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 come 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 be ready to thrive again.
1. Protect Tender Perennials
Many perennials benefit from being cut back in the fall, but not all. Trim plants that are prone to disease such as peonies or irises, and leave others standing to provide food and habitat for birds and pollinators. Stalks also help trap snow, which insulates garden beds. Add mulch around the base of tender perennials and young shrubs to shield roots from freeze-thaw cycles.
Eco tip: Leave seed heads from plants like coneflowers and rudbeckia. They provide winter food for songbirds.
2. Plant Bulbs for Spring
Calgary’s climate is perfect for tulips, daffodils, crocuses, and alliums. Plant bulbs in late September or early October before the ground freezes. Place them 6–8 inches deep, pointy side up, and water once after planting. They will sleep through winter and be the first to greet you in spring.
Looking for help choosing bulbs that thrive here? Bring a photo of your space to the studio. We will guide you to the right picks for Calgary light and soil.
3. Prep Your Lawn
Fall is the best season to invest in lawn health. Give your grass one final mow, leaving it 2 to 2.5 inches tall to prevent matting under snow. Aerate compacted soil, overseed thin patches, and apply a slow-release fertilizer high in potassium to strengthen roots before winter.
4. Clean and Mulch Garden Beds
Clear away annuals and compost healthy plant material. Add a 2 to 3 inch layer of shredded leaves, straw, or bark mulch to protect soil. Mulch conserves moisture, insulates against freeze-thaw cycles, and enriches the soil as it breaks down.
5. Refresh Your Containers for Fall
Tender annuals like geraniums and coleus will not survive frost. Bring them inside if you want to overwinter them, or compost them to make space for hardier fall displays. Outdoor containers can be refreshed with evergreen boughs, ornamental kale, or grasses to extend their life into the colder months.
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6. Water Before the Ground Freezes
Moisture is critical in Calgary’s dry fall air. Give trees, shrubs, and perennials a deep soak before the ground freezes. Pay special attention to young or newly planted trees. Moist soil holds heat better than dry soil, helping roots survive Calgary’s extreme cold.
7. Prepare Tools and Plan Ahead
Clean and sharpen garden tools before storing them. Drain hoses and shut off outdoor taps to prevent freeze damage. Fall is also a smart time to take notes for next year — what thrived, what struggled, and what you want to try again. A little planning now makes spring planting smoother.
Quick Checklist for Calgary Fall Gardening
Cut back disease-prone perennials, leave others for wildlife
Plant bulbs before the ground freezes
Aerate, overseed, and fertilize the lawn
Mulch garden beds with leaves or bark
Refresh containers with hardy fall plants or greenery
Deep water trees and perennials before freeze
Clean and store tools, drain hoses, and shut off outdoor 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. This is the season to tuck your garden in for winter and know it will wake up healthy when the snow melts.
And if you want your exterior to stay fresh and polished without extra effort, our container subscriptions are here to help. Designed for Calgary’s climate, they keep your entryway welcoming season after season.
