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How to control the chafer beetle in your lawn

Chafer Beetle in a Vancouver lawn
Chafer Beetle in a Vancouver lawn, could have been prevented with proper lawn maintenance and care

There are some very simple steps that can be taken to help limit and or control infestations of chafer beetles in lawns, unfortunately from my experience, many customers still do not follow these simple items:

Simple lawn maintenance items to stop the chafer beetle

  1. Fertilize your lawn.
  2. Overseed your lawn.
  3. Keep debris off your lawn.
  4. Mow your lawn at the proper height.
  5. Take corrective action if you notice any problem with the growth of your lawn.

The customer who has a full blown infestations of the chafer beetle in their lawn area normally did not follow the steps above and allowed their lawn area to become weak and susceptible to pests and diseases. This leaves the customer with a lawn area that looks like a rototiller has run through it after the crows, skunks and racoons have had their feast of fishing bait. This new condition of your lawn will now be grounds for a lawn replacement and new sod.

To help control the initial stages of a chafer beetle infestation an application of nematodes in the third week of July will probably be 50% effective at decimating the little eggs that were implanted in your lawn. To help increase your odds, other expensive products that work at attacking the eggs are now available to apply near the same period of time. It’s at this point we will now refer to the list above and follow a program to help rejuvenate your lawn area. By doing this list above we are decreasing the chances that we will get a re-infestation the following year. That’s because the chafer beetle life cycle is an annual cycle that if stopped will save your lawn from total decimation. The key characteristic to remember of the chafer beetle that will help you is: The chafer beetle does not like to implant her eggs in healthy lawns, she likes weak lawn areas to procreate. If you present the chafer bitch with a lush, dense, healthy lawn area to nest her eggs, she will probably find somewhere else to do her business.

So, keep your lawn healthy, follow the list above and if you need to replace your lawn, do so, but have confidence that you now have a strong healthy lawn area that the chafer beetle is not likely to attack.

Chafer Beetle Maintenance Packages From BC Instant Lawns

If you want a strong healthy lawn fertilizer and grass seed applications are a must. You can now purchase these items from us using the following link:

Purchase lawn fertilizer and grass seed

Chafer Beetle Resistant Type Sod

Chafer beetles resistant sod is designed to limit the chafer beetle decimation in your lawn area by utilizing fescue type grasses that are not typically part of the diet of the chafer beetle. Learn more….

Recovering your lawn after a chafer beetle attack

After your lawn has been decimated from the crows, skunks and racoons you have basically 2 options:

  1. Complete lawn replacement.
  2. Rejuvenate your lawn area with a program.

Use the following links to get help with either of these options:

My lawn needs repair
Request a new lawn estimate
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Vancouver Island Sod Installation / New Lawns

Serving Victoria – Nanaimo – Courtenay and the rest of Vancouver Island.

Just before the new lawn is installed on Vancouver Island.
Just before the new lawn is installed on Vancouver Island.
Cumberland new sod installation.
Cumberland new sod installation.

Installing a new lawn on Vancouver Island? BC Instant Lawns supplies and installs everything you need for your new lawn project.

  • Quality Top Soil
  • Sod Rolls
  • Old Lawn Removal and Disposal
  • Lawn Fertilizer and Over Seed

Need a lawn installation estimate for your project on Vancouver Island?

Get a new lawn installation quote…Instantly

BC Instant Lawns projects:

  • Residential Lawn Installation
  • Commercial Buildings
  • Sport fields
  • Golf Courses
  • Municipalities
Golf Course Fairway Installation
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Where to buy sod in the B.C. Okanagan? Penticton, Kelowna, Kamloops and Princeton

Okanagan Bluegrass type sod for cooler climates and hotter summers in British Columbia
Okanagan Bluegrass type sod for cooler climates and hotter summers in British Columbia.

Are you looking for a sod supplier in the Okanagan? BC Instant Lawns does weekly deliveries to:

  • Kelowna
  • Penticton
  • Osoyoos
  • Princeton
  • Vernon
  • Salmon Arm
  • Kamloops
  • Merritt
  • Peachland
  • Summerland
  • Oliver

We offer a Kentucky Bluegrass sod blend ideal for the Okanagan Area. We also offer the same blend in a no net variety for customers who do not want the biodegradable netting in the sod. The no net variety is more expensive.

Okanagan Bluegrass Sod Specifications
Get a price for sod in the Okanagan / Order Sod

When should I plant a new lawn from sod in Kelowna, Penticton or Kamloops?

sod on a new lawn area
sod on a new lawn area

Learn more about when to plant sod in the Okanagan.

When to plant sod in the Okanagan

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Where to buy sod for my pet grass box.

a single roll of sod used for an outdoor turf pet station, no need for an expensive cardboard box every week.

We have the lowest cost and largest pet pasture. Are you looking for a single roll of sod for your pet grass station in Vancouver? We deliver single rolls throughout Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.

NO CARDBOARD BOX to dispose and lower prices than any of our competition.

A single roll of sod will be 9 square feet. If you would like to shape the grass you can use a sharp knife to cut the sod into place, like shown in the photo above. Some people just unroll the sod on a piece of plastic and then roll it back up again and composting the old sod. Normally a roll will last 10-14 days.

Get the pet grass order app

Easy order on the go…. Use the qr code to load the app to your phone and follow the prompt to add to your home screen.

QR Code for Pet Grass Roll Order App

or use the link here to add the pet grass order app

Place your order by making a selection online on the form below:

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What type of sod should I use for my new lawn?

Choose a sod based on your usage and environment of your yard.
Choose a sod based on your usage and environment of your yard. The description of the sod will probably match what it should be used for.

Deciding upon what type of sod to use for your new lawn installation project will depend on two main factors:

  • The use of the lawn area
  • The environment you are laying the sod

There are 3 basic types of sod that can be used for residential purposes:

  • Standard use sod. Normally a blend of three grass types: Rye, blue, fescue.
  • Shade type sod: Higher fescue content.
  • Sport type sod / high traffic area: Higher bluegrass content.

Then there are specialty type sod for particular uses:

  • Chafer beetle resistant: Higher fescue content.
  • Drought resistance sod: Higher fescue content.
  • British Columbia Okanagan / Interior Sod: Higher bluegrass content.
  • Low maintenance sod: Higher fescue content.

As you can see from above the selections of sod to choose from are closely matched to the usages. To select the proper type of sod to use for your new lawn decide first if you have a shaded area. Having a shaded area will take priority over anything else. Shaded areas do not grow great lawns. Be careful when laying sod in a shaded area and make a determination if there is enough light throughout the year to grow lawn.

For any customer that lives the in the Okanagan or British Columbia Interior it is critical that a bluegrass type sod is used for any new lawn project.

Low maintenance sod sounds like a great idea for those that do not want to put much work into a lawn, establishment will require watering, mowing and fertilization.

Chafer Beetle resistant sod is a tall fescue type sod. If offers an increased defence against the grubs. It’s not a solution but will help. The best thing to prevent chafer beetles is to keep a healthy lawn all year round.

What type of sod is for sale in British Columbia?

If you would like to view all the sod type offered by BC Instant Lawns please click below:

Sod Varieties from BC Instant Lawns

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How much does sod cost in British Columbia?

Get a price for sod
Turf blend soil installed
Turf blend soil installed
sodding a lawn
sodding a lawn

The price of sod in British Columbia is between $1.00 per square foot to $1.75 per square foot plus delivery charges. There are cheaper sods available but not recommended for residential uses.

There are different varieties and qualities of sod in British Columbia but three primary grass seed choices that are used in the Pacific Northwest for residential applications:

Bluegrass

Fescue

Ryegrass

Bentgrass is used for non residential uses such as golf course greens and bowling greens. Bentgrass sod is much more expensive than the regular residential lawn types.

Sod is grown mainly on two types of soil in British Columbia:

Clay

Sandy loam

Sandy loam based sod is normally more expensive than clay based sod but installation is made much easier with the sand base. Clay based sod is good for reducing water requirements as clay retains moisture much better than sand. This may have a negative effect of limiting drainage through the sod layer and puddling or sogginess may occur in winter months in your lawn area. Sand based sod is normally used for residential purposes and clay based sod is used for commercial applications.

Most sod grown by a farm will be weed and pest free. The sod should be properly mowed and rolls should not fall apart after harvesting.

To get a quote for sod either delivered or picked up please use the following link:

How to get a price for sod

If you need a price for sod all you need to know is the size of your area. Use the link below to get pricing and order sod online anywhere in British Columbia.

GET A SOD QUOTE

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Do I need new turf blend soil If I buy sod? How do I calculate?

adding new turf blend soil to a new lawn from sod

Adding new turf blend soil to a new lawn will be critical to the new lawns growth for many years. Preparation is the most important stage when installing new sod. We suggest a minimum depth of 3 inches of new soil over top of an old lawn base, meaning over top of a soil that would be reasonable for growing in. If you are starting new 6-12 inches would be ideal.

How do I calculate how much turf blend soil I need?

To calculate the amount of soil you need in cubic yards (Cubic yards is the standard measurement for soil and landscape products) you need to determine 2 items:

  1. Square footage of the area you wish to cover
  2. Depth of the material in inches.

Once you have determined the square footage and depth simply divide by:

3 Inch depthDivide square footage by 108
6 inch depth54
12 inch depth27
2 inch depth164
1 inch depth327
18 inch depth14
No need to remember this calculation, just use the link below to get a price quote…. we do all the calculations for you.

New soil for new sod allows the roots to penetrate deep into the sub layer below. Having a strong root system in your turf will allow the plant access to water, nutrients and oxygen all things your new lawn needs to keep healthy.

It is wise to always purchase new soil anytime you are laying a new lawn from sod.

You can purchase top soil for new lawn from BC Instant Lawns here:

Get a quote /Purchase soil for your new lawn
Landscape Materials Store

We deliver turf blend soil throughout the following areas of British Columbia:

Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Moody, White Rock, Abbotsford, Delta, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Maple Ridge anywhere throughout Metro Vancouver.

On Vancouver Island: Victoria, Nanaimo, Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, Duncan, Mill Bay, Parksville.

On the Sunshine Coast: Gibsons, Sechelt, Half-moon Bay, Bowen Island.

In the Okanagan: Kelowna, Penticton, Osoyoos, Princeton, Vernon, Salmon Arm, Oliver, Summerland.

Whistler, Squamish, Pemberton.

Benefits of turf blend type soil

  • Compaction free
  • Well draining
  • High in nutrients
  • No wood chips
  • Easily installed and easy for final preparation
Delivery in bags
Delivery in bags is an option
Do I need soil delivered in bags?
Turf blend lawn top soil bulk delivery
Turf blend lawn top soil bulk delivery
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How to prepare and install a new lawn from sod

Rolling soil for a new lawn
Rolling soil for a new lawn
preparation for a new lawn
Sod delivered in place, preparation for new sod installation
Installing new sod
Installing sod instead of seeding a new lawn is a fast and effective way to complete your landscape. You can sod a property almost throughout the entire year in the Vancouver, Lower Mainland.

Ten step to installing a new lawn from sod:

  1. Remove the old lawn / weeds / debris. In order to install new sod you should always have a properly prepared sub base to enjoy many years of a beautiful lawn. Pulling out all the old lawn area, weeds, rocks and debris gives the new sod unimpeded ability to root deep into the soil. Deeper roots in a lawn area will require less watering in the long run. Deeper roots means more nutrient availability to the plant. Deeper roots mean less pest infestations. Lets focus on a nice clean slate to install our new lawn upon and reap the rewards by way of a healthy lawn area for many years to come. To remove the old lawn handy tools include: sod cutter with a wide blade for large areas, pic axes, small front end loaders to remove the cut out old sod.
  2. Grade the lawn area. This is a very important task and will save you from costly drainage repairs in the future. We want a slight slope away from structures or if a slope aways is impossible at least toward a functioning drainage system. We want a generally flat surface without humps and bumps. Large area will be impossible to do by hand, use a bobcat type machine or if one is not available, a horse with grader.
  3. Add new top soil. Finding a proper soil for new lawns is hard to do. You want a well draining, properly balance ph, non compaction, high nutrient value type soil. Most soils today are not acceptable in my mind for a new lawn area. Wood chips and partially composted materials are a no no. Sand content should be high, around 60-70%. I like a little peat and other organics mixed in. Order turf blend soil from us, end of your problem, unless of course you are reading this from outside the Vancouver, British Columbia area. New turf blend soil should be at least 3 inches thick, exceptions are made for locations where the soil quality is good such as an old garden area or recently installed lawn that was neglected, died and needs replacing. Please follow the new lawn maintenance instructions here.
  4. Final grade the lawn area. Rake and roll, rake and roll, rake and roll. Basically that’s it, just do it a few time unless the soil is fairly compact and your grade is acceptable. Use a half full roller and a wide landscape rake. Don’t roll down steep hills where the roller can get away from you.
  5. Lightly roll and rake again. Sort of a redundant statement, I just didn’t know how to get to 10 steps in this article.
  6. Add a root starter fertilizer. Use a 10-30-10 or a high middle number (above 20), granular form, 2 pounds per 1000 square feet.
  7. Pull out your sprinkler. WATER YOUR NEW SOD AS YOU INSTALL IT. Please don’t wait until the very end on a warm day, some people are forgetful after a few beers.
  8. Install the sod. Green side up please… Don’t overlap, don’t leave gaps, unroll the ends, roll down hill (not up). Use a small piece of plywood to step on as to not disturb your grading.
  9. Cut the sod into place and patch in bare spots. Don’t waste those ends and scraps, use them to fill in areas. Use a sharp knife like a box cutter.
  10. Roll the laid out sod lightly. Roll your new lawn to firmly press the roots to the surface.

Choose a type of sod for your new lawn project

We supply sod throughout Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Whistler and the Okanagan, be sure to select the sod variety that matches your needs:

Sod varieties

Want to know how much sod costs?

Sod prices are given instantly online, all you need to know is the size of your lawn area in square feet:

Get a price for sod now

Need help measuring your lawn area or how much sod you need?

Click below to use our sod calculator and other helpful links to help you measure your lawn area for sod:

How to measure your lawn area for sod

How much soil do I need for a new lawn? How do I calculate?

How much turf blend soil do i need?

Need a new lawn installation quote?

Get instant pricing for your sodding project, answer a few questions about your property and we will email you a quote:

Get a new lawn installation quote

That’s basically it for installing a new lawn…

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When is a good time to sod a lawn in Vancouver and Vancouver Island? Okanagan and Whistler area?

Sodding the new Amazon building in Tsawwassen. Don't forget to buy local though;)
Sodding the new Amazon building in Tsawwassen. Don’t forget to buy local though;)

What is the best season to sod a new lawn in Vancouver? The best time of year to lay new sod is the early spring. This doesn’t mean you cannot lay sod at any other point throughout the year, it just means this is the most ideal time. The only time it’s not recommended to lay a new lawn from sod is when the ground is frozen in winter.

The reasoning behind laying a new lawn in spring is that the new sod will require very little maintenance in the way of watering. Spring time in Vancouver is typically cool and moist and will exclude you from bringing out the sprinkler. Some special conditions may required you to water your newly laid sod:

  • Dry periods without rainfall
  • Freezing tends to dry out the soil
  • Unexpected hot weather (20 degrees plus)

Will freezing temperatures damage the new lawn? No, just be sure to keep traffic off the frozen grass blades.

How long until the new sod roots in? The new sod should take within a couple weeks at temperatures in the day time above 10 degrees C. If you lay your new lawn early in the year (Jan./Feb.) the grass will just lay dormant until the temperature rises, it’s not unusual to see bulbs pop up in January in Vancouver when we see a warm period and sod will start to root in as well. Just keep traffic off the new lawn area.

When is a good time to plant sod in Penticton, Kelowna, Kamloops, Princeton and Whistler areas?

You should consider not planting after late September to early October and begin the plant in the spring after the snow has melted. Look for temperatures around 10 degrees C as a daytime high to begin planting sod.

Need Assistance with your new lawn project?

You can now get instant pricing and order sod and soil online anywhere in British Columbia from BC Instant Lawns.

When can I plant new sod in British Columbia?

Vancouver Lower Mainland AreaVancouver Island (Victoria, Nanaimo, Courtenay)Whistler / SquamishOkanagan (Penticton, Kelowna, Princeton, Osoyoos)
SpringGoodGoodGoodGood
SummerOkay /GoodOkay / GoodOkayOkay
FallGoodGoodGoodGood
WinterOkay / Maybe NoOkay / Maybe NoNoNO
Good = Great time to plant sod Okay = You can do it but needs special care (Watering needed to establish sod) No= Not a chance you can plant sod at this time Maybe No = If the ground is frozen you can’t plant sod.

What is the cost of sod installation?

Please use the link below to get a sod installation price quote:

Get Pricing and Order Sod From BC Instant Lawns

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Where to Pick up sod rolls in Vancouver, B.C.? Delta or Abbotsford Sod Farms

Picking up sod in Delta and Abbotsford.
Literally …..Picking up sod in Delta and Abbotsford.

For all customer in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley we have sod pick up locations in Delta and Abbotsford. Orders can be made online in advance. For same day service please call 604-245-2227, we might have some in stock.

The sod farm is open and ready to serve you. Pick up is now available in Delta and Abbotsford (You must pre-order before picking up by phone or use the link below). Use our online order tool to place your order and see our current schedule to pick up your sod. To get a price quote and order online now visit:

Order Sod For Pick Up or Delivery Now
Current Sod Delivery and Pick Up Schedule

Pick up your turf grass rolls in Delta or Abbotsford after you order online.