Softscaping

What We Plant

Plants that actually thrive here — not just survive the brochure.

Half the gardens in the GTA are full of plants picked for the catalog photo, not the climate. We design with hardy native and adapted species in mind — your garden looks better in year three than year one.

Custom garden bed design and planting
Premium sod installation with soil amendment
Tree and shrub planting (mature specimens available)
Privacy hedges (cedar, yew, boxwood)
Native and pollinator-friendly plantings
Mulch, river rock, and decorative ground cover
Seasonal colour rotations (spring, summer, fall)
Full irrigation system integration
One full season survival guarantee on all plants

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"A garden isn't a moment in time — it's a 10-year compound interest curve. Plant the right things and year five looks like a magazine." — Priya S., Lead Horticulturalist, Mapleridge

Plant Library

Our go-to plants for GTA gardens

Battle-tested in Zone 5b–6a. These are the species we use most because they actually perform.

Emerald Cedar

Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd'

The GTA privacy hedge standard. Dense, columnar, holds shape with minimal pruning.

Mature: 12–15 ft · Zone 3 · Full sun to part shade

Karl Foerster Grass

Calamagrostis x acutiflora

Architectural ornamental grass. Winter interest with golden plumes. Low maintenance.

Mature: 4–5 ft · Zone 4 · Full sun

Limelight Hydrangea

Hydrangea paniculata

Massive lime-green blooms turning pink in fall. Reliable performer in clay soils.

Mature: 6–8 ft · Zone 3 · Full sun to part shade

Boxwood Green Velvet

Buxus 'Green Velvet'

Compact evergreen for formal hedges and borders. Holds rich green colour through winter.

Mature: 3–4 ft · Zone 4 · Deer-resistant

Autumn Blaze Maple

Acer x freemanii

Fast-growing shade tree with brilliant orange-red fall colour. Tolerates urban conditions.

Mature: 50 ft · Zone 4 · 4–5 ft caliper available

Premium Kentucky Bluegrass Sod

Manderley Turf Products

Locally grown thick-cut sod with deep root system. Establishes faster than seed.

100% Kentucky Bluegrass · Cut fresh weekly

Pricing Snapshot

What softscape actually costs

Garden Bed Refresh

$3K – $8K

Re-plant existing bed.

Up to 200 sq ft
Soil amendment + plants
Mulch + edging
1–2 days on site

Most Common

Full Yard Softscape

$10K – $25K

Complete planting plan.

Sod (2,000–5,000 sq ft)
Garden beds + plants
Hedge install
Mulch + lighting prep

Specimen + Mature

$25K – $80K+

Instant-impact installs.

Mature specimen trees craned in
Full irrigation install
Smart lighting package
Full plant pallet

Add-Ons

Complete the package

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Smart Irrigation

Wi-Fi drip and spray with rain sensors. Water savings up to 50%.

💡

Landscape Lighting

Low-voltage LED path and uplighting. Smart-controlled, dusk-to-dawn.

🌳

Mature Tree Installs

20–30 ft caliper trees craned in for instant scale and privacy.

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Seasonal Maintenance

Optional spring/fall cleanup and seasonal pruning packages.

Recent Gardens

Curated for the climate that's actually here

Vaughan · $14K

Markham · $8K

Aurora · Privacy Hedge

King City · $42K

Richmond Hill · $19K

Woodbridge · $11K

See Full Gallery →

Case Study

The Larson Front Yard — Richmond Hill, 2025

From bare builder-grade lawn to magazine-cover front yard in 4 days.

The Larsons had moved into a new build with the typical "builder's special" — patchy sod and zero landscape value. We designed a four-season planting plan with year-round structure (boxwood, cedars) plus succession blooms from April through October.

4 daysInstall Time

$16,800Fixed Price

87 plantsInstalled

0Plant Losses Y1

"Neighbours stop and ask who did our yard every week. Best money we've spent on the house." — J. Larson

FAQ

Common softscape questions

April–June and September–October are ideal. Mid-summer plantings are possible with extra irrigation, but cooler shoulder seasons have the highest survival rates.

Yes — we offer seasonal maintenance packages (spring cleanup, pruning, fall winterization). Most softscape clients book at least the first-year care package.

Any plant we install that dies within one growing season due to plant health (not neglect or extreme weather) is replaced free. We've had less than 3% replacement rate over 17 years.

Absolutely. King City and rural Aurora properties especially benefit. We design with boxwood, lavender, catmint, alliums, and other deer-tolerant species.

Sod every time for residential GTA properties. Faster establishment, weed-free, instant aesthetics. Seeded lawns take a full season and are vulnerable to weeds in year one.

Related Services

Plants that actually thrive here — not just survive the brochure.