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Category: Do It Yourself

How Many Cubic Yards Do I Need?

Posted on by Greely Sand And Gravel

We may have been experiencing our fair share of snow and freezing temperatures in Ottawa over the past few weeks, but that just makes us more excited for the upcoming spring season! In a few short months, the snow will be melting and you’ll be ready to enjoy your lawn and gardens. Why not take some time now to prepare yourself for this year’s spring maintenance projects? Whether it’s starting a new lawn from scratch, topdressing an existing lawn, creating a new garden, or adding mulch or decorative stone to take your yard to the next level, Greely Sand & Gravel is here to help you plan for a successful landscaping project!

Get an early start to the spring season and lock in your delivery date on our convenient online store. It’s the perfect place to browse our extensive catalogue of landscaping products. From soil to stone, from grass seed to decorative pavers, we have everything you need to transform your lawn or garden this spring. Once you have decided on your project and selected the materials you will be using, the next step in the process is to figure out how much of each product you will need. No one wants to end up being short, or paying too much and ending up with a lot leftover.

To help our customers with this step, Greely Sand & Gravel has a quick, easy-to-use Cubic Yard Calculator located on the left-hand side of each product page on our website. All you will need to use the Calculator is the length, width, and depth of the area you need to cover with your chosen material (soil, sand, stone, etc.). These measurements should be taken in feet and inches, as we sell all our products by the cubic yard. Simply input these dimensions into the Calculator and it will instantly tell you how much product you would need to cover that specific area at your chosen depth.

Keep in mind that if you are compacting your material for the purposes of your project, it is important to ensure you have ordered extra product to allow for compaction. As the compaction rate differs from product to product, it can be difficult to determine how much extra material you will need. If you have questions regarding compaction before ordering, please feel free to call our office to speak with one of our team members.

Once you know how much product you will need, you can then proceed to pricing out different options for delivery. If you only need a small amount of product, or you require small amounts of multiple products, Greely’s Gardening Bags might be a great delivery option for you! These sturdy, convenient bags minimize mess and allow you much more freedom in deciding where your products are placed when delivered. They come in three different sizes for maximum convenience: ¼ cubic yard, ½ cubic yard, and full cubic yard. Additionally, when you purchase two or more bags for delivery on the same date (regardless of size), you will receive a $25 discount off the second and any subsequent bags.

For larger amounts, our dump truck load delivery option is cost-effective, and allows you to have up to two different products delivered on one truck. This is an excellent option for customers who require three or more yards of the same product or of two different products, and who have space on their driveway or in their yard for the product(s) to be dumped loose.

As you plan for your upcoming project, remember that our staff are always on hand to answer your questions, or walk you through different options for products and delivery. You can call our office at 613-821-3003 to speak to one of our knowledgeable and friendly team members. We look forward to working with you to achieve your landscaping goals this year!

Fall Topdressing

Posted on by Greely Sand And Gravel

 

While we continue to enjoy a beautiful summer, it is never too early to start planning for the colder weather. Many people think that lawn care happens in the spring and summer seasons only, but there are some helpful things you can do for your lawn in the fall that will make your lawn look beautiful come next spring. In order to get the full, lush, green grass that you’re looking for, it’s important to topdress your lawn as the temperatures get a little cooler in the later months of the year, before the snow flies.

Topdressing your lawn is the process of adding a thin layer of nutritious content to your grass in order to improve the overall soil quality. Adding this layer provides nutrients to your soil which promotes new growth and strengthens your lawn’s ability to retain moisture. As your grass grows each year, the nutrients in the soil become depleted, so it is key to ensure that you are replenishing them regularly.  In addition, adding this layer can help level out bumps and low spots, allowing your lawn to look thick, even, and rich next spring.

If this sounds like something that might be helpful for you, Greely Sand & Gravel can get you set up for fall topdressing. Greely’s Topdressing Soil is perfect for giving your lawn that little extra boost in September and October. This rich triple-mix blend of topsoil, mushroom compost, and black peat moss will enrich your lawn with the nutrition it needs to thrive.

Greely’s Topdressing Soil is available for pickup at both our south-east end and west-end landscape depots. We also offer two convenient delivery methods: dump truck load (for larger areas) or our Greely Gardening Bags (for smaller areas). Our Greely Gardening Bags come in three sizes and are delivered using a forklift to ensure optimal placement of your bag.

To topdress your lawn, simply apply a thin, even layer of the soil to your grass using a rake, spade, or shovel. It is often helpful to use the back end of your rake to level out the layer of soil evenly across your lawn. The layer of soil should be about ¼” to ½” in depth. Beware of spreading the soil too thickly, as you don’t want to choke out your grass. Continue to work the soil into your lawn with a garden tool until the existing grass pokes through and the soil is evenly spread. To allow the soil to permeate, give it a light watering after spreading and continue to water daily if the weather is dry. This process can be done annually in the spring and fall to yield the best results.

If you plan to topdress your lawn this fall, give us a call today at 613-821-3003 or visit our online store to place an order for soil delivery. Give yourself the peace of mind, knowing that your soil will arrive on time for your fall topdressing. Our team will be happy to deliver your soil exactly when and where you need it!

Creating a Patio Base

Posted on by Greely Sand And Gravel

 

We’ve all been spending more time at home lately, so why not create a beautiful outdoor living space? An inviting patio can add significantly to the value and curb appeal of your home, and provides a comfortable and easy to maintain place to catch some sunshine and fresh air. With the price of lumber skyrocketing over the past year, you may want to consider a patio for your outdoor space as an alternative to a traditional deck. Stone patios are highly customizable and can be created to your exact specifications.

The most common way to install a patio is to dig an area at least 6” deep, fill the space with ⅞” crushed stone, and level off the top with stonedust. Greely Sand & Gravel offers both of these products that time and time again provide a solid foundation for a patio, making them a customer favourite! As you add gravel to the space, tamp and level every two to three inches to compact the material. Once all the gravel is spread, tamped, and leveled, spread the stonedust on top to create a 1” thick layer across the whole area.

Another option for the top layer is concrete sand, which allows for easier levelling and better drainage when compared with the traditional stonedust. However, either product will achieve the desired result.

Alternatively, a product that has gained a lot of attention in recent years is Premium Bedding Stone, also known as High Performance Bedding Stone. This stone performs the same function as crushed stone and stonedust, but in one convenient product! When contained by edging material or by an excavated space, the particles in Premium Bedding Stone provide a very rigid and stable surface on which you can place your interlock stone.  Additionally, Premium Bedding Stone offers the ease of installation and drains water very effectively, wicking water away. Because this method requires only one product, it may be a good option for those looking for an efficient, simple way to create a patio base in an enclosed area.

When you have your level, compacted base in place, it is time to lay your patio stones! This is where your creativity and personal preference can play a huge role. There are so many different options on the market when it comes to colour, size, and shape of patio stones. Greely Sand & Gravel offers several timeless options that will help you create a patio that is both durable and aesthetically pleasing.

Once this work is complete and you’ve laid your patio stones, we recommend filling in the joints (empty spaces between the stones) with polymeric sand. Polymeric sand is a specially formulated mixture of sand and high-performance polymer. This product can be used for joints up to 4” in width. In addition to providing a stable joint between your patio stones, this product also reduces weed growth, the formation of ant hills, and prevents erosion. We offer this product in two colours: beige or grey. Simply spread and sweep the sand into the joints of your patio stones and wash over with a hose in order to fill the joints. Be sure to watch the installation video for optimal performance. Once this is done and allowed to dry, your patio will be ready to use!

You can pick up any of the products mentioned above at our convenient landscape depots, or have them delivered to your house by dump truck load or in a Greely Gardening Bag. Our Greely Gardening Bags now come in three sizes – Full Yard, Half Yard, and Quarter Yard – so you can order the exact amount needed for your project. If you have more questions about the products, feel free to visit our online store or give us a call at 613-821-3003 to talk to one of our qualified team members.

Starting a New Lawn

Posted on by Greely Sand And Gravel

 

Spring is in full swing and summer weather is just around the corner. If you are anticipating spending a lot of time outside this summer, why not make this the year to invest in a brand new lawn? Whether your home is a new build or your current lawn is in need of an upgrade, Greely Sand & Gravel has the products and service you need to create a picture-perfect lawn.

Choosing Between Seed or Sod

When creating a brand new lawn from scratch, there are two options: you can start a lawn from seed or install sod. Seeding your lawn is the process of spreading seeds on freshly laid out and graded soil. While this can be done any time of year, it is more advantageous to seed your lawn in the spring or fall, when the nights are cooler in temperature. Installing sod consists of laying and joining rolls of sod on freshly laid out and graded soil. Sodding your lawn can be done any time of year, but it’s important to be prepared to water your sod thoroughly after installation. While sod is typically the more expensive option, this method allows you to have a beautiful, mature lawn in a short period of time, as opposed to allowing time for seeds to germinate and grow.

How deep should my soil be?

For grass to grow well from either seed or sod, the screened topsoil should be at least four to six inches in depth. This will give ample depth for the seeds and sod to attach themselves to the soil and begin deep growth.

How to Seed

Once you have spread screened topsoil in your area to a depth of between four and six inches, grade the soil to fill any low spots and to ensure a nice, even base. Additionally, be sure to grade your soil away from any buildings, such as your house, for drainage purposes. Once your soil is laid out and graded, spread the seed at a consistent rate across your area, using either your hands (for smaller areas) or a spreader (for larger areas). Once this is done, we recommend rolling over the soil with a lawn roller. Once you’ve completed these steps, be sure to water the area thoroughly, at least three or four times a day, especially when it is sunny. 

How to Install Sod

Similar to seeding your lawn, screened topsoil should first be spread to a depth of four to six inches, graded, and compacted to be as level as possible. Before installing the rolls of sod, spread water over the surface of the soil. Begin laying the rolls of sod along a straight line. Ensure there are no gaps between the rolls of sod. If needed, because of a slope, use stakes to pin the sod in place so that it does not move. Wherever necessary, trim the edges of the sod with a knife in order to make clean, straight lines at the edges of your lawn. Once all of your sod is installed, level it with a lawn roller in order to ensure the lawn is flat and that there are no air pockets underneath the sod. Then, water the sod thoroughly, preferably using a sprinkler. Especially if you are attempting to grow sod in hot and dry conditions, this last step is the most important in order to keep your sod growing and to allow the roots to attach to the soil beneath. Make sure to install your sod within 24 hours of delivery, to keep the grass alive and healthy.

Having trouble deciding which new lawn method is right for you? Feel free to consult our website or to give us a call at 613-821-3003 today. Our knowledgeable staff would be happy to assist you!

Topdressing Your Lawn

Posted on by Greely Sand And Gravel

 

When it comes to maintaining your lawn, there is lots you can do as a homeowner to encourage thick, healthy grass growth! One of the best strategies is to regularly topdress your lawn. Topdressing is simply adding a light layer of soil over your existing grass to both add nourishment and to allow for overseeding. Ideal soil for topdressing includes a compost element which is rich in nutrients. Greely’s Topdressing Soil™ has been a customer-favourite for decades and is the perfect choice for anyone looking to topdress their lawn. With its trusted triple mix recipe and organic certification, Greely’s Topdressing Soil™ is a high quality product that can be delivered right to your door by dump truck load or by garden bag. Once you’ve ordered your soil, simply follow the steps below to topdress your lawn.

Preparing Your Lawn for Topdressing

Before you start spreading your topdressing soil, it is important to clear your lawn of any debris (sticks, stones, etc.), and cut your grass as short as possible without pulling it up from the ground. It may be helpful at this stage to rake or aerate your lawn to allow maximum mixture of the new and existing soils and ensure absorption of the added nutrients.

Adding the Topdressing Soil

Once your lawn is prepared for topdressing, simply sprinkle Greely’s Topdressing Soil™ using a shovel and a sweeping motion. The topdressing soil should not be dumped or piled on the lawn, rather it should fall gently between the blades of grass. Topdressing should add a thin layer of soil to your lawn, no more than ½” in depth. Try as much as possible to spread the soil evenly through the grass.

Ensuring Maximum Benefit

If you plan to overseed, sprinkle the grass seed over the newly added soil and then lightly sprinkle a touch more topdressing soil over the grass seed just to cover it.  If you require grass seed, Greely Sand & Gravel can deliver premium seed along with your soil for no extra delivery charge!  Make sure to water the lawn regularly to ensure maximum growth.  Remember, spring and early fall are both great times of year to topdress your lawn.

Following these steps with Greely’s Topdressing Soil™ will make your lawn look healthy and full. For more information, visit our product pages on our website or give us a call today 613-821-3003!

Preparing your Garden

Posted on by Greely Sand And Gravel

 

The sun is shining, the snow is melting, and gardening season is just around the corner! Early spring is the perfect time to start thinking about preparing your garden for planting. Whether it’s a new garden that you are looking forward to building or an existing garden that needs some TLC, Greely Sand & Gravel is here to help with quality products and industry expertise!

Reviving an Existing Garden

If you already have a garden on your property, you are well on your way to beautiful flowers, tasty vegetables, or whatever else you’re planning to grow. However, over the years, soil can become dry and hard and you may notice your seeds struggling to germinate and thrive. This problem can be greatly alleviated by adding either mushroom compost or Greely’s Topdressing Soil to your existing garden. Mushroom compost contains high levels of organic matter, which is key to providing your plants with the nutrients they need to grow. Greely’s Topdressing Soil is a triple mix containing screened topsoil for structure, mushroom compost for nutrients, and black peat to help with moisture retention. Be careful when adding pure mushroom compost to your garden as it is quite acidic and can be tough on plants if it is not used sparingly and mixed well into the existing soil. To avoid this issue, we recommend using our pre-mixed Greely’s Topdressing Soil.

Starting a New Garden

If this is the year you finally decided to add a garden to your property, you’ve come to the right place! A flower garden can add natural beauty while a vegetable garden is a great way to spend time outdoors and enhance your meals with homegrown goodness. When starting a new garden, we recommend digging down about 12 inches in the entire space you plan to use. For any type of garden, we always recommend our Greely’s Topdressing Soil. This pre-blended triple mix gives you structure, nutrients, and moisture retention, making it ideal for all plants. It is also certified organic to give you peace of mind when it comes to planting fruits and vegetables.

This year, we are proud to announce that we are offering hand-built garden boxes, perfect for smaller properties where you may not have the space for a full garden. Also new are the bundles of organic veggie seeds and organic herb seeds.  Simply fill your garden box with Greely’s Topdressing Soil and you are ready to plant your organic seeds!

The ideal time to plant outdoors is after the final frost of the winter. This typically falls around the end of May. However, you can begin preparing your garden as soon as the ground is no longer frozen, so don’t put off ordering your soil! To find out more about our soils, organic seeds, garden boxes, and many other products, give us a call today at 613-821-3003!

Planning Your Spring Landscaping Project

Posted on by Greely Sand And Gravel

It may be cold and snowy outside, but now is the time to start planning for your spring and summer landscaping projects! Having a clear and well-laid out plan is key to making your project a success. Greely Sand and Gravel is your one-stop shop for all the materials you will need to make your landscaping dream a reality! By following the simple steps below, you can ensure that you are ready to go when landscaping season is here.

Preparing for Your Delivery

The first step in preparing for a delivery of landscaping materials is to calculate how much product you will need. To do this, first find the dimensions (length, width, depth) of each area you will be working on (e.g. your lawn, flowerbed, or garden). Collect your measurements in feet and inches and then input them into our Cubic Yard Calculator which can be found on the left side of every product page on our website.

For more information on how much depth is recommended when using a specific product, or which product is best for your project, give our office a call!

Once you know how much of each product you need for your project, you are ready to place your order.

Ordering Your Delivery

Now that you know how many cubic yards of product you will need, the next step is deciding if you want your product delivered by dump truck load or in a Greely Gardening Bag (cubic yard bag). The following chart outlines the benefits and things to consider regarding each mode of delivery.

Delivery Mode Benefits Things to Consider
Dump Truck Load The more you order, the more money you save! The product will be delivered loose and will be deposited on your lawn or driveway, requiring at least a 15’x15’ space.
Greely Gardening Bag Keeps your product contained – great for smaller spaces or projects that might take several days or weeks to complete. Unless you are buying multiple different products, this delivery method will be more expensive than the dump truck option for larger orders.

You can place your order quickly and easily using our online store. Remember to double check your quantities and delivery mode before confirming your order. We also strongly recommend including detailed notes in the comments section of the order form to help your delivery driver place your product exactly where you need it. You are also welcome to place your order over the phone with one of our friendly and knowledgeable staff members.

While we can sometimes offer same-day delivery on orders placed over the phone, please note that online orders must be placed at least 48 hours in advance of your desired delivery date. Delivery slots are booked on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend placing your order in advance, especially during our busy spring season!

If you want to learn more about our delivery methods, or have questions about your specific project, our team is always ready and willing to help. Just pick up the phone and give us a call at 613-821-3003.

Receiving Your Delivery

Our goal is to make the delivery of your landscaping materials a smooth and easy process every time! If you will not be home on the day scheduled for your delivery, it is very important that you remember to mark the spot where you would like your product placed. You can mark the spot using sidewalk chalk, a weighted down tarp, a pilon, etc. If you are receiving your product by dump truck load, we recommend putting a tarp down if you want to keep the product a little more contained.

Please note that our dump trucks require a clearance area of 14’ wide and 25’ high. If you are concerned about overhead wires or low-hanging tree branches in the area where your delivery will take place, please call our office to figure out a solution. Our Greely Gardening Bags are delivered using a forklift that requires 9’ of clearance (width).

Our drivers have all received training so they can provide safe, contactless delivery to our customers. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your order or scheduled delivery, please give our office a call!