Novel grasses may be the answer to the next generation of lawn care
With issues of lawn care inputs such as fertilizers, marginal effective weed control and water usage top of mind with homeowners, new varieties of tall fescues and perennial rye grasses may offer the solution. What to do with a terrible lawn? Simply the biggest reason for many poor lawns is that there is little or no soil underneath to support a thriving lawn on top. Without adequate soil, your lawn will always struggle to grow and sustain itself. Last year, we did a complete re-sodding of a lawn and found two 5 gallon oil barrels, a plethora of gravel, stones, mortar and about 1 inch of...
Read MoreHoliday llighting – Kidproof / Petproof your decor
Christmas time is my favorite time of the year. We offer Christmas lighting for our customers and we wanted to address kid and puppy/kitten proofing. With a little child proof awareness, this festive season can be joyous and safe. Ornaments Stay away from those beautiful sharp, fragile or have small removable parts. Do not use any ornaments that resembles candy! Lighting Use lights and extension cords that are UL rated or certified by a Canadain testing group. Ensure extension cords are not frayed or twisted. Do not run long lengths of cord, this...
Read MoreElection Day Nov. 6 2012 what can we learn Canadians
Whatever your political stripes are in Canada, you have to admire the USA electoral process. It is definitely different and a more elaborate process but what does it say about our process? Whether the winner will be President Obama or Mr. Romney, they both have ran a campaign that has been worthy and have worked, spoke and presented their viewpoint and parties viewpoint well. Yeah they have flipflopped and the fact checkers have had a blast with erroneous and misleading facts. The thing for me that I am concerned about is the state of our political process in Canada. Who is the leader of...
Read MoreSmall engine winterize tips
Winterize your small engine for a easy Spring start. If you live in Canada, chances are you wont be using your lawn mower or hedge trimmer for at least 5 months. Clean-up If you have a pressure washer feel free to use it but, BE CAREFUL, dont spray it into sensitive engine parts or componets. Take care that you do not force dirt and water into bearings that were not designed to withstand that kind of pressure. The high pressure spray will also wash away any lubricant that it hits. After a good cleaning it would not hurt to oil the steel metal. Inspect Next step is to inspect the deck, deck...
Read MoreTips for protecting your plants for the winter
Frost Heaving: Freezing temperatures in soil can subject your plants to frost heaving. This is when ice forms underneath the soil and expands upwards. Ordinarily this is just simple soil mechanics. However perennials such as Heuchera (Coral Bells) are particularly prone to frost heaving as their root system/ball is not deep to begin with. If the ground heaves it brings the roots to the surface and can cause sufficient damage to stunt or kill the plant. A preventative measure is to apply mulch around the coral Bells. Anti-Desiccant...
Read MoreEaves trough Cleaning
We offer residential and commercial eaves trough cleaning. We have the equipment and training (Fall arrest) including elevated platforms for the most challenging premises, buildings and homes. We are an active member of the Woodstock District Chamber of Commerce and a Better Business Certified Business. Why clean out your troughs and keep them clear of debris? It can lead to gutter rusting and roof damage, not to mention the fact that decaying plant matter in your gutters can smell horrible and stain the sides of your home. Allow V.I.P. Home & Yard to take care of this for...
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