Gardening Resources

Welcome to the City of Red Deer’s Gardening Resources page. Here you will find a network of organizations who are committed to sustainable agriculture. You will also find tips and tricks to help ensure that your garden is healthy, productive, and resilient.

Gardening Resources

Gardening Support

Gardening and Horticulture Organizations

Food Organizations and Programs

Directory of Local Producers and Community Supported Agriculture

Starting A Community Garden

Growing Fruit

Soil and Plant Health

*A word on WATER... The City of Red Deer will be providing supplemental water for gardeners at each of the four Garden Plot Program locations. To be clear, water will be filled at set intervals; once it is gone, it is gone until the next fill. This water provision is intended to be supplemental; gardeners will likely need to provide additional water. The City is leaning on gardeners to be respectful and conservative in using water so that everyone gets some. It is very important that gardeners add MULCH around plants to retain soil moisture. Leaving soil bare results in evaporation and poor moisture retention. Examples of mulch include dead leaves, dead grass, or straw.  

REMEMBER: City of Red Deer garden plots are pesticide-free (Parks & Public Facilities Bylaw 3255/2000). Conventional pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and rodenticides) are prohibited. Certain ecologically sensitive pest control products may be considered at the discretion of The City of Red Deer Parks section. As an added measure of environmental protection, you are encouraged to only use organic fertilizers and soil amendments as opposed to synthetic or chemical ones. Organic materials such as manure, compost and bone meal help to build up the soil and promote a healthy soil ecosystem. Though synthetic or chemical fertilizers provide plants with quick food, they do nothing to sustain the soil. Furthermore, chemical runoff and ground seepage from gardens into adjacent natural areas and water bodies can negatively affect the health of those fragile ecosystems.