Many new homes feature nothing but dirt, dust and gravel in the way of landscaping. But with summer stretching ahead of homeowners, it may be time to develop a green thumb and add some curb appeal to your humble abode.
We asked the experts: What do I need to know about landscaping my yard?
"Always call before you dig," says Shane Telford, certified horticultural technician at Green Gate Garden Centres.
"That's your first rule. You never want to plant your tree over your gas line."
After that, start planting.
"I would suggest getting your trees first because they take the longest time to grow," Telford says.
And arborists have kept smaller lot sizes in mind, with hybrid trees offering shade and a focal point, but on a much skinnier scale.
"A lot of the trees coming out now are columnar, so they don't take up a lot of space. If you've got a smaller lot, you'll need more columnar trees."
But what good is a tree without a lawn?
Telford says laying sod and planting trees and flowers can be done in one fell swoop.
"You can lay your sod and get your garden in all at once," he says.
"It's grass now, and in one week it's a lawn."
But for some not-so-green-thumbs shying away from elaborate gardens, Cara Pagnucco, perennial manager at Sunnyside Greenhouses, says there are plenty of options that don't include spending hours in the garden.
"There's tons of stuff available," she says.
From statues, to fountains, to those quirky little gnomes, every homeowner can add character without hiring a landscaper.
"There is so much people can try," Pagnucco says.
"You can pick up planters that have been pre-planted for you. It can be so easy. Annuals are always great because they are colourful for the whole season.
"You can dress up your lawn with ornamental mulches now. There's different colours of rocks and things like that."
Pagnucco says despite the products available, even the most hopeless of gardeners must keep one thing in mind.
"The biggest way to succeed in Calgary is watering," she says.
So slap down the sod and grab the sprinkler -- that lawn will be lush in no time.
