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With the growing season ending and fresh local produce harder to come by, now is the ideal time for homeowners to start planning their own vegetable gardens for next spring. Beyond the cost savings, home gardening offers many benefits, including healthier eating, outdoor activity, learning opportunities for kids, and a sense of accomplishment. Key planning considerations include: Garden size, shape, and sun exposure Crop selection based on space and return Soil preparation and pest prevention Time commitment for maintenance Tools and accessories needed Recommended easy-to-grow, high-value crops: Beans, beets, broccoli, cucumbers, garlic, onions, peppers, lettuce, radishes, squash, Swiss chard, and tomatoes. For those unfamiliar with garden construction or working in Toronto’s clay-heavy soil, professional help can make a big difference. Landcare offers expert guidance and full-service landscape design and garden construction, helping homeowners turn their ideas into productive, beautiful spaces.

Installing custom landscape lighting is a smart way for homeowners to enhance curb appeal, increase property value, and enjoy their outdoor spaces well beyond daylight hours. Professionally designed lighting by Landcare offers both aesthetic and practical benefits—highlighting landscaping features, improving safety, and boosting security.

Canadian winters are tough—not just on roads, but also on your property’s interlocking driveways, walkways, and stone features. Road salt, freeze-thaw cycles, and snow removal can lead to lifting, shifting, staining, and even cracking of these surfaces. To protect your investment through the winter months: Use plastic shovels and snow blower shoes Avoid chiseling at ice Apply ice melt sparingly Keep snow and ice buildup to a minimum Rinse salt and sand off driveways regularly Even with proper care, the longevity of your stonework depends heavily on quality installation. Landcare ensures every project is built to withstand the Canadian climate, using proper foundations, top-tier materials, and expert craftsmanship. Thinking about upgrading your landscape with interlocking stone? Contact Landcare at 647-557-7307 for a free consultation—and let’s build something beautiful and built to last.

Landcare was hired by a luxury condo’s property management in uptown Toronto to help a retired architect unit owner realize his rooftop oasis vision within a tight budget. The design process balanced long-term goals—like a pergola-covered dining and lounging deck, planting, a hot tub, and outdoor kitchen—with current budget limits, delivering a completed deck and planting with room for future expansion. A major challenge was logistics: all materials had to be lifted 14 stories by crane since elevator access was limited. Careful planning ensured materials were ordered and bundled precisely for a single crane delivery. The crew then assembled the deck and pergola carefully to protect the roof membrane. The project resulted in a beautiful, functional rooftop space offering shaded relaxation and stunning Toronto skyline views, demonstrating Landcare’s expertise in managing complex urban landscaping projects.

Every spring, my allergies flare up from oak and maple pollen—pollen produced in overwhelming amounts by the all-male trees commonly planted in cities. This practice started in the 1950s when arborists recommended planting only male trees because they don’t drop messy seeds or fruit. While this seemed practical for maintenance, it has had unintended consequences. Since then, many urban landscapes, including Toronto’s, have been filled with genetically cloned male trees—red maples, willows, aspens, and more—that produce excessive pollen but no female trees to balance it. The result? High airborne pollen levels causing severe allergies, especially in children. Ironically, this benefits pharmaceutical companies but harms public health. Beyond pollen, male trees release toxins absorbed from the environment through their pollen, exposing us to harmful chemicals. Female trees release these toxins through seed pods instead, which can be managed more easily. It’s time to rethink urban forestry by reintroducing female trees strategically. This can restore balance, reduce pollen overload, and create healthier city environments. Nature thrives on balance—and so should our cities.

Many homeowners call us after their lawns have been damaged by raccoons, skunks, or invasive weeds. While the visible damage can happen overnight, the underlying causes develop over time. Weak, unhealthy lawns attract grubs, which in turn draw wildlife that digs up the turf. Nutrient-poor and thin grass also invites weeds and crabgrass to take over. Maintaining a healthy lawn involves simple but essential steps: aeration, fertilization, top dressing, and mowing at a healthy height of 2-3 inches. These practices protect your lawn from the wear and tear of foot traffic, harsh winters, and dry summers, helping prevent weeds and grub infestations naturally—without pesticides, which are banned in Toronto. For severe grub problems, professional application of nematodes offers a safe, chemical-free solution to control pests effectively. Proper application requires expert knowledge about the right nematode types and timing. If you’re unsure which approach suits your lawn best, experts like Landcare—pioneers in chemical-free lawn care since 1993—can assess your property and provide tailored, effective solutions to keep your lawn healthy year-round.

Since 1992, Landcare has prioritized environmentally responsible landscaping, originally focusing on pesticide-free property care. Today, with the increasing impacts of climate change, the company is addressing a new challenge: stormwater management. In response, owner Rob Crysdale and key staff earned Fusion Certification from the City of Toronto, which emphasizes water-efficient design and sustainable solutions like rain gardens, permeable pavers, and smart deicing systems. Fusion Landscaping blends horticulture with hydrology to create beautiful, functional landscapes that reduce runoff and make better use of rainwater. Rather than sacrificing aesthetics, this approach enhances outdoor living with lush plantings, architectural features like rain chains, and efficient water use—all while helping protect Toronto’s ecosystem and Lake Ontario.

Finding a truly reputable landscaping or property maintenance company can be challenging, especially as the common 5-star rating system has become less reliable. Many companies invest heavily in SEO and sometimes manipulate reviews, leading to fake positive or even negative feedback. Landcare frequently encounters offers to buy fake reviews or remove bad ones. Instead of relying on star ratings alone, homeowners and property managers should look for companies with real credentials—such as guarantees, certifications, insurance, and industry awards—and request references from actual clients. Honest references provide a fuller, more accurate picture of a company’s strengths and weaknesses, helping customers make informed decisions beyond the illusion of perfect ratings.

When hiring a landscaping or property management company, many homeowners and managers don’t realize the difference between locally rooted businesses and large corporate chains. While big companies often prioritize volume and profit, leading to high employee turnover and minimal care, smaller firms like Landcare bring decades of hands-on experience, skilled crews, and a strong commitment to quality. Founded in 1993, Landcare’s owner remains actively involved to ensure customer satisfaction. Unlike large firms that rely on advertising to replace lost clients, Landcare values long-term relationships, with 90% of business coming from referrals. Choosing the right company matters, as poor maintenance can cause costly, long-term damage to your landscape.

Landcare offers urn and annual planting services for commercial and residential clients. These services, including seasonal urn arrangements and long-blooming annuals, enhance outdoor spaces with colour and freshness. Landcare’s experts create customized designs, considering colour preferences and budget, and provide necessary care for lush growth.