Shrub Questions
I enjoy growing and harvesting fruit. What can I grow other than raspberries and strawberries?
There are many small fruits that do quite well in our area. These include gooseberry, currant, jostaberry, sour cherry, Nanking cherry, cranberry, nannyberry, saskatoon, and grape. Plant in well-drained topsoil and mulch with grass clippings, bark chips, or chopped straw to conserve moisture and maintain a cool soil temperature. Grapes should be planted in a very sheltered south-facing location in order for them to get the necessary sunlight and make it through the winter. Ensure that your plants are well watered before going into winter as this will help them survive the cold weather.
We need hardy shrubs. What do you suggest?
Many varieties are available. Generally, the hardiest shrubs are cultivars of plants native to the Calgary area or a region of the world with similar growing conditions. Remember to choose hardy plants most suited for the specific planting site. A hardy, shade and moisture-loving plant is different than a hardy, open-prairie plant.
Do Zone 4 plants grow in this area?
Yes they do grow in this area, however they cannot just be planted and left alone as many of the hardier plants such as potentilla. Due to our extreme low and fluctuating temperatures in winter these plants must be protected. Take advantage of the insulating properties of snow by planting them in an area of your garden that will get a lot of snow. If this is not feasible, mulch with dry leaves or straw and always water before winter to help with cold weather survival. Please see Winter Protection on p.
If my shrubs are leafing out too early, what do I do?
Keep the roots cool and shaded to delay early spring growth. Water root area heavily before winter and cover the soil with a heavy mulch of organic matter. This will insulate roots and delay spring budding. Pull mulch away in mid-May to allow soil to warm up.
What shrubs do well in the shade?
Here are some examples of shrubs that grow in a wide range of light conditions, including part shade to shade: cotoneaster, cranberry, dogwood, snowberry, mockorange, nannyberry, forsythia, ashleaf or false spirea, wayfaring tree. Keep in mind shady conditions may be dry, moist or wet and therefore require the correct plant selection.
What are the best shrubs to use for a hedge between houses?
The most consistent and true hedge plant in the Calgary area is Peking cotoneaster. It’s not only very dense it will also provide a fall colour, and a great screen for a hedge up to 6-7 feet. If you are looking for something taller, caragana is the best shrub to use for hedges 7 ft. (2m) or more. You can also use other types of shrubs, but they will not give you a manicured look like cotoneasters.
Can I keep my shrubs small by pruning?
Pruning can be used to limit plant size, however, planting dwarf varieties or plants with a smaller mature size is an easier solution. See Shrubs for Special Situations on p.
Why do my lilacs only have a few flowers each year? I water, fertilize, and shape them regularly.
Lilacs are often pruned too late, and this will remove the flower buds for next years crop of flowers. The proper time to prune lilacs, forsythia, double flowering plum, Nanking cherry, and any other shrubs that flower on old wood is right after flowering. Other flowering facts to remember: To set flower buds, lilacs need plenty of direct sun in summer. Cold snaps in late spring may damage flower buds on lilacs and other shrubs.
I have a bad time with powdery mildew on my shrubs...
This is a problem for many gardeners, especially for plants that get more shade. The best ways to combat this problem is to maintain proper pruning practices to allow more air movement and sunlight within and between plants. Watering is also best done in the morning to ensure that leaves do not stay wet for a long period of time. If possible, direct water at the ground not the leaves. Most fungicides do work if applied in the early stages of the disease. If the problem becomes out of control, pruning of infected leaves is useful.
Do plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons, and hydrangeas grow in this area?
Yes they do grow in this area, however they cannot just be planted and left alone as many of the hardier plants such as potentilla. Due to our extreme low and fluctuatingtemperatures in winter these plants must be protected. Take advantage of the insulating properties of snow by planting them in an area of your garden that will get a lot of snow. If this is not feasible mulch with dry leaves or straw and always water before winter to help with cold weather survival. East exposure is the best location for these plants if you are going to try them. That protects them from the southwest chinook winds or the burning north winds in the winter.
