CHILLIWACK, B.C. — Higher Ground Landscaping, a Fraser Valley landscape design and build company, has released a winter checklist for homeowners in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Langley, Surrey and White Rock. It covers frost heave, protecting patios and retaining walls, final grading before the rains, mulching, and why booking structural work before the wet season saves money and prevents spring damage.

Key Facts
■ Higher Ground Landscaping has served the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland since September 2006.
■ The checklist covers frost heave, patios, retaining walls, grading, mulching and irrigation.
■ Structural work is easier to schedule and build before the ground is saturated.

Why winter preparation matters

Fraser Valley winters are wet, with periods of freezing and thawing. Water that soaks into poorly drained ground expands when it freezes, lifting pavers, cracking concrete and pushing against walls. By spring, the damage shows as heaved patios, leaning walls and lawns that stay waterlogged.

“Most of the winter damage we repair in spring starts with water that had nowhere to go in the fall,” says Mike Vandergugten, Owner of Higher Ground Landscaping Ltd. “An afternoon spent checking drains and grading now can save a homeowner a much bigger bill later.”

What the checklist covers

Frost heave: make sure patios and walkways sit on a compacted, free-draining base and that water runs off rather than pooling.
Patios and retaining walls: clear drains and weep holes behind walls, and fix low spots before they collect ice.
Final grading: confirm the ground slopes away from the house before heavy rain sets in.
Mulching and irrigation: mulch beds to protect roots, and drain irrigation lines before the first hard freeze.
Planting: fall is also a good time to plant trees and shrubs, which root in through the cool, wet months and start spring established.

Book before the wet season

Once the ground is saturated, excavation and base work become harder and slower. Homeowners comparing Chilliwack landscaping companies, or planning landscaping Abbotsford BC projects, can avoid spring damage by booking grading and drainage repairs in the fall. The same timing applies for homeowners working with landscapers in Langley or Surrey landscapers.

The cost difference is real. Correcting a drainage path or regrading a bed in the fall is a contained job, while a patio that heaves over winter usually has to be lifted, its base rebuilt and the pavers relaid. Walls that start to lean can need full reconstruction.

Higher Ground Landscaping also takes on a limited number of fall and winter clean-up projects each season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question Answer
Who is the checklist for? Homeowners in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Langley, Surrey, White Rock and the wider Fraser Valley.
Can Higher Ground fix winter damage in spring? Yes. The team repairs heaved patios, failing walls and drainage problems, and plans the fix so it lasts.

About Higher Ground Landscaping
Higher Ground Landscaping Ltd. is a family-run landscape design and build company based in Chilliwack, BC, established in September 2006. It serves Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Langley, Surrey, White Rock and the wider Lower Mainland with landscape design, hardscapes, softscapes, water features and landscape lighting. The company is a member of the BC Landscape & Nursery Association (BCLNA) and the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA), employs Landscape Industry Certified technicians, is ITA registered, and offers a 2-year warranty on plant material through the Myke Pro Landscape Warranty Program. 41792 Keith Wilson Rd, Chilliwack, BC V2R 4B2 · Phone 778.549.7065 · highergroundlandscaping.ca

Media Contact
Mike Vandergugten, Owner — Higher Ground Landscaping Ltd., 41792 Keith Wilson Rd, Chilliwack, BC V2R 4B2 · Phone 778.549.7065 · highergroundlandscaping.ca

Get your landscape ready for winter. Call 778.549.7065 or request a consultation at highergroundlandscaping.ca.