been self-sustainability. Heembrock explained that the store has sold a ton of seeds and vegetables this season.
“People have time and they’re interested in creating some self-sustainability for their household,” Heembrock said. “It’s been neat to see that. “
The most important step in keeping a garden green is to stay on top of watering.
This is a critical step in Alberta and the provinces' constantly changing climate, she said, explaining that the best way to help a garden thrive is to adjust to its water needs.
“It’s honestly the most important thing,” Heembrock said.
