Fall Gardening Tips for Calgary
Fall is one of the busiest and most important times in the garden.
The work you do now protects your plants through winter and sets the stage for healthy growth in spring. In Calgary, where frosts arrive early and chinooks can confuse the seasons, a little extra care goes a long way. Think of it as tucking your garden in for winter so it can rest and thrive again.
1. Protect Tender Perennials
Cut back plants prone to disease such as peonies or irises, and leave others standing to feed birds and pollinators. Stalks also trap snow, which insulates beds. Add mulch around tender perennials and young shrubs to shield roots from freeze-thaw cycles.
Eco tip: Leave seed heads from coneflowers and rudbeckia for songbirds.
2. Plant Bulbs for Spring
Tulips, daffodils, crocuses, and alliums love Calgary’s climate. Plant in late September or early October before the ground freezes. Place bulbs 6–8 inches deep, pointy side up, and water once. They will sleep through winter and be the first to greet you in spring.
Need help choosing? Bring a photo of your space to the studio and we will guide you to the right picks.
3. Prep Your Lawn
Give grass one final mow, leaving it 2 to 2.5 inches tall. Aerate compacted soil, overseed thin patches, and apply a slow-release fertilizer high in potassium to strengthen roots.
4. Clean and Mulch Beds
Clear annuals and compost healthy material. Add a 2 to 3 inch layer of shredded leaves, straw, or bark mulch. Mulch conserves moisture, insulates soil, and enriches it as it breaks down.
5. Refresh Containers
Tender annuals like geraniums will not survive frost. Bring them indoors if you want to overwinter, or compost them and swap in hardier displays. Evergreen boughs, ornamental kale, or grasses extend container life into colder months.
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6. Water Before the Freeze
Moisture is critical in Calgary’s dry fall air. Give trees, shrubs, and perennials a deep soak before the ground freezes, especially young or newly planted trees. Moist soil holds heat better than dry soil, helping roots survive the cold.
7. Prepare Tools and Plan Ahead
Clean and sharpen garden tools, drain hoses, and shut off outdoor taps. Fall is also the time to note what thrived, what struggled, and what you want to try again.
Quick Checklist
Cut back disease-prone perennials, leave others for wildlife
Plant bulbs before freeze
Aerate, overseed, and fertilize the lawn
Mulch garden beds with leaves or bark
Refresh containers with hardy plants or greenery
Deep water trees and perennials
Clean and store tools, drain hoses, shut off taps
A Season of Transition
Fall gardening in Calgary is about protecting what you have grown and preparing for what comes next. With a bit of care now, your garden can weather the cold and greet spring strong and ready to thrive.
And if you would rather skip the seasonal work, explore our Container Subscriptions. Designed for Calgary’s climate, they keep your entryway fresh and welcoming all year.
