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?

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.