Getting to the Green

As I've mentioned this year I'm attempting to garden in our backyard... after doing some research I'm feeling the task seems more daunting than do-able but I'm trying to remain optimistic about my green-thumb abilities.

So far my favourite go to site for helpful advice has been from Green Gate, a local Calgary garden centre that not only supplies everything you need for your garden but has a wide variety of online tools to help you get started. At this point I've decided to focus on our lawn, landscaping and prepping the soil beds for next year when I will plant a vegetable garden and more flowers.

Lawn Care 101

Springtime is maintenance time for your lawn, the best thing you can do right now is thoroughly rake your lawn to remove all of the thatching (the dead grass and leaves which will steal the nutrients and moisture from the grass beneath trying to grow through) and another option to consider is getting your lawn aerated, there are many companies out there that offer this service for a fairly decent price.
Aeration pulls small plugs of soil out from your lawn to enable moisture and nutrients to seep deeper into the ground which not only means better grass but if your lawn is lumpy it's possibly due to lack of moisture; if there isn't enough moisture in your soil dew worms will tunnel their way to the surface which creates lumps all over your lawn.
The second step ... or third if you decide to aerate... is to fertilize. Choose a slow release fertilizer high in nitrogen (there are 3 numbers on fertilizers, the first is nitrogen, second is phosphorus and the third is potassium.
Each nutrient is vital to the healthy growth of your lawn and with a healthy lawn you are more likely to avoid pests and other unwanted issues.
Lastly is of course watering, like any other plant grass needs to be watered and the more frequently you water your lawn the deeper the roots will grow which in turn will make your lawn more apt to standing up to harsh conditions as well as retain water better. All the watering your lawn needs each week is 1cm, lay a frisbee or small container out on your lawn during watering to measure this.

Landscaping


Figuring out the layout of your yard is just as important as planning a layout inside your home, if you intend on growing anything such as vegetables or flowers you need to ensure you are plotting the appropriate areas for proper growth. Decide what it is you want to grow and find out what type of conditions the plants need, you can find this on the Green Gate website or ask your local garden centre.
Once you know this you're ready to plan those plots.

Composting


To better prepare your soil for planting (or to give it a boost each spring) compost is key!
It's not only easy but free, eco friendly and a good way to get everyone in the house involved. You can buy compost containers at any home hardware store or garden centre but you can also just set aside a small area of your yard, close it off, cover it up and voila - you're ready to compost!
It's best to reserve a sunny and warm area as this will speed up the cycle of decay in your compost but a shady and cool area will do fine also.
Composting is all about layering... think of it like a lasagna for worms.

Start with brush such as branches from pruning, add fresh grass clippings or other fresh greens and top it with dry brown materials such as dried leaves, tea bags and coffee grounds.
Your compost pile should be damp but not wet and it will require you to turn the pile periodically for oxygen to flow.

Do not compost meat, bones, weeds or grass clippings that have been sprayed with chemicals.

If you start composting in spring you will have a glorious compost pile come fall which you can use to condition your soil for the following spring which is what I intend to do with mine!

Container Gardening


Because I absolutely LOVE flowers and I don't believe a yard is complete without them I plan on purchasing some containers to grow my flowers in for this year as well as some small indoor containers to grow a few herbs in!
A good container with adequate drainage is all you need to satisfy your plants and it's a great way to add some colour to your yard. I'm thinking a few barrel planters with tulips will suffice for this year.