The site work division of ICFHome.ca · Building since 1979 · Insured to $2,000,000 · 705-533-1633
LandscapingTopsoil, sod, stone, wallsGeorgian Bay & Simcoe County
Landscaping in Georgian Bay
We already have the machines on your lot for the grading, so the heavy part of the landscaping is the natural next step: topsoil, sod, armour stone, retaining walls and the gravel areas around the house. We do the work that needs an excavator and a strong back, across Tiny, Tay, Midland, Wasaga Beach and Collingwood.
Insured to $2,000,000Site work division of ICFHome.caBuilding since 1979250+ projects in Simcoe County
What we do
Topsoil and final grade
Screened topsoil spread and raked to a grade that sheds water away from the house. Most lawn problems start with two inches of topsoil over sand.
Sod
Laid on properly prepared topsoil, rolled and ready to water. A finished lawn the same day, and no mud tracked into the new house.
Armour stone
Walls, steps, terraces and shoreline edges set with the excavator. Big stone, set once, on a proper base, so it stays where we put it.
Retaining walls
Armour stone or block walls to hold back a slope, level a yard or make room for a walkout. Drainage stone and pipe behind every wall.
Gravel areas and paths
Parking pads, side yards, paths and the strip along the foundation, built on a compacted base so they do not turn into ruts.
Boulders and natural edges
Feature boulders, rock edging along drives and beds, and natural stone that looks like it was always there.
Our rules of thumb
- Grade before you landscape. Sod on a lot that drains toward the house is a very green way to flood a basement. See grading and drainage.
- Four to six inches of topsoil under a lawn, not two. Grass roots will not chase water down into sand.
- Every retaining wall needs drainage behind it. Water pressure is what pushes walls over, not the soil.
- Walls over about one metre next to a house, a walkway or a neighbour usually need a building permit and an engineered design in Ontario. Check before you build, not after the inspector does.
- Keep heavy stone and trees off the septic bed. Grass only. Roots and weight are what kill a bed early.
Builder truth: the cheapest landscaping is the kind done while the machine is still on site after the final grade. Bringing the excavator back next summer costs a second trip and usually a few ruts across the new lawn.
Shoreline and waterfront lots
Armour stone along the water and work on a shoreline can need approvals beyond a normal permit, depending on where the lot is and what is being changed. We check what applies to your property before any stone goes in. See permits and approvals.
What it costs
Landscaping is priced by the job: area of topsoil and sod, tonnes of armour stone, and length and height of wall. Access, slope and how far the material has to travel all move the number. Send us the address and what you have in mind, and we will give you a written price.
Want the yard finished properly?
Book it with your final grade and we do both in one trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you do hydroseeding?
No. We do topsoil and sod, and we can recommend someone for hydroseeding if that is what you want.
Armour stone or block for a retaining wall?
Armour stone suits a natural lot and big grade changes; block suits tighter, more formal spaces. Both need a proper base and drainage behind them.
Can you landscape over a septic bed?
Grass only. No stone walls, no trees, no driveways or parking on the bed.
When is the best time to lay sod?
Spring and early fall, when it is cool and damp. Summer works if you can keep it watered every day for the first couple of weeks.