Top Trees and Outdoor Plants for Your Yard: Guide to Choosing and Planting
Looking to create a beautiful, functional yard this season? At Urbane Eight, we carry a wide variety of trees, shrubs, fruit trees, and hardy perennials perfect for southern Alberta gardens. We’re local to Lethbridge, Alberta, and offer free local delivery within Lethbridge, plus Canada-wide shipping so you can shop with us from anywhere.
Why Choose Locally Suited Trees and Plants?
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Better survival in your climate
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Lower maintenance once established
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Supports local pollinators and ecosystem health
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Adds long-term value and beauty to your property
Top Trees for Your Yard
1. Apricot Trees
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Use: Beautiful spring blooms and delicious summer fruit
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Care: Plant in full sun with well-draining soil. Protect early blossoms from late frosts to ensure fruit production.
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Common Question: Can apricot trees grow in Alberta?
– Yes, hardy varieties can thrive with proper care and winter protection.
2. Apple Trees & Combination Apple Trees
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Use: Fresh homegrown apples for eating, baking, or preserving. Combination apple trees grow multiple apple varieties on one tree, saving space while diversifying harvest.
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Care: Full sun, moderate watering, and annual pruning to encourage healthy growth and fruiting.
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Common Question: Do you need two apple trees to produce fruit?
– An apple tree requires a pollinator plant nearby, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be another apple tree.
3. Cherry Trees
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Use: Spring blossoms and summer cherries for fresh eating or preserves.
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Care: Full sun, well-draining soil, and protection from harsh winds.
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Common Question: Are cherry trees hardy in Alberta?
– Sour cherry varieties are typically hardier and produce well in our climate.
4. Autumn Blaze Maple
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Use: Fast-growing shade tree with brilliant red fall colour; great for larger yards or as a statement tree.
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Care: Full sun, moderate watering, and space to grow (can reach 50 feet tall).
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Common Question: Do Autumn Blaze Maples grow fast?
– Yes, they are known for rapid growth and strong structure.
5. Linden Trees
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Use: Fragrant flowers in early summer; attractive shade tree with heart-shaped leaves.
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Care: Full sun to partial shade; adaptable to different soil types.
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Common Question: Are linden trees messy?
– They drop flowers and seeds seasonally, but cleanup is manageable and worth their beauty and shade benefits.
Common Question: Are linden trees messy?
– They drop flowers and seeds seasonally, but cleanup is manageable and worth their beauty and shade benefits.
6. Pines & Junipers
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Use: Year-round greenery, windbreaks, and privacy screening.
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Care: Full sun, low maintenance once established, drought tolerant varieties available.
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Common Question: What is the difference between pine and juniper?
– Pines are large evergreens with needles; junipers vary from groundcovers to shrubs with scale-like foliage and berries. -
Use: Fragrant flowers in early summer; attractive shade tree with heart-shaped leaves.
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Care: Full sun to partial shade; adaptable to different soil types.
Favourite Fruit & Berry Plants
7. Gooseberries
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Use: Unique tart berries for jams, desserts, or fresh snacking.
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Care: Full sun to partial shade; prune to encourage airflow.
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Common Question: Do gooseberries need a pollinator?
– No, most are self-pollinating.
8. Raspberries
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Use: High-yielding berry plants perfect for fresh eating, freezing, or baking.
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Care: Full sun, well-drained soil, and support for canes. Prune annually for best yields.
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Common Question: Do raspberries come back every year?
– Yes, they are perennials that produce for many years with proper pruning and care.
9. Tomatoes
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Use: Fresh garden tomatoes for salads, sauces, and snacking.
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Care: Full sun, consistent watering, and support cages or stakes.
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Common Question: Do tomatoes need full sun all day?
– Yes, at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight is ideal for best fruiting.
Top Shrubs and Perennials for Colour and Texture
10. Hydrangeas
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Use: Large, showy blooms that change colour based on soil pH. Great for borders and shaded areas.
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Care: Morning sun with afternoon shade preferred; keep soil consistently moist.
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Common Question: Do hydrangeas survive winter in Alberta?
– Hardy varieties like ‘Annabelle’ and ‘Limelight’ perform well with winter protection.
11. Clematis
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Use: Climbing flowering vines for fences, trellises, or pergolas.
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Care: Plant roots in shade and vines in sun. Prune according to variety.
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Common Question: How do you get clematis to bloom more?
– Regular feeding, pruning, and proper sun exposure encourage repeat blooms.
12. Dianthus
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Use: Compact perennial with fragrant pink, red, or white flowers; perfect for edging or rock gardens.
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Care: Full sun, well-draining soil, and deadheading for continuous blooms.
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Common Question: Does dianthus come back every year?
– Yes, many varieties are hardy perennials.
13. Spirea
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Use: Easy-care shrub with clusters of pink or white flowers and attractive foliage.
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Care: Full sun to partial shade; prune after flowering to maintain shape.
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Common Question: Do spirea bushes spread?
– Some varieties can spread; regular pruning controls growth.
14. Potentilla
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Use: Long-blooming yellow, white, or pink flowers; hardy and drought-tolerant.
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Care: Full sun; minimal care needed once established.
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Common Question: Is potentilla a perennial?
– Yes, it is a woody shrub perennial.
15. Lilacs
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Use: Fragrant spring flowers and attractive shrubs for hedging or specimen planting.
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Care: Full sun; prune after flowering to maintain shape and encourage blooms.
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Common Question: How long does it take lilacs to bloom?
– Typically 3–5 years after planting young shrubs.
16. Grasses
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Use: Ornamental grasses add movement, texture, and winter interest to gardens.
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Care: Full sun; cut back in early spring before new growth.
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Common Question: Do ornamental grasses come back every year?
– Yes, most are hardy perennials that return stronger each season.
Final Tips for Choosing Outdoor Plants
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Assess sunlight and soil conditions before purchasing
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Consider mature size and spacing for long-term growth
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Group plants with similar watering and sunlight needs for easy maintenance
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Mix evergreens, flowering shrubs, and perennials for year-round interest
Shop Local and Canada-Wide with Urbane Eight
At Urbane Eight, we pride ourselves on carrying plants that thrive in our region. We are local to Lethbridge, Alberta, and love supporting our community with the best selection of trees, shrubs, and perennials.
We’re also proud to be a Proven Winners Destination Greenhouse, which means:
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We carry a wide range of high-quality Proven Winners plants, known for their vigorous growth, exceptional performance, and stunning colours.
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Proven Winners products are trialled and tested for Canadian climates, ensuring success in your garden beds, containers, and landscaping projects.
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You can find exclusive, sought-after Proven Winners varieties with us, helping your garden stand out with long-blooming, easy-care plants that attract pollinators and boost curb appeal.
We offer free local delivery within Lethbridge, making it easy to bring home your favourite plants. Not local? We also offer Canada-wide shipping, so you can shop our greenhouse from anywhere and bring a little Urbane Eight magic to your home and garden.
Whether you’re planting fruit trees for your family, adding shade trees to your yard, or designing a colourful perennial garden, our team is here to help you choose the best options for your space and achieve a garden that’s beautiful, resilient, and uniquely yours.
