Blog

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Mulch may not be the most exciting element of your home’s landscaping, but there is no arguing it plays a very important role in any garden space. The role of mulch to conserve soil moisture, boost soil health and reduce weeds is well known, but it can also be used to enhance the overall aesthetic. Whether it is used to clean things up, create clear borders between garden spaces, enhance the style or create unity between isolated features, mulch can be a gardener’s best friend. Here are some unique garden mulch ideas that will help take your landscaping to the next level.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to spread topsoil over an existing lawn, when to do it in spring for the best results, what materials to use, and how to get a thicker, healthier lawn.

Can’t decide on germinating your seeds in soil or a paper towel? Both methods are effective, but one is a bit more labour intensive. To help you out, take a look at this infographic to decide which germination method to use.

There is plenty of misinformation floating around on the subject of lawn maintenance, and much confusion around the question, “Should I rake leaves?” We’d like to clear up some of the confusion and answer the question of whether or not you should rake your leaves.

For master landscapers, knowing how to improve soil quality is a top-tier skill. Treating your soil is the single most important thing you can do to improve your landscaping success and fall is the best season of the year to do it. Better soil allows your garden to thrive. Keep in mind that soil that is less compact leads to healthier plant roots and better blooms. Also, plants with nutrient-rich soil can better fend off pests and diseases. Adding compost to soil, nutrients, and raw organic matter over the fall will truly help bring your landscaping back to life in the spring. Read on to discover more of how to improve your soil quality this fall.

Natural stone is a beautiful addition to the landscape around your home. Sturdy and rugged, natural stone adds an exquisite, polished look to any backyard when correctly incorporated, and a natural stone patio can be the perfect accent to your overall aesthetic. There are multiple ways that landscaping stones can be infused throughout the design of a yard that also have practical purposes. They can not only enhance outdoor patio spaces, but also create a walkway, steps, retaining walls, and other elements such as fireplaces. Although entirely natural, this type of stone comes in a variety of different colors to help complement and personalize your space. Let’s take a closer look at the five key ways to use natural stone to diversify and add to your landscape.

If you’re thinking of updating your landscaping, then natural stone for your patio is a great choice. Not only can you enhance the appearance and comfort of your garden, but you can use a natural and reliable product for entertaining areas, patios, and walkways, giving you a space that will perform well for many years to come. Here are a few key steps to follow when laying natural stone as well as different flagstone patio ideas.