Spring Landscape Startup: Essential Checks & Fixes by StoneArc Construction

Ontario winters don’t just “wear things out” they shift them. Freeze/thaw, snow load, salt, and spring melt can expose weak spots in bases, edges, and drainage. A simple spring walkthrough helps you catch issues early and plan upgrades with fewer surprises. StoneArc is gearing up for the season to provide your spring landscaping services across Newmarket, York Region, and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

1) Start with a quick inspection

Check for:

Lifted or sunken pavers (trip edges)

Rocking stones

Widening joints / missing joint sand

Edges pulling apart or borders shifting

If you’re seeing repeated settling in the same spots, it’s usually more than “surface wear”—it often points to base prep or water movement.

Walls, steps, entryways

Check for:

Leaning/bulging walls

Gaps opening up

Steps settling or caps becoming loose

Small movement is your early warning. Waiting usually means the affected area expands.

Drainage and grading (the most important check)

After rain or snowmelt:

Pooling near the foundation

Soft, soggy low spots

Erosion channels

Downspouts dumping water too close to the house

Drainage issues shorten the life of everything else, patios, walls, lawns, planting beds.

2) Fix what winter stressed before “refreshing”

When re-leveling interlock is worth it

Good candidates:

Trip edges or uneven runs

Low spots holding water

Areas that shift every year

A proper fix is usually: lift → correct base/drainage as needed → re-compact → reset → re-sand.

When walls/steps need attention

If you notice leaning, separation, or settling, the solution typically isn’t cosmetic. Long-term stability usually depends on base support + water management behind/around the structure.

Drainage corrections that actually help

Depending on the site, solutions can include:

Regrading small areas

Yard drains / catch basins in low points

Subsurface drainage (e.g., French drain-style systems)

Managing downspout discharge properly

3) Refresh for the season (once the “functional” stuff is handled)

Re-sand joints and tidy edges

Touch up planting beds and clean winter debris

Repair turf or decide between sod vs seed based on timeline

4) If you’re building this year, plan around what you found

Spring inspections often influence design decisions especially elevations, transitions, and drainage. Common build priorities:

Patios / walkways / driveways

Retaining walls / stairs / entryways

Outdoor structures (pergolas/gazebos/decks)

Water features / natural stone accents

Excavation and site prep for larger changes

Summary

If you do nothing else: watch where the water goes and fix trip hazards early. Most recurring problems come back to base support and drainage spring is when they’re easiest to spot.

Service area: Newmarket, York Region, and the GTA

More info: stonearc.ca