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 your chances of gardening success.
The hallmark of a haphazard planting scheme is when there is simply no rhyme or reason to the layout and organization. Without thinking ahead you are also apt to overcrowd, which introduces needless competition for water, sunlight and soil resources…and some of the plants are going to be losers. As well, plants that are too close together can also pass pests, diseases, bacteria and fungi to each other.
Help designing, or redesigning a holistic landscape that reduces plant problems and maintenance is just a free quote away.
2. Planting the “Wrong” Plants
It is not enough to know which plants work together with minimal fuss. A great landscape design on paper can be utterly betrayed by not casting an eye towards the future. For instance, perhaps you fell in love with the look and aroma of the western red cedars on a trip to BC, and decide that this will be “the one” must have tree in your yard. Unfortunately, that tree will likely die in Calgary, and even if you took heroic measures to keep it alive, it would be a constant struggle because our climate is simply too cold for it. A great landscaping design in Calgary is not only going to be visually appealing, it has to be practical and sustainable too. We know which plants will thrive in our climate and which ones are marginal. We do our homework so that you can benefit from our expertise.
3. Treating Winter As If It Doesn’t Come
It is relatively easy to envision a dreamy landscape design for lazy summer afternoons. It takes skill and experience to design one that will also lift your spirit in the dead of winter as well.
Plants need continual care to thrive. Having an automatic sprinkler system or micro drip irrigation for your planters is not as expensive as you may think. Contact us at Mirage Landscaping for a free quote.
5. Trying to Use Plants When Only a Retaining Wall Will Do
Especially on steep slopes, plants provide great ground cover and keep topsoil in place. The problem is that during deep rains or rapid melting, soil can become super saturated and the whole inclined area can easily slide. Have Mirage Landscaping build you a retaining wall first, then do your planting afterwards.
6. Not Leaving Enough Room For Entertaining And Yard Work
This type of failure usually occurs during new construction or a backyard revision. There is an incentive to save a few dollars by under sizing a patio or making walkways too narrow. Never let a perceived upfront saving saddle you with a patio or walkways you will come to resent when there is no room for outdoor furniture or you can’t turn your lawn mower around. Mirage Landscaping knows how to properly size your patio and walks in relation to the overall size of your lawn.
Mirage Landscaping of Calgary has over three generations of experience providing our residential and commercial clients year round, full-service landscape maintenance and construction services. You can rely upon us to listen to your ideas and plan your backyard getaway with your input into every phase of the plan.
