Ignore the snow and start planning your dream garden, landscapers say

We've had a lot of snow this year — record-breaking amounts — but gardening professionals say it's a perfect time to think about what you want your backyard to look like, when the white stuff leaves for good.

"People should be planning for the summer," landscaper Alan MacKenzie told CBC News at the Calgary Home + Garden Show last weekend.

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"If you don't plan properly, it can be counterproductive."

From a landscaping point of view, MacKenzie says his company is treading cautiously due to all the snow.

"There's going to be a lot of water flying around and you don't want the water to go into window wells and basements. We have to address a lot of our projects with water management, so that the water will flow in the correct direction," he said.

"Watch out when we get a chinook."

A landscape artist agrees now is the time to let your imagination run wild.

"This is the perfect time to start visualizing that dream yard," Michelle Dominique-Aris said.

"While that snow is there, it gives us a chance to reflect for a bit and take a pause. As soon as the snow melts, it's going to be hit-the-ground-running time. We have a very short growing season so we have to give the contractors time, and the garden centres to get those orders going."

And there are other ways to get through a snowy winter.

"They could be doing some indoor gardening, aeroponic gardening. They could be visiting the garden centres for plant therapy. It's very good for the soul. It's good for our mental and physical wellbeing. It's an excellent time to start getting some ideas on paper."

Linda Hou says she's a big gardener.

"It's actually nice to start planning for spring, the gardening season and all that. Snow looks pretty but I am ready for spring," Hou said with a laugh.

"There are some indoor renos I'd like to do before spring hits. I don't mind a few more months of snow because I need to get that work done inside."

Wanda Merenick says her yearly plans may not be on their regular schedule this year.

"We have a pond in our background and April 1 we put our fish in it," Merenick said.

"So we are hoping there is a lot of really warm weather to do that again, but I am not thinking April 1 this year."

Her backyard is her happy place.

"That's where I get connected for sure. I am looking forward to spring."

Meanwhile, MacKenzie says hang in there.

"It will eventually go. You may start a little later than planned but it will eventually go and we'll have a good summer again."

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