Providing Exceptional Landscaping Since 2010

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GreenScene Landscaping

Tag: Landscaping

16 Oct 2018
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Fall Jobs For Your Outdoor Stone Landscaping

Setting your home apart from your neighbours and creating an outdoor space where friends and family can gather to create memories is every homeowner’s goal.

Something else that’s important to homeowners? Increasing home value with features that are aesthetically pleasing and serve functional purposes.

The best way to accomplish all of this is with outdoor stone landscaping.

Outdoor Stone Hardscaping for Exquisite Outdoor Living

At Green Scene Landscaping, we design and install using the most premium natural and man-made materials that will bring a new and unique experience to your outdoor lifestyle.

A natural, outdoor stone landscape adds appeal and value to your property, whether it’s used for:

  • Driveways
  • Garden footpaths
  • Patios
  • Retaining walls
  • Design accents
  • Swimming pool waterfalls

Natural stone brings depth, variety and unique colour to your home’s landscaping. But how can you keep your stone looking as great as it did when it was first installed? How can you protect your hardscape from the harsh Canadian elements?

3 Things to Do to Protect Your Stone Landscape This Winter

Natural outdoor stone hardscaping and landscaping is an investment that will provide you and your family with endless opportunities for entertainment.

To keep these surfaces looking their best, you’ll need to do routine maintenance. Here are our top tips for regular hardscape maintenance—just in time for the colder, harsher months!

1. Regular Upkeep

Sweep the surfaces of your natural stone regularly to keep it clear of leaves and other debris. This is especially important during fall when leaves start to decompose, leaving behind stains and mold.

If leaves have already begun to leave marks on your stone hardscape, use a hose to wash the surface, along with a strong cleaning solution to lift the stain.

If weeds, grass or other plants have made their way in between cracks in the tiles, be sure to remove the roots completely to prevent your tiles from separating and getting damaged.

2. Seal Your Outdoor Stone

If you have not already, sealing your outdoor stone surfaces has many benefits that will keep your hardscape looking its best.

Sealing your stone can:

  • Extend the lifespan of your outdoor stone
  • Prevent fading
  • Protect the stone from damage
  • Simplify maintenance and care

3. Use Sand to Prevent Plants

It is recommended to sweep polymeric sand into the joints or cracks of your outdoor stone.

This special type of sand works to help hold the pavers and tiles in place. It also helps prevent weeds from growing between the stones, which is essential to ensure the stones don’t shift or crack.

Need Outdoor Stone Landscaping? Now Is the Time

When it comes to building outdoor stone patios or decks, many people think spring and summer are the best seasons to do so. However, fall is a great time to install new outdoor stone landscaping. Why? Well…

  • During the fall, you are less likely to be using your outdoor space as much as you would in the warmer months like spring and summer.
  • You don’t need to worry about vegetation or insect pests interfering, because they will most likely already be dormant.
  • Once spring rolls around, you will be able to enjoy your outdoor stone landscaping instead of waiting for construction to be completed.

Let Us Help You With Your Stonework

Need help or more tips about how to keep your outdoor natural stone looking great? Give us a call, and speak with one of our professionals. We’re always happy to help!

And, if you’re ready to give your home an upgraded curb appeal, we can help you with design and installation.

01 Aug 2018
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Why the warranty on your stone landscaping products matters

Beyond the obvious – you’re protected from any manufacturer defects – what benefit is there to a landscape stone warranty?

Landscape warranties indicate the quality of the product you buy.

Most stone products installed on your property come with some kind of warranty.

Manufacturers never want to absorb the cost of a broken or faulty product, so if your product is covered by a warranty, the manufacturer expects the product to last substantially longer than the warranty period.

Why substantially longer? They want a buffer. If they think the product will stay in perfect condition for 50 years, you might see a 35 year warranty.

That’s good for you!

Two of the most popular stone suppliers offer similar warranties:

  • Unilock
  • Permacon

Get the details here so in the rare instance of a warranty claim, you know what you’re entitled to.

What does your Unilock warranty protect you from?

Unilock pioneered the lifetime guarantee in the concrete paver industry. It covers more than 10 billion stones currently installed across the continent, and says a lot about the quality of the product.

Unilock’s transferable lifetime guarantee covers residential:

  • Paving stones
  • Slabs
  • Retaining wall units
  • Natural stone

As long as your stone is installed and maintained to Unilock’s guidelines, your warranty claim will be honoured without a hiccup.

Installation falls under the Green Scene warranty (a 5 year warranty on all workmanship – where the industry standard is 1 year). So your new stone patio, pool surrounds or other feature is as safe and smart an investment as you can make.

Make sure you register your Unilock stone pavers within 60 days of purchase.

How does a Permacon warranty measure up?

Permacon guarantees the structural integrity of concrete landscaping and masonry products for 50 years.

It’s not as long as Unilock’s warranty, but it is more than enough for any homeowner to feel adequately protected. Who lives in the same home for 50 years these days anyway?

The warranty applies to normal, non-abusive use of the product, and covers any abnormal deterioration of surfaces that may be caused by the use of sodium chloride for de-icing pavers, slabs or steps.

It is also transferable to any new property owners for the duration of the warranty. Like Unilock, you will have to discuss installation warranty with your contractor.

How do you know the manufacturer will honour claims honestly?

Landscaping manufacturers get by on word of mouth more than anything else.

Industry competition is fierce, and it’s in the manufacturer’s best interest to go above and beyond in all warranty claims.

We work with Unilock and Permacon often, and they’re leaders in the industry for a reason. While extremely rare, warranty claims are always handled quickly and professionally.

Combine these product warranties with the workmanship warranty we offer and you have a rock-solid guarantee of quality on your landscape.

If you want to talk about a specific manufacturer, give us a call. We’re happy to share what we know and help get your landscape project moving smoothly.

Of course, if you’re already loyal to a manufacturer, you can ask us to only use its products in your landscape renovation.

Give us a call today to get started.

11 Dec 2017
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2017 Year in Review – Green Scene Landscaping

2017 in review – the blogs you spent the most time reading

The holidays are approaching quickly and we wish the best of the season to your family.

As 2017 comes to a close, we like to look back at the year and revisit the content you liked best.

6 things to look for when choosing a landscaper

We want your family to be satisfied with your landscape renovation, whether you work with us or not.

deck installationTo that end, these 6 tips will help you find the right landscaper for your project:

  • Find a company that provides more than basic landscaping.
  • Know what you’re looking for.
  • Check references & testimonials.
  • Get a feel for their flexibility.
  • Ask yourself how their customer service holds up.
  • Put some faith in the first impression.

Of course, there may be several other factors to consider when choosing a landscaping contractor, but if you follow these guidelines, you’ll have a much smoother experience when your project begins.

You can get at the full blog here.

5 easy steps to create your landscaping budget

Professional landscaping increases the value of your home and if you’re going to do it right, you need a clear budget.

Pool landscapingHow can you create your landscaping budget?

  • Ask the pros for a quote on several different projects.
  • Plan out what you want, so you know exactly what to ask for.
  • Be realistic about what you can fit in your outdoor space and how far your money can stretch.
  • Set a range, not a number. Aim to complete a landscape renovation at the low end of your budget, but leave space for unplanned expenses.
  • Call us!

Get the full scoop on your landscaping budget here.

Here’s why your home needs a feature wall

A feature wall turns one of the larger walls in any room into a focal point.

What makes these great additions to your home?

  • It makes a room more welcoming.
  • It makes small spaces more interesting, and can even make them feel bigger.
  • It can help organize open areas into more distinct purpose-oriented spaces.

What makes them challenging to get right?

  • The wrong colour, texture, pattern or material can easily become dated quickly.
  • Poor choice of any of the above pieces can clash with other elements in the room.
  • If the space is already crowded with furniture or other pieces, an accent can be too loud.

Want to know how to choose a wall for your feature? Catch the rest of the blog here.

2017 has been amazing, and we owe that entirely to our customers. You’ve given us unique and exciting projects to work on, and we hope every one of you is still in love with your landscaping or interior renovation.

When it’s time to complete your next project in 2018, we’ll be ready!

20 Sep 2017
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Create A Landscaping Budget in 5 Easy Steps

If you’re wanting to increase the value of your home, professional landscaping is the way to go.

But how much should you invest in landscaping?

And can you still increase the value of your home if you’re on a budget?

Of course! Here’s how.

1. Ask the pros

A landscaping project takes time and patience, and if you want to navigate the process in a hassle-free manner, start by asking a professional.

Consulting a professional landscaper can save you from wasting money and time, plus it will open your eyes to possibilities you haven’t even considered.

When you come to us with a vision, we will bring it to life with our experienced landscape design and installation services.

Our expert landscape designer will put together a complete landscape solution to turn your backyard into an outdoor space that is…

  • Functional
  • Beautiful
  • Welcoming

landscaping mississauga

2. Know what you want

Before you do anything, make a full list of exactly what you want out of your outdoor space.

Another important factor to keep in mind is what your yard needs. Sure, you want a fun and inviting space, but you need to take care of maintenance and any issues your space may have too.

Ask yourself what you want your outdoor space for:

Need help planning out your wants and needs for your backyard?

If you are stuck trying to figure out how to plan your landscaping project, this guide is for you.

This FREE Landscaping Project Guide & Checklist will walk you through the process and give you valuable tips and insight to help you make the best decision for your home and lifestyle.

It’s free, and it’s yours. Get it here!

  landscaping download

3. Be realistic

When you’re planning a landscaping project, you will want everything…

But when you are planning out your landscaping project, you will need to be realistic about what you can afford so that your landscape designer can keep your budget in mind while designing your new backyard.

landscaping mississauga

4. Be flexible

To design and build the backyard of your dreams, you will need to be flexible with your landscaping budget.

It’s important that you understand that some materials and projects simply cost more than others, and this is all a part of landscape design.

Set yourself a budget, but leave yourself a solid buffer in the event that materials or costs overrun.

And keep in constant contact with your designer, to make sure you’re up to date on all that’s going on.

Contact us to learn more!

We value and cherish the work we do and we look forward to enhancing your outdoor space.

Contact us today to speak with our landscaping experts about how we can help transform your space!

04 Jul 2017
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5 Ways to Save Water & Still Keep A Beautiful Landscape

One of the biggest misconceptions about lawn care and landscaping is that you need to water your yard in excess for it to be green and lush.

This couldn’t be further from the truth! Of course, watering is imperative to a healthy lawn. But it isn’t the only thing you can do to keep your landscaping looking beautiful.

Water is a precious resource. Help your yard use less water – and save money – with these simple tips.

Water the right way

Did you know there’s a right way and a wrong way to water your lawn and plants?

Up to a third of water from sprinklers can evaporate from the heat of the sun, so be sure to give your plants fewer, heavier soakings.

And try to water in the morning, so the sun won’t evaporate the water before your plants have a chance to soak it up.

Use mulch

Mulch is the number one thing you can do to preserve soil moisture, prevent water evaporation, and improve plant growth.

If you have a problem with weeds in your yard, mulch will do the trick because it works to keep down the weeds and decomposes to improve the soil.

Choose native or drought-resistant plants

When you’re deciding on plants for your yard, it is worth considering native or drought-resistant plants.

These plants typically require less maintenance and very little watering, because they establish quickly and will be naturally hardy and healthy – perfect for your water conservation efforts!

Reduce your lawn

The average Canadian household uses 1,400 litres of water per day, and roughly 30% of that is used for lawncare or landscaping purposes.

Can you imagine how much water (and money spent on high water bills) you would save if you had less lawn to take care of?

Consider replacing some of that grass with a ground cover such as:

If you install ground cover in your outdoor space that covers a large area and requires zero mowing, you’ll be well on your way to saving water.

Plant more trees

Planting trees is a popular trick many homeowners use to save water in their yards. Why?

  • Trees take up more yard space
  • Trees reduce the amount of grass that needs to be watered
  • Trees provide shade for your lawn and plants

Of course, trees need water. But they have an extensive root system and usually don’t require as much, or as frequent watering.

Need help?

Green Scene Landscaping uses only the highest quality materials in the industry, so you get the highest quality, longest-lasting work – every single time.

If you need help designing a water-conscious landscape, or would like to get started on building a brand new outdoor space, give us a call.

01 May 2017
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6 Things to Look For When Choosing A Landscaper

If you’re considering investing your time and money into renovating your outdoor landscaping, it’s important to remember that all landscaping companies are not created equal.

Oftentimes, people choose the first landscaping company they come across in hopes that their project will get done quicker and cheaper.

However, this is not the best way to go about choosing a landscaper.

Below, we list some of the things to look for and consider when choosing a landscaping contractor.

1. Find a company that provides more than basic landscaping

Many landscaping companies advertise themselves as full service companies, but strictly do landscaping work.

But what happens when you…

  • Need landscape designs?
  • Want to include a pool?
  • Have interior renovations you want?

Don’t contact a separate company, because then you’ll have to deal with yet another contractor.

Instead, choose a company like Green Scene that can handle everything you want and need.

2. Know what you’re looking for

Before you even contact any landscaping companies, it’s important to know what you envision for your outdoor space.

Once you know what you’re looking for, it will be easier to narrow down your search based on what services and design styles that different landscaping companies offer.

If you know that you will eventually want landscape designs, pool designs and installation, or interior wall or fireplace installations, it is best to go with a landscaper that provides all of those services.

Browse through portfolios, galleries, and client testimonials prior to choosing a landscaper.

3. Check references & testimonials

Companies in the service and design industries often receive the most reviews, references, and testimonials.

When doing your research on companies, be sure to look into references and testimonials to get a better idea of whether the company is right for you.

This is also a good way to get verifiable references as to their timeliness, landscape designs and abilities, and reliability.

4. Do they seem reliable and flexible?

Choosing a landscaper with a flexible capacity for your projects and ideas can give you a significant advantage.

Reliability is also highly important in the service industry because when you are partaking in a large project, you want to be sure that the company you are choosing can be trusted to…

  • Provide the pledged service on time
  • Deliver on their promises
  • Get the job done accurately

5. Do they have great customer service?

When choosing a landscaper, it’s obviously important to consider their skills and abilities as a service.

But it’s also important to consider the person’s demeanor and attitude – because this is how they will interact with you and handle your project.

6. First impressions matter

While you’re making your decision, take a look at the way the company presents itself.

  • Are the employees courteous, knowledgeable, and put-together?
  • What is the state of their landscaping materials? Are they in good condition?
  • Is the physical condition of their building clean and tidy?

These can all be clues as to whether you are dealing with a good landscaping contractor.

High quality work, superior products, and attention to detail are all excellent strength points to look for when considering a landscaper.

What are you waiting for?

Of course, there may be several other factors to consider when choosing a landscaping contractor, but if you follow these guidelines, you’ll have a much smoother experience when your project begins.

Contact us today to get started.