Featured Articles
The Ultimate Guide to Growing a Thriving Vegetable Garden in Ontario
This guide is tailored to help gardeners of all skill levels navigate Ontario’s gardening landscape. By mastering each step—from seed germination to building a raised bed—you’ll create a garden that thrives in Ontario’s conditions. Along the way, you’ll discover how the right tools, timing, and techniques make all the difference.
The Best Vegetables to Grow in Ontario: Start Your Garden Today
Ontario's diverse climate offers unique opportunities- and challenges- for gardeners to grow fresh, delicious vegetables. Whether you are a beginner, an experienced gardener, or limited to a balcony garden, choosing the right vegetables ensures success throughout the growing season. This guide covers everything you need to know about selecting the best crops to ensure diverse and bountiful harvests throughout the growing season.
When to Start Seeds Indoors in Southern Ontario for a Thriving Garden
While winter may keep us indoors, it's also the perfect time to begin planning for the upcoming growing season. Starting seeds inside gives your vegetables a head start, helping you grow healthier plants and enjoy better yields. Plus, it allows you to try new and exciting seed varieties that might not be available as store-bought transplants.
How to Germinate Seeds: Soil vs. Paper Towel Method Explained
Germinating your own garden seeds instead of purchasing seedlings is fun and saves you money to boot. However, seeds are delicate and may require coddling during germination and when transplanting them to their final location. There are two popular home gardener methods for germinating seeds: A germination bed made from moistened paper towel or filter paper and planting seeds directly in a small amount of soil or soil-less starter mix
Essential Fire Safety Tips for Home Heating and Wood-Burning
As the colder months approach, many households rely on home heating appliances and wood-burning stoves to keep warm. While these methods are effective, they also come with fire risks that need careful management. This guide will cover essential fire safety tips to help you safely enjoy your home heating system and wood-burning appliances.
From Birch to Oak: The Best Firewood for Your Home This Winter
As the colder months approach, nothing compares to the warmth and ambiance of a crackling fire in your home. Whether you're using a fireplace, wood stove, or outdoor fire pit, choosing the right firewood can make all the difference in heat output and safety. In this guide, we'll walk you through the best types of seasoned firewood, from Birch to Hickory, and why seasoned wood should always be your go-to choice for the winter months.
DIY Firewood Storage: Stack and Store Firewood Like a Pro
Whether you're preparing for winter or love the warmth of a wood-burning stove, learning how to store firewood properly is essential. As a DIY homeowner, you want to ensure your firewood is always dry, seasoned, and ready to burn. This guide will help you stack, store, and season your firewood like a pro, ensuring a crackling fire all season.
Understanding Firewood Dimensions: Cord, Face Cord, and More
When buying firewood, understanding the various terminology and measurements can be confusing. Whether preparing for a cozy winter night or stocking up for outdoor camping, knowing the difference between a full cord, face cord, and other firewood terms will help you get the best deal and avoid common mistakes. This guide breaks down the key dimensions and buying options for firewood.
How to Install Sod in 6 Easy Steps (Video)
Are you dreaming of a lush, green lawn but need help figuring out where to start? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide on how to install sod grass, we'll walk you through the entire process, from preparation to the final touches. Installing sod is a fantastic way to achieve a beautiful, healthy lawn quickly and efficiently. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a landscaping novice, this guide will provide you with the essential tips and tricks for successful sod installation. Say goodbye to patchy, uneven grass and hello to a vibrant, pristine yard with our expert advice on installing sod. Let's start transforming your outdoor space into the envy of the neighbourhood!
Top Spring Garden & Landscaping Tips
With winter weather slowly starting to fade, each day brings us a step closer to the warmer weather and extra sunlight of spring. After months being cooped up inside avoiding the frigid temperatures, the long-awaited change of season is almost upon us. As much as we might appreciate the arrival of the spring weather, nothing needs it more than our gardens and yard. The freezing, harsh winter conditions can leave your lawn and plants damaged. Fortunately, with the right tools and techniques, you can have your property looking luscious and healthy once again. Here are a few spring maintenance and clean up tips to get your garden and landscaping looking like new.
Backyard Dreaming: 5 Ideas to Get You Excited For Spring
It may be bone-chilling cold right now, but spring, with its colourful blooms, pitchers of icy lemonade and—most importantly—delightfully warm weather, is just around the corner. Bust out of the late winter doldrums and dream of your perfect backyard landscape setup instead. Not sure where to begin? Here are 5 fabulous ideas oozing with refreshing recreational charm and expansive grill zones to get you on the path to paradise before the snowflakes finish falling. Spring may be a few months away, but you can start planning your weekend barbecues right now.
How to Clean Your Artificial Grass and Prepare It for Spring
As the snow melts, it can leave mud and debris behind on your artificial grass, and leave it feeling a little smushed. Before you start entertaining in spring and summer, it’s wise to clean up the lawn. Plus, as you spend more time outside you may end up spilling on your synthetic grass. You need to know how to clean that up too.
4 Reasons to Plan Your Spring Landscaping Right Now (Infographic)
It might still feel a bit chilly out there right now. And you may not be thinking about your spring landscaping project. Unfortunately, Van Beek’s Garden Supplies can’t help with the cold. But we can help you get ready to start landscaping once the warm weather arrives. In fact, we highly encourage you to plan your spring landscape project right now, even when it’s dark, damp and chilly outside. Here are four reasons why now’s the perfect time to start planning.
All You Need To Know About Prepping Your Yard For Fall and Winter | A Complete Guide
The places that you spend your time can have a major impact on your health and well-being, both physically and mentally. It’s no wonder that so many of us take the time to maintain a beautiful lawn and garden. The environment on our property supports us in countless ways and helps to add meaning to our lives. Taking care of the green parts of your property, though, isn’t something to just be concerned about when the weather is warm. To make sure your garden and lawn are healthy for next year, it’s important to do some work as the weather turns cold, especially here in Ontario. Are you wondering how to prep your yard for the fall and winter as well as your garden? Let’s take a look at what you need to know.
Turn Your Outdoor Entertainment Area Into an Oasis
More than ever, homeowners are discovering the value of their outdoor spaces. If you want to make the most of your backyard this summer, use these ideas to turn your outdoor entertainment area into an oasis.
8 Pool Landscaping Ideas to Create Your Outdoor Oasis
There is no doubt we are entering the decade of the staycation where nothing is more inviting or relaxing than your own backyard. To make every weekend a vacation in paradise, these eight pool landscaping ideas can help you create your own private outdoor oasis.
Outdoor Kitchen Ideas for Your Outdoor Oasis
Outdoor entertaining is more popular than ever and with it comes the trend for high-end outdoor kitchens. Making the most of your outdoor space means bringing the indoors out so you can spend your entire summer al fresco. Here we look at backyard kitchen ideas to create an idyllic outdoor oasis.
Your Complete Guide to Artificial Turf
Artificial turf, or synthetic grass, first came out in the 1960s. Since then, it has changed significantly, with manufacturers focusing to make it more realistic, beautiful, and durable. These days, you can get all of the benefits of artificial grass, including low maintenance and greener falls and springs, without worrying that the turf you pick will end up disappointing you in looks or durability. There is a lot to discover about artificial turfs, types, installation, and maintenance. Here’s our complete guide to artificial turf to guide you through the process of selecting, installing, and maintaining your lawn.
Easy Wood Projects for Kids Using Firewood
Hanging out with the kids next to the fire is a great way to pass the last few days of winter. When they get a little antsy, you can even have them make a project out of the raw firewood, to be painted however they please. Here are four firewood projects to delight and occupy your children.
How to Turn a Small Backyard into an Oasis
Having a private green space to retreat to is a dream for many people who have small backyards. Yet, you might feel limited by the size of your space. You know that you can’t fit a massive pool, a big deck, or substantial gardens. However, you can have the features that are most important to you. Even those that are large can be paired down to fit in a small backyard. Plus, there are benefits of having a smaller backyard oasis. You’ll have to do much less maintenance to keep it healthy, which means you’ll have more time to enjoy it. And, with the right design, the space can still feel private, cozy, green, and refreshing. You can learn how to turn a small backyard into an oasis with these ideas and tricks.