Calgary Urban Naturalization Project
Earthmaster was hired by The City of Calgary to naturalize a 5-hectare roadside site, replacing turfgrass with wildflower and grass mix. Initially blanketed with an annual flower cover crop, it became a prairie meadow with native species within 3 years.
The turfgrass was mowed, de-thatched, and treated with herbicide, leaving stubble to support seeding. A mix of annual and perennial wildflower and grass seeds, following the City of Calgary Seed Mixes guide, was sown using a no-till seed drill in mid-June. To aid pollinators, 15 solitary and 15 social bee boxes were installed.
Despite late planting and harsh conditions, a variety of flowers and grasses thrived. Replacing turfgrass with native species will lower maintenance, support pollinators, and offer resilience to extreme weather. This approach enhances sustainability, ecological function, and reduces costs and emissions.
Status
Completed
Services
Outcomes
5ha
of roadside naturalized
30
bee boxes installed
27
different native plant species were installed
Initial site conditions. 0% physical turfgrass removal required prior to seeding.
Installation of seed.
Social bee box.
Solitary bee box.
Flower growth 3 months post seeding.
11 species of native grasses were established on the site.
Clarkia amoena flower.
Annual Sunflower.
Native bumblebee. 3,000/ha bees found on the site after flowering plants established (none before).
California poppy.
Mixture of salt tolerant plants on the median. Maintenance requirements including mowing were reduced by 75%.
This approach enhances sustainability, ecological function, and reduces costs and emissions.
Despite late planting and harsh conditions, a variety of flowers and grasses thrived.