Notes for 2010 Winter Landscaping

Winter - a good time to think about getting things done now, so that you can actually get out to enjoy them when the good weather gets here.

While we wait for the gloomy days of winter to give way to spring here are some ideas and reminders about things you can do now so that they're done before the actual good spring and summer weather arrives.

Winter and early spring are the best times to plant most trees and shrubs. The plant roots have lots of time to establish themselves during the rainy season.

Winter is also the best time to prune most trees and shrubs. Most properties also need leaves and debris cleaned up during this time. Our staff aren't as busy, so we can get to your work faster.

It is now a great times to get projects like pathways, stairs and patios, irrigation systems done before the busy spring gets here. We can do all these for you.

During these dark months, Thing about installing a high quality landscape lighting system to make you property safer and bring a little light into your life. We will design it and install it for you.

An Effective Flagstone Path Project

We recently renovated this front path and stairs for a local customer, to give his property a more classic English Garden look and to update the overall curb appeal of the house. The old sloping concrete and wood stairs and paths were replaced with new flagstone of "Mica Slate" and stairs of granite and Mica Slate.



This the same front view of the property after installation. The front steps were made from locally found Granite of similar shades to the flagstones and sides secured with mortar. The stair treads and 2 branching paths were made from Mica Slate flagstones laid down in a compacted coarse sand and rock dust base. The gaps in the flagstones were filled with a mix of sand and soil and the wider gaps planted with creeping Wooly Thyme for fragrance, added colour and interest.

Recent Complete Yard Renovation Project

This is a picture of the side yard part way into a landscape renovation project we completed on the North Shore. The old planting has been removed and a pressure treated wood retaining wall and new cedar fence have been constructed at the very back. A basalt stone wall has been built below the deck to create a large level planting area. After this, 60 cubic yards of fill and soil have to be added to level the back yard and side yard, then plants, turf and fertilizers are to be added. We are blowing soil in through the large red hose - a cost-saving technique in hard to access or steep properties found through the North Shore and Bowen Island.

This is the same side yard looking into the back yard. Soil, plants, and the new lawn turf have been added. What a difference a few days of work make! Landscape lighting has also been added but it's not visible.