Chinook Landscaping and Design – Landscaping Calgary Specialists
Calgary, Alberta
403-452-8552
Mon-Fri 8:00 AM- 5:00 PM.
Chinook Landscaping Calgary

Category: Landscaping

Chinook Landscaping CalgaryLandscaping Calgary BlogLandscaping
04 Apr 2020
0 Comments By david Landscaping, Landscaping Calgary

Landscaping you can do around your home while waiting out the coronavirus COVID-19

Consider some things you can do around the exterior of your home while you wait out the coronavirus COVID-19.

 

Clear snow from around your foundation areas

Now is a great time to clear snow from around the foundation areas of your home.  You may be in an older home where paving stones or concrete walkways and patios have sunken.  This sinking can create positive drainage towards your house.  When you see areas like this it is best to use a shovel to move the snow away from the foundation and pile it in an area where the spring run off will not create run off towards your homes foundation.  Try not to pile this snow on top of your garden or shrub areas as this extra snow will slow the spring growing of your shrubs and perennials.  As well, there may be salt in the snow and too much salt is not good for your plantings.

Divert runoff from your downspouts and away from low lying areas

We almost always see downspouts that are set up incorrectly and create issues with water draining towards your home.  IF you can safely divert the downspouts to another area it is best to do that before the big thaw starts.  If you can’t divert the downspouts then you should consider creating trenches in the snow to help channel the water away from your home and towards low lying areas.  A drainage assist arbor may provide a good drainage solutions for diverting water over your pathways.  You can call Chinook Landscaping  if you would like a estimate for that.

Rake up leaves, pinecones

Some areas of your lawn may be free of snow at this time,.  You may also have areas under your large spruce trees or other trees that have been protected from the snow.  Now is a good time to get a head start on spring maintenance and rake up leaves, pinecones and other debris around your yard.  You can toss the lawn debris directly into your compost container.

Prune trees, shrubs and perennials

Early spring is a great time to prune trees, shrubs and perennials.  It is always best to do your pruning before your plants wake up and start to put out fresh green buds.  Pruning trees and shrubs can easily be done with a good pair of pruning shears or you can also use a small hand saw.  Pruning larger trees may require a ladder and special tools so make sure to be very careful if you plan to prune large trees.  It may be best to hire a professional arborist for your larger trees.  Shaping shrubs can be enjoyable and you can trim them with pruning shears or a automatic hedge trimmer.  This is also a good time of the year to trim back your hedges.  If you have a cotoneaster hedge and it is diseased with oystershell scale you may want to consider pruning them right to the ground.  This will allow them to regrow without the virus.  If you are going to do your own pruning make sure to follow guidelines on pruning trees and shrubs

Create a landscape design on your computer or with a pencil and paper

If you have lots of time on your hands you could create a landscape design on your computer or with a pencil and paper.  If you want to try landscape design on your computer there is lots of landscape design software out there to help you with this.  Professional landscape designers use expensive CAD based Software but you could try some of the more simple software options if you are not familiar with Autocad.  Some software you could consider is smartdraw
If you just want to try sketching with a pencil and paper a great way to start is by getting out your RPR.  RPR or Real Property Reports show the footprint of your house on your lot.  Make some extra copies and sketch in patios and walkways, trees, shrubs, landscape features, retaining walls etc.

If you would like help with a landscape design give us a call or request an estimate on our estimate request page.

 

 

 

20 Feb 2020
0 Comments By david Landscaping, lawn

Lawn Pests in Calgary

You may have notices some changes in your Calgary lawn over the years.  The overall health of your lawn may be declining or you may see specific changes that are obvious.  Lawn pests in Calgary are quite common and they can really affect the health and look of your lawn.  It is important to know what pests you have in your lawn and how best to deal with them.

Dew worms

Dew worms or night crawlers as they are often called do not enhance your lawns health at all and in fact can be very damaging to your lawn. Dew worms are provably the most destructive of all the lawn pests in Calgary.  Dew worms can grow up to twelve inches in length.  Most worms are healthy for your lawn as they excrete worm castings that are full of nutrients.  Also the worms themselves provide nutrients to the soil when they die.  Dew worms are quite a different story as they do nothing but make a mess of your lawn. The damaging effects of dew worms can be noticed by mounds or bumps that appear throughout your lawn.  These mounds or bumps are caused when dew worms excrete a clay like substance after you water or after a rainfall occurs. These large mounds can making mowing your lawn a real hassle and walkway on your uneven lawn will be uncomfortable especially if you do it with bare feet.  The clay like substance that comes from the dew worms prevents good drainage and also interferes with the grasses rooting systems.

Dew worms are hard to get rid of

Dew worms are not easy to get rid of as they live under patios, walkways or deep within the surface of your lawn.  There are natural predators for dew worms like coyotes robins and other birds.  Trying to dig out dew worms is next to impossible as they are usually too deep to encounter with a shovel and they will scurry away quickly.  Totally replacing your lawn will definitely help with eliminating your dew worm problem.  New sod care will very much help your lawn stay healthy for years to come and fertilizing your lawn  will help prevent dew worms in the future.There are no proven chemicals or pesticides that work for killing dew worms.

Fairy rings

Fairy rings are caused by a fungus that can appear more often in drier locations or areas with poor soil conditions that have low nutrients including some soils in Calgary

You will typically notice a fairly uniform circle or ring of mushrooms appear on your lawn.  You may also notice dark green grass rings bordered by another inside ring of dead grass.  There may also be mushrooms growing within these rings of discoloured grass.  These mushrooms are typically a light brown or tan colour.  There are many other mushrooms that grow in lawns but these fairy ring mushrooms are distinguished by their small size and brown colour.  You may notice these fairy rings and mushrooms more during the rainy season or after you have watered heavily. As lawn pests in Calgary go, fairy rings are very common and can be seen most often during spring and early summer

Controlling your fairy rings

The cause of fairy rings is a fungi but as there have been no fungicides developed that will control the mycelium fungi you will need to address the fairy rings by doing some manual digging.  Lawn & garden care are the keys to keeping your lawn healthy.  A healthy lawn that is watered and fertilized will will be affected less by lawn pests in Calgary.  We have found great success by using a pitchfork to punch holes in the lawn wherever the fairy rings exist.  It is best to make your holes as deep as possible ( up to 12 inches) and they should be about 3-6 inches apart.  After you have throughly punched the holes in the affected area you can then apply water.  Soak the area thoroughly with water every couple days or as much as every day for at least a month.  if your fairy rings have gotten so bad that they have left the grass brown and unhealthy then we recommend watering daily.  You can also apply some generic dish washing liquid to the fairy rings before you apply the water.  To do this, simply mix a couple teaspoons of water in a large gallon bucket and pour it over your fork holes.  Then soak the detergent into the holes by applying more water.

Replace your lawn if yard pests have taken over

If you have found that dew worms, fairy rings or other lawn pests in Calgary have taken over your lawn then you may want to consider replacing your lawn and soil.  You may not need to do complete sod removal and replacement if there are only small affected areas. If for example you only have a small patch of fairy rings then totally removing the sod and lawn and replacing it will likely be less work than fighting with the fairy rings for weeks or even months.  We have found dew worms to be very persistent and are definitely the most damaging of lawn pests in Calgary. Customers often ask us when is it time for lawn removal? If your lawn has been over run with bumps and mounds caused by dew worms then it is probably best to totally replace your lawn.  Chinook landscaping Calgary would be happy to provide you with a free estimate for your lawn replacements.

07 Feb 2020
0 Comments By david Landscaping, Landscaping Calgary

Don’t pay for a landscaping estimate

We want to give a quick thumbs up for all the landscape contractors out there who work hard to provide free estimates to Calgary homeowners.  Chinook Landscaping and design has provided free landscaping estimates to our Calgary customers for over twenty years.  Landscaping estimates should be something that is provided at no cost regardless of what your project is.  There are some companies that will ask you for a fee in order to provide you with a landscaping estimate.   It is understandable to charge for a landscape design but a landscaping estimate should always be free,  Your landscaping estimate should include the following important details.

Itemized list of landscaping components

It is important to have a detailed itemized list of your landscaping components included in your estimate.  Some estimates just list a grand total for all the work you have requested.  We find our customers really like the detailed list of components.  This way you can pick and choose the landscaping components you want.  The separate costs for each landscaping component will help you decide whether the amounts fall in line with your budget.

Dimensions of hardscape components

Your estimate should include the dimensions of hardscape components like patios, walkways and retaining walls.  Knowing the dimensions will help you compare prices with other estimates you have received.  The dimensions will also allow you to double check the hardscape areas to make sure the measurements are correct.  There will always be some differences once your landscaping components are installed but the initial estimate should give you a very good idea of the dimensions of hardscape components.

Varieties of trees and shrubs

Knowing the varieties of trees and shrubs is very helpful.  This is an important part of all the free landscaping estimates we provide.  There are many trees and shrubs that grow well in Calgary but not all of them grow well under varying conditions.  Varying conditions include sun exposure, water availability, soil conditions and drainage.  We provide shrub and/or tree recommendations based on these variables.  It is very important that the appropriate shrubs and trees are placed in areas where they will flourish otherwise your plant investment will be wasted.

Landscaping options

We always like to included landscaping options in our estimates.  These landscaping options are important and give homeowners some choice when it comes to different landscaping items.  Common landscaping options include hardscaping such as patios and walkways.  We like to list material options for patios and walkway such as paving stones, exposed aggregate, stamped or broom finished concrete.  The prices of these different materials can very greatly so having options is very important.  Tree, shrubs and perennial options are also valuable and should be included in your landscaping estimate.  Many tree and shrub varieties will grow well in similar conditions so its good to know what your options are.

Request your free landscaping estimate 

16 Jan 2020
0 Comments By david Landscaping, Landscaping Calgary

A great alternative to salt for your walkway

For many years now Calgarians have been using salt or gravel to melt snow and ice from their slippery winter walkways and sidewalks. Salt can be especially harmful to your plantings and sod and other landscaping. A little salt is ok but too much salt can cause short and long term damage to sod, shrubs, trees and perennials.  Not only is salt damaging to the foliage but more damage is caused by salt being taken up by the plants root systems.

Salty spring runoff is harmful

In the spring or during warm chinook weather, the snow melts and mixes with the salt.  This salty spring run offThe water and salt is absorbed by the plants root systems and eventually reaches toxic levels.  In spring, during new plant growth, you may notice your plants are slow to leaf out or they are not showing any signs of life.  Your lawn or sod may look brownish and the grass blades may be mushy. Minimize salt damage to your lawn in Calgary.

Lava rock is a good option

Lavagrip is a great option to using salt or gravel.  Lavagrip is actually crushed Lava rock that provides a very grippy surface when applied on walkways on patio surfaces.  The lava rock is harmless and won’t damage your plants or lawn.  Lava rock is porous and this allows your plantings to still get air even if you apply a lot of lava rock to your walkway.  Lavagrip will not melt ice and although it provides a good drip on top of ice it is still best to shovel your walkways clean of snow and ice.

23 Apr 2019
Picture of David Abbott on the Marc and Mandy Tv show
0 Comments By david Landscaping, Landscaping Calgary

Chinook Landscaping and Design on The Marc and Mandy Show

Chinook Landscaping was proud to be part of The Marc and Mandy Show.  The show is airing now on City TV in Calgary.  We shared “Tips from The Pros” and discussed several important ways to improve your landscaping.  You can watch the City TV segment on Youtube here Chinook Landscaping and Design on The Marc and Mandy Show.  Here is a sample of what we discussed on the segment.

How to prevent water from pooling around your walkways.

Preventing water from pooling around your walkways can be a challenge when landscaping in Calgary.  It is one of the most common issues we face as landscapers in Calgary.  Many homeowners or landscaping companies choose to bury their downspouts in order to divert water away from their walkways.  This is not necessarily the best solution.  Burying downspouts can often cause even more issues.  These new issues can arise because the the area that is buried can take longer to thaw in spring time.  Therefore the above ground free flowing water can run into an ice plug underground.  This causes your eavestroughs to overflow or even worse, it can lead to frost heaving under your walkway.  Frost heaves can cause cracks in concrete or high and low spots in your paving stones.  To prevent burying your downspouts we often recommend and arbor be used.  An arbor is a wood structure that can be simple or decorative.  We typically build these arbors from cedar because they look more attractive. Arbors provide drainage solutions by straddling walkways and diverting water away from your walkway.  We simply run the drain pipe over top the arbor and down the other side.  It is a simple solution to what could be a very serious drainage issue. Arbors also provide great curb appeal for your front yard and they are inexpensive to install.

The best way to create curb appeal for your property.

Defining your borders! This is the key to great looking curb appeal.  We discuss watch the video segment of Chinook landscaping and design on the Mark and Mandy show to learn more.  Defining your borders simply means cleaning up those edges around your garden beds. If you check out the TV segment Chinook Landscaping and Design on The Marc and Mandy Show you will see some great examples of how to create great curb appeal.   Overgrown messy garden beds are not attractive and they distract from the overall look of your landscaping in Calgary.  We often see great looking garden beds with a nice selection of shrubs and perennials but the borders are not defined.  Clearly defined borders look great and can be done easily without breaking the bank,  You can define your borders by using a simple spade edge but this needs to be done annually.  A spade edge means digging out sod or perennials around your garden bed in order to create a defined border.  A better way to define your borders is to use mowing pavers or raised stack stone or even a vinyl edge.  Mowing pavers are very practical because they allow you to mow your lawn easily by mowing right over the pavers.  Mowing pavers mean you do not need to trim up against a garden wall or edging.  A raised garden wall is another way to create curb appeal for your property.  Garden walls create a bolder and more obvious defined border than other methods. Raised garden walls are more expensive than mowing pavers.  Unlike mowing pavers, if you have grass bordering your garden wall you will need to trim up against it. You can eliminate the trimming by adding mowing pavers in front of your garden wall.

Watch Chinook Landscaping and Design on The Marc and Mandy Show.  Click here to learn more about Marc and Mandy

31 Mar 2019
0 Comments By david Landscaping, Landscaping Calgary, PAVING STONES , ,

Paving stone repair

We get a lot of calls from Calgary homeowners asking us about paving stone repair.  Paving stone patios and walkways or paving stone driveways are common in Calgary.  Over time the paving stones can heave due to frost heaves, drainage issues or tree roots.  Many of these paving stone structures have been there for many, many years so the paving stones themselves are old and outdated.

How to repair paving stones

For paving stone repair to be done properly you have to start by creating a proper base. As with all landscaping components, preparation is the most important part of the project.  Simply removing the paving stones and adding or removing a little of the base is not sufficient.  The best way to repair your paving stones is to remove the paving stones from the heaved or sunken area.  Also remove the paving stone from a portion of the affected area even if they are not in need of repair.  Then remove the sand and check to make sure there is an existing compacted gravel base.  If there is not an existing gravel base then that is likely the cause of your paving stone issue.  To properly re-install the paving stones you will need to add a compacted gravel base.  This gravel base will prevent frost heaves and damage from drainage issues.  IF you are looking for a quick fix then you can simply add or remove some sand but this won’t be a good long term fix.

Are roots the cause of your paving stone issue?

Tree roots are often the cause of paving stones heaving and they can cause real damage to patios, walkways and driveways.  You many be dealing with a city tree that cannot be removed.  Or, you like the look of the tree but you don’t like the damage it is doing to your paving stones.  If tree roots are the cause of the paving stone damage, then notching out the tree root might be your best solution.  Spruce tree and poplar roots are the most common culprits and their roots can be cut or notched out with a hand or power saw.  If the root is very large then notching out a piece is probably better than cutting through the entire root. Then, cover the notched out area with sand or a compacted base.  The root will likely continue to grow and will eventually lift your paving stones again in the future.  Removing the root entirely reduce the chances of the heaving returning in the future.

Should you consider new paving stones?

If your paving stones are very old and outdated it is probably best to start fresh with new modern paving stones.  Paving stones have come a long way and there are now so many great styles and colours to choose from.  It often costs the same to repair your old paving stones as it does to install entirely new paving stones.  Paving stone repair is an extensive process and most of the costs are in preparation of a proper base. You can add real value to your property by adding new modern paving stones.  We always recommend completely replacing your paving stones if they are older and outdated.

Call Chinook Landscaping and design today for your free paving stone consultation and estimate.

Ph:  403-452-8552

Or visit our estimates page

31 Mar 2019
0 Comments By david Landscaping, Landscaping Calgary, trees calgary , ,

Problems with poplar trees

If you live in one of Calgary’s older communities you are probably already very familiar with problems with Poplar trees.  

The city of Calgary planted thousands of Poplar trees in the 1960’s and 1970’s.  Many of these trees were planted on Calgary boulevards.  Unfortunately, many were also planted in front of residential homes.  Over the years these Poplar trees have become huge and their size and evasiveness has caused numerous issues with Calgary residential properties and sidewalks.  It is likely the city of Calgary regrets planting these very destructive trees as they have cause so much damage throughout the city.

What are the problems with Poplar trees?

Poplar trees can grow to be  very large.  There are many problems with Poplar trees . Their roots do not run deep but instead they are very shallow.  These shallow roots can be up to 12″ across and they have the power to lift sidewalks, paving stones, driveways and retaining walls.  We have seen many examples of this destruction while visiting with our Calgary clients at their homes.  Poplars have a need to breed and their root structure is extensive.  Their root system also creates new shoots that can become full grown poplar trees over time.  Poplars not only have very evasive root systems but they are also have very fragile branches.  Considering Poplars are such a huge and strong looking tree, they are surprisingly fragile>  You may have witnessed the aftermath of a wind storm in Calgary and seen the branches strewn allover the streets.  The majority of these branches are from Poplar trees.  Poplar tree branches are extremely fragile.  A small child can easily break these branches off without much effort.  In high winds these branches break off and at times even entire limbs snap and fall to the ground, damaging cars, homes and surrounding landscapes.

Is your poplar tree a city tree?

If your Poplar tree is causing you grief, you may find that getting rid of it will cause you even more grief. Poplars are protected to an extreme in Calgary.  As destructive and evasive as they are, the city has made it a priority to protect them.  Removing them or even pruning them may be a battle especially if the trees is fronting your property and is deemed to be the property of the City of Calgary.
Is a city of Calgary tree on your property?  

The city of Calgary has come up with an exhaustive list you must conform to in order to have them consider allowing you to remove your Poplar tree.  This list includes getting permission from your neighbours to remove the tree, paying for the removal yourself and planting a replacement tree.

For more information visit this link to learn more from the City of Calgary about Problems with poplar trees 
Chinook Landscaping Calgary  has great options for great looking trees to include in your landscaping Calgary project.Check out our trees Calgary page for more information.

 

 

 

24 Mar 2019
0 Comments By david Gardening, Landscaping, planting ideas, shrubs Calgary , , ,

Pruning Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass

Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass are a very attractive ornamental grass that grows very well in Calgary.  Pruning Karl foerster feather reed grass should be left until late spring.  The dead stalks are attractive and add interest to your landscape if left over winter time.  Karl foerster are very easy to prune, much easier in fact than most other shrubs.

How to prune a Karl Foerster

As we mentioned earlier it is best to leave your Karl foerster un pruned until late spring.  This will preserve the beautiful stalks over winter.  Pruning a Karl foerster feather reed grass is quick and easy and can be made even easier if you use a bunny cord or rope.  Simply tie the cord around the base of the Karl Foerster and then trim below it.  We recommend trimming about 6 inches up from the base of the grass.  When you are finished you should be left with a tidy bundle of stalks.  Discard these stalks in your composting bin and you are done.

There are many other ornamental grasses that are ideal for Calgary’s climate.  To learn more about ornamental grasses visit Ornamental grasses ideal for Canadian Climates

Find out why we are landscaping Calgary specialists.  Give us a call to discuss your landscaping project.

Ph: 403-452-8552

18 Mar 2019
0 Comments By david Gardening, Landscaping, planting ideas, shrubs Calgary

Ornamental Grasses ideal for Canadian Climates

 

Ornamental grasses are a beautiful way to add a soft, natural look to almost any landscape.  Ornamental grasses are ideal for Canadian climates.  There are many popular grasses that grow well in Canada and Calgary’s climate.  The great thing about these grasses is they are extremely hardy and so the chance of winter kill is very rare.  Grasses are also drought tolerant and need far less moisture than most other shrubs and perennials.  Ornamental grasses are also very low maintenance.  Here are some ornamental grasses ideal for Canadian climates.

Karl foerster reed grass

Karl foerster reed grass is the most popular ornamental grass we plant in Calgary.  It is very drought tolerant and low maintenance.  The Karl foerster provides great colour year round.  They have beautiful seed heads that can be left on during the winter to provide lovely fall and winter colour.  Once spring arrives you can simply cut them back in spring and wait for the new growth to appear.  Karl foerster can grow to over 6 feet in some cases and look best when planted in groups of odd numbers.  For photos of Karl Foerster reed grass visit  shrubs Calgary  

Watch our video on Pruning your Karl Foerster feather reed grass

 

Avalanche reed grass and overdam reed grass. 

If you are looking for a little more colour and variation in your ornamental grass, you can consider avalanche reed grass and overdam reed grass.  The blades on these grasses are variegated meaning they have a mix of green and cream white.  These grasses are also very rough tolerant and in some cases can be left throughout the summer with little or no tap watering required.  Both the avalanche reed grass and the
overdam reed grass will not grow as tall as Karl Forester but will grow to a similar width.  Like other ornamental grasses, they look best in groupings.  We prefer to group them in odd numbers of three or five plants.


Blue Oat grass

Blue oat grass is one of our favourite ornamental grasses ideal for Canadian climates.  Blue oat grass has a rich grey blue colour that compliments any garden bed.  They are a lower, mound growing form of ornamental grass that look great in a modern or traditional landscape.  We often use them in a modern landscaping Calgary project as they give a feel of modern Palm springs or Palm desert homes.  From a distance, they can be mistaken for a type of dessert cactus that is popular in gardens throughout the Phoenix and Palm spring areas. Blue oat grass are super hardy and super tough early handling our Calgary winters.  Their blades can be left on in the winter to provide winter interest in your landscaping.  Like the Karl Forester it is best to prune the dead growth back once spring arrives.

Fescue grass

Fescue ornamental grass is a dwarf ornamental grass that is much smaller than the grasses mentioned earlier.  Fescue grass looks great bordering garden beds when placed in the front.  Fescue requires very little water throughout the summer and they are very low maintenance.  These grasses are often used more as ground cover rather than as feature plantings.   Fescue grasses come in different colours and add great highlights to your low maintenance landscaping  If you are planning on including fescue grass for your landscaping project please remember that they can tend to seed easily.  This means they can take root in other areas of your garden bed and will eventually need to be thinned out.

 

 

15 Mar 2019
0 Comments By david drainage, Landscaping, Landscaping Calgary, Renovation

Drainage Solutions

Spring is just around the corner and so you know all that snow has got to go somewhere.  Is your property able to property manage drainage from snow, spring runoff and the inevitable spring rain?  Lots of snow is beneficial to trees and shrubs but it can cause serious drainage issues around your property if the grading is not adequate.  Drainage is a key concern for many Calgary homeowners.  Homeowners are concerned about water draining towards and around their foundations.  They are also concerned about water setting around patios and walkways causing freezing and slipping hazards. We can provide you with drainage solutions for your property and here are a few examples of drainage solutions you can implement to keep your property safe.

Positive drainage away from your foundation

It is imperative to have positive drainage away from your foundation.  This is done by creating a slope where the high point is against your house and the low point is away from your house.  You will want to create this slope with the soil before you add sod, decorative rock or any other topping.  Creating this positive drainage will help to keep water away from your foundations.  We grade our slopes at about one inch for every eight feet. We implement this on all of our grading including patios and walkways.  You may find that over time your property has settled and therefore your lawn or patios or walkways have settle along with the sub surface.  In some cases this may require removing the surface layer of sod or walkway and regrading the property so the proper slope is present.

Proper downspout placement

We constantly encounter issues where downspout placement is inadequate or where downspouts are not placed in the correct areas.  We find this issue to be most common around walkways, especially high traffic walkways in front yards.  Downspouts need to be placed in areas where they will not allow water from your eavestrough to drain onto walkway.  Sometimes this will require adding to or adapting your existing downspouts so they will help with drainage.  Many homes have neglected downspouts that remain in bad areas for years.  This can eventually cause erosion to your property, wash out of soil and gravel and even water making its way through foundation cracks and into your basement.  Try to place your downspouts in an area where it will serve your property best. Some times placing your downspouts into or towards garden beds will help provide your trees and shrubs with water throughout the season. Just make sure the garden bed is not right next to your foundation.

 Avoid burying your downspouts

If at all possible it is important to avoid burying your downspouts.  We find this to be one of the most common landscaping mistakes  Buried downspouts can cause all sorts of long term problems so whenever possible make sure to run you water overland and not underground.  One of the main reasons buried downspouts are an issue is simple.  The water below ground thaws last in the spring time.  The water on your roof, in your eves troughs and downspout drains first. So during Calgary’s big thaw in spring time all of the thawing water from above ground runs into a solid iced plug that is located underground.  This means your eavestroughs will not drain properly because there is no where for the water to go.  The backed up water will likely freeze again as cool weather returns and that can cause all sorts of problems to your landscaping.  We have creative drainage solutions such as using an arbor for a drainage aid.  This process involves running your drain pipes over to the arbor, allowing you to avoid burying your downspouts.

Use an arbor for a drainage aid

We often use decorative arbors as a drainage aid.  We use these arbors to straddle walkways and we run the drain pipe or downspout over top of the arbor and to the other side of the walkway.  This diverts the water and drainage away from the walkway.  The arbor also provides an attractive landscaping feature in your front or back yard.  The drain pipes can be hidden in the arbor so that they are not visible.  See our page arbors and pergolas for your front or back yard for more on this subject.
If your property would be improved by the look of a beautiful cedar arbor you could consider this option as one of your drainage solutions.

Use plantings to absorb the water

You can use plantings to absorb the water from some of your drainage.  Trees, shrubs and sod can really help with drainage issues especially if they are located in key areas.  If you are planning a new garden or new landscaping then  Planting trees and shrubs  in these key areas would be a great idea.  We find that larger trees and shrubs work best for this application as they require more water.  When planning this method make sure that you are not diverting too much water to your trees and shrubs as overwatering trees and shrubs can be as harmful as under watering.  Using run off water for trees and shrubs is a great way to recycle and it will save you time and money as your hand watering will be minimized.

Rain barrels

Rain barrels have become very popular in landscaping in Calgary.  The idea behind rain barrels is to capture the run off from your downspouts or rainwater and use that water for other purposes around your gardens or landscaping. You will see most rain barrels at the side of homes next to the downspouts.  Some homeowners use small pumps in their rain barrels that lead to a hose for hand watering trees, shrubs and perennials. Rain barrels are a great way to collect water and recycle the water.

French drains

French drains are often used as a last resort when overland drainage is not possible or if there is just too much water for your property to handle.  Most properties in Calgary are designed to manage the drainage overland without the need of underground drainage solutions.  French drains involve digging a deep hole somewhere on your property and filling the excavated area with washed rock.  The water is then diverted to this area away from your home and foundation.  The diversion can be done naturally or with the use of weeping tile or Big O drainage pipe.  French drains if built properly can handle a very large amount of water and will greatly reduce the amount of water you have on your property.  They don’t require any substantial maintenance and can be left alone for years.

Our estimates include all sorts of ideas for drainage solutions.  Contact us today for your free consultation and estimate. 
Ph:  403-452-8552