Category: Landscaping Supplies

We often hear top-quality products described as having “stood the test of time.” Well, there couldn’t be a more accurate way to describe one of our best-selling products - Greely’s Topdressing Soil. The Pyper family has perfected this blend of local ingredients to create a soil that has been a customer favourite for nearly four decades! While it can be used for many applications, this soil is especially effective for topdressing your lawn, a vital component to creating a lush, vibrant, and healthy outdoor space.

More than 40 years ago, Greely Sand & Gravel founder, Brent Pyper came up with our signature recipe for Greely’s Topdressing Soil. To this day, our team carefully blends equal parts screened topsoil, locally sourced mushroom compost, and black peat to create a perfect soil mix. The screened topsoil provides structure, while the mushroom compost adds key nutrients, and the black peat aids with moisture retention. Combined, these three ingredients give your plants, flowers, veggies, and grass a strong and healthy start from the ground up!

Also known as “black earth” or “garden soil”, Greely’s Topdressing Soil is perfect for flowerbeds, potted plants, window baskets, vegetable gardens, and raised garden beds, as well as for topdressing your lawn. And don’t forget - Greely’s Topdressing Soil is certified for organic growing, giving you peace of mind knowing that your fruits and vegetables are getting clean, natural nutrients as they grow and develop in your garden.

If you’ve never topdressed your lawn before, consider doing it this spring. Topdressing your lawn adds organic matter and nutrients to the soil to help strengthen the root system that supports the grass throughout the season. When your lawn is more healthy and dense, it makes it more difficult for the weeds to grow.

To topdress your lawn, ensure your grass is alive and growing. If you can, aerate your lawn prior to topdressing for best results. Once prepared, simply sprinkle a 1” thick layer of Greely’s Topdressing Soil over your existing grass with a shovel, and gently rake it down between the shafts of grass. Consider overseeding in areas where grass may be sparse and water generously.

During our busy spring and summer season, Greely Sand & Gravel truck drivers bring in loads of mushroom compost, black peat, and topsoil daily to our blending area. Once the ingredients are delivered, they are expertly measured and blended by our experienced team. All the ingredients pass through a Powerscreen Warrior screener to ensure no rocks, twigs, or stones remain in the soil after blending. The soil then passes on to the conveyor where it continues to be thoroughly mixed until finally arriving at our stockpile where it is prepared for delivery or pick-up.

The whole process is closely overseen by our master soil blender, Ken Benson. Ken has been working at Greely Sand & Gravel for more than 30 years and has a high level of expertise when it comes to ensuring our soil is perfectly and consistently blended every time. This high level of consistency from batch to batch and year to year is a huge part of why our customers trust and love Greely’s Topdressing Soil. To continue this strong tradition of soil blending, Ken has been busy training Chris Potvin, his apprentice.

Here's a great video explaining the soil blending process.

If you haven’t yet tried out Greely’s Topdressing Soil, make today the day! Whether you pick up a small amount from one of our two conveniently located landscape depots or have a larger amount delivered to your home by dump truck load or in one of our Greely Gardening Bags, we are sure you will notice the difference!

Is this the year you are finally tackling that large-scale landscaping project? Maybe you are putting in a brand new inground pool or are re-seeding or re-sodding a large portion of your yard. Projects like this take a lot of material and at Greely Sand & Gravel, we can get you what you need - even if it’s several truckloads full of product! Our bulk load delivery is convenient, affordable, and ensures that you will have enough product to finish your project.

 

When we use the term ‘bulk load delivery’, it refers to a product being delivered loose in a dump truck. As opposed to getting your product delivered in one of our Greely Gardening Bags, bulk load delivery is a much more economical option if you require a large amount of product.

 

We have three different sizes of dump trucks in our fleet and our largest trucks can deliver up to 22 cubic yards of soil or 16 cubic yards of stone in one trip. So for example, if you are creating a new lawn from scratch and want to create a 6” layer of topsoil in an area that is 20’ x 50’, you will need about 18.5 cubic yards of topsoil. Our triaxle dump truck can deliver this amount to your property in one load, which saves you a considerable amount on delivery fees, rather than having the product delivered in bags or multiple smaller truckloads.

 

If you require two products for your project, say topsoil and mulch for a flowerbed, we can deliver both products to you on one of our split-load dump trucks, if the quantities required are less than eight cubic yards of soil or mulch or five cubic yards of stone. The split load trucks have a gate in the middle of the box, allowing two products to be delivered at the same time, without mixture. Upon arrival at your property, the product on the back of the truck will be dumped first, following which the driver will pull the truck forward and then dump the product nearer the front of the truck in a separate pile. Split-load deliveries also allow you to take advantage of a discount on delivery fees, as opposed to having the products delivered on separate trucks.

Here's a video showing our dual load process

Our dump trucks regularly deliver across Ottawa and the surrounding regions. While most delivery costs are included in the cost of the product that you see on our website, depending on how far you live from our landscape depots, there may be an additional delivery cost. We are happy to deliver outside the Ottawa area, but due to the extra mileage, these deliveries may incur extra fees which will be calculated and added to your total at checkout. The sheer size of our trucks make the cost of fuel much higher than a comparable distance driven in a regular car.

 

If you think a bulk load delivery may be right for you, here are a few things to keep in mind. Our trucks require a high level of clearance to fully empty the product(s) from the box. This means that we cannot deliver to spots located underneath overhead wires or low hanging tree branches. The trucks are also very heavy and so typically, we will not drive on your lawn or walkway, ensuring that the weight of the truck does not cause any damage to your property. If you live downtown or in a densely populated area, you may want to call our office before placing your order to ensure that our truck can fit on your street and in your driveway.

 

Most loose loads require at least a 15’ x 15’ area in which to dump the product. However, if you are ordering a full load (e.g. 22 cubic yards of topsoil), you will want to leave additional space as the product will spread when delivered. We recommend placing a tarp on your driveway for under the load, to make clean up easier when you have finished moving and using the product.

 

If you have questions about our bulk load deliveries, different truck sizes, split-load deliveries, or clearance needed on your property for this type of delivery, please visit the extensive FAQ page on our website, or give our office a call at 613-821-3003. The more information we have about your needs and property constraints ahead of time, the better we will be able to work with you to choose the best delivery method for your project, product, and property type. We look forward to helping make your 2025 landscaping dream a reality!

Does the spring thaw have you dreaming about a picture perfect outdoor oasis in your own backyard? As soon as the weather starts to get warmer, our thoughts start to turn to lawns,gardens, flowerbeds, and patios!

Whatever your 2025 landscaping project is, Greely Sand & Gravel is here to provide you with expert advice, top quality products and quick, convenient delivery. Not sure where to start? Our dynamic website and online store is full of important information and helpful tips!

Once you have used our handy Cubic Yard Calculator (located on all product pages) to determine how much of each product you will need for your project, the next step is to decide whether delivery by bulk dump truck load or in Greely’s Gardening Bags is most convenient for you. Refer to some of our previous blog posts to learn all about these different delivery options.

Then simply add the desired items to your cart, double checking that you have all products and amounts inputted correctly. You can choose the date on the calendar to have your order delivered and select from the drop down menu where you would like your Greely’s Gardening Bag placed or your bulk load dumped. Remember, you will need plenty of room for our trucks to get to your drop/dump location. Want to add more detail? Add information in the notes section to help clarify your drop/dump location.

After you place your order online, our office staff will review and schedule your order for delivery according to your chosen delivery date. If there are any issues with your order or we have any questions, someone from our team will give you a call to confirm all the details.

Meet Our Team

Online ordering isn’t your thing? Don’t worry, we have you covered! Give our office a call at 613-821-3003 and you will get a live person answering every time (within our regular business hours). Our office staff work in person at our central landscape depot in Greely and are personally familiar with all our products and delivery options.

Meet Ana, a friendly and knowledgeable team member here at Greely Sand & Gravel. If you call and place your order over the phone, there’s a good chance that Ana will be helping you out along the way!

Once our office team has processed your order and scheduled it for delivery, your order will be loaded onto one of our trucks on your selected delivery date. Remember, spring is our busiest season, so if you need your order on a specific day in April, May, or June, please try to place your order as early as possible. We do our best to accommodate all delivery date requests and can sometimes even accomplish same day deliveries of bulk (dump truck) orders, if you call our office and ask!

While we pride ourselves on getting deliveries out on the exact dates selected by our customers, we are unable to ensure delivery at specific times of day due to the sheer number of orders we send out every day. Our skilled dispatcher coordinates more than 100 bulk deliveries a day across the whole Ottawa region in our peak season. However, since we cannot guarantee the time of delivery, you are not required to be home at the time of delivery. Just be sure that if you will not be around that day, you very clearly indicate the spot you want your delivery placed.

Over 100 Greely Gardening Bags are delivered throughout the Ottawa region and up to 24 bags go out on the same truck! Since the route changes every day, it is impossible for us to know exact time frames during the day for delivery to specific homes. Marking the spot where you want your bag placed with a very visible “X” is a great way to help our delivery team place your bag in the most convenient spot for your project. Make sure there’s a 4’x4’ space for the bag to be placed and ensure there is 9’ wide for clearance for access by a forklift.

Additionally, if you place your order online, please double check that your address is correctly inputted! Even just one wrong letter or number can result in delivery to the wrong address which can be a tough situation to correct - especially with loose load deliveries!

If there are any changes to your order, please call our office as soon as possible. Our trucks are loaded very early each morning so making last minute changes to an order on the day of delivery is usually tricky but we try our best to accommodate your needs. However, the more notice you can give us, the more likely it is that we will be able to fulfill any change requests.

Now that you are prepared with all the information, visit our online store or call our office today to place your order for high quality, locally sourced landscaping products! We can’t wait to help make your landscaping dream a reality.Over 100 Greely Gardening Bags are delivered throughout the Ottawa region and up to 24 bags go out on the same truck!

Since the route changes every day, it is impossible for us to know exact time frames during the day for delivery to specific homes. Marking the spot where you want your bag placed with a very visible “X” is a great way to help our delivery team place your bag in the most convenient spot for your project. Make sure there’s a 4’x4’ space for the bag to be placed and ensure there is 9’ wide for clearance for access by a forklift.

Additionally, if you place your order online, please double check that your address is correctly inputted! Even just one wrong letter or number can result in delivery to the wrong address which can be a tough situation to correct - especially with loose load deliveries!

If there are any changes to your order, please call our office as soon as possible. Our trucks are loaded very early each morning so making last minute changes to an order on the day of delivery is usually tricky but we try our best to accommodate your needs. However, the more notice you can give us, the more likely it is that we will be able to fulfill any change requests.

Now that you are prepared with all the information, visit our online store or call our office today to place your order for high quality, locally sourced landscaping products! We can’t wait to help make your landscaping dream a reality.

March Break is a great time to start thinking ahead to warmer weather! Although it may not feel like it, spring will be here before we know it and there’s no better time to start planning to achieve your landscaping goals in 2025. Whether it’s a new lawn or a bigger patio, a vegetable garden or a stunning new pool, Greely Sand & Gravel is here to assist in making your dream a reality. Read on for important information to help you prepare for your landscaping project.

What is Your Project?

Start by determining your project and scope. Are you hoping to repair a couple spots or start a whole new lawn? Are you extending your patio area or starting a new one from scratch? Once you have decided on your project, take detailed measurements of the area in which you will be working. This will allow you to determine how much of each product you will need to complete the job.

Let’s say your project is starting a new lawn from scratch.

How much topsoil do I need?

Once you have the measurements of the area you need to cover, finding out how much topsoil you need to start your new lawn is easy with Greely Sand & Gravel’s Cubic Yard Calculator.

Collect your measurements in feet and inches and then input them into our Cubic Yard Calculator which can be found on the left side of every product page on our website from a desktop or in the purchase options section on a mobile device. When building a base for a new lawn, you want to create a layer of topsoil about 4” to 6” deep. Greely Sand & Gravel’s Screened Topsoil is the perfect base layer for your new lawn!

For more information on how much depth is recommended when using a specific product, give our office a call.

The calculator will tell you exactly how many cubic yards of product you will need to complete your project. A cubic yard is three feet wide by three feet tall, by three feet long. We use a bucket on a loader that is exactly sized to carry one cubic yard to measure out your product when you purchase it.

How much topsoil do I need for laying sod?

If you are starting your new lawn using sod rather than grass seed, it is still crucial to create a solid and healthy base layer so that your sod has the best opportunity to create a strong root system. Depending on the quality of your existing topsoil, consider adding up 4” to 6” of our Screened Topsoil, level it in the area, and prepare to lay your sod. Remember, sod needs to be generously watered every day, in order to survive and thrive!

Should I choose bag or bulk delivery?

At Greely Sand & Gravel, we prioritize your convenience! So we offer delivery of nearly all our landscaping products by either bulk delivery (loose in a dump truck) or in one of our Greely Gardening Bags.

Bulk delivery by dump truck is a great option for larger orders, as the more you buy, the more you save! Keep in mind that when a product is delivered loose, it will spread out and take up more space on your lawn or driveway.

Greely Gardening Bags are perfect for more compact spaces, offering the convenience of having your product contained and able to be placed where you need it for your project. A cubic yard in a bag often appears larger than a cubic yard delivered loosely, but we promise it is the exact same amount! The fact that loose loads spread out when dumped may account for the difference in apparent size. Here’s a great video comparing 1 cubic yard bag to 1 cubic yard bulk

When can I order?

Our online store is open NOW and accepting orders! While topsoil delivery usually begins late-April, depending on weather, go ahead and place your order now to avoid the spring rush. You can select your product, amount, and desired delivery method and day all online.

Still have questions? Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are here to help! Simply call our office today at 613-821-3003 and we will assist you with planning and placing your order.

So ignore the snow and start getting ready to achieve your landscaping goals this year!

 

Winter is nearly here again, and it’s time to get prepared! Last year, we had a warmer-than-usual winter, but the amount of rain and snow combined with the constant freeze-and-thaw cycle made for some hazardous walking and driving situations. Ice, snow, and cold temperatures can all cause slips, trips, and falls. Greely Sand & Gravel is stocked and ready to provide top-quality de-icing products to ensure your steps, walkways, and driveway remain safe this winter. Don’t leave it to the last minute. Prepare now and have peace of mind when that first blast of winter weather hits

This year, we have five high-quality, effective winter products in stock:

• Thawrox Salt
• Road Salt
• Winter Chip Stone
• Salt and Sand Mix
• Salt and Chip Mix

Thawrox Salt is our premium de-icing product, especially effective at lower temperatures. In addition to providing safe, effective de-icing, using Thawrox Salt will reduce your overall costs because it has a higher adhesion rate than other products, meaning that a little goes a long way.

Road Salt is broken into large granules for easy spreading on roads, sidewalks and other surfaces. We recommend this product for commercial use as a roadway de-icer.

Winter Chip Stone is perfect for those looking for a salt-free winter abrasive. Due to its pebble-like texture, this product is heavy enough to stay in place, resisting wind and won’t disappear under a layer of fresh snow.

Salt and Sand Mix increases traction on thick, icy surfaces or snow-covered roadways. If you are concerned about damage to concrete and asphalt, this product might be a great option as it only contains enough salt to prevent the sand from freezing.

Salt and Chip Mix provides added traction in slippery areas at an economical price. Great for helping to prevent slips, trips, and falls in areas with heavy foot traffic, such as stairs or walkways that tend to get icy.

We have a new dedicated salt depot at 5362 Bank Street for our commercial customers. Come pick up large loads of our salt, sand, and other ice-melting products at one convenient location. To find out more, call 613-875-7258.

Our dedicated team also offers commercial snow removal and ice control services in the Ottawa area. Visit our web store and click “Snow / Ice” to learn more about our professional and efficient service.

At Greely Sand & Gravel, we are committed to providing everything you need to stay safe outside this winter! Whether you are a homeowner or a commercial contractor, we have products that can meet your needs. To learn more about all our winter products and where you can purchase them, please call our office at 613-821-3003.

Whether it’s a patio area around your pool, a new driveway, or a walkway to your front door, a beautiful interlocking stone feature can be a wonderful addition to your home. Interlock can add significantly to the value and curb appeal of your home and provide a versatile and easy-to-maintain place for your outdoor activities. Interlock stone projects are highly customizable and can be created to meet your exact specifications.

The most common way to install interlock is to dig an area at least 6” deep, fill the space with ⅞” crushed stone, and level off the top with stone dust. Greely Sand & Gravel offers both products to provide a solid base for your interlock project. As you add gravel to the space, tamp and level every two to three inches to compact the material. Once all the gravel is spread, tamped, and levelled, spread the stone dust on top to create a 1”-2” thick layer across the whole area.

Another option for the top layer is concrete sand, which allows for easier levelling and better drainage compared with traditional stone dust. However, either product will achieve the desired result.

Another alternative is the Premium Bedding Stone, also known as the High Performance Bedding Stone. This stone performs the same function as crushed stone and stone dust but in one convenient product! When contained by edging material, the particles in Premium Bedding Stone provide a very rigid and stable surface where you can place your interlocking stone. Additionally, Premium Bedding Stone drains water very effectively and wicks the water away, especially when well-compacted. Because this method requires only one product, it may be a good option for those looking for an efficient, simple way to create a patio base in an enclosed area.

When you have your level, compacted base, it is time to lay your interlock! This is where your creativity and personal preference can play a huge role. There are many different options on the market regarding interlocking stones’ colour, size, and shape. We recommend laying out your stones roughly in the pattern you plan to follow before placing them on the base to ensure that you like the arrangement.  Try our BEAST Plastic Paver Edging to improve alignment when installing your interlock.

Once this work is complete and you’ve laid your patio stones, we recommend filling the joints (empty spaces between the stones) with polymeric sand. Polymeric sand is a specially formulated mixture of sand and high-performance polymer. This product can be used for joints up to 4” in width. In addition to providing a stable joint between your patio stones, this product also reduces weed growth and the formation of ant hills and prevents erosion. We offer this product in four colours: beige, grey, white, and black. Spread and sweep the sand into the joints of your interlock and wash over with a hose to fill the joints. Once this is done and allowed to dry, your patio will be ready to use!

You can pick up any of the products mentioned above at our convenient landscape depots, or have them delivered to your house by dump truck load or in a Greely Gardening Bag. Our Greely Gardening Bags come in three sizes - Full Yard, Half Yard, and Quarter Yard - so you can order the exact amount needed for your project. If you have more questions about the products, please visit our online store or call us at 613-821-3003 to talk to one of our qualified team members.

When it comes to creating a functional and durable outdoor living space, having the right materials and tools makes all the difference! At Greely Sand & Gravel, we carry a variety of materials to help you turn your backyard dreams into a reality. Whether your project is adding a shed for organized storage or creating a relaxation haven by installing a hot tub, our premium products can help you start your project off right!

Sheds

If you’re looking for a storage solution for your tools, building or installing a shed can help in many ways. No successful shed project is complete without first laying the foundation material for the structure. When deciding which material to use, it’s important to understand the differences between Greely Sand & Gravel’s gravel products.

¾” Clear Limestone consists only of ¾” gravel pieces, meaning water can easily drain through the gaps between the stones. This prevents water from pooling on the surface and allows it to filter through the area. Alternatively, 7/8” Crushed Limestone contains stones the size of 7/8” all the way down to fine Stone Dust. This type of stone compacts into a solid base layer, which does not allow water to run through.

If your shed is being placed directly on a pad of gravel and you want to drain water away from the foundation, ¾” Clear Limestone is likely the best product for you. However, if you want a solid base for a shed in an area where water pooling is not an issue, 7/8” Crushed Limestone would be best.

Hot Tubs

Hot tubs are a great way to relax and enjoy the outdoors, even during the cold Ottawa winters. Like a shed, your hot tub requires a solid foundation to be properly and safely installed. As you want your hot tub to remain fixed in one position with no movement, you must excavate a deep layer of earth out of the area in order to make room for the base material. Most of your base material should be 7/8” Crushed Limestone, which creates a solid foundation for your hot tub. To make levelling the top of the base easier, we recommend using Stone Dust for the final 1-2” of your base. Combining these two products gives you a sturdy, durable base and easy to compact and level, ensuring your hot tub is securely grounded in your prepared area.

If you are looking to build a base for a shed or hot tub, Greely Sand & Gravel is your one-stop shop for all the products you require. Need to calculate how much product you will use in your project? Greely Sand & Gravel’s cubic yard calculator on most product pages on our website can help you do this quickly and easily. Additionally, if you have questions about your specific project, pick up the phone and give us a call today at 613-821-3003. Our friendly and knowledgeable team is here to help!