Guides for GTA homeowners

Interlock and pavers

• Polymeric sand: what it is, when to replace it, and what affects the cost Polymeric sand is joint sand mixed with a binder that hardens as it dries, locking interlock pavers together and resisting weeds, ants and washout.
• How to apply polymeric sand (and the mistakes that ruin it) To apply polymeric sand on Ontario interlock, clear the joints at least 1.5 inches (4 cm) deep, wait until the pavers are fully dry, sweep the sand in, compact it with a plate compactor, leave it 1/8 inch (3 mm) below…
• Can you put new polymeric sand over old? Not as a thin top-up. A skim of new polymeric sand over old, hardened joints tends to crack and flake, and Alliance Gator advises treating the job as a new install.
• How to remove polymeric sand haze from pavers Polymeric sand haze is sand dust and binder that set on the face of the pavers.
• Sunken interlock: why pavers sink and how to fix them Interlock sinks when the layer under it settles: a base that was too thin or poorly compacted, water soaking in from a downspout, or soft soil.
• Should you seal your interlock? When and how often in Ontario Interlock sealing is optional. Unilock says its pavers don't need it, but a sealer brings back colour, makes stains easier to clean and can harden joint sand.

Show 3 more guidesShow fewer

• How to stop weeds growing between pavers Weeds grow between pavers when the joint sand washes out or dirt settles on top of it.
• How to clean interlock without damaging it To clean interlock in Ontario, sweep it, pull the weeds, treat stains with a cleaner made for concrete pavers, then scrub with soap and water.
• What goes under interlock: paver base depth, gravel and bedding sand for GTA driveways and patios A paver base in the GTA is compacted crushed gravel, with about 1 inch of bedding sand and then the pavers on top.

Lawn and sod

• Best time to lay sod in Ontario (and can you lay sod in October?) Yes, you can lay sod in October in Ontario. Sod can go down any time the ground isn't frozen or snow-covered, roughly April to November around the GTA.
• How often to water new sod, and how long it takes to root In Ontario, start watering new sod as soon as it's laid (about half an inch in the first 10–15 minutes), then water every morning for the first two weeks, with a light afternoon watering on hot days.
• How to prepare your yard for sod To prepare a yard for sod in Ontario, take out the old grass and weeds (the province bans glyphosate for cosmetic lawn use), grade the soil to fall away from the house about 1 foot per 50 feet, loosen it 4–6 inches deep…
• Fall lawn care in Ontario: overseeding, aeration and repair In Ontario, fall lawn work runs from late August into November. Overseed thin areas from mid-August to mid-September, with early September the sweet spot, ideally right after core aerating damp soil.
• Ontario lawn maintenance schedule: what to do each month A lawn maintenance schedule for Ontario and the GTA runs from April to November.
• Lawn grubs in Ontario: signs, skunk and raccoon damage, and what you can legally use Most lawn grubs in Ontario are European chafer larvae. They eat grass roots from late September into November and again in spring, so dead turf lifts like a carpet and skunks and raccoons dig it up.

Show 2 more guidesShow fewer

• How to get rid of creeping Charlie, crabgrass, clover and dandelions under Ontario's pesticide ban Ontario's cosmetic pesticide ban means the 2,4-D and triclopyr sprays in American lawn advice can't go on a home lawn here.
• How to fix brown spots and bare patches in your lawn: snow mould, dog spots, salt and drought Most brown spots on lawns in Ontario come from snow mould after the melt, road salt along driveways, dog urine, summer drought, hairy chinch bugs in July and August, or grubs in fall.

Spring and fall cleanups

• Spring cleanup checklist for Ontario yards Do a spring yard cleanup in Ontario in two rounds. Once the snow is gone and the ground is firm, usually in April in the GTA, pick up branches, sweep hard surfaces, rake the lawn lightly and prune shrubs.
• Fall cleanup checklist: what to do before winter A fall cleanup in Ontario means getting the leaves off the lawn and hard surfaces, clearing out the beds, cutting back only diseased or collapsed plants, mowing one last time to about 5 cm (2 inches), and shutting off…

Garden beds, mulch and hedges

• How much mulch do you need? A calculator, the right depth and when to mulch For most Ontario garden beds, spread mulch 2–3 inches (5–7.5 cm) deep, and no more than 4 inches.
• Lowest-maintenance landscaping: garden beds for GTA yards The lowest-maintenance landscaping for most yards in Markham and the GTA is a planted bed that covers its own soil.
• When to trim hedges and shrubs in Ontario In Ontario, trim cedar, juniper and yew hedges in early spring before new growth starts, or around mid-June once the first flush of growth is done, with a light touch-up in midsummer.
• When to prune hydrangeas and other shrubs in Ontario: lilacs, spirea, forsythia and more When to prune hydrangeas and other shrubs in Ontario depends on when they flower.
• Why your cedar hedge is turning brown, and whether it will come back Where and when the brown shows up tells you the cause. Inner foliage browning in September and October is normal fall needle drop.
• Garden bed edging: interlock, steel, plastic or a spade-cut edge, and which lasts in Ontario For garden bed edging in Ontario, steel lasts longest and an interlock border on a gravel base holds up well.

Decks and fences

• Deck staining in Ontario: when to stain, when not to, and which stain In Ontario, deck staining goes best from late May to mid-September, on wood that's dry right through, with no rain in the forecast.
• Fence painting vs staining: cost, looks and how long each lasts Paint and solid-colour stain form a film on a wood fence and last longest: about 6 to 10 years on smooth pine with a primer and two top coats, according to the USDA Forest Products Laboratory.
• Fence permits and height rules in Markham and Toronto You don't need a permit to build an ordinary fence in Toronto or Markham, as long as it follows the city's fence by-law.
• Pressure washing decks, fences and interlock without damage You can pressure wash a deck, fence or interlock in Ontario without damage if the pressure suits the surface.
• How to fix a leaning or rotten fence post (and when the whole section needs replacing) Most leaning fence posts in Ontario have rotted at ground level or been lifted by frost.
• Deck sealer vs stain vs waterproofing: what each does and which your deck needs A deck sealer is a clear water repellent. It soaks in and makes water bead, but on deck boards it lasts about a year.

What GTA jobs typically cost

These are published market ranges from price surveys and cost guides, not our prices. Each guide below explains what moves the number up or down and lists its sources.

• How much does an interlock driveway cost in the GTA? HomeStars' Toronto price guide (updated August 2026) puts a new interlock driveway at about $8,000 to $20,000 or more.
• Sod installation cost in Ontario: what you pay for, and why quotes vary HomeStars' 2026 price guide puts sod installation in Ontario at about $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot.
• How much does deck staining cost? Published ranges and what moves the price Professional deck staining costs US$550 to $1,250 for a typical deck, or $1 to $4 per square foot, in HomeAdvisor's 2026 guide.
• Landscaping costs in Markham: what landscapers charge per hour in Ontario Landscape Ontario's 2022 charge-out rate survey puts landscape labourers at $55 to $90 an hour and landscape technicians at $75 to $110.
• How much does lawn mowing and lawn care cost in Markham and the GTA? HomeStars' lawn care pages put a standard cut in Markham and Toronto at about $40 to $80 a visit, and bundled lawn care at $120 to $300 a month.

Rather have us do it?

Call or text (437) 684-2535, or ask for a free quote.