Guides for GTA homeowners on interlock, lawns, cleanups, gardens, decks and fences.https://hotivlandscaping.ca/en-cahttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/polymeric-sand-guide/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/polymeric-sand-guide/Polymeric sand is joint sand mixed with a binder that hardens as it dries, locking interlock pavers together and resisting weeds, ants and washout. Alliance Gator says a correct install can last about 15 years. On GTA driveways and patios, replace it when the joints are cracked, low, weedy or washing out. In Ontario that means clearing the old sand at least 1.5 inches deep and refilling on dry days above 0°C, usually spring to early fall.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/how-to-apply-polymeric-sand/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/how-to-apply-polymeric-sand/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 the paver tops, blow the surface clean, then shower it in sections. In the GTA, plan for a dry day with no rain for 24 hours and temperatures above 0°C for 48.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/new-polymeric-sand-over-old/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/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. On GTA interlock, clear the old material at least 1 to 1.5 inches (25–38 mm) deep, let the pavers dry completely, then refill, compact and wet the joints on a dry day above 0°C (5°C for some sands) with no rain for 24 hours.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/remove-polymeric-sand-haze/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/remove-polymeric-sand-haze/Polymeric sand haze is sand dust and binder that set on the face of the pavers. In Ontario, let the joints cure first (Techniseal says at least 30 days), then scrub the haze off with a paver haze or efflorescence cleaner diluted 1:4 or weaker, on a dry day between 10°C and 30°C. Alliance Gator also lists a hot pressure washer, and says light haze can weather away with rain.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fix-sunken-interlock/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fix-sunken-interlock/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. In Ontario, freeze and thaw make every dip worse. The fix is to lift the pavers, rebuild and compact the gravel base (Unilock lists 10 to 14 inches under driveways), screed 1 inch of fresh bedding sand, relay, compact and re-sand the joints.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/interlock-sealing-guide/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/interlock-sealing-guide/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. In Ontario, wait 60 to 90 days after new pavers go in, seal on dry pavers between about 10 °C and 30 °C with 24 to 48 dry hours ahead, and reseal every 3 to 5 years. Around the GTA, that means late May to mid-September.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/weeds-between-pavers/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/weeds-between-pavers/Weeds grow between pavers when the joint sand washes out or dirt settles on top of it. To stop them in Ontario, pull the weeds, clear the joints at least 1.5 inches (4 cm) deep, and refill with polymeric sand to at least 3 mm below the paver tops when it will stay above 0°C for 48 hours. Then sweep the surface often. Glyphosate weed killers are banned for cosmetic use on patios and driveways across Ontario.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/how-to-clean-interlock/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/how-to-clean-interlock/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. Rinse at about 1,500 PSI with a wide fan tip, angled, never a red 0° tip. Washing pulls sand out of the joints, so refill them with polymeric sand on a dry day that stays above 0°C for the next 48 hours. In the GTA, spring after the salt season is a good time.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/interlock-cost-gta/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/interlock-cost-gta/HomeStars' Toronto price guide (updated August 2026) puts a new interlock driveway at about $8,000 to $20,000 or more. Its Barrie guide lists $10 to $18 per square foot installed. A big share of that is labour and the base underneath: Unilock says driveways generally need 14 to 16 inches of base. Size, removing the old surface, soil, access, pattern and city permits move the final number.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/sod-installation-cost/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/sod-installation-cost/HomeStars' 2026 price guide puts sod installation in Ontario at about $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot. Queensville Sod Farms, a York Region grower, gives $1.80 to $3.50 per square foot for installation before materials. The sod itself is the cheap part, around $4.00 to $7.60 per roll. Most of the rest is labour and prep: removing old turf, topsoil, grading and haul-away. These are reported market ranges, not Hotiv's prices.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/best-time-to-lay-sod-ontario/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/best-time-to-lay-sod-ontario/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. Spring and early fall are easiest. Markham's average first frost is around October 10, but October highs still average 14 °C, so aim to finish by late October. The City of Toronto's sodding spec treats November 1 to April 30 as the winter dormant period.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/new-sod-watering-care/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/new-sod-watering-care/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. Most sod roots in 10–14 days. Once a gentle tug won't lift it, water less often but more deeply, and after about three weeks switch to normal lawn watering. In Markham, new sod is exempt from watering limits for two months.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/prepare-yard-for-sod/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/prepare-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 and finish with at least 4 inches of topsoil, ideally 6. Rake it level, firm it, leave it about 1/2 inch below paths, and lay the sod within 24 hours of it being cut.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fall-lawn-care-ontario/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fall-lawn-care-ontario/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. Feed with a slow-release fertilizer in September or October. Keep mowing at about 7.5 cm until the grass stops growing, and don't let leaves sit on the lawn over winter. In Markham, curbside leaf pickup ends October 30 in 2026.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/ontario-lawn-care-calendar/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/ontario-lawn-care-calendar/A lawn maintenance schedule for Ontario and the GTA runs from April to November. Rake gently in April, mow at about 7.5 cm from spring on, feed in late May or early June, and water about 2.5 cm once a week in summer or let the grass go dormant. Overseed and aerate from mid-August to mid-September, feed again in fall, and keep mowing until the grass stops growing.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/spring-cleanup-checklist/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/spring-cleanup-checklist/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. Leave the beds and hollow stems until temperatures, overnight lows included, stay well above 10°C for at least 10 days, as the City of Toronto advises. Then clear the beds, recut the edges and mulch 5–8 cm (2–3 inches) deep.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fall-cleanup-checklist/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fall-cleanup-checklist/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 outdoor taps before the first frost. In the GTA, late October into November works best. Check your pickup dates first: Markham's 2026 yard material collection ends October 30.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/mulch-guide/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/mulch-guide/For most Ontario garden beds, spread mulch 2–3 inches (5–7.5 cm) deep, and no more than 4 inches. One cubic yard covers about 108 sq ft at 3 inches, or 162 sq ft at 2 inches. In the GTA, put it down in spring once the soil has warmed and drained, or in fall once the soil has cooled, and keep it pulled back from stems and trunks.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/low-maintenance-garden-beds/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/low-maintenance-garden-beds/The lowest-maintenance landscaping for most yards in Markham and the GTA is a planted bed that covers its own soil. Pick plants that suit the light and are hardy to zone 6b, and space them to fill in. Cut a clean edge so lawn can't creep in. Keep 5–10 cm of wood mulch down and top it up every two to three years. Skip landscape fabric and invasive groundcovers like goutweed.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/when-to-trim-hedges-ontario/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/when-to-trim-hedges-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. Prune deciduous hedges hard in March or early April while they're dormant. Trim lilac and other spring bloomers right after flowering. Skip heavy cuts after midsummer, and check for nests from April to August.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/deck-staining-guide/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/deck-staining-guide/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. Labels set the limits: Benjamin Moore's Arborcoat semi-solid needs 4.4 to 32.2 °C and wood moisture under 15%, and PPG's oil stain needs more than 10 °C. Around Markham and the GTA, skip wet mornings, hot midday sun and late fall. Deck floors usually need a fresh coat every 1 to 2 years.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/deck-staining-cost/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/deck-staining-cost/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. Fixr's 2025 guide gives $2 to $5 per square foot. We couldn't find a Canadian price survey, so for a deck in Markham or elsewhere in Ontario, convert to Canadian dollars and add 13% HST. Prep, railings and stairs move the total more than the stain does.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fence-painting-vs-staining/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fence-painting-vs-staining/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. Oil-based semi-transparent stain soaks in, shows the grain and fades instead of peeling, but one coat lasts 2 to 4 years on smooth new wood. Most latex paint needs nights above 10°C, so in Markham and the GTA, June to early September is safest.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fence-rules-markham-toronto/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fence-rules-markham-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. Markham allows 1.2 m (4 ft) in the front yard and 1.8 m (6 ft) in side and rear yards. Toronto allows 2.0 m in most yards and 1.2 m in a front yard within 2.4 m of the street. Pool fences need a permit in both cities, as do new fences in Markham's heritage districts.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/pressure-washing-wood-pavers/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/pressure-washing-wood-pavers/You can pressure wash a deck, fence or interlock in Ontario without damage if the pressure suits the surface. Viance, a wood preservative maker, says no more than 800 PSI on treated wood, with a white or green fan tip at least 8 inches away. Western Interlock, a paver maker, puts pavers at around 1,500 PSI. The cedar industry advises against pressure washing cedar. Let wood dry 24–48 hours before staining, and re-sand interlock joints afterwards.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/landscaping-costs-markham/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/landscaping-costs-markham/Landscape Ontario's 2022 charge-out rate survey puts landscape labourers at $55 to $90 an hour and landscape technicians at $75 to $110. HomeStars' Toronto guide, updated August 2026, says basic projects on small Toronto yards can start at about $2,000 and regrading runs $1,500 to $5,000. Yard size, access, soil disposal and the season move a Markham quote, and 13% HST goes on top. These are published ranges, not Hotiv's prices.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fix-leaning-fence-post/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fix-leaning-fence-post/Most leaning fence posts in Ontario have rotted at ground level or been lifted by frost. If the wood above ground is solid, a pair of steel repair brackets driven at least 11 inches into the soil beside it can hold it. If it's soft, replace the post: a ground-contact treated 4x4 in a hole about three times its width and 1/3 to 1/2 of the fence height deep, on 6 inches of gravel. Wait until the ground thaws.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/lawn-grubs-ontario/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/lawn-grubs-ontario/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. OMAFRA says dead patches show at about 5 to 10 grubs per square foot. Chemical grub killers aren't on Ontario's Allowable List, so homeowners use beneficial nematodes in mid to late August or a Bt galleriae product, then repair the lawn.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/lawn-weeds-ontario/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/lawn-weeds-ontario/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. What you can use: iron-based (FeHEDTA) sprays on broadleaf weeds, corn gluten meal before crabgrass sprouts at about 13°C soil temperature, and hand digging. What actually keeps weeds out is thicker grass: mow at 7.5 cm, feed it, and overseed thin spots from mid-August to mid-September.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/when-to-prune-shrubs-ontario/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/when-to-prune-shrubs-ontario/When to prune hydrangeas and other shrubs in Ontario depends on when they flower. Lilac, forsythia and bridal wreath spirea bloom on last year's wood, so cut them right after flowering. Bigleaf and oakleaf hydrangeas also bloom on old wood: only cut out dead stems in spring. Panicle and smooth hydrangeas, Japanese spirea, potentilla and rose of Sharon bloom on new wood, so prune them around March in the GTA. Skip fall pruning.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/deck-sealer-vs-stain/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/deck-sealer-vs-stain/A deck sealer is a clear water repellent. It soaks in and makes water bead, but on deck boards it lasts about a year. A stain adds pigment that blocks the sun, so a semi-transparent stain lasts about 2 to 3 years. Deck waterproofing usually means one of these, since no finish makes wood fully waterproof. On most Ontario decks a semi-transparent stain suits the floor best, applied June to August, when Markham's average lows top 10 °C.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/interlock-base-under-pavers/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/interlock-base-under-pavers/A paver base in the GTA is compacted crushed gravel, with about 1 inch of bedding sand and then the pavers on top. CMHA's minimum on well-drained soil is 4 inches under walkways and patios and 6 inches under driveways. Unilock suggests 6 to 10 inches for patios and 10 to 14 for driveways, deeper in newer subdivisions. Use Granular A or clear stone for the base, and never stone dust as bedding.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/lawn-care-cost-markham/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/lawn-care-cost-markham/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. Its Canada-wide price guide lists weekly mowing at $25 to $55 a visit and bi-weekly at $50 to $80. Over 26 weekly cuts, roughly late April to late October, that comes to about $650 to $1,430 before 13% HST. These are published market ranges, not Hotiv's prices.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/cedar-hedge-turning-brown/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/cedar-hedge-turning-brown/Where and when the brown shows up tells you the cause. Inner foliage browning in September and October is normal fall needle drop. Brown tips on the south, west or road side in March and April point to winter burn or salt spray, and brown patches at the base to salty slush or dog urine. Dead foliage won't green up, but a branch with live buds can regrow. An Ontario cedar that's brown all over rarely recovers.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fix-brown-patches-lawn/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fix-brown-patches-lawn/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. Tug the grass first. If it stays rooted, it may only be dormant and should start greening up at least 2 weeks after a deep soaking. If it lifts or stays brown, rake it out and reseed (mid-August to mid-September) or patch it with sod.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/garden-bed-edging/https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/garden-bed-edging/For garden bed edging in Ontario, steel lasts longest and an interlock border on a gravel base holds up well. A spade-cut edge is free but needs recutting once or twice a year. Plastic is the cheap, common choice and the hardest to keep in the ground through frost. Aim for an edge about 10 cm (4 inches) deep to hold back Kentucky bluegrass, and set interlock or stone on compacted gravel, not bare soil.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT