Frequently Asked

Questions

  • Newly seeded lawns require consistent watering. It is extremely important that the area stays moist until germination.

    To achieve consistent moisture, you may need to water your newly seeded area with light pressure (to ensure seeds don’t wash away) morning and night – and up to three times per day if mid-day temperatures are high and/or in direct sunlight.

  • We recommend re-mulching your garden beds once a year, ideally in the spring or fall. Mulch helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds—but over time, it breaks down and loses its effectiveness.

    If you're using natural hardwood mulch, it will slowly decompose and enrich your soil, so annual top-offs keep your beds looking clean and healthy. If appearance is a priority, refreshing high-traffic or front yard beds more frequently may be helpful.

    YD Exterior Visions offers seasonal mulching services to keep your landscape sharp, tidy, and well-protected year-round.

  • We recommend resealing your paver joints every 2 to 3 years, depending on weather exposure, foot traffic, and overall wear. In Wisconsin’s freeze-thaw climate, keeping joints sealed helps prevent weed growth, erosion, and shifting. Regular maintenance not only protects your investment but also keeps your patio looking clean and polished year-round.

    At YD Exterior Visions, we offer professional paver joint resealing as part of our ongoing hardscape maintenance services. If your patio is starting to look worn or you’re unsure if it’s time to reseal, we’re happy to take a look and provide a no-pressure assessment.

    Contact us to schedule your maintenance visit or get a free quote.

  • When installed properly, a paver patio can last 30 years or more with minimal maintenance. Pavers are engineered for durability and can withstand heavy use and harsh Midwest weather conditions. At YD Exterior Visions, we install every patio over a minimum of 6 inches of compacted crushed aggregate with geotextile fabric underneath to ensure long-term stability and performance. If any issues arise over time, individual pavers can be easily repaired or replaced—unlike poured concrete.

  • Not necessarily. As long as we have access to the work area and a clear understanding of the project scope, you do not need to be home while we’re working. We’ll stay in close communication throughout the process and can provide progress updates by text, email, or with photos—whatever works best for you. We treat your property with care and respect, whether you’re home or away.

Landscape

  • Sod requires heavy watering. The goal is to water frequently and heavily enough to ensure water reaches the roots of the new sod. Generally, you can water your newly sodded lawn 20 minutes per day, ideally in the morning or early afternoon, until your sod has firmly taken root.

    Successful rooting can be checked by lifting the sod and seeing if it has rooted (attached) to the ground.


  • Yes! We offer both seasonal landscape cleanups and routine maintenance services tailored to your property’s needs.

    Our cleanup services typically include:

    • Leaf and debris removal

    • Gutter cleaning

    • Garden bed cleanout

    • Light pruning or trimming

    • Fresh mulch installation (if requested)

    We also offer custom maintenance plans, including regular weeding, edging, and plant care, so your yard stays healthy and presentable without the stress of doing it all yourself.

    Let us know what level of care you need, and we’ll build a plan that works for your property and schedule.

Hardscape

  • Concrete pavers are engineered for durability, but no material is completely immune to cracking. Proper installation—including a well-compacted base and proper drainage—greatly reduces the chance of cracks. However, factors such as heavy, concentrated loads, severe weather conditions, and occasional ground movement can lead to cracking over time.

    At YD Exterior Visions, we take every precaution during the installation process to minimize these risks. We also offer ongoing maintenance services to inspect, repair, and reseal pavers as needed, ensuring your outdoor space remains beautiful and structurally sound. We are so confident that your pavers won’t crack that we offer free replacement of any & all cracked pavers for the first 5 years after completion of your project!

    If you have concerns about your current pavers or are planning a new project, we are happy to assess your situation and recommend the best strategies to keep your hardscape looking its best.

  • We prevent weed growth in several key ways:

    • First, we lay a non-woven geotextile fabric beneath the base material to block weeds from coming up from below.

    • Second, we install polymeric sand between the paver joints, which hardens when activated with water to lock out weeds and ants.

    • Regular maintenance, such as keeping the surface clean and reapplying joint sand every few years, will also help keep your patio looking great and weed-free.

    YD Exterior Visions offers hardscape maintenance services, including joint touch-ups and resealing, to extend the life of your patio and prevent weed problems long-term.

Policies & Process

  • At YD Exterior Visions, we prioritize crew safety and quality workmanship. That means we do not work through rain, snow, or unsafe heat levels. If weather causes delays, we’ll keep you informed and reschedule as soon as possible.

    We always aim to complete projects efficiently, but Wisconsin weather can be unpredictable. We build flexibility into our schedule and communicate transparently if your timeline shifts due to weather.

  • Here at YD Exterior Visions we only use organic fertilizers to ensure no nasty chemicals are making their way into your soil.

    We strictly use Vigoro’s organic fertilizers which are all carried in-store at your local Home Depot.

    Depending on what plants you are fertilizing you will want different ratios of Nitrogen, Phosphorous, & potassium.

    For fertilizing your typical garden bed we recommend the blood meal mixture.

    For flowering shrubs we recommend the rose and flower mixture.

    For trees, evergreens, & shrubs we recommend the all-purpose mixture.

    If you have any questions about which fertilizer will work best for you feel free to contact us directly & we will get back to you with detailed information.


  • Yes—as long as the plant is the right size and time of year is appropriate, we can often transplant existing trees and shrubs to a new location on your property.

    We’ll evaluate:

    • The size and health of the plant

    • How well-established the root system is

    • Seasonal timing (early spring or fall is ideal)

    • The new planting location and conditions

    Transplanting is a great option if you're reworking your layout or want to preserve a plant with sentimental value. We'll give you an honest assessment to ensure it's a good candidate for relocation and can survive the move.

  • We recommend hiring a professional to clean your pavers & always, always, always pair a pressure washing with resealing of your paver joints. Pressure washing blasts out joint sand & empty joints will lead to an abundance of issues with your installation.

    YD Exterior Visions offers professional paver cleaning & maintenance services to restore the look of your patio safely and effectively, without risking damage.

  • Concrete pavers are engineered for durability, but no material is completely immune to cracking. Proper installation—including a well-compacted base and proper drainage—greatly reduces the chance of cracks. However, factors such as heavy, concentrated loads, severe weather conditions, and occasional ground movement can lead to cracking over time.

    At YD Exterior Visions, we take every precaution during the installation process to minimize these risks. We also offer ongoing maintenance services to inspect, repair, and reseal pavers as needed, ensuring your outdoor space remains beautiful and structurally sound. We are so confident that your pavers won’t crack that we offer free replacement of any & all cracked pavers for the first 5 years after completion of your project!

    If you have concerns about your current pavers or are planning a new project, we are happy to assess your situation and recommend the best strategies to keep your hardscape looking its best.

  • We understand that plans can evolve as a project progresses. If you want to make changes or add features, we’ll:

    • Review your request

    • Provide updated pricing (if it affects the total cost)

    • Get your approval before moving forward

    If additional material is required beyond what was included in your estimate we will inform you prior to purchasing & explain the reasoning & cost.

    No surprises, no pressure. We make sure everything is documented so everyone stays on the same page. Transparency is a core value at YD Exterior Visions, and we’ll work with you to adapt while keeping your project on track.