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Firstly, everyone at Van Beek’s Garden Supplies wishes you safe and enjoyable Victoria Day holiday. In between fireworks and barbecues, do your long weekend plans include working in the garden? If so, the May holiday weekend is an ideal time to get your annuals in the ground because the threat of frost on your triple mix soil has finally passed. And if you aren’t quite sure which annuals to plant, take a look at these popular and colourful flowers

At Van Beek’s Garden Supplies, it’s an ideal time to tackle those projects that can make a big difference in your outdoor landscaping. Give your garden a fresh edge Cuts from the lawnmower and grass trimmer, combined with weather exposure, means that your garden edging is probably ready to be replaced. An easy way to tell is if any triple mix soil or mulch is spilling from your garden onto the grass. In order to complete this task over the long weekend, you may want to use iron garden edging. It comes in all styles and designs and is super-easy to install (all it takes is staking it into the ground).

A majority of the grass seed products we carry at Van Beek’s Garden Supplies carries a germination rating of 90-95%. Now, that’s the percentage of seeds which germinated in laboratory tests. Veteran gardeners know that, once that grass seed hits their lawns, the number is much lower. But it doesn’t have to be. Understanding the germination process and then taking steps to increase it is a sure fire way to get more germination from more grass seed.

Until very recently, we’ve had a mild winter. And that run of unusually warm weather has brought many people to both Van Beek’s Garden Supplies locations asking about grass seed. So we’ve collected all of the common questions we’ve heard over the past few weeks and put them together here for you. Enjoy!

It’s not too early to begin prepping your yard for the harsh winter that’s just around the corner. Spending an afternoon now working on your property will pay dividends in spring because it’ll be so much easier for your topsoil and garden to come back to life. The latest installment in our “Yes You Can!” series revisits a popular infographic on what you can do to get your yard ready for winter.

Are you growing perennials in your garden? Chances are, you’ll need to divide and transplant them soon because: They’ve become overgrown, they’re crowding the garden or even encroaching on your grass, you want to spread them around to other areas in your garden, or you’d like to share them with a friend Whatever your reasoning is, many perennials will benefit from division once they’re overgrown or crowding. It’s actually quite easy to divide the perennials in your garden without damaging the plant itself. Here’s how to do it.

October is here. And with it come shorter days, falling leaves and cooler temperatures. If you had topsoil delivery way back in the spring, your garden may be looking old and worn out. The autumn weather conditions won’t help improve its appearance either. At this time of year, we usually hear two questions when it comes to putting down another layer of triple mix soil. Should I put down one last layer before the frost and winter arrive? Is it too late to spread down topsoil and should I just wait until next year to do it? Our next installment in our “Yes You Can!” series tells you that yes, you can (and should) spread one last layer of topsoil this year.

The kids are off to school. The summer’s over. Not much left to do in the garden, right? Actually, there’s a bunch of September gardening jobs which you can take care of now – and enjoy the results in a few weeks or months. And if you think because September’s here, you won’t have enough time to work on the garden, think again. These little jobs won’t take much time at all. So, “Yes You Can” keep working in the garden during September!

The next installment in our “Yes You Can” series focuses on something the whole family can do. With back-to-school just around the corner, your kids may be exposed to some general science activities (like planting seeds and watching them grow). Plus, the whole family will be busier, with less time for errands like grocery shopping. So, why not save time – and take advantage of your children’s upcoming science classes – by planting a back-to-school vegetable garden with the kids?

Welcome to Van Beek’s Garden Supplies “Yes You Can!” series. Just as the name implies, the “Yes You Can!” series is going to feature easy and effective landscaping and gardening tips and techniques you can do. There’s nothing that delivers the feeling of pride of doing it yourself. It’s a powerful sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. At Van Beek’s, we don’t just want to be your supplier for great landscape products – we want to be your partner in helping you make your outdoor living space the best that it can be. And a big part of that is providing helpful ideas you can instantly use. Because at Van Beek’s, we believe that “Yes You Can!” First up in the “Yes You Can!” series: end-of-summer yard care tips.

Can you believe that it’s nearly August already? Where has the summer flown by? With the August long weekend coming up, it’s the perfect time to finish whatever interlocking stone project you’re working on: Laying down new patio stones, Building an interlock brick walkway or Creating a brand new interlocking driveway

If you’re new to gardening, you may have come across terms or phrases associated with soil and have wondered “what does that mean, exactly?” Well, wonder no more. We’ve put together a list of some common soil terms you might hear us use when you come and visit us. Check it out – or better yet, feel free to print this page and keep it with you as you work in the garden with soil bags from Van Beek’s Garden Supplies.

Summer brings along extra sunshine, warmer temperatures and more time spent outdoors. And mosquitoes. Lots and lots of annoyingly pesky mosquitoes. If you’re like most people, once the mosquitoes come to bite, you pull out the bug spray. And while it can be effective, it could also be harmful to you too. That’s because many commercial insect repellents contain DEET, which poses potential health risks like seizures or hypotension. In fact, in Canada, products with a DEET concentration of over 30% are prohibited for sale. Like many things, going natural is the best choice. The same goes for keeping mosquitoes away. That’s why you can transform your garden into a mosquito-free zone with these 5 plants you can grow yourself.

It’s the summer. It’s hot. You’re sweating (so you take a drink of water). Your grass is baking (so you water it). Your plants are frying (so you water them). And your triple mix soil that you’ve mixed up in your garden is… That’s the question: as the sun beats down, is it possible that your topsoil becomes too hot, thus compromising its ability to help nurture and grow your plants? The short answer is, yes, it is possible for your topsoil to overheat and dry out. When that happens, the vital nutrients and minerals contained within it become weakened and less effective. Now that we’ve established that your black garden soil can become too hot, the next question is how can you tell?

Planting and growing your own vegetables is good for: Your body Is there anything healthier than fresh, home-grown vegetables? Plus, planting and working on a vegetable garden is a great source of exercise Your mind You’ll feel peaceful – and proud – as you design and tend to your vegetable garden and watch as seeds turn into delicious vegetables. Your wallet Keep more of your money in your pocket as you avoid going to the grocery store (and saving on the cost of gas, too) and paying high vegetable prices. If you’re new to vegetable gardening, you’re in luck. With some proper planning – before you mix it up in the soil – it isn’t difficult to get started.

Wondering what to get Dad for Father’s Day this year? Not interested in getting him another necktie, bottle of cologne or pack of socks? If Dad enjoys spending time outside in the backyard – or loves working in the garden – then why not get him an outdoor gift that he’ll love and use over-and-over again? After all, Father’s Day falls right near the start of summer. It’s the perfect time to celebrate Dad while enjoying the great weather and beautiful sunshine. Skip the shopping mall this year and visit us at Van Beek’s Garden Supplies. We’re certain to have a Father’s Day gift that’s truly a breath of fresh air.

Victoria Day is celebrated in honour of Queen Victoria’s birthday (which was May 24, 1819, by the way). This year, Victoria Day falls on Monday, May 18. A long weekend in the heart of spring, Victoria Day is a great time to enjoy the outdoors; whether you’re firing up the BBQ, going to a fireworks display or working in the garden. Victoria Day is an ideal time to mix it up and focus on your garden’s soil needs. After all, as we explained in our Earth Day blog, soil is a vital and amazing component of your garden which requires ongoing care. So, if you can’t wait to play in the garden during the day (and then enjoy the fireworks at night), here are some Victoria Day soil tips you can apply over the long weekend.

Mother’s Day is fast approaching (Sunday, May 10) and you may be wondering what to get mom this year. If she likes working in the garden; planting flowers, pruning trees and installing decorative landscaping features, then you’re in luck. That’s because there are plenty of Mother’s Day gifts for the garden which are both fun and functional. Actually, you can mix it up this year when it comes to Mother’s Day garden gifts. You can give her something practical, like high-quality triple mix soil to help with her planting. Or you can give her something fancy, like a installing a new pond in the backyard. Looking for something different to give this year? Check out these garden gifts for Mother’s Day.