Planning a Water-Wise Yard in Calgary: The City’s Six YardSmart Steps

Step 1: Design your yard

Start with a plan. The City offers a YardSmart planning guide and design workshops to help you lay out beds, lawn and hard surfaces before you dig.

Step 2: Rethink the lawn

Consider replacing some lawn with groundcovers or other lawn alternatives that use less water and support pollinators. If you are keeping or laying grass, the City suggests asking your sod supplier about drought-tolerant turf.

Step 3: Good soil, and lots of it

YardSmart recommends a base of at least eight inches (about 20 cm) of good-quality soil for a healthy garden or lawn, improved with compost. The City has a topsoil calculator to help you work out how much you need.

Step 4: Choose plants that thrive in Calgary

The City publishes guides to perennials, native wildflowers, trees and shrubs, and groundcovers suited to local conditions.

Step 5: Add mulch

Bark, wood chips or stone on top of the soil reduce evaporation, slow weed growth and decrease erosion. The City offers free mulch at the East Calgary Landfill.

Step 6: Water wisely

• When the regular schedule is in effect, water only on your three assigned days, between midnight and 10 a.m. or between 7 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.
• Use a rain barrel — a free source of soft, warm water for your yard.
• Water low and slow: target the roots with a watering can, soaker hose or drip irrigation.

During higher restriction stages — like the Stage 4 restrictions that started November 4, 2026 — outdoor watering may not be allowed at all, so always check the current stage first.

How Josan Construction & Landscaping can help

We install rock landscaping, flower beds, sod and artificial turf across Calgary. Free estimates; we speak English, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.

Sources

• City of Calgary – Be YardSmart
• City of Calgary – Lawn and landscape watering schedule
• City of Calgary – Understanding outdoor water restrictions

Sources checked November 4, 2026. City guidance changes and has no legal status — always confirm requirements with the City of Calgary for your property.