5 min read
Fall Cleanup Checklist for Ontario Properties
Everything to knock off the list before the first hard freeze — leaves, beds, lawns, gutters and equipment.
Fall cleanup in Southwestern Ontario is the difference between a property that opens up beautifully in April and one that spends the whole spring catching up. Elgin, Oxford and Norfolk Counties get a long leaf drop, a heavy first frost, and enough freeze-thaw to punish anything left unfinished. Here's the checklist we run through on every fall cleanup — do it yourself or have us handle it.
Leaves and debris
- Two passes are almost always better than one — an early clear in late October and a finish pass after the last drop
- Don't leave leaves matted on the lawn through winter — they smother the grass and invite snow mould
- Bag, mulch or haul away — do not blow leaves into wooded edges you'll have to reclaim in spring
Garden beds and perennials
- Cut back finished perennials to 3–4 inches
- Pull annuals root and all
- Weed the beds one last time — anything left seeds for spring
- Top-dress with compost or mulch where beds went thin
Lawn
- Final cut a little shorter than usual (around 2.5 inches) to reduce snow-mould risk
- Aerate if the soil is compacted
- Overseed thin patches before dormancy
- Winterize the irrigation if you have it
Gutters, hardscape and equipment
- Clear gutters and downspouts once the trees are bare
- Blow out or drain outdoor hose bibs
- Store patio furniture and umbrellas
- Winterize mower fuel and put away hand tools
Want us to handle it?
We run full fall cleanups across Aylmer, St. Thomas, Tillsonburg, Woodstock, Ingersoll and the Norfolk County area. See our seasonal cleanup service for what's included, or request a free quote for your property.
