As we happily watch the snow start to (slowly) melt, we at Mirage Landscaping are always extremely grateful for much-needed moisture getting into the ground to start the growing season, but we’re also mindful of the soil erosion that inevitably happens with each large melt. No matter how hard each of us property owners try,…
Although it certainly didn’t feel like it this past week, we’re not far away from spring in Calgary. If you have been dreaming of a landscaping revamp, now is a great time to start asking questions and looking at your options. While you do, we recommend giving thought to sustainable landscaping choices that allow you…
We at Mirage are Calgary’s snow removal experts, and we’ve been especially busy this year. Our suspicions that it has been an extra-heavy winter were recently confirmed through the CBC, which reported that it has been one of the top ten snowiest meteorological winters on record. Out of 139 years of record keeping, the last…
As we enter an end-of-February cold snap, all of our fantastic outdoor rinks in Calgary will have their lives extended for at least a couple more weeks of skating. We in Alberta love to take advantage of the winter weather and get outside for recreation opportunities … and skating is perhaps the easiest and most…
You may not think of a landscaping company when it comes to deck design, but you should. Not only do we have skilled landscape designers on hand, we also have carpenters, masons, and craftspeople with the skills and expertise to ensure your deck design project is drawn up according to local building codes and will…
Accumulations on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, made it the snowiest January day on record and one of the top-ten snowiest days in Calgary. Vicious squalls ended up dumping a whopping 33.6 centimetres of the white stuff at the Calgary airport, trouncing the previous record of 25.4 centimetres from Jan. 3, 1913. That single day of…
Although November rolled in with a major snowstorm and frigid temperatures, and the week before the Christmas holidays plunged us Calgarians into -40-degree Celsius weather, it has been an absolutely gorgeous January. Winter weather often has us at Mirage asking, “What is going on here?” We wonder whether our massive variations in temperatures, stretches of…
Statistics for winter slip-and fall-injuries can be difficult to come by, but insurance companies and those who deal with worker injuries are among those who keep track of the numbers. The reason is that they are the ones who end up dealing with claims from companies and homeowners that have had people injure themselves on…
In Calgary, all commercial and residential property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalks bordering properties within 24 hours of a snowfall ending. Failing to do so results in unsafe access points where injuries such as slips and falls can easily happen, which ends up costing all citizens. The Canadian Underwriter…
A new year is upon us, and we’re feeling optimistic. We’re imagining 2023 to be a year of calm, peace, and prosperity, which is backed up by it being the year of the rabbit in the Chinese zodiac. The upcoming 12 months are predicted to be full of hope, and we at Mirage are already…
For those of us at Mirage Landscaping, snow removal is more than just an occupation. We consider our job to be keeping you and your property safe, and we take it very seriously. In fact, wherever we are working, we keep an eye out for anything with which we can assist. We have the equipment,…
Skating outdoors in the winter is a truly Canadian tradition. Wintery nights are made much more tolerable with the option to just pick up your skates, gloves, a jacket, and helmet and head out to the nearest sheet of ice to visit with friends and neighbours. Clear skies flooded with stars add to the ambiance…
We at Mirage love our furry friends very much, and we also love yours. There’s nothing that makes us happier then when we come to visit a property for residential and commercial snow removal customers and we get to visit with a friendly pooch or kitty, and we certainly know how many enjoy playing in…
November came in fast and furious in Calgary, dumping up to 25 centimetres of snow in some areas and plunging the city into minus-30 degree weather. Because of winter’s quick arrival, many trees and shrubs have not had a chance to fully shed their leaves. Consequently, branches are over-laden with snow and are hanging precariously,…
November came in with a vengeance in Calgary, with the city plunged into -30 degrees Celsius at hardly a week into the month. Along with the cold came up to 25 centimetres of snow, leading to treacherous road conditions throughout the city. Mirage’s snow removal and snow plowing teams were out early to clear our…
Although it may seem to be a simple chore, there is an art to snow removal. It’s easy to make the job much harder on yourself if you do not know what you are doing. Over the three generations we at Mirage Landscaping have been tending to our residential and commercial snow removal properties, we…
Mirage Landscaping is a full-service property maintenance company operating year-round. In addition to our landscape maintenance, landscape construction, and landscape design services, we also provide commercial and residential snow removal services. We take great pride in our work, always leaving properties spotless and free from snow and ice, as we know just how important it…
It’s been an unbelievably gorgeous fall in Calgary. Temperatures are still regularly reaching the 20s, even as we make our way through October. There is no denying the warm weather has been wonderful, but in addition to being sunny, it has also been very dry. On average, Calgary sees about 44 millimetres of precipitation in…
Canada’s population is aging rapidly. According to Statistics Canada, 2.3% of our population is currently aged 85 and older. With advancements in health care and additional emphasis on caring for oneself, this segment is starting to grow. Over the next 25 years (by 2046), the number of those aged 85 and older could triple to…
It’s been a positively delightful September in Calgary so far, and all signs are pointing to several more weeks of mild weather. Even though the main growth period of lawns and gardens may be over, there are still plenty of reasons to get out and putter around in the yard. Being outdoors is good for…
A lament of many condo owners and apartment dwellers is the lack of space for growing green things outdoors. However, as approximately 22% of Calgarians live in condos, there are hundreds of thousands looking for ways to nurse their green thumbs regardless of their living circumstances. Thankfully, as times evolve, there are more and more…
There are not many landscape and design companies in Calgary that offer a complete year-round suite of landscaping services such us at Mirage. Over our three generations in business we have amassed a talented staff of loyal landscaping and maintenance professionals who are able to provide their years of expertise to any sort of commercial…
It has already been a hot and dry August in Calgary, and the forecast doesn’t call for any significant amount of moisture for at least another week. This prolonged dry spell has the potential to cause a massive uptick in the use of water in the city. As landscaping professionals, we are amending our watering…
This summer has been hot and beautiful, but also bad for the proliferation of foxtail barley in the city. Officials are warning pet owners, especially those in the southeast, to watch for foxtail barley when walking their dogs. It has a very dangerous barbed seed head that can get stuck in dogs’ fur, plus their…
It’s been a great summer so far in Calgary, especially if you are a mosquito. The whiney little biters, which have led a somewhat solitary existence in the city for the past couple years, have made a very annoying comeback in 2022. A recent Calgary Herald article put the mosquito count at more than eight…
Opinions about dandelions have changed over the years as we learn more about how to sustain healthy growing environments. It used to be that city crews and homeowners were out with their spades and herbicides at the first hint of the bright yellow bulbous blooms we are all so familiar with, however, as with everything,…
A well-designed property has the potential to raise your home’s value by as much as from 5.5% to 12.7% higher, or even more. Even a modest investment in landscaping could one day put tens of thousands of dollars in your pocket. As Calgary’s real estate market continues to boom, many are working to figure out…
We love incorporating lilies into our landscape designs. They are a strikingly beautiful perennial, bursting forth with gorgeous blooms that appear as though they should be in the tropics. They are so pretty that is may seem that they must be extremely delicate and hard to grow, but thankfully, however, this is not true. A…
There are lots of great reasons to install a water feature in your yard. The sound of running water encourages relaxation, and the calming white noise they create acts as a filter for sounds around you. A pond can help mask the distraction of traffic and construction noise. Water also provides a cooling effect during…
Community gardens have gone from being the rare curiosity to a relatively common sight in Calgary over the last 15 years. There are now more than 200 community growing spots in the city, as compared to just 11 back in 2008. Found on both public and private land, community gardens not only provide food, they…
Coniferous trees can make real statements in yards, with their stately size, interesting shapes, and deep green colour year-round. They are relatively easy to care for, provide plenty of shelter and food for Calgary’s birds, and are extremely hardy. These are all good things, but as we work with our commercial and residential landscaping clients,…
Over our three generations in the residential and commercial landscaping business, we have seen a lot of great developments in our industry. We enjoy growing along with and participating in the evolution of the landscaping field, and we want to be fully representative of what the consumer values are of the day. New business landscaping…
Flowering shrubs are beautiful additions to any property. Many species available appear delicate, but are actually quite hardy, and easily handle the temperature variations of a common Calgary summer. With more than three generations of experience, we at Mirage are professional landscape designers experienced with working in Calgary’s often-challenging climate. We know exactly where…
Every homeowner is responsible for the grading of their lot and keeping an eye out for any drainage problems that could cause flooding to your own property or others. Lots that are graded properly will allow all surface water to run away from buildings and take the fastest route to Calgary’s drainage system. If you…
Planning your landscape redesign right involves open communication between you, the homeowner, and us, your professional landscape designers. While you tell us your ultimate dream for the look and utility of your yard, we are here to provide our expertise, our landscape construction services, and our landscape maintenance knowledge. Together we can ensure you get…
A professional power rake is part of Mirage Landscaping’s regular spring clean-up services for our residential and commercial landscape maintenance clients. Other landscaping companies often eliminate this step altogether, usually because they don’t have the right equipment, but we at Mirage know that a spring power rake is essential for getting your lawn started off…
We had a few absolutely beautiful days this week, so much so that our expert landscape team at Mirage was struggling with the temptation to get out our rakes, leaf blowers, and garbage bags and start visiting our commercial and residential landscaping clients for their annual spring clean-up. Thankfully, however, we know better. Our temperatures…
The ground is starting to thaw out and we are hopefully moving in to what is the start of spring here in Calgary. There is still a fair amount of snow to melt – especially on north-facing properties, but we believe that soon enough the white stuff will be gone and we will be able…
We at Mirage absolutely know what it’s like at this time of the year. Spring seems to be just around the corner and we all want to start getting outside as much as possible. But, due to erratic weather still ahead, there remains a bit of a wait before we can start to nurture our…
Calgarians were treated to an unusually warm February, at least up until last week. We had so much warm weather that outdoor rinks melted, lawns became dry expanses of brown, and some even reported their tulips starting to peek through the ground. The extra early arrival of warmer weather is often referred to as a…
Sustainable landscaping may sound trendy, but the truth is that the concept has been around for a long time. It’s just not been very well implemented by many landscapers. Unfortunately, in our business there are many who will force their vision on an outdoor space without much thought as to the strain it puts on…
Some people may not think of residential and commercial landscaping as an industry that involves a lot of fine artisanship, but the truth is, every aspect of our business requires a high level of skill and a keen attention to detail. From planting a tree to ensure it has the highest chance of survival, to…
Photo credit: bilanol – stock.adobe.com As snow removal and commercial and residential landscape maintenance and construction professionals, one might wonder why we are writing about winter tires. But, because we spend a lot of time on the roads in the winter, moving from job site to job site, we know how valuable our fleet of…
We are very proud of the snow removal business we have built up here at Mirage Landscaping, where we have a deep commitment to customer service. Commercial snow removal is an area for which we are extra diligent, as we know how very important it is that customers and clients feel safe when visiting your…
The past few weeks have been a grind for Calgary and Alberta. For 29 days in a row the temperatures were way below zero, with the province landing firmly at the centre of a huge polar vortex starting Christmas Day. A polar vortex happens when the North American jet stream hovers further south than usual,…
One thing we love about our business at Mirage is that landscaping trends are always developing. Every year we see people’s choices change when it comes to their residential properties according to the ever-evolving needs of families and what has become more important to society. We’re always keeping watch out for new things we can…
There’s nothing better than the smell of a real Christmas tree filling the house during the holiday season. Going out and picking the “best” one (or maybe even the ugliest one), and bringing it home to be adorned with lights, glittering tinsel, and new and heirloom decorations is a very special tradition for many families.…
Slip and falls in the winter are incredibly common. Usual slip and fall injuries include sprained ankles and wrists, broken bones, damage to knees, shoulder dislocations, spine and nerve damage, and brain injuries. The more severe outcomes can severely alter a person’s lifestyle and impact quality of life, which is why it’s smart to try…
There are two very important things we do as a year-round landscaping and snow removal company that help us provide the high level of service we know our clients want, plus the comfort and peace of mind that comes with dealing with a business you know you can trust. The first is that we take…
It’s tough to pinpoint exactly how much great landscaping can add to the value of your home, but many experts suggest the number can range from about 10% to 20% — depending on the quality of the work, of course. Sophisticated designs that work well with the style of your house and that incorporate elements…
On Oct. 18, Albertans were asked two provincial referendum questions during our municipal elections, one of which ended up with a very close finish. The final tally on whether or not the province should stay on permanent daylight savings time (DST) – eliminating the need to “fall back” and “spring forward” – was a very…
It looks like Calgary is in for a snowfall on Friday, and temperatures are starting to fall. The good news is that trick-or-treaters will still have a nice night ahead of them – if a little bit cooler than the last few years. Just a reminder from us at Mirage to be very cautious if…
It’s the second Halloween of a world-wide pandemic, but at the very least this time we better know what to expect. We’ve all made some adjustments in order to enjoy a safe Halloween, and many of us are finding that the changes are for the better. Start with the basics The very first thing for…
Many people don’t realize that part of our expertise at Mirage Landscaping is pathway and patio construction. We enjoy the challenge of working to make the most out of a space plus the creativity of stone and brickwork. Retaining walls are one of our specialties, and along with that comes the knowledge needed to create…
The fall colours are spectacular in Alberta right now as we make our way through what has been a lovely September. We are currently helping our residential and commercial landscape maintenance clients shut down their yards and properties properly for the winter so they can have a head start on spring and summer outside. One…
It’s been a beautiful September in Calgary so far, with seasonal temperatures, sunny days, and plenty of colour and pop still accenting our gardens. That said, Calgary has received a couple of frost warnings recently, so in order to keep your gardens damage-free it’s time to start watching nighttime temperatures closely. If a frost warning…
At Mirage Landscaping, we know that keeping your lawns and gardens looking green, lush, and healthy is a big job, so that’s why we’re here for you. We want you to know that you still have time to sign up for our lawn care services, which will help free you up for the more important…
We know that winter is still a ways away (we hope), but we are such big proponents of mulch at Mirage Landscaping we like to remind people often of its many positives and allow a good amount of time for people to organize their purchase before winter. Over our three generations of experience, we’ve witnessed…
There are an estimated 1 quadrillion ants and 12,000 ant species of ants on Earth right now, and sometimes it feels like most of them are in Calgary. This summer has been particularly bad for ants – they’re digging up yards, making time spent outside uncomfortable (can we just have a picnic, please?), and even…
Flower photo created by wirestock Weed control is a constant process that requires consistent effort. As we make our way around our residential and commercial properties for our regular landscape maintenance duties, we are always pulling the weeds we see at the same time. Depending on how bad a weed problem is, it can often…
It’s been a beautiful, but very hot, summer in Calgary so far. We’ve been fortunate to be able to spend many uninterrupted hours at our commercial and residential landscaping maintenance and construction clients’ properties, but severe weather has been a factor in our work. There has been damage that we’ve noticed, usually sunscald, hail damage…
It’s been a couple weeks of crazy weather in Calgary, with just about every kind of summer forecast possible having happened. As we’ve been visiting our landscaping customers’ properties,we’ve been noticing some damage from sun, hail, and excessive rainfall. Trees, shrubs, and plants are struggling after the intense heat wave followed by several days of…
We are coming to the end of an unprecedented heat wave in Calgary, however the city remains extremely hot. We normally average five days of plus 30-degrees Celsius weather over the course of each summer, but we had five straight days of plus-30 before the month of June even ended. This historic prolonged stretch of…
Over our time in the landscaping industry we have designed for hundreds of homes and businesses, but some of our favourite and most challenging projects are when we are asked to create the green spaces for condominium and apartment complexes. These are more difficult projects for landscape designers, as you need to make a lot…
Global News Calgary recently reported that there has been an upsurge in lawn care service complaints this year, after the Better Business Bureau issued a warning of more than the usual amount of complaints. Customers have been getting bombarded with flyers and ads offering what appear to be great deals, however the services provided have…
As we have been making the rounds for our regular lawn maintenance services, we have so far been pleased at how well everything is looking after the winter. There have been incidences of snow mould in a few places, especially the most shady parts of yards, and of course, there is the inevitable pet damage…
Not everyone has a full-sized yard in Calgary, which has plenty of townhouses, duplexes, and homes built on smaller lots. It can be tough to imagine landscaping for small spaces … it’s easy to think nothing can possibly fit. After three generations in the landscaping business in Calgary, we have a lot of experience making…
There’s a landscaping boom right now as families and property owners work to make the best out of their outdoor spaces. A recent Global News article reported that landscapers like us at Mirage are doing well despite the uncertain times we are in, with some even already fully booked until September. The Cochrane Today also…
Investing in professional front yard landscaping pays off big dividends. Nicely landscaped homes are estimated to be valued at from 5.5% to 12.7% higher than comparable homes with no landscaping. Buyers are looking for a neat and tidy design as well as healthy and established trees, shrubs, and perennials. While backyards tend to be where…
Lately, our landscape construction clients have been inquiring more and more about installing artificial grass on their properties, and we can understand why. It has a number of benefits, including looking great year-round (when not covered with snow). Artificial grass provides that perfect carpet-like appearance that live turf owners – and landscape professionals such as…
Commercial and residential clients of Mirage Landscaping services receive the benefit of our three generations worth of experience working in Calgary. Over the years, we have developed a specialized landscaping schedule that we know helps lawns and gardens grow and develop each year, even through whatever a Calgary summer can throw at us. It remains…
Landscaping for businesses is a large part of what we do at Mirage. We like to design low-maintenance, yet attractive landscapes for the companies we work with so that you can put your best face forward no matter what time of year. Commercial landscaping can help build your business’s reputation as a welcoming place that…
The pandemic has caused us all to appreciate our outdoor spaces even more, and the City of Calgary is looking to add even more green to the grid. Right now, our urban forest accounts for about 8.25% of the canopy level. This way of measuring uses aerial views to compare how much coverage there is…
After an absolutely beautiful weekend with Calgary setting a new record daytime high on Sunday, March has provided perfectly pleasant temperatures so far. The warm weather does mean we’re well into the messy phase of the winter melt, however. There are still stubborn patches of dirty snow in shady areas, thick ice that refuses to…
For many years, the areas alongside roads, power lines, transmission lines, and pipelines have been mown short and sprayed with pesticides. We are all used to seeing these areas neat and trim, but the truth is that there really is not a need for it, and the practice has actually greatly reduced habitat for pollinating…
We’ve talked about a lot of different ways that you can spruce up your outdoor living space over the years, and many of them are catching on as the legitimate landscaping trends. For us, this is great news, because a lot of these options are not only attractive and versatile (and enjoyable to design and…
We have officially survived a serious deep freeze, with Calgary breaking dozens of weather records over 10 brutally cold days. According to Environment Canada meteorologist Dan Kulak in a Feb. 15 Calgary Herald article, Calgary hits minus 30.8 degrees Celsius on Feb. 11, which made it the fifth coldest Feb. 11 the city has ever…
Calgary has seen a fair accumulation of snowfall over the past few days, with more than 15 centimetres falling over just a few days. There were a number of accidents last week, plus many stuck vehicles once again. We attack our snow removal services a little differently when we know a lot of snow is…
Overall, it’s been a very mild winter in Calgary, but the temperatures have dropped over the past few days. In addition to the added chill, enough snow has fallen recently to have us out doing regular snow removal again on top of our maintenance and inspection rounds. There will be about another week of temperatures…
It is already four weeks past the massive snowfall of Dec. 22, which blanketed the city with accumulations of from 20 to 40 centimetres of heavy, soupy snow that doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. It’s been tough on everyone, but there is one particular group that has been particularly disadvantaged. When roads…
We have been busy since the early morning hours of Dec. 22, when Calgarians woke to a massive snowfall that had dumped from 20 to 40 centimetres of the white stuff all over the city. Thousands were unable to leave their homes, and of the few who were able to get out and on the…
Albertans have been asked to limit their contact to other the people in their households over the holidays, which leaves many wondering what they are going to do … especially with their kids. Luckily, Calgary offers a plethora of winter outdoor activities. These are great for getting in some exercise, exploring the city and province,…
Last week we went over the many ways you can add holiday lights to your home to make the season a little extra special. Holiday lights can be strung, hung, and draped to highlight the best features of your property, and provide joy for those passing by your personal winter wonderland. During the longest and…
Twinkling lights, fragrant green wreaths, ribbons and bows ― all these generate that very special, once-a-year feeling of wonder and hope that is only associated with the holiday season. And this year, perhaps more than ever, we all need a little wonder and hope. Many people have already begun decorating their homes and are putting…
More and more of our valued landscape construction clients have been inquiring about the potential to install an outdoor fireplace. We love an outdoor fireplace project for the way the results keep inviting homeowners outside throughout the year, allowing for more enjoyment of properties. As we continue to stay home as much as possible, the…
Calgary isn’t Canada’s snowiest city, but we do get it all when it comes to weather. It’s not at all unusual for snow to fall at what seems to be moments after the end of August. It was sadly still technically summer when the infamous Snowtember incident happened in 2014. Temperatures plummeted and three days…
Calgarians are creative people when it comes to snow removal. In our three generations of snow removal services in southeast Calgary, we have seen snow and ice attacked in just about every way possible. A lot of them, we wouldn’t recommend. But the snow removal business requires a sense of humour – especially in this…
A snowfall warning on Oct. 23 came with a caution to expect accumulations of up to 20 centimetres, and by 8 p.m., 7 centimetres had already fallen. Thankfully, there wasn’t too much more, with heights reaching less than 10 centimetres in most areas, but there was still enough that it was a big job to…
Unfortunately, the weather forecast is unseasonably cold for the next couple weeks, but not so cold that we can’t celebrate Halloween. In addition to the cooler weather, the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown another bit of a monkey wrench into the regular festivities, but with a little bit of planning and creativity, there are many ways…
It has been such a nice fall in Calgary that we’re all grateful for the mild weather. But even though we’re still golfing, walking, cycling, barbecuing, playing soccer, and doing whatever it takes to spend time outdoors, it’s now time for us to start slowly winding down our fall landscaping duties and ensure our commercial…
Temperatures are set to be seasonal for the rest of September, which means we are looking at an average of around 17-degrees Celsius for the next couple of weeks. These comfortable temperatures mean we will still be able to enjoy time outdoors on our patios and in our yards, which is great. But, sadly, we’re…
The frigid morning yesterday brought Calgary’s first frost into the city, which may have taken some by surprise. The frost warning may not have reached everyone, and some may have not taken the precautions to cover their plants and bring what they could inside. Whether you had a light or a hard frost will make…
For the few (but often magnificent) summer days we have in Alberta, we know that nobody wants to be stuck doing yardwork when they could be doing something so much more fun – especially at the cabin. There are so many other reasons to be at the cabin than yard upkeep. Quite often, location and…
If you are often ending up with huge puddles in your yard, you should be concerned – especially if they are near your foundation. The constant moisture will almost certainly cause non-structural damage, which may end up being structural damage if not tended to. Structural damage interferes with the overall stability of your home, causing…
Hiring a contractor to help with your home at any time is nerve-wracking. You are putting your trust (and your hard-earned dollars) in the skill and expertise of others, and are reliant on their honesty, integrity, and ability to deliver on their promises. When you don’t feel as if you are being listened to, the…
So far this summer there have been 10 tornadoes recorded in Alberta, with four touching down on a single day at the beginning of July. The affected areas were near the towns of Keoma, Acme, Trochu, and Brooks. The most recent tornado was on July 12 near Nanton, with winds reaching up to 150 kilometres…
Landscape construction consists of all of the projects we can perform to beautify your yard that do not consist of things growing and green. When you think of landscape construction, think of walkways, patios, water features, retaining walls, and wooden decks and fences on both residential and commercial properties. All of these property additions are…
Our yards are our personal oases, and summertime provides us with many long and lovely days to enjoy our outdoor spaces. In addition to increasing your enjoyment of your home and property, statistics say that investing in your landscaping also increases the overall value of your property. According to Home Guide’s article, “Does Landscaping Increase…
We’re all spending more time at home these days, but the good thing is that it’s finally summertime in Calgary. Our outdoor spaces await! It’s the ultimate summer to sit around a fire pit in your yard with your family and cohort, enjoying the night sky and the company of each other. All of our…
Let’s face it, there’s nothing good about mosquitoes. Their bites are painful, they itch, and make everyone uncomfortable. Their persistence can completely ruin a backyard barbecue, a night on the patio, or a hike through the forest. They’re fast and wily – here one moment, there another, and the high-pitched whine they make means one…
One of our specialties at Mirage Landscaping is new sod installation, which always freshens up a yard or commercial property. There’s nothing like a flawless expanse of green to cause someone to slow down and really enjoy their surroundings. It can seem like an expense, but the reality is that a new sod installation not…
We just added a brand-new, custom-designed watering truck to our fleet and are currently booking for our customizeable watering packages. We’re excited about the additional level of service we will be able to provide to our commercial and residential clients. A watering truck a great addition to a landscaping fleet because there are a number…
It seems like spring has finally arrived, but this is probably one of the latest ones we have ever witnessed at Mirage Landscaping. Calgary is well-known for its Lilac Festival, which was cancelled this year but is usually held on one of the first Sundays in June. It was sometimes a gamble, but consistently, for…
Calgarians love their yards, and to be able to enjoy a space outdoors is a true pleasure these days. Since all large gatherings and festivals have been cancelled for the summer, many of us are going to be spending even more time in our private enclaves. The good news is that the long-range forecast for…
We at Mirage Landscaping are so lucky to get to spend summers in Calgary outside in the sun, tending to our commercial and residential landscaping services customers. Not only do we get the satisfaction of watching the results of our work grow and bloom, we also get to see tons of different types of Alberta’s…
Before we talk about spring clean-up here in Calgary, it’s important to clarify that as snow removal, landscaping and property maintenance services have not been specifically prohibited from operating, we are able to continue to stay up and running according to the Government of Alberta. Businesses that must remain closed include retail operations, recreational and…
Mirage Landscaping has been operating for three generations now, and our energy and expertise in the landscaping business keeps growing. We are a full-service commercial and residential landscaping business offering a 100% satisfaction guarantee and specializing in serving the southeast communities of Calgary – where we love to both live and work. By full-service, we…
As commercial and residential landscaping professionals, we have a ton of equipment we need to take proper care of – both large and small. This is a bit of a slow time for us, and we like to take advantage of the extra hours to get some essential chores done in order to get ready…
Because we work outside, we at Mirage Landscaping are lucky in that we can pretty much carry on with business as usual. But, there are several members of the Mirage extended family who had had their lives turned upside down in the space of a week. As we ease into the “new normal,” we’re all…
There are a lot of poplar trees in Calgary, and there are specific reasons for that. According to the City of Calgary, when the city really began to grow and residential development policies were put into place 70 years ago, there were only seven different kinds of deciduous shade trees that were able to survive…
Homes require a lot of maintenance and upkeep, and it can seem to be never ending. There is hardly a year that passes for most homeowners when something doesn’t have to be fixed, replaced, or completely redone. What with all of this to think about, investing in professional landscaping is not high on the priority…
When the temperatures fall, rodents have a way of finding a safe and comfortable place to ride out the weather. Mice are small enough and smart enough to be able to get in just about anywhere. They can squeeze through an opening as small as a nickel, so even though your home may seem tightly…
Many of Calgary’s residential properties have been planted with what are considered to be city-owned trees. This was a usual part of the construction process. The idea was to help increase Calgary’s green canopy as the city was expanding in order to both reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air (one tree produces…
There are a number of snow removal establishments in Calgary, but they come with varying capabilities. Many, in fact the vast majority, are actually just one person (maybe two or three) with inadequate equipment. Others may have a few more employees, but they’re all part-time and on call, meaning owners and customers can never be…
The absolute best way to avoid slipping and falling in the winter is to have your sidewalks, pathways, driveways, and parking lots professionally cleared by a respected commercial and residential snow removal company. At Mirage Landscaping, we love the challenge snow removal presents. We take pride in our ability to ensure our clients’ properties are…
As the temperature has been regularly rising above and falling below zero, Calgary’s pathways and sidewalks are treacherous with patches of ice. Although we never leave the southeast residential and commercial properties we serve without making sure each surface has been cleared down to the bare concrete, with weather like this (which has been very…
As another new year is about to begin, many of us are making resolutions for a happier and healthier next 12 months. As we concentrate on our personal and mental health, don’t forget that your outdoor spaces can be a huge contributor to your overall well-being. Creating and maintaining an outdoor space that is conducive…
At Mirage Landscaping, we are committed to being completely transparent with our snow removal contracts, but we know that, unfortunately, that’s not the case for every company. Snow removal contracts are often vague and lack detail, which can actually leave you open to liability. It’s important to know what to look for so that you…
Winter can be a real drag, which is why we highly recommend making the most of the holiday season. Not only is it an opportunity to spend time with those who matter the most to us, but it’s also a time to get into the fun giving, receiving, and, yes, decorating. Dragging out boxes of…
When a property isn’t shoveled and cleared properly it is both an eyesore and a hazard. We all know how frustrating – and dangerous – it is to try to pick your way over a pathway that is uneven with packed-down snow and slippery with both concealed and visible ice. There are plenty of assumptions…
We’re finally getting the fall we deserved in Calgary … in November. But as the old adage goes, it’s better late than never. Although we’re raring to go with our snow removal services, we are also ok with staving off the cold weather for a little while. There’s still plenty we can do for you,…
Xeriscaping is often also referred to as zero-scaping, or no-scaping, which are clever euphemisms describing the relative lack of watering needed and maintenance involved with a xeriscaped property. There are many who would argue that there is a difference between xeriscaping, zero-scaping, and no-scaping, which has to do with the types of plants used and…
As part of our landscape construction services at Mirage, we build retaining walls. Although we love everything we do, retaining walls are among our favourite projects. Not only do they provide several important functions, they are also attractive, versatile, and environmentally friendly. Calgary properties are (very) often built on a slope. This allows for full…
Fall landscaping is a mystery to many. It’s hard to know if you should be outside and busy on your property all the time getting it ready for winter, or if you should be slowly allowing nature to take its course, and for your yard to put itself to bed for the cold months ahead.…
The snow came fast and furious in Calgary last weekend, but after three generations of performing commercial and residential landscaping services in our hometown we can say with some authority that this won’t be the last we’ve seen of nice weather. It’s fairly common in this city for there to be a cold snap in…
The leaves have yet to fall in Calgary, which is very nice for all of us. But rest assured, they will start coming down, and cause the big yearly mess we all have to deal with. A thorough fall clean-up is very important for getting your commercial or residential property started off right come spring.…
Fall lawn care is a mystery to many, as we’re not sure exactly how much care and attention our yards and commercial properties actually need. But before it’s time to shut down your property for the winter with a full fall clean upand the draining of your irrigation, unfortunately you can’t just forget about your…
We are very lucky in Calgary, as September in the city is usually very nice. This means we can enjoy our yards and gardens for a few more precious weeks. And although perennials are wonderful for their ability to return each and every year, annual flowers have that little extra pizzazz. They are bright, cheerful,…
At Mirage Landscaping, we are huge proponents of underground irrigation for many reasons. To us, the most important reason for an underground irrigation installation is because of the amount of water they can save. Water is a precious natural resource, and we love the planet more. We know you can achieve green and lush gardens…
According to the Calgary Herald, in 2016 there were more than 135,000 dogs in Calgary, and that number has surely risen by now. Calgary is a dog-loving city, and we love to take good care of our furry friends. The City of Calgary plays a part in pet ownership too, with the Responsible Pet Ownership…
We have been providing lawn care services in Calgary for three generations now, and take no greater satisfaction than from a perfect expanse of freshly cut, bright green and lush grass. Fostering a yard or commercial property to be its most healthy and, thus, spectacular, is what we do, and we are very good at…
Community gardens are becoming quite popular in Calgary, and with that many are beginning to realize that there are lots of food-growing opportunities in the city. Even though we have a tough climate, vegetables are also tough, and lots can withstand all our weather has to throw at them. Growing vegetables in Calgary is very…
Soil in Calgary naturally has a basic or high pH, which classifies it as alkaline. This is because our soil actually came from the limestone Rocky Mountains, and was brought into the area by melting glaciers. The lime is what makes our soil more alkaline, and the problem with these types of soils is that…
We have been taking care of many commercial properties for decades now, and really enjoy watching how our care and attention over the years has allowed plants and green spaces to flourish and thrive. Commercial landscaping requires a different kind of touch, as the design must be accessible, hardy, and able to withstand a lot…
Enjoying conversations, the night sky, and roasted marshmallows around a fire pit is a truly summertime experience for Calgarians. There is really nothing quite like feeling like you’re camping in the middle of a big city, and the time together creates unforgettable memories for family and friends. As Mirage Landscaping has more than three generations…
Given that southeast Calgary is basically prairieland, critters such as gophers and voles are common. Constant community development in this area of the city keeps upsetting colonies, causing them to move and re-establish, and often that means into nearby yards and properties. Gopher and vole control can be difficult, as often the problem is usually…
Let’s face it, part of the reason we all like to take good care of our property is not because of us, but because of our neighbours. We all live together in a community, and when we neglect our property, it not only looks bad on us, but on the entire community. Since Mirage Landscaping…
There are a surprising number of pretty perennials that adapt well to city gardens, which add colour, interest, and beauty to your property. But there are some that are better than others. Out three generations of experience gardening in Calgary has given us a solid background in knowing what works best for our climate and…
It’s May long weekend in Calgary next week, which is the city’s “official” start to the spring and summer planting and landscaping season. After the often-tumultuous weather of the Victoria Day holiday (right now the forecast is calling for cooler temperatures and rain) the weather settles down and warms up considerably. If you’re thinking of…
We like to design low-maintenance, yet attractive landscapes for the businesses we work with so that you can put your best face forward no matter what time of year. If you’d like to get a glimpse of what we can provide with our commercial landscaping services, some of the businesses we work for include Trail…
At Mirage Landscaping, we have three generations worth of experience providing lawn maintenance services to our clients in southeast Calgary. We mainly serve the communities of: Auburn Bay, Chaparral, Chaparral Valley, Copperfield, Cranston, Douglasdale, Heritage Pointe, Lake Bonavista, Mahogany, McKenzie Lake, Mackenzie Towne, Maple Ridge, New Brighton, Odgen/Lynwood/Millican, Parkland, Riverbend, Sundance, Walden, and Willow Park.…
All Calgarians have been set up for city-wide composting, which is doing a lot to keep valuable organics out of landfills. The City of Calgary Composting Facilityis the largest of its kind in the country. The facility processes about 145,500 metric tons of residential food and yard waste every year through a six-step, two-month process…
Although pruning trees and shrubs are not included in our spring clean up and landscape maintenance service, it is a service we provide and are happy to do. We highly recommend hiring a professional pruner, as it is a difficult task that requires expertise. It can be very easy to make a mistake when pruning…
After a few nice days Calgary is becoming a bit of a muddy mess, which is typical for this city when the temperatures start to rise. But since we’re going to dry out fast it’s not too early to start thinking about scheduling in your spring clean up. For both residential and commercial properties, a…
It looks like we’re finally going to see temperatures consistently on the plus side starting next week, and things are going to start melting fast. It won’t be too long until it’s time for your annual underground sprinkler service. Underground sprinklers are great for saving time, money and water. But they also require regular maintenance…
Retaining walls are great additions to a yard or business property that perform four functions. First, they add visual appeal, creating interesting levels and tiers to what can be an otherwise be a boring expanse of green. Second, they can help can save a ton of time in landscape maintenance by allowing you to cut…
We have been socked in a bitter cold snap here in Calgary, and it doesn’t seem like we’re going to see the temperatures on the plus side for the rest of the month. People are already tired of the cold, and we’re only going to get more fed up. One sure-fire way to combat the…
After a beautiful start to the winter, cold temperatures and snow have fallen upon up again. It has been absolutely frigid out, which is making snow removal and shovelling especially miserable. Snow removal is the last thing any home or business owner wants to be worried about on a cold winter morning. Fortunately, we worry…
.Given the lovely, mild winter we have had in Calgary, it’s actually not too early to start thinking about your spring landscaping projects. In fact, getting a head start on planning can actually help you save a lot of money. Mirage has over three decades of experience in the Calgary landscaping business, and we are always working…
So far, so good, for the winter here in Calgary (fingers triple crossed!). In fact, it’s been positively balmy! Aside from our awful October, there’s hardly been any reason to drag out the parka, and snow removal has been at a minimum. It’s wonderful news for us city denizens after surviving last year’s sub-zero temperatures…
It’s been a spectacular winter in Calgary so far. We at Mirage have been enjoying the weather along with everyone else, although we must admit to missing being on call for major snowstorms. We love freeing properties from snow and ice and making sure your clients and customers have the best experience possible when visiting…
While enjoying the very nice winter weather we’ve been having in Calgary, it’s not too early to start thinking about yard projects for the spring. Now is great time consult a landscape designer like those of us at Mirage. The more time we have to prep for your job, the better. We can ensure to…
A lot of people think that once they hire a snow removal contractor they have little to no control over what they get. Not true. You are paying for a service and deserve to have your expectations met. Mirage Landscaping has been offering Calgary commercial snow removal services for three generations. Our family-owned company specializes in…
In December of last year, it was reported that Albertans slip and fall at three times the rate of those in Ontario. Based on statistics collected by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, it was calculated that the province saw an average of 42.3 hospitalizations per 100,000 people for the five years between 2011 and…
Mirage Landscaping has been providing professional Calgary commercial snow removal services for three generations. Our family-owned company specializes in snow removal for businesses in these southeast Calgary districts and communities: Auburn Bay, Chaparral, Chaparral Valley, Copperfield, Cranston, Douglasdale, Heritage Pointe, Lake Bonavista, Mahogany, McKenzie Lake, Mackenzie Towne, Maple Ridge, New Brighton, Odgen/Lynwood/Millican, Parkland, Riverbend, Sundance, Walden,…
Home winter preparation should include several tasks, including having your furnace inspected, turning off the water to outside faucets, sealing air leaks, and cleaning your chimney. But aside from dragging our shovels and snow blowers out of wherever they have been hidden for the summer, a lot of people don’t do anything to prepare their…
Getting rid of Calgary’s snowfall is back-breaking work. Last year we saw unprecedented amounts fall on the city, and although we at Mirage love our job as snow removal services professionals, we hope this year won’t be quite as bad. Although we have tons of heavy-duty equipment to help with the big jobs, such as…
This week warmed up quite a bit, which is great news! Hardly any of us had enough time to get our fall clean up done before we had a massive amount of snow fall on the city. For a little while there it seemed as though that would be it until the spring. But thankfully…
Last winter was a very bad one in Calgary for slip and fall accidents. A CBC article dated Dec. 26, 2017 and titled, “Falls on ice seriously injure Albertans at triple the rate of people in Ontario,” states that Alberta saw 42.3 hospitalizations per 100,000 people between 2011 and 2016 because of a slip and…
Given our short spring and summer season, plus extremely harsh winters, making things grow in Calgary is very, very hard. Many of us put a lot of time, effort, and money into making our properties look good in this tough climate. At Mirage Landscaping, we are big fans of the benefits of mulch as one…
At this time of year we all need to schedule two very important tasks for our properties: a fall clean-up and an irrigation blow out. A good fall clean-up will save you a lot of time and effort in the spring, get your green space started off on the right foot, plus help stave off the…
Whether you own a commercial or residential property, there are a lot of good reasons to schedule a fall clean up. In fact, it might be one of the best things you can do for your yard or green space. We have three generations worth of experience working in southeast Calgary, and can attest to…
Mirage is a Calgary landscaping company that works through all four seasons. During the winter we perform snow removal services for commercial and residential clients. In the spring we are busy with clean up services including power raking, aerating and fertilizing. During the summer we are keeping up with mowing and trimming your grass weekly…
As the summer has carried on we have noticed a few prevalent garden pests in Calgary right now that are causing problems throughout the city. The unfortunate thing about these sorts of pests is that it can often seem like your plants and trees are just having an “off year,” and simply not thriving as…
Mirage Landscaping is a full-service residential and commercial landscape design and maintenance company. We like to keep in touch with our southeast Calgary clients through our regularly scheduled blog, as well as our Facebook, and Twitter accounts. We feel like it’s part of our business provide as many tips and tricks as we can on how to maintain…
It’s been a beautiful summer in Calgary, and we hope you’ve been able to enjoy lots of fun activities in your yard. But the amount of sun (and storms) we’ve had – including hail – combined with foot traffic and pest activity can take a toll on your lawn. It’s easy to start ignoring your…
We are having the summer we deserve in Calgary! It’s been beautiful – and hot – and we’re all spending as much time outdoors as possible. With our three generations worth of experience at Mirage we can help improve your residential landscaping so that you can enjoy it as much as you can … while…
At Mirage, we think commercial landscaping is one of the most enjoyable – and creative – parts of our business. We like to help design low-maintenance, yet attractive landscapes for the companies we work with so that you can put your best face forward no matter what time of year. At Mirage Landscaping of Calgary,…
It’s Canada Day weekend, and that means it’s a great time to get outside with your friends and family. After a relatively solid two months of landscape maintenance time, the commercial and residential properties we care for are looking pretty ship-shape. There’s always more we can do, of course, however we are pleased to be…
Our last winter was definitely hard on lawns and green spaces around Calgary. The massive amount of snow led to a lot of mould, which, if not cleared away fast enough, killed the grass. Plenty of people are looking at the long-lasting effects of a bad case of snow mould. And since winter came on…
Calgary is well-known for its unbelievable hailstorms, which have caused millions and millions in damages. Some might remember the massive hailstorm of 2012, which pummeled the city in early August and left about $700 million in insured damages behind. There have been many more since. The bulk of those insurance costs came from dents and…
It’s time to get out and enjoy our backyards again! If you’ve been thinking about adding a patio or sitting space to your property as part of a southeast Calgary landscaping project, the pros at Mirage Landscaping are here to help. For three generations, our family-owned business has been delivering exceptional quality and value to…
Experience counts for a lot when you’re looking for a reliable commercial landscaping company, and that’s what makes Mirage Landscaping your choice for the best business landscaping services in southeast Calgary. The pros at Mirage have been doing great work at surprisingly affordable prices for three generations. We specialize in maintaining commercial properties in these…
We’re all hoping for a nice summer, which we well deserve after the horrible winter we had. In order to make the most of your time outdoors, we highly recommend installing underground irrigation. Calgary has a tendency to be dry during the summer months, and nobody wants to drag around hoses, trying to keep lawns…
If it’s not one thing, it’s the other when it comes to property maintenance and landscaping in Calgary. We’ve just finished dealing with an epidemic of ice dams, and now lots of us are facing yet another problem. Most of the snow is finally gone, but of course the weather gods can’t let us start…
Although at the beginning of this week we saw what will hopefully be the final dump of snow we have to suffer through this season, it doesn’t mean it’s too early to start thinking about scheduling your spring underground irrigation maintenance with Mirage Landscaping of Calgary. The temperatures have been warming up (slowly), which means…
Could it possibly be true? Could the end of Calgary’s interminable winter finally be in sight? With temperatures predicted to be consistently above zero for the rest of the month we all may be finally able to get outside and start enjoying the weather. We deserve every minute we get to spend in the sun…
It’s been a long, snowy winter in Calgary, and the forecast says we’re not out of the woods yet. Weather predictions are calling for a cold Easter weekend with yes, even more snow. Spring in Calgary can be a cruel game, when we are all teased by short spells of nice weather broken up by…
There is still a lot of snow on the ground, but hopefully in the very near future we’ll be able to start getting out into our yards and properties to perform some spring clean-up and maintenance. As seasoned Calgary landscaping professionals, we know that this is the ideal time of year to give your trees…
So much snow has fallen in Calgary this winter that all of the city’s winter storage sites are so full the snow that it is not likely to completely melt until fall, according to this article by the CBC. More than 140 centimetres (55 inches) has come down since October, much of which has been…
Retaining walls are attractive additions to a yard or business property that not only add visual appeal, they can save a ton of time in landscape maintenance and a lot of money in water and upkeep. We at Mirage Landscaping have been building and installing retaining walls in Calgary for three generations now, and we…
It’s starting to warm up just a bit in Calgary (hooray!), but a couple of moderate days aren’t nearly enough to get rid of the 36 centimetres of snow that has fallen in just February alone. Since November we have seen a whopping 109 centimetres of snow in the city, which explains the huge windrows…
More than 40 centimetres of snow fell in parts of Calgary over the weekend, with everyone in the city seeing 20 centimetres or more. It was so bad Deerfoot Trail was shut down – both ways – for several hours on February 2, which is unheard of in Calgary’s recent history. It’s been a hairy…
Thankfully, the days are getting slightly longer and warmer, which means we can start seeing the potential of our property for spring again. Decks rank high on the list of the most popular outdoor home upgrades, so if you’ve been thinking about improving your yard, Mirage Landscaping can help get you started. Mirage Landscaping of…
Although we survived the cold snap at the end of 2017, the temperatures plunged again this week, with more snow falling and temperatures at -20°. Skin can freeze in minutes when it’s that cold, with the chill slowly seeping in to your core. When your body’s temperature drops below the ideal 37°, you are at…
After the massive dump of snow we got in Calgary right before Christmas, we know there are a lot of people contemplating purchasing a snow blower. But it’s hard to know what the right kind to get is. Do you need a walk-behind version, or one that you carry? What about gas-powered or electric? A…
After a nice and warm late November and early December, there’s not a lot of snow on the ground in Calgary. But the weather forecast is calling for some of the white stuff to fall this week – which makes for more opportunity to enjoy time outside with some fun winter projects – but it…
Winter may be cold, but it is beautiful. But unfortunately, not enough of us make the effort to get outside to enjoy it. Stop looking longingly out the winter and make the best of the winter months by getting creative with your outdoor space. Bur first, let us take care of your Calgary snow removal…
The pros at Mirage Landscaping have been providing exceptional Calgary commercial snow removal services at surprisingly affordable rates for three generations. Our family-owned company specializes in snow removal for these southeast Calgary districts and communities: Auburn Bay, Chaparral, Chaparral Valley, Copperfield, Cranston, Douglasdale, Heritage Pointe, Lake Bonavista, Mahogany, McKenzie Lake, Mackenzie Towne, Maple Ridge, New…
Shovelling and snow removal results in thousands of accidents a year. The most common injuries are broken bones from falls, back injuries from improper lifting and heart attacks from over-exertion. Those over the age of 55 are four times more likely to suffer a heart attack while shovelling. With another Calgary winter already in the…
Slip and fall hazards are a normality during a Calgary winter, and they can be devastating. The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control says that accidental falls are the leading cause of a nonfatal injury across all ages except from 10 to 24, and that more than 800,000 people a year in the U.S.…
Due to our crazy temperature variances combined with immense amounts of green space, property maintenance in Calgary is a hard job. Commercial and residential properties have extensive landscaping needs throughout the year, but a little extra effort in the fall can greatly reduce your chances of an accident in the winter, and improve the likelihood…
If you are an avid gardener or a commercial property owner in Calgary, you have put a lot of time, effort and money invested in making things grow and look good in this tough climate. At Mirage Landscaping we are big fans of the benefits of mulch as one way of getting your plants, shrubs…
For all residential and commercial properties there are two very important tasks to perform at this time of year: your fall clean-up and draining your underground irrigation. A good fall clean-up will save you a lot of time and effort in the spring, and draining your underground irrigation will ensure sprinkler system will survive the…
It’s been a beautiful fall so far in Calgary, and many of us are still enjoying our properties. The slow Indian Summer is giving us more time in the yard, and the prolonged nice weather is allowing for additional commercial and residential landscaping projects. Another bonus as that there’s still plenty of time to schedule…
As the Calgary days grow a bit shorter and the weather starts to cool, while your grass needs less care than during peak growing months, but it still requires some care and attention. The main reason for fall landscaping is to give your green space the best chance possible of a strong spring growth. As…
Mirage Landscaping has been providing professional residential and commercial landscaping services in Calgary for three generations. Specializing in servicing the southeast area of the city, we know how to keep your property beautiful and inviting for clients and guests. With several bylaws governing the maintenance of every property – residential and commercial – we adhere…
It’s been a beautiful summer in Calgary and we hope you’ve been enjoying the weather as much as we are. As landscapers, we try to make the most of every nice day, as we know that there’s never any guarantee for next year. That’s why we encourage you to take advantage of the extra time…
Presenting the best face for your business is one of the most effective ways to earn a customer’s trust, and providing a safe and attractive place for them to partake in your services goes a long way in earning their confidence. In Calgary we tend to think that slip and falls happen only in the…
It’s been a beautiful, hot summer here in Calgary, which has been great for enjoying the outdoors, but also has a lot of people scrambling to keep their lawns and gardens green. Dragging around hoses is not that much fun on a good day, and it’s way less fun when there’s lots more you’d rather…
After a long, cold winter with a lot of snow, many of us in Calgary are looking at our property with a touch of dismay. Despite the relatively nice weather (remember the amount of rain we had already seen last summer at this time?), some lawns are looking patchy and scraggly, with yellow spots being…
Calgary’s lawns and properties take a beating during the winter, and it can take awhile to bring them back to the green expanses we enjoy so much. With such a short summer in Calgary, nobody wants to spend it fighting to make their lawn healthy and green during their precious spare time. But we at…
Commercial landscaping can seem hum-drum to the outsider, as most envision simply mowing acres of grass and sweeping up sidewalks. But we think maintaining commercial properties is one of the most enjoyable – and creative – parts of our business. We like to help design low-maintenance, yet attractive landscapes for the companies we work with…
Trees are so important for helping make Calgary the beautiful city that it is, and we keep a close eye on those that are part of the commercial and personal properties we maintain. We want them to be around as long as possible, and hate to lose any prematurely. Over our three generations of experience…
Everyone knows how important bees are. While the busy little creatures are out flitting from flower to flower they collect and transfer pollen and seeds from bloom to bloom. In doing so, they fertilize each plant. Cross-pollination is said to assist 30 per cent of the globe’s crops and 90 per cent of the world’s…
While a retaining wall can serve a purely decorative purpose, most are built for practical reasons. They are usually found on properties with steep downhill slopes. Over the course of time, erosion can send earth and debris shooting down these slopes, and that can spell big trouble if a house or other valuable element happens…
Experience counts for a lot when you’re looking for a reliable southeast Calgary commercial landscaping company, and that’s what makes Mirage Landscaping an excellent choice. The pros at Mirage have been doing great work at surprisingly affordable prices for three generations, and our family-owned company specializes in these southeast Calgary districts and communities: Auburn Bay,…
Flowering shrubs make beautiful additions to gardens and property landscapes, but choosing the right plants is essential for success in the southern Alberta climate. Not all flowering shrubs grow well in the local environment, and if you want to generate the best and most beautiful results, it’s a good idea to stick to options that…
With the summer gardening season here, it’s time for a refresher on common pests and problems that plague residents of southern Alberta. Keeping these pests in check is one of the keys to enjoying a beautiful garden all summer long. Sock It to Slugs Garden slugs came to North America from Europe, and one of…
It’s something that a lot of people overlook, but landscaping can play a big role in commercial crime prevention. The strategic choice and arrangement of landscape elements can go a long way towards deterring criminals. Here, the key rule of thumb is rooted in an old saying from the world of law enforcement: criminals prefer…
Homeowners with underground irrigation systems need to be very careful about when and how they start things up after a long winter. It’s a fairly common mistake to start underground irrigation systems as soon as temperatures seem warm enough. There’s actually a very precise threshold you should always follow before deciding the time is right…
Over the winter, pets tend to migrate to a localized area to take care of business when nature calls. Unfortunately, this can lead to lawn damage. Urine isn’t good for grass, and it can easily lead to yellow spots and dead patches that will need to be repaired. This can happen even if you aren’t…
With the calendar winding down on winter, it’s time to start thinking about your annual spring clean up in Calgary. Mirage Landscaping is here to meet all your seasonal property maintenance needs, and our reliable, affordably priced services are just the ticket for property owners looking to reduce their workloads while sprucing up their landscapes.…
As seasoned gardening enthusiasts know, some of the most important work you will do for your trees and shrubs should take place before spring even arrives. Calgary landscaping experts agree that late winter or early spring is usually the best time of year to prune branches from large plants. For trees, a good rule of…
This spring, the City of Calgary is going to be delivering green composting carts to city homeowners. According to city officials, discarded food and yard/garden waste make up more than 50 percent of all garbage coming from residential properties. There’s a common misconception about organic waste: many people think it breaks down relatively quickly once…
It’s been a harsh winter in Calgary so far, and a lot of snow has fallen. We are well into our third month of heavy-duty snow removal throughout southern Alberta. It’s tedious and difficult labour, unless, of course, you decide to give yourself a break. Get the best snow removal in southeast Calgary working for…
When it comes to southeast Calgary snow removal, it’s important not to overlook the potential hazards of ice. While it’s true that staying on top of snow removal helps keep ice at bay, the freeze-and-thaw weather cycles that are a common part of southern Alberta winters can pose extra problems. During a thaw phase, snow…
Beyond the injuries they can cause, slip and fall accidents also carry the risk of insurance liability, in both residential and commercial settings. Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to slip and fall accidents, and they can cause serious health complications. Be a good neighbour and a good business owner by taking proactive steps to reduce…
It’s that time of year again in southeast Calgary: snow removal has returned as a concern for both residential and commercial property owners. In southern Alberta, snowstorms can strike with little warning, leaving homeowners and businesses scrambling to get rid of built-up snow and ice. The City of Calgary enforces strict snow removal bylaws, and…
Healthy lawns and well-cared-for exterior property elements go a long way towards elevating your home’s resale value. Making an investment in your home’s curb appeal and taking care of all its outdoor features are proven strategies that pay dividends down the road. With the holiday season fast approaching, here are five New Year’s resolutions you…
Snow removal is the last thing any business owner or manager wants to be worried about on a cold winter morning. Fortunately, thanks to Mirage Landscaping, you’ll never have to worry about it. Our industry-leading commercial snow removal crews deliver the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your business will be fully accessible…
With another Calgary winter in the works, it’s time to review some important tips that will help you avoid accidents while you shovel snow. Choosing the right clothing, tools, and techniques will make the snow removal job safer and easier. Bundle Up to Shovel Show Dressing properly will help keep the elements at bay while…
Gutters and eavestroughs can be the sources of major problems if they’re not properly cleaned and maintained before the cold and snowy weather hits. If your eaves and gutters are clogged with debris that prevents water from draining properly, two major problems can occur. First, the trapped debris will mix with draining water, which can…
Winter weather can wreak havoc on Calgary businesses, creating slip and fall hazards outdoors and indoors alike. Snowy, slippery parking lots, sidewalks and walkways can leave you liable for injuries and property damage, and the risks grow when employees and customers track snow and slush inside with them. Lingering moisture can also damage your floors,…
As part of your home winter prep to-do list, you should be sure to get your garage and shed ready for the cold weather. That means preparing your garden tools and chemicals for winter’s arrival, which improves safety and helps keep everything in great shape for spring’s return. Before snow removal season starts, the Calgary…
Doing some winter landscaping prep work will go a long way towards keeping your lawn and garden elements in good shape over the course of Calgary’s long cold-weather season. Here are some essential tasks you should take care of before the snow hits: A Final Trim and Fertilization The first tip for winter landscaping is…
Southeast commercial properties have extensive maintenance and landscaping needs, especially when fall is in full swing. Given the cold, snowy climate we have in Calgary, fall property maintenance can be very demanding. There’s a lot to do to get ready! This is especially true if you’re trying to make up for lost time due to neglect…
Underground irrigation systems are great for keeping lawns looking green and healthy with very little effort. But they can some challenges when it comes time to shut them down for the season. Fall is the time to drain your underground sprinklers, and it’s a task that needs to be performed correctly to ensure you don’t…
Outdoor spaces are ideal for kids, pets, friendly gatherings, barbecues and nice weather, and a yard that offers a winning combination of functionality and privacy can give your home’s resale value a big boost. To that end, decks and fences are both among the most popular upgrades among Calgary-area homeowners, and can really boost your backyard…
Commercial property owners need to make special considerations when it comes time to take care of fall landscaping tasks. As a leading provider of commercial landscaping in southeast Calgary, the Mirage Landscaping team can help you take care of these seven essentials for a very affordable price. Water Your Trees During the early days of…
Summer is busy for all of us as we do our best to make the most of the nice weather in Calgary while we have it. As such, sometimes yard and garden landscaping tasks take a back seat. If you’re one of the many homeowners who simply ran out of time this past summer to…
We’ve been lucky to have some beautiful Indian summers in Calgary over the past few years. They’re perfect for taking care of some seasonal lawn maintenance tasks while the weather is still nice, including late-summer fertilization that will help you enjoy a beautiful, full green lawn again next year. Indian summer is also perfect for finishing…
If you’re looking to add value to your home, investing in professional landscaping is one of the most cost-effective ways to do it. Studies have shown that even modest improvements in your home’s landscaping can have a dramatic effect on its resale value, potentially adding more than 5%. Considering that the average Calgary home is…
Months of sun exposure, foot traffic and pest activity can take a toll on your lawn, and that’s why late summer lawn care in Calgary is so important. A little attention will go a long way towards keeping your grass looking green and healthy for the rest of the season, and it will also give…
Business owners looking for affordable and reliable landscaping services in southeast Calgary can count on the locally based pros at Mirage Landscaping. For three generations, our family-run company has been raising the bar for commercial property landscaping services in the Calgary area, and we are pleased to specialize in the following communities: Auburn Bay Chaparral and…
Expert commercial landscaping can have a strong impact on the impressions your Calgary customers get when visiting your place of business, and its function goes well beyond that. Careful design and regular maintenance can keep high-traffic areas safer, cleaner and easier to navigate. Eliminate Trip Hazards With Commercial Landscaping Pedestrian safety is one of the…
Left unchecked, pests can wreak havoc on lawns, gardens and landscaped elements. In extreme cases, professional remediation is needed to undo the damage and loss of property value they can cause. Garden pests are a common problem when it comes to both residential and commercial landscaping in Calgary, and the Mirage Landscaping team has the advanced…
Summer has returned, and people across Calgary are heading outdoors to enjoy the warm weather as much as possible. But with summer weather that tends to be dry, fires can start easily, and quickly. As one of southeast Calgary’s leading landscaping companies, Mirage encourages time spent outdoors. Here are some safety tips for avoiding a…
A lush, full, healthy green lawn boosts your property’s curb appeal, and it’s also good for the environment. Repairing and maintaining your lawn is easy with the right know-how and, of course, a little help from the professionals at Mirage Landscaping, a leading Calgary southeast landscaping company. The Benefits of Fertilizing and Irrigating Your Lawn…
Patio season is here again, and if you’ve been thinking about adding one to your property as part of a Calgary landscaping project, the pros at Mirage Landscaping are here to help. For three generations, our family-owned business has been delivering exceptional quality and value to Calgary-area homeowners, and we’d be happy to make you…
When it comes to commercial landscaping in Calgary, experience makes a major difference, and that’s where the Mirage Landscaping team has an edge. For three generations, the family-run hard-working pros at Mirage Landscaping have been providing businesses and homeowners alike with efficient and expert design and landscaping services. As you can see in our portfolio, we…
Fertilizer and compost can both be highly effective additions to a healthy lawn, but to extract the greatest possible benefits they must be correctly used and carefully optimized. As leading providers of lawn care in southeast Calgary, the property maintenance pros at Mirage Landscaping are experts when it comes to the best use of these…
Southern Alberta’s flood season is on the way, and with unpredictable spring conditions posing an increased risk of water damage to homes and properties; homeowners should take proactive preventative steps. It doesn’t take a major flood to cause serious damage; even small amounts of moisture can lead to foundation problems, mould and other issues that can be…
Mirage Landscaping is a leading landscaping company in Calgary, providing homes and businesses with a complete range of seasonal and year-round property maintenance services. We’ll help you keep your property looking great, and that boosts its curb appeal and can even increase its value. Beyond boosting your property’s visual appeal, there are many other great…
Spring is in the air, and that means it’s time to aerate and fertilize your lawn for green and healthy grass all summer long. Given the relatively short growing season we have here in the Calgary area, it’s best to have these vital landscaping tasks completed at the right time for the best results. The…
Spring is here! If you’ve got a built-in home irrigation system, you may be wondering if the time is right to start it up. While your DIY impulses may tell you to get out there and get it going as soon as the weather is warm enough, the reality is that you have to be…
At Mirage Landscaping, we’re here to take care of all your annual spring clean up needs. Our complete range of professional landscape design and property maintenance services help you enjoy green lawns, healthy shrubs and trees, and beautiful gardens all summer long. Now that spring has arrived, it’s time to get a jump-start on your…
It’s official —spring is here! Even though it may not yet feel like summer yet, warm weather is just around the corner and that means a lot of Calgary homeowners are thinking about ways to spruce up their properties. Decks and fences both rank high on the list of the most popular outdoor home upgrades,…
Nature often plays a cruel game with Calgarians in late winter and early spring, teasing the city with short spells of warmer weather only to give way to the freezing cold once again. This cycle usually repeats itself a few times before the mercury climbs above zero for good, creating some potentially tricky situations for homeowners, like ice…
Winter is an unpredictable season here in Calgary; one day, the city is shivering under plummeting temperatures and heavy snowfall, and the next, Chinook winds blow in, melting snow and ice and creating a big, sloppy mess. This creates real problems for home and business owners struggling to keep their floors clean and clear. It’s all…
At Mirage Landscaping of Calgary, we are experts on commercial or residential snow and ice removal. We are also pet lovers. Our furry friends suffer through the winter alongside of us, but while they keep us company, they also can also cause a lot of damage to lawns and gardens over the winter. It’s best to…
Necessity, common courtesy, and Calgary snow management bylaws all dictate that you get out there and shovel or blow shortly after the snow stops accumulating. Some may find that shovelling is not much of a chore but most don’t. First there is that whole bundling up in layers ordeal. Sweating while doing outdoor work in freezing temperatures increases your chances…
Mirage Landscaping of Calgary has been in the business of commercial snow removal for over three generations now. We have literally seen everything our regional climate has thrown at the Calgary area and have successfully dealt with all of it. If you are in the market for a snow removal contractor, here are a few important questions to…
No matter how our winter in southern Alberta unfolds, Mirage Landscaping of Calgary would like to remind all of you parents and grandparents out there that winter is the perfect time for not only making memories with your kids or grandchildren, you can build their love and respect for nature too. If We Get Lots…
When that clock radio has gone off on a dark Monday morning with an announcement that two feet of snow has fallen in Calgary overnight, you might get the sudden urge to call Mirage Landscaping and try to get us to fit you in. After all, we’ll already be out there working hard to clear…
For avid gardeners or business owners looking to spruce up their grounds, winter can offer a time for rest and looking ahead. But at Mirage Landscaping of Calgary we don’t see the point of waiting for the end of winter to enjoy our outdoor spaces. Winter Weather Construction Depending on how our winter unfolds in southern Alberta,…
It is that time of year again, when we Albertans begin to dress differently, and even walk differently, as we confront another winter. At Mirage Landscaping of Calgary, we’d like to remind everyone out there how to stay warm, upright, and in good health while clearing your walks. And if you don’t want to do it yourself,…
We’ve been hearing a lot about El Niño as a major influencer of this winter’s weather outlook, although when it comes to Calgary there is never any guarantee. Broadly speaking, an El Niño pattern means that the jet stream, instead of being one continuous course of high speed air driving Pacific storms over Canada, is split into two…
Winter is once again coming to the southern Alberta region and Mirage Landscaping of Calgary would like to remind every commercial building owner that you can leverage the extra slip and fall safety that professional snow removal and ice management affords by ensuring your lot and walks are in good repair now. Before the snow flies and…
Professional snow removal services such as those provided by Mirage Landscaping of Calgary can help with both reducing liability and the prevention of winter crime. Whether you are a commercial or residential property owner, professional snow removal services not only make your home or business safer from slip and fall liability lawsuits, they also make it easier for…
The image of your business is a critical aspect of success. Like your personal appearance, or your website, or sometimes even your vehicle (depending on what you do) if it’s frequently seen it creates a lasting first impression that can range anywhere from positive, through neutral, to poor. To keep your business looking as ship-shape as it…
In the winter of 2013-14, Municipal snow dumps were closed for being near capacity with just the city government’s efforts to keep up, meaning that if you needed snow removed, and not just plowed and piled in private lots, or cleared from adjacent public responsibility areas to yours, it had to be trucked and tipped…
It’s always a bit sad to watch our colourful summer blooms start to fade out during the fall, and it can be hard to say a final good-bye. Removing your annual can be a difficult chore, but it’s really not worth wishing that they will magically spring anew next summer. The truth of the matter…
If you are an avid gardener in Calgary, you have a lot of time, effort and money invested in making things grow in this tough climate. At Mirage Landscaping we are big fans of mulch as one way of getting your plants and trees through our harsh winters. Think of mulch as a top dressing when it…
Though we didn’t have another “Snowtember” like we did in 2014, those of us in Calgary know that it can never be too early to prepare for snow removal. The first snowfall of the season isn’t far away, and Mirage Landscaping of Calgary is just a free quote away. Every winter is different, but a few things…
Mirage Landscaping of Calgary has been keeping both residential and commercial properties green for three generations. We are a full service landscaping design, construction, maintenance, and snow removal firm, and we meet every season Calgary throws at us head-on. Fall may mark the end of summer, but it is a great opportunity to get a head start on next…
Mirage Landscaping of Calgary is your local full service commercial and residential landscaping design, construction, maintenance and snow removal firm. We have three generations worth of experience making sure the results of our hard work this summer make it through to the next. Deferring on fall landscaping tasks means increased chances of winter damage, and…
Fall is approaching and winter is creeping close behind, but that doesn’t mean that your commercial and residential landscaping construction projects have to end. We can build a fence just as long as the ground will let us. Unless the ground freezes hard or the temperatures fall far and long enough to ensure poured concrete…
At Mirage Landscaping of Calgary, we have over three generations in the business of helping our clients grow healthy lawns on residential and commercial properties in all areas of the city. We have always emphasized the benefits of a fall fertilization ahead of the sometimes very harsh southern Albertan winter, and if we’ve had a less-than-perfect summer (plus another…
Late summer is the time to turn your attention to preparing your lawn for another unpredictable Calgary winter. Ensure you have your landscaper scheduled for a fall fertilizing and aeration for your best chances at healthy growth in spring. Mirage Landscaping has over three generations of experience serving their residential and business clientele in Calgary.…
Homeowners and businesses have trusted their Calgary landscape needs to Mirage Landscaping for three generations. We are as committed to keeping our clients safe and comfortable in their outdoor spaces as we are to our high standards of customer service and craftsmanship. That’s why we want you to know about a few local plants that…
Installing a built-in underground sprinkler system is a big financial commitment, however, the savings in time and water, and the convenience and consistency of results in keeping your lawn alive will make you wonder how you ever lived without an irrigation system. Whether you are considering a system at your residence or at your business site, once…
One of the best parts of getting away camping or visiting a cabin for many people is to build a fire outdoors. There is something about a how a fire wards off the gathering chill of night that makes them a highlight. You can capture some of that togetherness in your own backyard with a fire…
During the summer the heavens open up periodically to pummel Calgary and area with various sizes of hail. Hail is always another poignant reminder that the weather of the Albertan prairie can turn unusual with little or no warning. It is disheartening, especially if you are a flower or vegetable gardener, to essentially see Mother Nature’s shotgun…
The name Palliser is familiar to Calgarians, as in Fairmont Palliser Hotel, the Palliser neighbourhood, the Palliser Range, and the Palliser Formation of the Canadian Rockies. John Palliser was a geographer who chronicled “western Canada.” Between 1857-59, Palliser was surveying in our region. When his findings were published a couple of years later, he deemed southern Alberta “unsuitable for farming,” and the area was given the nickname “The Palliser Triangle.” Calgary is…
At Mirage Landscaping of Calgary, most of our clients who are avid gardeners are achingly aware of what a weed is, and are always on the lookout. But the rest, many who may be new property owners, are often left wondering what is a weed and what isn’t. Put simply, a weed is any plant…
At Mirage Landscaping of Calgary we know the importance of professional commercial landscaping service as a money and time saver for our commercial clientele. Professional landscaping can also make the difference between driving business to your company rather than a competitor’s. Whether we are talking property clean up, regular lawn maintenance, sprinkler installations, or snow removal in the dead…
You may think that “pruning season” has come and gone for your trees and woody shrubs, but that is not necessarily the case. At Mirage Landscaping of Calgary, your local tree experts, and full service commercial and residential full service landscaping design, construction, and maintenance firm, we are in agreement that most pruning should be…
Water bills in the Calgary area tend to increase substantially in the summer. At Mirage Landscaping, we know that the bill could always be higher if not for the conservation savings afforded by built in underground sprinkler and drip irrigation systems. No matter whether you are a residential or a commercial property owner, you can…
Sunny and shady. What two terms could be more self-explanatory than that? At Mirage Landscaping, your one stop source for all of your residential and commercial landscaping needs in Calgary, we know that the difference between the two is vast. Know Your Zones Typically, not very many people spend a nice spring or summer day…
At Mirage Landscaping of Calgary, for over three generations of service to our residential and commercial clients, we have seen many trees and shrubs toppled by wind, snow and severe weather of all kinds. So because we really like trees, we do our best to protect against these circumstances. To keep our commercial and residential clients’…
With a relatively pleasant spring following a mild winter, Calgary is set for an explosive growth in pests, especially of the insect variety. Mirage Landscaping of Calgary, your full-service residential and commercial landscaping firm, has offered advice on dealing with every manner of backyard pest in previous articles, so we thought we would offer a…
What is a tree sucker? Does my tree have a sucker upon it? These seem like questions from a bad science fiction movie, but tree suckers are very real. Several tree species produce suckers or sprouts in an unwanted fashion in response to environmental triggers such as drought, overwatering, or due to the nature of their…
It won’t be too much longer before the gloriously hot days of summer make the Calgary winter and spring a distant memory. At Mirage Landscaping of Calgary, your premiere one stop source for commercial or residential full service landscaping design, construction, and maintenance, we too look forward to these days. However, as veterans of innumerable summer days,…
If you are a local business owner with green spaces to maintain, consider the benefits of installing an underground sprinkler system. Mirage Landscaping of Calgary has installed countless commercial underground sprinkler systems in the area in our over three generations in the full service landscaping business. For the busy commercial client, where time is literally…
Whether you are a commercial or residential client of Mirage Landscaping of Calgary, composting can be set up at your home or business site to provide mulch or soil improvement, and even to make a liquid fertilizer called compost tea. Do not let our highly variable spring and fall weather, nor the depths of our winters,…
“Old sayings” become that way because they have the ring of truth to them. “A good first impression is a lasting one,” is just such a saying. Of course, it also has an implied corollary—a bad first impression is a durable one as well. Specializing in commercial caretaking, Mirage Landscaping of Calgary has over three…
At Mirage Landscaping, we have been gardening in Calgary for three generations. In addition to landscape design, construction, and maintenance for our many commercial and residential clients, we install flowerbeds and gardens every growing season. It’s great to watch things grow, and the health benefits from being outside are innumerable. If you have children that you would…
As the days warm up here in Calgary, the urge to get a jump on the spring gardening tasks becomes hard to resist. However, as the nights can still dip below freezing, at Mirage Landscaping of Calgary we know it’s wise to exercise restraint at this time of year. Winter takes a toll on your…
Mirage Landscaping of Calgary has three generations of experience dealing with everything this climate has to throw at us. There’s a lot you can do to help your garden grow successfully, including waiting until it’s warm enough to plant. The Germination Temperatures of Common Garden Plants According to the almighty almanac, in Calgary, May 23rd is…
When southern Alberta is reasonably certain to remain unfrozen, we here at Mirage Landscaping of Calgary find ourselves doing a lot of digging. We do a lot of work that requires plenty of shovels, a backhoe and expert manpower accumulated from three generations in the commercial and residential landscaping biz. CALL BEFORE YOU DIG It’s…
A business property that is weedy and overgrown does not create a good impression. Mirage Landscaping of Calgary is your one stop shop for all of your commercial landscaping needs in any season. From planting, to mowing, to pruning, to leaf pick up, to snow removal, we are the only landscaping contractor you will ever need. Why…
Though our winter has generally been rather pleasant by Calgary standards, it is not quite over yet either. With the days gradually lengthening, there is a temptation to believe in a “false spring” and begin working the soil far too early. At Mirage Landscaping of Calgary, our three generations of experience in commercial and personal landscaping…
Mirage Landscaping has been taking care of personal and commercial properties in Calgary for three generations. Due to the extreme variations in weather we have, it can be very difficult to keep perennials, shrubs and trees as healthy and happy as possible. Fortunately, there are several varieties of pretty bloomers that can survive and tthrive…
While our overnight lows are still dipping into freezing temperatures, the sunlight hours are beginning to get longer with each passing day. It’s time to start thinking about your spring yard or commercial property clean-up as we make our way through a mild March in Calgary. Even if nothing about this winter goes down in…
Remember the big snow back in September? It may be hard to recall, what with all of the light flurries that have mostly fallen since then, but the snowfall in Calgary can become brutal in short order. If you don’t have your snow removal contract in place ahead of the epic amounts of snow that can fall…
Mirage has over three decades of experience in the landscaping business, and we are always working to meet and exceed our clients’ expectations. Our portfolio of projects shows how hard we try to achieve remarkable results every time. What it doesn’t say, however, is just how hard we strive to keep our costs down and…
Snow removal in Calgary is a tough, messy business, but at Mirage Landscaping we have three generations of experience keeping our clients’ properties clean. We take great care to make the most of the resources available to us, and keeping your property at its best is our priority Hold the Salt Good old sodium chloride,…
At Mirage Landscaping of Calgary our main winter activities at work revolve around ice management with bouts of snow removal. But just as there are bleak winter days where it seems the spring is still a year away, there are also lots of good days that allow us to get ready for warmer weather. There are…
The beginning of winter proper may seem an odd time discuss Calgary area flooding issues as such events happen in the spring and summer, but winter is the time for planning. If you are a Calgarian whose residential or commercial property abuts the Bow or Elbow Rivers, you will have seen some of the hundreds of millions…
Whether you are a commercial or residential property owner in Calgary, when the snow flies, you have legal responsibility for clearing the stuff from your publicly accessible walks in a timely fashion. At Mirage Landscaping we have over three generations’ worth of experience helping our clients meet their snow removal obligations under Calgary’s Street Bylaw 20M88, Sec. 67. For…
‘Tis an ill wind that blows no good. The above English proverb dates back to before 1550. Clearly, whoever coined the saying had never encountered the Chinook wind, which is a relatively mixed bag as regards good or ill. Mirage Landscaping of Calgary is a full-service landscape design, construction, maintenance, and snow removal firm. We have had over three generations…
When performing snow removal services for our commercial and private clients around the Calgary area, we are always out really early in the day. It can be hard to leave the confines of our warm trucks on a cold morning, but we lovers of nature we know that idling is harmful to the environment. Gas is…
Depending on how you measure it, humans began erecting permanent structures for shelter as far back as 50,000 years ago. The oldest inhabited cities on earth, which are still sited where they were began, date back roughly 10,000 years. Of course, climate control and modern kitchens date back far less. An increasing number of those of…
Mirage Landscaping of Calgary is a full-service landscape design, maintenance, and construction firm. Over the years, we have been involved in a lot of concrete and paving stone jobs as we help people beautify their residential and commercial properties. During the winter, our constant cycles of Chinook-driven thaws followed by more snow and freezing makes low spots in…
At Mirage Landscaping of Calgary, we spend the winter working hard to make the residential and commercial properties of our clients safe from snow and ice. Snow is piled everywhere, sometimes to be removed, sometimes wait until the spring begins to thaw the ground. We all grumble about the winter, and it also affects our beloved…
Contracting your professional snow and ice removal to experts is a step in the right direction in preventing accidents…and litigation. At Mirage Landscaping of Calgary, we are snow removal professionals. We have been in business for over three generations now, and have both seen and heard just about everything to do with winter hazards that commercial property owners sometimes…
Here in Alberta, when we think of lawsuits, we are inclined to think of our litigious neighbours to the south before we think of ourselves. But when a wintry slip and fall accident occurs on your commercial property in Calgary you’ll find yourself rapidly worrying about our local lawyers. The Supreme Court of Canada’s case law makes…
Like Mirage Landscaping of Calgary, you’ll remember last winter as full of big snow days. There was so much snow at points that snow dumps nearest the city were nearly full and threatening to close. During these sorts of seasons, it’s where the quality of your commercial snow removal provider shows itself. No one, not…
Mirage Landscaping, based in Calgary, provides complete, residential and commercial landscaping and snow removal services. Over the past few seasons we have provided tips on safe snow removal and icy travel in our blog, and figure it never hurts to be preemptive. Get prepared for yet another Calgary winter! Dressing For Winter Success Remember to dress yourself in layers…
Lots of Calgarians having been composting for years…especially gardeners. Composting produces the best additive for your soil money can buy, and also keeps waste out of landfills. The City of Calgary’s “Green Cart” trial is looking to see how the rest of the city’ population could be served. Residents of Abbeydale, Brentwood, Cougar Ridge and Southwood have been…
In Calgary, the winter assaults our lawns and trees with all manner of attacks. Be it sun scald, frost damage, premature growth due to sudden thaws, winter is tough on plants. However, the greenery that does thrive here does so because it is hearty. Here at Mirage Landscaping, Calgary’s finest full service residential and commercial…
Mirage Landscaping of Calgary is a full-service commercial and residential landscaping design, construction and maintenance firm. We always enjoy it when we see our clients, and others, creative about Halloween. What has been fun to see about the increase in outdoor Halloween decorations around Calgary over the years is that there seems to be more of…
As autumn deepens, more and more leaves are turning colour, and falling to the ground, every day. For most Calgarians, the turn of the season is pretty, and the last display of our amazing plant life before winter takes hold. Mirage Landscaping is a full service commercial and residential landscaping design, construction, and maintenance firm. Fall clean up…
With over three generations of experience serving Calgary as a full service landscaping design, construction, and maintenance firm for our commercial and residential clients, even we haven’t seen anything like the recent “summer snowstorm” that hit as early September. It’s one thing to know that in Alberta we have “historically” had snow in every month save for…
Before the hard frosts and snow returns to Calgary, if you have a built in underground sprinkler system, it’s time to do one last operational check before draining for winter. Mirage Landscaping is a full-service landscaping design, construction, and maintenance firm for both commercial and residential clients. Sprinkler maintenance is just one step in getting…
At Mirage Landscaping in Calgary, landscape maintenance never stops. Sure, you may spend your autumn and winter dreaming up new projects that we can assist in designing and constructing for you come spring or summer, but the overall care and maintenance of your grounds is our priority year-round! Whether you are a commercial or private…
As sad as it is for us at Mirage Landscaping of Calgary to say so, summer is winding down. Though the autumnal equinox is not until September 23, Calgary is more than a kilometere above sea level, and historically sees a first frost by mid-month due to the altitude. Whether that first frost is a “killing…
At Mirage Landscaping in Calgary, we love trees. We enjoy tending to the young trees we install, and we savour the sight of the mature trees we planted around Calgary that are older than most of the current crew who maintains them. With over three generations experience as Calgary’s full-service landscaping design, construction and maintenance firm, serving…
Annuals are flowers as with flames that burn twice as bright. Although they don’t last long, they are cheerful, colourful and provide a splash of the tropical in the northern climes of Canada. Imagine living your entire lifespan in one growing season. That is the fast forward existence of the annual flower, dead with the…
Mirage Landscaping of Calgary is the area’s premier full service residential and commercial landscaping construction, design and maintenance firm. Although the Bow and Elbow Rivers occasionally spill over their banks, in reality Calgary is a rather dry city. However, when rain comes down, it tends to come down hard. Mitigating the amount of melt and rain water runoff…
At Mirage Landscaping in Calgary, we pride ourselves on the precision and speed that our crews can achieve with their line trimmers. Weed whipping can be a difficult task to attain professional looking results, but our landscape design experts have considerable practice and pay meticulous attention to detail. Here are a few weed whipping tips…
Mirage Landscaping has been Calgary’s premier residential and commercial full service landscaping design and maintenance firm for three generations. We know that good landscape construction requires meticulous practises, especially when it comes to creating patios. Installing a new patio area made from pavers is a painstaking job, requiring a lot of labour and attention to detail. If that…
Mirage Landscaping of Calgary provides premier residential and commercial full-service landscaping design and maintenance. We love our trees and work hard to protect them. Black Knot disease has always been common in Calgary, but in the last few years has become more and more prevalent. The fungus itself has been present in Alberta for decades…
Calgary’s Mirage Landscaping is a full-service commercial and residential landscaping design and maintenance firm. We have offered guidance in the past regarding the best trees and shrubs that will do well in our climate, and even shown you what to look for to ensure that you, or someone you employ, is not damaging your landscaping with machinery. We…
In this age of central air and heat, some trustworthy design principles for landscaping have been mostly forgotten. Sure, you’ll still hear architecturally-minded people mentioning having the larger windows of a house face south, for maximum daylight exposure, but what principles govern the other points of the compass, and what, if anything, does the compass have to do with…
Especially in light of our flooding problems last year, it may seem strange that water conservation is a very serious goal in Calgary. Even though we have rivers that periodically spill over their banks like our own local version of the Nile does not mean that these waters are an endless resource. As our region…
Ants. The very word is enough to make some people’s skin crawl. They’re everywhere, and they can not only ruin your barbecue, but they have a habit of ruining your landscaping, too. Mirage Landscaping have been dealing with lawn care in Calgary for decades, and although they’re a pain, Alberta’s ants aren’t all bad. Ants…
Mirage Landscaping of Calgary is a full-service commercial and residential landscaping design, construction, and maintenance firm. We know that your back yard entertaining space is not only a welcome retreat, but also an expression of your taste and personality. In the design phase of either a new construction or a remodel of your backyard, there…
Mirage Landscaping is a full-service, year-round commercial and residential landscaping company with three generations of experience in Calgary. With all the new builds in this city we do a lot of complete landscape designs for our clients, and often that involves the installation of fences. We have the experience necessary to ensure your fence…
General trouble-shooting problems we deal with on behalf of our commercial and residential landscaping clients at Mirage Landscaping in Calgary concern repairing a thin or bald lawn spot. Whether from disease, insect infestation, pet waste damage, a fertilizer hot spot, or other cause, damaged or missing grass can be a very difficult problem to solve. There…
Mirage Landscaping of Calgary is a full-service residential and commercial landscaping design and maintenance firm. We keep touch through our blog, Facebook, and Twitter, and provide weekly tips on commercial and private landscaping in Calgary’s unforgiving climate. It’s tough to grow anything in this city, but there are common errors that can be avoided to increase…
Mirage Landscaping of Calgary is a full service residential and commercial landscaping design and maintenance firm. We are committed to excellence in everything we do. Commercial Landscape Design Considerations The bottom line in commercial landscaping is cost effectiveness. Commercial landscaping should be efficient – both for the caretaker and the customer – and also achieve…
Mirage Landscaping of Calgary is your premier commercial and residential landscaping maintenance and design firm in Calgary. We tend to a tremendous variety of properties throughout the city. Green spaces can be beautifully landscaped with interesting features and functions while also being, believe it or not, easy to mow and tend. There are several design…
When it comes to choosing a commercial landscaping firm in Calgary, you can never be too careful. Some have developed bad habits! As with any employee or supplier, ensure that not only are you contracting with a reputable business or individual, but also one that guarantees professional work and comes with impeccable references. At Mirage Landscaping…
Throughout our three generations tending to the lawn care of Calgary’s commercial and residential property owners and managers, we here at Mirage Landscaping have come across more than a few tough questions. One of the queries we hear often is, “Why won’t grass grow under my spruce tree?” and arises from the rather obvious fact that…
Whether you are a residential homeowner or a commercial property owner, eventually your grass is going to want to drink long and deeply as we progress into summer. Mirage Landscaping in Calgary are experts at installing and maintaining underground sprinkler systems. We believe such systems are your best bet for saving on water, however we…
At Mirage Landscaping in Calgary, we have over three generations’ worth of experience in landscape design. We have seeded and sodded both new lawns and ones in need of total rehabilitation as part of our clients’ vision for their “dream yards”. As one of Calgary’s full-service landscaping design and maintenance firms, we have had all manner of commercial and…
At Mirage Landscaping in Calgary we have over three generations of experience as the city’s premier commercial and residential landscaping design and maintenance firm. We take care of green expanses large and small and have developed techniques to tackle all kinds of lawn mowing problems. Proper procedures combined with decades of experience means we can mow…
Though it is coming in fits and starts, spring is arriving. Eventually, the overcast skies will clear and the nighttime lows will quit dip towards freezing. Our tough winter will become a distant memory and soon we will solidly be into the growing season. The question is will your perennial plant beds and shrubs be…
For environmentally conscious Calgarians, composting is nothing new. Turning household food waste and lawn trimmings into an excellent, high-quality loam perfect for gardens – what we call compost –spares landfills from filling up with unnecessary waste and provides you with free organic fertilizer. Even if you are not a gardener, however, composting can be beneficial.…
March was a long, cold and snowy month, and so along with just about every other Calgarian we at Mirage Landscaping welcome April with open arms! As a long-time commercial landscaping maintenance and design firm in Calgary, we would like to remind all of you commercial property owners and managers that late April through the…
With only about 100 frost-free mornings per year, but also very long summer days, many Calgary area plant lovers are contemplating building their own greenhouse. Advances in design and materials, along with some peculiar features of our weather, have been making greenhouses more popular in Calgary. At Mirage Landscaping in Calgary, your premier residential and commercial…
As a business owner or manager, outsources services just makes good business sense in many cases. It is very rare that any company does everything in house! Calgary’s Mirage Landscaping specializes in commercial property caretaking, and your business’ routine lawn and garden maintenance is our priority. Do You Need Us? The landscaping of your company’s…
With spring approaching, if you have an underground sprinkler system for your commercial or residential Calgary area property give us a call at Mirage Landscaping to give it a thorough systems check before you turn it on. You can add this request to our spring clean up service for you ultimate convenience. If you don’t have an irrigation…
After all of the hard work we have put in on snow removal this winter, we here at Mirage Landscaping, your premier commercial and residential landscaping design and maintenance firm in Calgary, are ready to turn the page on this season. As we work outdoors all year long, we are definitely ready for spring to come. Are…
Groundhog Day, which occurred in both Canada and the United States on February 2, was one of the few lighthearted moments in what has turned out to be a very long winter. The consensus of the three major groundhog weather forecasters we are aware of, Ontario’s Wiarton Willie, Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam, and Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil, had a…
Looking around the neighbourhoods of Calgary, as we do daily, it’s absolutely amazing that there are still many mounds of snow piled up that came from the storms of December. Frankly, it has meant a lot of long days of snow removal for us here at Mirage Landscaping, and we also feel for everyone confronted by the record…
Last week in our series on proper disposal methods for snow we discussed just how dirty snow can get, and how getting rid of it can become a problem during years of heavy accumulation. As a matter of fact, so much snow fell during December of last year that the regular snow disposal locations in…
When snow piles up fresh, pristine and white, it looks clean enough to eat. And for the most part, it is! But common airborne pollutants eventually fall to the ground, which snow begins to gather and absorb after just a short while. Even though it may still look clean, snow can actually be very, very…
Thus far this winter we’ve seen some pretty extreme weather in Calgary. At Mirage Landscaping, your premier landscaping design and snow removal company, we know that this isn’t the time of year you would usually think about your retaining wall, but the winter is when that wall is at its most vulnerable. As you know, our…
Unless you want to become a winter recluse or shut-in, eventually you are going to have to get brave and attempt to walk around through Calgary’s ice and snow. Winter trekking need not be a daunting task…it just requires a little forethought that summer living doesn’t. At Mirage Landscaping, Calgary’s most well-known commercial and residential landscaping…
At Mirage Landscaping, your full-service landscaping design, maintenance and snow removal company, even with over three generations of service to our Calgary clients, we haven’t seen many winters kick off like this one. December brought record snowfall amounts and biting cold arctic temperatures we just don’t get every winter. In fact, isolated parts of the…
Mirage Landscape design of Calgary has been serving the city for three generations. Throughout the winter and into the spring we see all kinds winter damage to trees and other plants while we perform snow removal services, and want you to know when you should be worried about your trees. Every tree and shrub is precious…
At Mirage Landscaping in Calgary, we work hard to run the premier commercial and residential landscaping design and maintenance firm in the city three seasons of the year, and be your best snow removal company in the winter. We run a professional business, which means we not only carry workers compensation insurance for our employees in…
As Calgarians, we should all be quite familiar with how to dress for outdoor activities here in Alberta. However, whether out of convenience, or through thinking, “It will only be a short time out in the weather,” many of us do not bother to dress correctly for a chore such as snow shovelling. At Mirage Landscaping, …
It’s only halfway through December, and you still have time to do some spectacular holiday yard decorating! The following suggestions are simple and economical. At Mirage Landscaping, Calgary’s most trusted landscape design company, we certainly encourage getting into the spirit! Some holiday lighting tips derived from over three generations of winter service to our customers include:…
The snow and ice battles that we face every winter here in Calgary are well documented. There are sections of the municipal code devoted to how you must deal with snow and ice that falls or develops upon your grounds – which is our specialty – and roads and highways are watched carefully by authorities.…
Big snow removal jobs around Calgary are a lot more complicated than they look. If you are a commercial property owner, don’t take chances on a company without experience. Here at Mirage Landscaping, your premier full-service commercial and residential landscaping and snow removal company in Calgary, we don’t take short cuts to earn your business. We…
When people here think of outdoor routine winter maintenance, the first thought is usually snow removal. Here at Mirage Landscaping, your premier full service residential and commercial landscaping maintenance firm in Calgary, we can handle all of your snow removal needs. However, there is another unavoidable feature of winter weather that you are pretty much totally responsible…
How did your snow removal go last winter? Did you do it yourself, and in so doing, began dreading the weather reports? Did you have someone do it for you? If so, were they there to remove the snow when you wanted it gone? Did they do a professional job? Did you have to call…
Although we have offered several guidelines on how to shovel snow without wrecking your health, the best tip we can give remains our favourite: Employ Mirage Landscaping for all of your Calgary commercial and/or residential snow removal needs. For those who insist on doing it themselves, however, there are options other than the ubiquitous shovel that can…
It won’t be long now until many of us are engaged in Calgary’s least favorite winter sport—snow removal. Depending on how many times it snows here this winter, you might wind up feeling as if you’d played the home half of the Flames’ season before you’re through. As you may know, Mirage Landscaping is in…
Sooner than you think, you may be looking for snow removal services in Calgary. The time to think about snow removal is before the snow flies in amounts where you will be breaking out a shovel or a blower. Under the legal code of the City of Calgary, specifically Street Bylaw 20M88, as an owner or tenant…
If you are serious about lawn care in Calgary, you know the importance of applying fertilizer in the fall to give your grass every advantage in bouncing back in the spring. You aren’t serious about lawn care in Calgary? That’s okay, because here at Mirage Landscaping in Calgary, we can take care of your local…
It has been impossible to miss the days getting shorter and the overnight low temperatures dipping towards the first freezes of the year in the Calgary area. The leaves of all of the deciduous trees have all received the environmental cues to turn, and are falling in earnest already. As usual, there will be a…
After our unusual summer of raining and flooding it’s hard to believe that winter weather is just a couple of months away, more or less. If you are the owner of a residential or commercial underground sprinkler system, it’s soon time to decide whether to drain, or “blowout” your buried irrigation system. Some of you…
Last week we took an initial look at mulch and how the Calgary landscaping community uses it. Mulch is an essential part of landscaping in Calgary if you want your more tender plants to make through the winter in one piece. There are a lot of factors that can cause harm to your plants through…
The word “mulch” is rather silly-sounding, and its meaning is vague to many. Simply put, all mulches are applied ground covers or soil amendments. There are undeniable benefits to mulch – especially in Calgary – where the winters can be very long and very cold. Mirage Landscaping has over three generations worth of serving the…
This posting is the second in our series about plant life suitable for our Calgary area gardens. According to Canadian hardiness zones, our city climate can readily support plant life rated for Zone 2 or 3. This time around, we are going to discuss the somewhat confusing category of plants called “shrubs” (or, to some,…
We’ve discussed before that Calgary can, depending upon where your property sits, support plant life within hardiness zones 2-4. But what does that mean when it comes to trees? If you have found yourself wondering which trees are best for your Calgary garden, read on. Here at Mirage Landscaping, we have over three generations worth…
With all of the excess moisture we’ve had in Calgary recently, your lawn may have a sudden mycological infestation. Do you find yourself wondering “What do I do about the mushrooms in my lawn?” If so, you have a situation that makes the typical weed problem look easy by comparison. With over three generations of…
Calgarians are very aware of many things, and a lot are particular to our climate. We know, for instance, that freezing and thawing generally results in things cracking, breaking and sometimes plenty of damage. The most obvious is usually in our driveways and our walkways – at Mirage Landscaping, every spring and summer we repair retaining…
There’s nothing worse than trying to enjoy a family barbecue in the backyard during a lovely, long Calgary summer evening only to be disrupted by an angry mob of wasps. The same is true for trying to create a welcome business atmosphere, but employees constantly have to chase out wasps from your store. Wasps seem…
At Mirage Landscaping, Calgary’s commercial and residential landscaping maintenance firm, we have extensive experience laying out, installing, and maintaining underground sprinkler systems. Most of our largest clients are the owners or managers of corporate and small business properties and we have seen it all over the course of three generations in business. Automating your plant and lawn…
If you are completing new construction, or have decided to raise the level of entertaining elegance in your Calgary area backyard, there’s nothing like a brick patio to enhance the beauty and versatility of your property. Mirage Landscaping has a number of years experience in installing brick patios of all types. Why Choose Brick? First…
If you are like us here at Mirage Landscaping, Calgary’s commercial and residential landscaping company, you want to know which plants will best serve to make your home lush and beautiful during the growing season. Alas, as with most things, figuring out which plants thrive the best in Calgary turns out to be a complicated…
As a major full-service landscaping contractor here in Calgary for over three generations, we here at Mirage Landscaping have long offered our clients our ability to construct retaining walls. Whether a two and one half foot enclosed tree or flower planting bed that is easier to mow and trim around, or a massive structure designed to keep…
Mirage Landscaping is all over Calgary year-round performing jobs for both commercial and residential clients. Landscape construction is our business, and we do everything. We plant trees, install irrigation systems, build retaining walls and simply performing routine lawn maintenance. We treat every job our customers entrust us with as the most important one on our list.…
There really is no critter more annoying than the pesky mosquito. At this time of year in Calgary, the moment you step on your lawn you’re likely to see a swarm erupt with every footfall. The abnormally wet spring in this city has left the skeeters more robust than usual, too, and mosquito repellent is…
Hello Calgary! We hope you are all doing well! We have been out there for the last week repairing and fixing after the floods, just like you, and as long-time Calgary citizens, we at Mirage Landscaping would like to say we’re proud of how well our city has reacted. Kudos to all of our customers…
It’s been a rainy June in Calgary and many landscaping companies are struggling to keep up during the short periods between storms. It’s been tough for both professional and personal gardeners to sneak in a proper spring clean up during the short amount of time our green spaces have been dry, and now the grass…
After your commercial landscaping company comes to visit, the green space by your business always looks fine from your doorway. The grass is cut, edges are trimmed and the garbage is gone. But have you ever ventured out for a closer look? Even if you are not an experienced gardener, there are several obvious signs…
There’s nothing better than the smell of freshly cut grass, and in June in Calgary the grass grows fast! That fresh aroma comes from the clippings created by mowing, and when it comes to bagging your grass trimmings, some aren’t sure what the ideal approach is. It used to be that the main advice given…
Not all commercial landscape maintenance contractors are equals. There are five essential questions you should be asking your potential (or current) landscaping contractor to ensure that they can completely fulfill your landscaping needs year round. Question One: Are you fully and currently licensed by the provincial and city governments to provide all of the services you…
Mirage Landscaping is committed to individual-looking designs and high standards of customer service. We are a full-service landscaping firm, and we do everything from work with you to create your vision of the ultimate green space to building stone walkways, patios, water features and retaining walls as finishing touches. Every service is completed with dedication…
We have three generations’ worth of experience in landscaping in Calgary at Mirage, and every year we see the same few basic problems with pests at the city’s business properties and homes that we service. There are actually a ton of different types of insects, bacteria and fungi that can harm your trees and plants,…
At Mirage Landscaping, our crews fan out across Calgary every morning with an array of both power and held-held landscaping tools that allow us to complete your professional landscaping jobs in a time efficient manner. We also carry essential safety equipment to prevent injuries and downtime, too. Since most Calgary do-it-yourself landscapers don’t have to…
Pruning your trees, shrubs, and bushes is absolutely imperative for the long-term health and success of the plant. Pruning not only helps “shape” a shrub, perennial or tree into an attractive form, it also assists the plant in producing flowers, fruit and new growth. Pruning also maximizes your return on watering and fertilizer. At Mirage…
Whether your commercial property is in a