How to create a garden in your newly built home?

If you’ve just moved into a newly built home in Fergus, Ontario, your outdoor space may be a blank slate — often a patch of grass, compacted soil, or even paving stones. While that might feel daunting, it’s also the perfect opportunity to design a garden that reflects your style, fits your lifestyle, and thrives in our local climate.

Before you start digging, take some time to evaluate your yard.

• Sunlight: Note where the sun falls during the day — this will help you decide where to plant sun-loving flowers or vegetables versus shade-friendly plants.

• Wind exposure: New developments often have fewer mature trees, so your garden may be more exposed to wind. Consider planting hedges or installing windbreaks.

• Soil type: In new builds, soil can be sandy, rocky, or compacted. This will influence your soil preparation.

Think about how you want to use the space:

• Lawn area for children or pets

• Patio or deck for entertaining

• Flower beds for curb appeal

• Vegetable garden for homegrown produce
  Sketch out your ideas, keeping pathways wide enough for wheelbarrows and considering future growth of trees and shrubs.

New home lots often have subpar soil — sometimes just a thin layer of topsoil over compacted fill. Good soil is the foundation of a healthy garden.

• Remove weeds and debris.

• Loosen the soil with a garden fork or rototiller.

• Add generous amounts of compost or well-rotted manure to boost nutrients and improve structure.

• For sandy soils, add organic matter to retain moisture.

• For clay-heavy patches, mix in compost and sand for better drainage.

Browse our plants

Our growing season in Fergus typically runs from late May (after the last frost) to early October. Winter temperatures can drop well below freezing, so choose hardy plants for year-round interest.

• Perennials: Coneflower, daylily, hosta, peony

• Shrubs: Lilac, spirea, hydrangea

• Trees: Maple, serviceberry, birch

• Annuals: Petunias, marigolds, geraniums for seasonal colour

• Vegetables: Tomatoes, beans, lettuce, peppers (start seeds indoors in late winter for a head start)

If you plan to add patios, decks, fences, or garden paths, tackle these before planting. Construction can damage delicate plants, so get the groundwork done early.

Follow these guidelines for successful planting:

• Plant in spring or early fall when temperatures are cooler.

• Dig holes twice as wide as the plant’s root ball.

• Water deeply after planting to help roots establish.

• Mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Young gardens need consistent watering, especially during hot summer spells. Options include:

• Soaker hoses for garden beds

• Drip irrigation for water efficiency

• A sprinkler for lawn areas

Your first year is about establishing your garden’s foundation.

• Weed regularly to prevent competition for nutrients.

• Prune shrubs and trees to encourage healthy growth.

• Feed plants with a balanced fertilizer suited to their needs.

• Consider adding new plants each year to build layers and texture.

Find your tools

Don’t feel pressured to finish everything in one season. Start with one or two areas, and let your garden evolve. We’re here year-round to help with plant selection, soil amendments, and seasonal advice tailored to Fergus’s growing conditions.