By dave.nicholsonlandscaping Uncategorized 0 Comments

Investing in A Quality Hardscape Company

Quality over quantity is a common sentiment that rings true in many situations in life. Many product experts recommend spending more on well-made items that are made of good quality materials by expert craftsman than on cheaper items made out of subpar material not meant to last, and the same goes for your hardscape needs. Low prices do not always equate to savings when you end up spending more money in the long run to repair, replace and re-do poor quality work. At Nicholson Landscaping we pride ourselves in offering our customers competitive pricing on their hardscape projects while providing top quality materials and craftsmanship from start to finish.

With the economy doing well, more families are looking to spend money upgrading their hardscape, but that doesn’t mean you should waste money by hastily choosing a hardscape company whose work might be less than stellar. Your hardscape project should be built to last for the long-term, and that’s why we like to ensure our customers are 100% satisfied with the work we perform. It’s easy to charge less and make the project look enticing in an estimate when the work you’re doing and the materials you’re using are not up to par with industry standards.

What is Hardscaping?

Much like landscaping, hardscaping is stone or block work built onto the exterior of your home which increases aesthetics, but also adds on to your living space. Hardscape might include patio pavers, retaining walls, fire pits and outdoor kitchens, among many other projects that are as varied as your imagination will allow. When you invest in a project like this to increase the value of your home not only in a resale value, but also as a way for your family to spend more time together and enjoy the outdoors, you want to know that the work you’re getting is top quality. Hardscape faces difficult weather in addition to the normal wear and tear on a daily basis, and it needs to be strong enough to withstand the weather, children and the numerous parties you’ll throw with such a great yard.

Hardscaping is detailed work, which is why many people are hesitant to do it themselves. Most people want to hire a professional contractor who has experience and the know-how to create beautiful hardscape designed to last. Anyone can install hardscape that won’t withstand the test of time, but what’s the point spending your hard-earned money on something that will not last forever?
In our line of work, we spend a great deal of time repairing hardscaping that has shifted, fallen apart or become damaged due to improper site preparation work or a botched installation. Much of our work is spent repairing the problems that come along shortly after a family hires a hardscape company that prefers to quote low prices in exchange for less work and lesser materials. We see more than our fair share of shoddy work and craftsmanship that result in issues that could be easily avoidable if contractors used trained craftsman and took the time to provide the extra effort for long-lasting results.

Why Pay More?

Sometimes you pay more to get more, and to save more over the course of your lifetime. The cost of repairing hardscaping that is falling apart and damaged due to poor installation is not inexpensive, and it’s another cost to add onto the price you already pay to have your hardscape installed. Our company charges a very fair price so that we can provide our customers with the best quality work. We spend as much time as we need to spend on the job to ensure it is done right the first time. We enjoy working with our clients, but we don’t want them calling us back in a few months or a year to come fix their hardscape; we are busy enough doing that for other contractors.

The benefit of spending more upfront is that you’ll spend far less over time. 

Think “NICHOLSON” When You Think of Quality Craftsmanship

We pride ourselves on a job well done the first time around. When it comes to hardscape and the satisfaction of our customers, we put your needs first. Our craftsman work hard throughout the length of each job to ensure that the work we offer our customers is quality work through and through. We spend ample time repairing low-quality work, but no one else can say the same about the results we provide to our customers. All you have to do is ask yourself one question; is peace of mind knowing that your hardscape will not fall apart or become damaged worth the price?

By dave.nicholsonlandscaping Uncategorized 0 Comments

Act Now to Address Chafer Beetle Damage

Birds and animals are once again tearing up lawns digging for Chafer beetle larvae, prompting the cities of Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Port Moody to remind residents of available resources to help reclaim their yards.
Each City provides online resources to residents on effective prevention and control options, including a year-round schedule of activities based on the beetle’s lifecycle. All three cities ban the use of cosmetic pesticides and are promoting natural lawn-care techniques, posted on their respective websites.
Checking for infestations
Beetle larvae (or grubs) – which feed on grass roots and are a tasty meal for birds, raccoons and skunks – are typically active from July to March. They are smaller than a dime, with brown heads and white, C-shaped bodies.
January to March is the ideal time to check for active grubs, as by April and May, they have moved into the resting (pupa) and adult stages.
However, residents can still check now for infestations by looking for fresh lawn damage (torn-up grass and overturned clumps of sod) that occurred in recent months.
Prevention and control
The best defense against the Chafer beetle is healthy turf, achieved through routine aerating, dethatching, fertilizing, deep watering and high mowing.
From April to June, residents are advised to:
Aerate lawns.
Rake or till damaged turf. It is not necessary to remove damaged turf, but residents can dispose of it at Meadows Landscape Recycling Centre (17799 Ferry Slip Road, Pitt Meadows). Do not dispose of turf in your green cart.
Re-seed damaged areas, using a roller on newly seeded areas for a good seed-soil contact. Apply a starter fertilizer.
For undamaged lawns, apply natural organic or slow-growth fertilizer.
Maintain a grass height of at least 5 cm and leave clippings on the lawn to act as mulch.
Water newly planted lawns frequently (daily if necessary) to keep the soil surface moist until you see about half of the new seeds have germinated. Check your City website for watering restriction exemptions.
Once lawns are established, follow local watering restrictions and water twice weekly for a total of about 2.5 cm (depth of a tuna can) per week. Water on and off at 30-minute intervals to avoid run-off and allow the water to soak in.
Pre-order nematodes from the local garden centre, for application in late July.
Nematodes, a microscopic worm that feeds on beetle larvae, can be an effective treatment for infested lawns, provided they are properly refrigerated and correctly applied, and lawns are kept moist before treatment and for about two weeks afterwards (see the applicable city website for watering restriction exemptions). Heterorhabditis bacterlophora is the recommended type of nematode species.

By nicholson landscaping drain tile • drainage • Landscaping Renovation 0 Comments

Drainage Issue, Drain Tile Repair or French Drains

Are there wet spots in your lawn, yard or driveway? Need new drain tile? Gutters are not draining anywhere and you’re worried about water damage, due to flooding, to your foundation? Is the driveway sloped to your home or foundation? New piping or drain gutters can be laid anywhere to better channel your rainfall either to a different spot on your property or to the storm drain to prevent pooling.

Drain Tile Repair

Would you instinctively call a plumber if your yard, garage or basement was flooding? Yes they will fix the problem but they may also make a huge mess of your landscaping and it’s not their expertise to fix it. We will do it all and at a more affordable price. We can guarantee that we will fix your drainage issue and also match or beat any plumber quotes. We will not be charging plumber rates therefore will be able to make the renovation more affordable for you.

We specialize in drainage, due to the extensive drainage courses taken by our owner Ryan Nicholson in Germany and the 20 + years of hands on experience fixing residential drainage issues in the Tri-Cities area. We practice proper drainage techniques in compliance with municipal bodies and can fix all your landscaping at the same time.

Unfortunately many homeowners don’t realize drainage problems until the problem hits their home’s foundation. Let us come to your property and give you a proper drainage assessment for free. To help prevent costly damage caused by improper grading or gutter run off.

Drain Tile Experts

Nicholson Landscaping

604 690 6960

nicholsonlandscaping@gmail.com

By nicholson landscaping Backyard • Garden Design • Garden Landcaping • Landscaping Renovation 0 Comments

Planning a new garden

You’ve just moved to a new house and the garden is a wilderness… What to do and where to start? The planting is undoubtedly the most rewarding and exciting point in the production of a garden and this is why it is so important to understand and prepare your site. So often, we pay no real attention to this planning stage, planting what we like where we like with no real thought for the longevity of the plants and how they are gong to impact our enjoyment of this outside space. Some horticultural good sense is required and this is where we come in.

First off, decide what sort of garden you want. Who is going to use it and what for? If you have kids who want to play football, rabbits in a run, yourself reading a book or a desire for an outside entertaining space you will need to design your garden to fit these needs. You can always tweak things around later. Plants can be moved, but you’ll need a theme so that you can have a blueprint to follow. You may decide to go for a wildlife garden or a barbecue based garden. It is entirely up to you.

At some point you need to see what the micro climate of your space is. Where does the sun rise and how does it set? Which bits of your garden are sunny and which bits are mossy and damp? Do you get a lot of rain or do you have to contend with salty sea air? Is your land sloping? Are there any large trees that need to be worked around? Most importantly, what type of soil do you have? Is it loamy or chalky, alkaline or acidic?

It is a good idea to call your local public utilities provider or municipal planning department, in order to determine whether or not there are any pipes, cables, or other surprises lying beneath your soil. Discovering something by accident may prove costly.

Get yourself a sheet of paper, a pencil, a cup of tea and go to an upstairs window. Draw out the boundary of your garden, Mark an arrow pointing north, draw in any permanent features that you cannot change, making sure to draw in the umbra or shadow under any trees. Now decide where you would like to place that deck, and this bed, that lemon tree and this pond. You can mark these out on the paper then go downstairs and use an aerosol to mark out on the ground. Then go back upstairs and have another think. It is advisable to spend a couple of days on this.

By nicholson landscaping Garden Design • Garden Landcaping • Paving Slabs • Paving Stones 0 Comments

Why install paving stone or paving slabs instead of concrete?

Paving Stones vs. Concrete Driveways

  • Paving Stones Increase Property Value
  • Pavers Are 4x Stronger Than Concrete
  • Paving Stones Are Cheaper To Repair
  • Better Weight Distribution
  • Stones Have Elegance and Beauty
  • GREAT Long-Term Investment!
  • Cracked Concrete Driveways Lower Home Value
  • Concrete Strength Is Inferior to Paving Stones
  • Can’t Repair Concrete Without Ugly Scarring
  • Does Not Flex Well Under Stress
  • Bland And Dull-Looking Driveways
  • Concrete Will Cost You More In The Long-Run

Paving stones define beauty, elegance and durability for driveways, pool decks, walkways and patios. A properly installed paving stone driveway won’t crack, sag, shift or separate. It will keep looking fantastic for generations, and if it ever becomes stained or marred by paint or oil it can be repaired quickly, easily and invisibly. Individual stones can be replaced with matching ones so that the surface looks exactly as it did before the accident occurred. This is impossible with any other type of pavement.
The huge range of colors and patterns available makes customized design possible for any type of courtyard, patio, deck, or driveway.  We will work with you to create the perfect match for your project, whether it is patio pavers for your deck or a complete landscape design to complement your new paving stone driveway and walkways.
We at Nicholson Landscaping are certified paving stone installers with years of experience in installing patios, driveways and pathways.  We guarantee all installations for 2 years and give free estimates.  We are also a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with a A rating.  Call us today at 604 690 6960 for a free consultation and say goodbye to that ugly concrete or rotting wood in your yard.

By nicholson landscaping Garden Design • Garden Landcaping • Landscaping Renovation 0 Comments

Top 10 Tips for Improving Your Garden

Increasingly Canadian gardeners from coast to coast want a beautiful and productive garden while also demonstrating environmental responsibility. Mark Cullen, Canada’s best known green thumb, provides his top ten gardening tips that will help you achieve the garden of your dreams while being sensitive to the surrounding environment.
1. Prepare your soil properly. Ninety percent of your gardening success hinges on proper soil preparation. Know the soil in your garden and learn what it needs to be healthy. Start the gardening season off right with soil the consistency of chocolate cake. Use the appropriate potting soil for your potted plants such as Home Gardener Organic Starter Mix*, garden soil and manure compost like Home Gardener Soil or Sheep Manure Compost for your garden beds.

2. Use multiple quantities of the same plant. Repetition will anchor your garden and make it appear lush, coordinated and full.

3. Enjoy organic fruits and vegetables. A wide variety of environmentally friendly pest control options are on the market for the most common vegetable garden pests. Try diatomatious earth such as Green Earth DIO for potato bug control and Green Earth Bordo Mixture for early blight on tomatoes.

4. Enhance the environment and your garden. Make a point of cutting your lawn with Mark’s Choice Push Reel Mower only when it reaches 2 ½ inches minimum. Water it only once a week using a Mark’s Choice Lawn Sprinkler, which uses 30 per cent less water than regular sprinklers. Fertilize with a slow release nitrogen based product such as CIL Golf Green three times per year. Water potted plants using water collected in a rain barrel such as, the Mark’s Choice Rain Barrel.

5. Be generous with your compost. Add two centimeters of compost to your garden each year. Start your own composter with the help of the Natura Plastic Kitchen Composter and the Mark’s Choice Garden Composter.

6. Travel to the great gardens of the world. When traveling to other cities or countries take notes/pictures and open your eyes to the possibilities of introducing different plants and garden design options in your own yard.

7. Attract wildlife to your yard. Using native plants and feeders, you can attract hummingbirds, song birds and butterflies to your garden, enhancing its natural beauty. Increasing the activity in your garden by using Mark’s Choice Bird Feast Songbird Feed or Hummingbird Feeder. Talk to your local Home Hardware store about the native plant species that is the right fit for your area.

8. Mulch with soft wood bark mulch. Mulch, the low maintenance gardener’s secret weapon, helps your garden retain moisture, prevents soil erosion and reduces weed growth. Try Natura’s Beyond Mulch and you’ll never look back.

9. Plan your garden colours in advance. ‘Colour block’ to give your garden authority. This year’s colour trends suggest bold colours to electrify your garden.

10. Reduce any difficulty. Lessen your work load by sharpening the blades of hoes, axes and shovels with a Mark’s Choice Metal File before use.

The products listed here and more are available at more than 1,000 Home Hardware stores across Canada, making them easy to find, no matter where you live. We’d be happy to provide tools,

By nicholson landscaping Backyard • Garden Design • Garden Landcaping • Tips and Tricks • 0 Comments

Chafer Beetle Problem in the Tri Cities

Oh No the lawns have took some serious damage in the Tri Cities area this winter.  The chafer beetle has found its way here from Vancouver and now the raccoons and birds are having a winter feast and tearing up our lawns that we spend a lot of time and money trying to keep nice and thick and green.  What can we do?

The standard environmentally friendly treatment of nematodes just doesn’t cut it.   These microscopic worms only feed on the larva of the beetle and only work for a few weeks every summer and is not 100% effective.  Often requiring many treatments over many years.  The best way to treat them is like all things in mother nature, preventative measures, like keeping your grass strong and healthy.

We at Nicholson Landscaping can clean up the mess you are facing this year, physically remove all beetle larva and install a new lawn for you, including a simple professional maintenance schedule that you can do on your own.  We could also redesign the lawn area into a beautiful planted area or a rock garden.  We are only limited by our imagination.

So this spring don’t hesitate to call the professionals for high quality results and outstanding customer service.