Before you pull on your gloves and get down in the dirt, it's important to consider all aspects of your Alberta garden. The biggest and most beautiful arrangements come from careful planning as much as diligent tending, so keep the following things in mind as you plan your backyard showcase.

Size

The first thing to decide is how big you'd like your garden to be. There are actually several factors involved in choosing the right size, so let's narrow them down.

The available space. Obviously, you can't grow a 1/2 acre garden if your backyard is only a 1/4 acre. You'll also need to give yourself room to walk and weed if you're planting things in rows.

Your level of experience. Don't get overly ambitious as a newbie! Start with a small garden and let your thumb turn green before you start experimenting with larger, more demanding plots.

Your chosen plants and their growing conditions. You might have to keep things potted or in raised flower beds if they need specific soil conditions, so don't break out the backhoes just yet. You might be able to leave your lawn untouched.

Location

There are three important questions to ask yourself about the location of your garden.

Where will it look nice? You aren't limited to a square plot in the backyard. You can cultivate a beautiful garden on the front lawn to increase your curb appeal, or you can encourage flowers and vines to grow on a trellis on your exterior side walls.

Where will it have the right conditions for growth? Depending on the species of your chosen flowers, your garden might need particular amounts of sun and shade, and rain or cold weather protection. You can't just scatter your seeds everywhere and expect them to flourish.

Can it stay there forever? It can be difficult to move plants after they've taken root, especially if you're working with things like trees and shrubs. It can also be expensive to re-soil or re-fertilize certain areas of land in preparation for new flowers. Wherever you begin your garden, assume that it's staying put for awhile.

Provenance

While gardening is a creative outlet, where the choice of plants is all yours, you may want to consider the "provenance" of the plants. Provenance refers to the geographic origin of the plant or where it grows most naturally in the wild. It can definitely be easier to maintain a garden filled with plants that naturally flourish in the region you're gardening in. For example, you can successfully grow almost any type of root vegetable in Alberta, but you wouldn't want to plant a banana tree!

Species

That being said, you can find many gorgeous plants that are native to Alberta and will grow just fine in its changing weather conditions. Here are just a few plants of all sizes, colours, and fragrances!

Rock clematis (clematis columbiana) is a vine with pretty purple flowers that can be encouraged to grow in gardens, across walls, along arbours or through fences.

Blanket flowers (gaillardia aristata) are sunflowers that combine traditional yellows with shocking pinks and oranges. They really do look like a blanket of colour, and they'll be vibrant additions to your backyard garden.

Pearl yarrow (achillea ptarmica) are dainty white flowers like you'd see in a wedding bouquet. They require careful tending, but they can bring a certain freshness and purity to your garden that will balance out its more dramatic elements.

Fireweed (epilobium angustifolium), also known as willowherb, will spread just as quickly as its name suggests. It's great for first-timers who are hoping that their garden will grow quickly and dramatically.

Paper birch (betula papyrifera) offers white branches and vivid green leaves. It looks best if allowed to grow into trees, but you can also keep it clipped for an attractive shrub. Put it under a window or start a tree grove for summertime shade!

Wood lilies (lilium philadelphicum) are dazzling splashes of colour and elegance. If you're hoping to collect seeds for future planting, be sure to plant several wood lilies, as cross-pollination is needed for them to produce seeds.

Theme

This is for advanced gardeners who are comfortable growing specific plants and spending a lot of time on watering, weeding, pruning, and fertilizing. If you're looking for a way to make your garden stand out, consider giving it a theme. Here are a few that will work well in Alberta:

An oriental zen garden with dwarf conifers (chamaecyparis obtusa), Japanese azaleas (rhododendron japonicum), and bamboo shoots (bambusoideae). You can also add fountains and stone arrangements to increase the tranquility of the atmosphere.

A desert or dryland garden with cacti (opuntia polyacantha) and dotted blazing stars (liatris punctata). They'll look great with sandy patches around trees as a decorative element.

A lush forest garden with green shrubs (betula glandulosa), yellow flowers (arnica fulgens), and silver bushes (eleagnus commutata). The wilder they look, the more you'll be transported into the rugged landscape of another world.

These are just a few tips for success if you're looking to cultivate a garden in Alberta. Whether you're considering a small vegetable plot or a full-scale botanical garden in the backyard, use these suggestions to make it a good one!

Photo credits: planting, digging, garden