FAQ

  • Grubs & Nematodes

  • What do I do?
    Beneficial Nematodes need to be applied each spring and fall for ​3 consecutive years to completely eradicate grubs from your lawn. Once they leave your yard they never go very far, most likely they moved into your neighbour's yard and if they don’t treat with nematodes it will only be a matter of time before they start to see similar damage. Once grubs have landed in your neighbourhood it’s next to impossible to get rid of them completely because not everyone takes care of their lawn. Beneficial Nematodes will need to be applied every fall to keep the grubs from returning to feed on your lawn.
  • What are Nematodes?
    Nematodes are a type of microscopic bug that eats bad bugs in our lawns and gardens.
  • What is a Grub?
    A Grub is the larva stage of a Japanese Beetle and June Bug that live in the lawn and feed on the grass roots before they come out of the ground and cause havoc on our gardens.
  • How do I know if I have Grubs?
    There are a few indications that you can look for in your yard to determine if you have a grub problem. First is looking for brown dead patches on the lawn and where the grass will pull up easily because it doesn't have any roots, grubs feed on grass roots.

    Next, you’ll find skunks or raccoons feeding on your lawn, they dig holes in the lawn because they can smell grubs and they want to eat them. These animals can cause more damage to the lawn than the grub can, even crows like them and can leave holes all over your lawn trying to eat them. It will be a matter of time before your lawn is overrun with weeds as parts of your lawn die and grass will no longer grow there.
  • How can I get rid of Grubs?
    The most effective method is to use beneficial nematodes, they are a type of good grub that will search and destroy all the bad grubs and over 250 other soil-dwelling insects that cause harm to our lawn and gardens.
  • How long will it take to remove grubs from my lawn?

    On average it takes 3 years of applying nematodes every Spring & Fall to push them out of your lawn. After that is done you will have to make a nematode application as a part of your Fall maintenance. When grubs show up in a neighbourhood the always stay because some people on your street will not use nematodes because they don’t believe they work or don’t have the time or money to do anything and some just don’t care. Without a doubt on a windy day, a Japanese Beetle will end up in your backyard and start to lay some eggs again, this is why you must
    apply nematodes in the Fall to prevent the cycle of damage from starting over again.

  • How can you repair the damage to my lawn?
    Depending on the size of area that is damaged some home owners prefer to sod an area where others may just use grass seed to fill in the bare spots. Most will seed their lawn in the Spring & Fall to repair the damage, after 3 or 4 years of nematodes & over seeding each season you will improve the health & overall appearance. If you have grubs in your lawn there is no amount of money that you can spend on grass seed and fertilizers that will grow you a beautiful lawn unless you apply nematodes because they feed on grass roots and you will just continue to feed grubs and never see improvements in your lawn.
  • Can I walk on my lawn after Nematodes are applied?
    Yes, you can walk on the lawn in your bare feet as well as children & pets. It’s completely safe and the nematodes are so small that they are microscopic and you cannot see them in the lawn.
  • If it rains do I still have to water my lawn?
    YES PLEASE. It’s great when Mother Nature can help us out but more often than not we don’t see rainstorms that produce the amount of water we really need to apply the nematodes properly. If it rains 30 mm plus that night then you’d be ok but rains like that are rare. If we have a torrential rainstorm for 3 or 4 days in a row that would be the only time you wouldn't need to water.
  • Do Nematodes drown if it rains really heavy?
    No, you can never have too much water when applying nematodes. We hope that it rains when we are out, as it will help with the application. The more water on the lawn will push down into the soil and force the grubs to the surface; the nematodes will search & destroy all the grubs and other soil dwelling insects until there is none left.
  • What do I need to do before your staff arrives?
    Water, water, water!! The entire lawn should be soaking wet, it would be ideal if we could apply them in the rain but we can’t always get that lucky. Scheduling will be done in advance to ensure that the homeowner is available to water the lawn properly. Please leave your garden hose out for the staff, if it does not reach the entire property our staff will have an extra hose with them but please let them know at the time of scheduling that you might need some extra hose.
  • How much water do I need to apply after your done?
    It is very important for the homeowner to water properly for the best results. The next 3 consecutive mornings before the sun comes up if that’s possible. The lawn should have each area that is covered by your sprinkler for 1 hour. It is very important that your lawn does not dry out during the hottest part of the day, it must stay wet or the nematodes will dry out and die. After the 3rd morning, the nematodes have soaked far enough down into the soil where they will stay wet until they are done eating the bad bugs and then they too will die.
  • Do I have to be home or awake when your staff come?
    If there is a water faucet on the outside of your home that is turned on, our staff will not need your assistants if you’re not available. I recommend leaving your garden hose out on the lawn for the sun to warm up the water and this allows the staff to find their way back to the tap. If your water hooks up inside your garage we will ensure that your home is the first call for the evening. Some clients like to chat with the staff and learn more about what we are doing and why, if we don’t have the answer we can always find it for you.
  • How do I know how many Nematodes are being applied?
    Nature’s Image purchases individual packs from the local Ontario Grower Supply.
    • 10 Million Pack Covers 2,000 – 3,000 square feet
    • 25 Million Pack Covers 5,000 – 7,500 square feet
    • 50 Million Pack Covers 10,000 – 15,000 square feet
    • 100 Million Pack Covers (1/2 acres) 18,000 – 20,000 square feet
    • 200 Million Pack Covers 1 acre – 44,000 square feet
    • 500 Million Pack Covers 2 acres – 88,000 square feet
    Each Nature’s Image client will receive an individual package based on the square footage of the entire lawn area. We do NOT use a large tank truck and spray multiple homes from the same tank. Our trained staff will come to your home at dusk or after dark and apply the nematodes using an applicator that attaches to a standard garden hose.
  • When can I apply Beneficial Nematodes?
    In the Spring we need to wait for the soil temperature (not the outside air) to reach 10 degrees, nematodes can’t live in soil that’s too cold. The best time to plan is the first week in May, traditionally the soil is warm enough to germinate grass seed. The second application should be done just after September 15th, we have shorter days and cooler nights that make ideal conditions for an application. Crane flies do not lay their eggs before the 15th of September, we do not start treatments until all bugs are done laying their eggs for the season.

  • Lawn Care

  • When do I aerate?
    The best time to aerate your lawn is in the spring and fall right before you’re about to seed your lawn. Aerating and not seeding your lawn is a great way to spread weeds. Try to aerate the lawn when it’s had several days without rain or watering this will allow the aerator to run smoothly through the lawn.
  • How often do I fertilize my lawn?
    If you do need to fertilize your lawn it is not necessary to fertilize anymore then in the spring and fall. Be very careful when using fertilizer as applying too much to your lawn can cause it to burn when I do use fertilizer I prefer to use an organic base, which will prevent burning. It is much safer to use compost to improve your soil conditions instead of fertilizer.
  • When is the best time to seed my lawn?
    If you can only seed your lawn once per season the best time to seed is always in the fall WHEN we have the best soil conditions possible for growing. Seeding your lawn in the spring and the fall is the only way to crowd out weeds from growing in your lawn. Every season that you add grass seed to your lawn you helped to build up resistance to disease and pests. For every 1000 ft.² of lawn area you will need 5 to 7 pounds of grass seed to cover that area effectively.
  • Why should I use compost pellets?
    Compost pellets are the easiest most inexpensive way to introduce nutrients to your soil down at the root zone where it’s needed the most. Aerating the soil before applying compost pellets is the most effective way to have the nutrients absorbed into the soil. For every 1% of compost that we add to our soil, it will increase water holding capacity and nutrient uptake by 50%. When your lawn starts retaining 50% more water and nutrients you will not need to water your lawn as often nor will your grass grow as fast when you stop using fertilizer and only use compost pellets. Using compost pellets will allow your grass to grow at its natural rate which means it should only be cut every 10 to 14 days versus every 5 to 7 a lawn that needs to be cut that often has lots of fertilizer forcing it to grow.
  • How high should I keep my grass?
    When cutting your grass it is always best to leave your grass at the highest possible setting which could be anywhere from 3 inches to 3 1/4 inches in height. When leaving the grass longer this creates more shade on the lawn, which will allow the lawn to retain more water and help prevent weeds from spreading. It is very important to remember the 1/3 rule that applies to grass as well as plants you should never cut more than one-third of the blade of grass. In wet weather when the grass grows faster this is when you need to be careful about not cutting too short some people who cut back more than one third or go below 2 1/2 inches are destined to burn and damage the lawn
  • Should I bag my grass clippings?
    Whenever possible recycle all the grass clippings on the lawn. It does not benefit the lawn to bag any grass clippings including in the fall when the leaf debris is on the lawn. Unless we are trying to prevent grass from going into pools or garden beds these are the exceptions for bagging grass. Some trees are known to get what is called black spot which is a form of fungus that can spread when grass and leaf debris are mulched into the lawn. The black spot will require the grass clippings to be bagged to prevent further contamination.
  • Spring and Fall Maintenance For Your Lawn
    In the spring it is very important to wait until the soil temperature reaches 13° below the frost line before we apply compost or seed. The best time to get started in our region is the Victoria Day long-weekend any time prior to that the soil is generally too cold to germinate grass. Step 1 take a fan rake and clear all debris off the lawn Step 2 aerate the lawn Step 3 apply compost pellets to your lawn after the aeration, it will allow the compost to start breaking down at the root zone where it's needed most Step 4 apply your grass seed Step 5 water your lawn every day every morning for 14 days.
    If your lawn has grub damage it is important to have a nematode application done prior to aerating and overseeding.
    Repeat all of the same steps in the fall as you would in the spring until your lawn has thickened up where it now crowds out the weeds. If your lawn has problems with Grubs & Crane flies it is best to wait and apply your nematodes after Labour Day, Crane flies take longer to lay their eggs. Make sure you kill all of the bugs that are feeding on your lawn not just 1 of them.
  • Should I be mulching leaf debris into the lawn?
    Mulching leaf debris into your lawn is a great way to use natures compost. Depending on the amount of trees on the property some bagging may be required and any excess leaf debris would be mulched thoroughly into the lawn. If any tree on the property contains black spot we must bag all the debris.
  • How to prevent weeds in your lawn?
    The only way to successfully prevent weeds in your lawn is to grow a thicker lawn the thicker the grass the least amount of area for weeds to grow. When you seed your lawn each spring and fall this will help thicken your lawn over time and eventually you will crowd out all the weeds. I do not recommend using spray form weed killers as they tend to kill the grass as much as the weeds.+
  • How much water do I apply to my lawn?
    If you are overseeding your lawn during the growing period you will need to water every morning for 14 days even on the days that it rains unless it's a very heavy rain, its recommended that you water as well. When your goal is to maintain a healthy lawn it is recommended to water once a week or every 5 to 7 days so you can simulate a heavy rainstorm, it is not recommended to water every other day. When you're trying to find the right amount of water to apply to your lawn when applying nematodes it is recommended that you take a can the size of a small tuna can and place that beside your sprinkler and time how long it takes for the sprinkler to fill the entire can. Many homes have different water pressure which is why this tip is so helpful when determining how much water to apply to your lawn. It may take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes for the sprinkler to fill the can when you time it the first time you will know the exact amount of water in the exact amount of time it takes for what you need. When doing a nematode application the lawn area must be very very wet and it is recommended that you fill three cans. the time that it takes to fill three small tuna cans is how long you should water your lawn prior to the application. After the application, you will want to water the same amount of water for the three consecutive mornings of the treatment.
    Price - 20kg bag for $40 - Turf Shark Granular Top Dressing is the main product we use to improve all our client's lawns and gardens.

  • Landscaping & Garden Maintenance

  • Garden Maintenance Services
    • Spring & Fall Clean Up
    • Mulch Garden Beds
    • Install Edge around Garden Beds & Walkways
    • Hedge Trimming
    • Shrub & Plant Pruning
    • Weeding
    • Leaf Clean Up
    • Tree Wrapping & Tying plus materials
  • Can you prune and trim hedges?
    Yes we have trained and knowledgeable staff that are able to prune shrubs of all sizes and trim hedges up to a maximum of 10 feet tall. All debris from pruning or hedge trimming is removed with the crew and included in the charge.
  • Do you remove debris?
    When completing any garden maintenance services we remove all debris with us unless otherwise asked by the client. We are able to remove small organic items but we do not take any large wooden or cement style garbage.
  • Leaf cleanup?
    We do complete leaf cleanups and our trained staff use blowers as well as large bags to collect and remove all the debris from properties.
    There is a disposal charge for the debris.
  • Tree trimming?
    Natures image can help with small trees on the property but anything that requires something bigger than a five-rung step ladder we recommend a professional tree company that can do the job properly and more efficiently.
  • Install new garden edge?
    We can install a brand-new edge on an existing garden or maintain an existing edge in the garden. When maintaining an edge it requires less time to push back the mulch creating a trench for your mulch to fall into, a weed-whacker or line trimmer is all that is needed. There is a lot more work involved in installing a new edge on a garden bed that requires special tools and removing a fair amount of debris from the soil. It is recommended to install a new edge in the garden every spring and expect to maintain the edge throughout summer by using a hand trowel and pulling back the soil or mulch depending on what's in your garden. The great benefit of having an edge on your garden is it helps to keep grass from growing into the garden as well as trimming and mowing is much easier and in the end, it looks fantastic.
  • Mulching gardens
    Mulching your gardens is the best way to retain water and to prevent weeds from spreading through your garden beds. There are a variety of different mulches available as well as different types of groundcovers that you can use. I do not recommend using colour dyed mulch as this is not a healthy option for your garden. Gro Bark Pine and Cedar is a variety that contains nutrients that benefit the soil when used. If you're trying to keep your weeds down you should plan to mulch your gardens every year, each year will only require a topping up compared to the first time mulching a brand-new bed. Natures image can deliver yards of mulch to our clients at a cost that is less than buying the material in bags.
  • Transplanting?
    There are good times to transplant and times that are not. Transplanting in the spring is a great time for plants, trees and shrubs as they have the entire season to become established before winter. I do not recommend transplanting in the summer unless you are able to water every day until the plant material becomes established. Early Fall is also a great time for planting and transplanting, the soil is at perfect temperatures and the shorter days and cooler nights provide the ideal growing conditions to allow the plant to establish itself before winter.
  • Deadheading?
    Deadheading is a necessary step in allowing your perennials and annuals to continue blooming throughout the season. Some plant material will continue to bloom throughout the season where others only for a short time and then require the flower to be deadheaded but leaving the stock as well as the leaves behind to store energy for next season blooms.
  • How do I manage to achieve privacy from neighbors?
    There are many options to achieve the look you're going for including a fence. Shrubs can create great hedgerow along property lines and deciduous trees planted can help block upper windows from neighbours view, Evergreens can create a good barrier as well. Panels, Pergolas, Lattice, Ornamental Ironwork and a properly placed fountain can add tranquil background noise inside a busy city.
  • What cost are involved in completing a landscape project?
    Always have your contractor breakdown the budget into material cost and labour cost. A detailed quote will make allow the client to see where the time and materials are being spent. If you’re working within a budget there is always the possibility of completing the project in phases as well as doing some of the work yourself. There are aspects of the job that take place off-site that the client can’t always view but this is also worked into the quote. Some examples are sourcing special plant material, stone selection, loading & unloading of equipment to name a few.

    Our hourly rate for Landscape Construction starts at $59.00 per man-hour.
    This type of work would include the building of patios, walkways, gardens, waterfalls, ponds, installing a new lawn, drainage issues, shrubs & tree removal. Our crews work in teams of 2 and they are the best at what we do in this field, the use of specialized equipment and training is required to complete projects.

    Our hourly rate for Garden Maintenance is $54.00 per man-hour.
    This type of work includes weeding, pruning, trimming of lawns & shrubs, leaf removal. Our crew is available to work as a team or individual if needed for smaller projects. A 2-hour minimum is charged along with drivetime and disposal.
  • How do I choose a landscape contractor?
    There are many ways to research your landscaper; search on-line, ask friends and family, check with your local BBB. There are some key factors to consider when doing your research. How long has the company been in business? How many employees do they have? Are they fully insured? Does the business warranty their work? Ask for at least 3 references, drive by the properties, and see the quality of workmanship.
  • What is Hardscaping?
    Hardscape landscape refers to the built environment of paved areas like walkways, patios, pools, fountains, fireplaces, fire pits, retaining walls, driveways, and materials can be stone, concrete, marble etc. From an aesthetic perspective, hardscaping allows landscape designers to erect landscaping features that would otherwise be impossible due to soil erosion, or that compensate for backyard entertaining and aesthetics. Nature’s Image works with natural and interlocking stone, we do not do stamped concrete or wooden decks or fences.
  • Is it possible to have the benefits of a waterfall without all the work of a fishpond?
    Yes, a waterfall can be built with the water cascading into a reservoir that can be chlorinated to keep the water clean.
    Water gardens come in all shapes and sizes visit our    ​ Gallery of Ponds to see how aesthetically pleasing, soothing and what a focal point a pond can bring to any backyard landscapes. Water gardens add a unique dimension to homes and even with limited space, you can design a water feature that brings the beauty of nature into your backyard.
  • What’s involved in a Spring cleanup?
    In the spring we recommend you taking a rake to the lawn and remove all debris from lawn areas garden beds driveways walkways and curb. Weeding the garden beds, pruning back any broken branches from winter or that may have fungus and mold or any other visible damage should be pruned off any trees & shrubs. Any remaining perennials should be cut down and the debris removed and if mulch exists in the bed it should be topped up with similar mulch. Some perennials may need to be divided and transplanted amongst the gardens.
    In the Spring we:


    Cut back grasses
    • Remove dead plant materials
    • Weed all plant beds
    • Collect leaf debris and branches from the winter
    • Trim and prune trees and shrubs to eliminate broken/damaged branches
    • Re-edge garden beds
    • Grobark pine mulch used to top up beds
    • Removal and disposal of all debris
  • What’s involved in a Fall Garden Clean Up ?
    • Litter and debris removed from garden beds
    • Cut back perennials and removal of annuals and dead plant material
    • Weeding of garden beds
    • Re-Edge garden beds and curbs where necessary
    • Cultivate gardens and prepare beds for winter

  • Mosquitoes

  • How effective is Mosquito-Less?
    Mosquitoes are 10,000 times more sensitive to garlic than humans.

    Repel mosquitoes instantly and they will leave the area for weeks. Their life-cycle normally takes place over a number of weeks within a 350 sq.ft area. There are dozens of species in Canada, some which can carry the West Nile Virus.

    Using garlic to repel bugs is nothing new Farmers have been using garlic oil to protect cattle, horses and livestock for decades. The garlic odour dissipates pretty quickly but the mosquitoes can smell it and know it's there!
  • Does Mosquito-Less work on more than just mosquitoes?
    Yes, this works to repel mosquitoes, chiggers, ticks, fleas, gnats and more for up to 1 month. This product does not kill the bugs, it just repels them from the area. This product works great for eliminating Geese from the property as they stop feeding on the grass.
  • Is this safe for my children and pets ?
    Yes, this solution is safe for people, pets, plants, bees and butterflies. It is a good idea to leave all pets inside during application and for 30 minutes after treatment so that the product does not absorb into their hair or skin.
  • How long does this product last?
    This product is proven effective for up to a month, if we a heavy rains it will dilute the effectiveness of the product and will require another application sooner.
  • What is this product made of?
    Mosquito-Less is the only water based, distilled Garlic oil in Canada for domestic and commercial use that meets Health Canada PMRA standards. GUARANTEE: Garlic Oil 1.25% Contains sodium benzoate at 0.1% and potassium sorbate at 0.05% as preservatives. Warning: Contains the allergen soy.
  • Can I spray this indoors?
    No, this product is to be used outdoors only.
  • When can I apply the Mosquito-Less?
    It’s best to apply in the morning or afternoon when the bugs are at their busiest. We must have 2 consecutive days with no rain to ensure a successful application, heavy rain will dilute the effects of the product and require another application.
Close