A cold, snowy spring may mean not everything is coming up roses for Alberta gardeners this season — but it can help green thumbs plan better for next year.
The up-and-down temperatures and snow that blanketed gardens well into late April mean some plants may not recover from the shock, says Jaana Paavola, manager of horticulture and infrastructure at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden.
“It may impact them as they wake up from winter, which already exhausts their energy reserves, only to be hit with snow and cold temperatures, so we could see increased loss, especially in plants less than two years old.”
Gardeners can try to rescue their distressed plants by pruning out and cleaning up any dead material to prevent rot, “then try to nurse the remaining plant back to health with some fertilizer,” Paavola advises. Keeping the roots from drying out too much can also prevent further stress, she adds.
There are also some proactive steps they can take this year, in case the same grumpy weather hits next spring.
When planning this spring’s yard lineup, “picking northern-tested plants is the best defence, as they are naturally built to withstand these swings,” Paavola says.
The Edmonton area is located mainly in Zone 4A, a plant hardiness designation issued by Natural Resources Canada, so tried-and-true varieties include perennial plants such as daylilies and Russian sage, lilac shrubs, and spruce and poplar trees.
“These plants are exceptionally tough. They can tolerate snow, cold, drought and heat, and some of the trees even grow naturally in our forests.”
Get out the garden hose to keep plants well watered this summer and fall. As well, investing in soil health by adding organic matter such as a mix of grass clippings, leaves, compost or aged animal manure “will always benefit whatever you plant by providing both short- and long-term nutrient availability,” Paavola says. “Good roots make good shoots.”
As the season comes to a close, adding mulch to the root zones of plants provides insulation from temperature swings, and “during the winter, you can also bury vulnerable plants in clean snow that is free of sand or salt,” she suggests.
“Both snow and mulch act as a blanket, shielding the soil from air temperature fluctuations and allowing it to warm gradually.”
Climate-proof planting
Aside from this year’s chilly spring, however, a warming climate means gardeners should always be planting with dry conditions in mind, Paavola says.
“Prioritize drought-tolerant plantings, which reduces the need for frequent watering. Ornamental grasses, daylilies, Russian sage and potentilla are all good options.”
A slightly warmer growing season also provides a little wiggle room to experiment with heat-loving varieties, such as black walnut or butternut hickory trees, as well as hybrid tea roses — even magnolias rated for a milder Zone 5.
“I’ve seen people have luck if the plant is well sheltered and you don’t mind it dying back each year, meaning the foliage turns brown and dies, but the root system goes dormant and will regrow in the spring.”
In the harvest garden, enthusiastic growers can leave a bit of room for sweet potatoes, corn, melons and white strawberries, she suggests.
Miniature greenhouses and tunnels in the garden can coax some of these plantings along, she adds. “They help to warm the soil and protect against frost damage.”
The University of Alberta Botanic Garden opens May 8 for the 2026 season, and features several events and programs, including both free and paid horticultural education classes starting in June. For visitors with four-footed friends, the garden also welcomes dogs.
Comments are closed.