Why Calgarians Should Order Loam Early This Spring (Before Their Yard Gets Away From Them)

Spring in Calgary is short. Don’t waste it.

If you walked out into your backyard this week and noticed low spots, sunken patches, or
uneven ground that wasn’t there last fall — you’re not alone. Calgary winters are tough on lawns. Freeze-thaw cycles, frost heaving, and months of snow sitting on your yard all shift and settle the soil underneath. By the time the snow melts, what used to be a level lawn can look like a lumpy mess.

The fix is simple: screened loam. And the best time to deal with it is right now, before the growing season gets away from you.

What Does Winter Actually Do to Your Yard?

Calgary’s climate is hard on soil. We get deep freezes, warm chinooks, and then another
hard freeze — sometimes all in the same week. Every time the ground freezes and thaws, it expands and contracts. Over a full winter, this causes:

• Low spots and sunken areas where soil has compressed or shifted
• Uneven surfaces along fence lines, garden beds, and high-traffic areas
• Exposed roots and thin grass in areas that heaved or dried out under the snow
• Water pooling in low spots when spring runoff has nowhere to drain

Left alone, these problem areas get worse through the summer — pooling water kills grass, uneven ground is a tripping hazard, and thin patches invite weeds.

Why Loam Is the Right Fix

Screened loam (also called screened topsoil) is the go-to material for leveling yards
because it’s clean, workable, and supports healthy grass growth. Unlike straight fill or clay, screened loam:

• Spreads and rakes easily into low spots
• Holds moisture without compacting into a hard crust
• Gives grass seed or new sod a proper base to root into
• Blends naturally with your existing lawn over the first few weeks

For most Calgary yards, a thin 1–2 inch layer of loam raked across low areas — called
topdressing — is enough to level things out and give your lawn a fresh start heading into summer.

Why Order Early?

Two reasons: availability and timing.

Every spring, screened loam is one of the fastest-moving products in Calgary. Once theground thaws and homeowners start tackling their yards, demand spikes quickly. Suppliers across the city sell out of screened loam regularly in April and May.

The second reason is timing. Grass grows best when soil temperatures are consistently above 10°C — typically late April through May in Calgary. If you want to level, topdress, and seed or sod all in one go, you need your loam before that window opens, not scrambling for it after. Ordering early means:

• You get the product when you need it
• Your seed or sod goes down at the right time
• Your lawn has the whole summer to fill in and establish

How Much Do You Need?

A general rule of thumb: one cubic yard of loam covers roughly 100 square feet at a 3-inch depth, or about 300 square feet at 1 inch deep for topdressing.

For most residential yards with moderate winter damage, 2–5 yards is enough to fill low spots and topdress the problem areas. Larger leveling jobs or full lawn installations will need more — just send us a message and we can help you figure out the right amount.

Ready to Get Your Yard Back?

At New Standard Landscape Supplies, we carry premium screened loam delivered right to your door within Calgary. Our loam is clean, finely screened, and ready to spread — no clumps, no rocks, no surprises.

Call us at 403-970-8270 to place an order.

Delivery included within Calgary city limits. Order early — spring books up fast.