
Spring & Fall Cleanup in Ottawa
Professional spring & fall cleanup services in Ottawa, Ontario. Licensed and insured crews.
Spring & Fall Cleanup in Ottawa, Ontario
Ottawa, Canada's national capital, has a metropolitan population exceeding 1 million and sits in hardiness zone 5a — making it one of the colder major Canadian cities with average January temperatures around -10°C and summer highs reaching 27°C. The capital's distinctive landscape includes the National Capital Commission (NCC) greenway system, Parliament Hill grounds, Rideau Hall, and extensive embassy properties — all requiring meticulous grounds maintenance. Ottawa's Property Standards Bylaw (2013-416) mandates grass height below 15 cm (6 inches).
Local Lawn Care Conditions
The city experiences extreme seasonal variation with over 220 cm of annual snowfall, making spring cleanup after prolonged snow cover critical for addressing snow mold and frost heave damage. Federal government properties managed by NCC and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) represent a significant grounds maintenance market. Residential neighbourhoods like the Glebe, Westboro, Barrhaven, and Kanata range from heritage homes with mature canopies to new subdivisions with builder-grade lawns.
Our Service in This Area
Ottawa's bilingual character — with Gatineau just across the Ottawa River in Quebec — means service providers benefit from offering both English and French communication. The heavy clay soils common in the Ottawa Valley make annual core aeration essential for healthy lawns.
Our Spring & Fall Cleanup Service
Seasonal transitions are critical moments for your lawn's health. Spring cleanup removes winter debris and sets the stage for vigorous summer growth, while fall cleanup protects your turf from snow mold, ice damage, and smothering leaf cover during the long Canadian winter. At Mow.ca, our comprehensive seasonal cleanup services handle every detail so your property enters and exits the growing season in optimal condition.
How It Works
Spring cleanup typically begins in April (or late March in milder regions like Southern Ontario and coastal BC) as soon as the ground is firm enough to walk on without damaging soft turf. Our spring service includes removal of fallen branches, twigs, and wind-blown debris; thorough raking of matted leaves and dead grass; garden bed edging to create clean lines between lawn and landscape areas; and an initial mow at a slightly lower height to remove dead grass tips and encourage new green growth.
Beyond the cosmetic cleanup, our crews perform a trained visual inspection for common winter damage. Snow mold — both grey snow mold (Typhula spp.) and pink snow mold (Microdochium nivale) — appears as circular matted patches of grey or pink discolored turf, common on lawns where snow cover persisted for extended periods. Frost heave can push shallow-rooted turf sections upward, creating uneven surfaces. Vole trails — serpentine paths of dead grass created by meadow voles tunnelling under snow cover — are common across the prairies and Eastern Canada. We document these issues and recommend appropriate remediation, whether it is dethatching, overseeding, or a corrective fertilizer application.
Why Choose This Service
Fall cleanup addresses the opposite end of the season. Our service includes thorough leaf removal using commercial backpack blowers and vacuum collection systems for efficient handling of high-volume leaf drop. In regions with heavy deciduous tree cover — common across Southern Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes — we offer multi-visit fall leaf programs with weekly or bi-weekly visits from October through late November to keep up with ongoing leaf drop.
The final fall mow is performed at a reduced height — 2 to 2.5 inches (5 to 6 cm) compared to the standard 3 to 3.5 inches — to minimize the leaf surface area that can harbour grey snow mold during winter. We also cut back perennial plants, clean and edge garden beds, and ensure that all organic debris is removed or composted. For clients with composting bins, we can deposit leaf and yard waste directly; otherwise, material is removed for municipal green waste processing.
Pricing & Scheduling
Spring cleanup pricing ranges from $100 to $300 depending on property size and debris volume. Fall cleanup runs $100 to $400, with multi-visit leaf programs priced separately based on tree cover density and number of visits required. Many clients bundle both seasonal cleanups with their mowing contract for seamless year-round property care.
What's Included
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