Winter Lawn Care Tips for Ontario Homeowners

Ontario winters can be long, snowy, and tough on our lawns. While most people think lawn care ends in the fall, the truth is what you do before and during winter has a big impact on how healthy and green your grass will be come spring. With a little preparation, you can protect your yard from snow, ice, and freezing temperatures — and give it the best chance to bounce back once the warm weather returns.

Here are some practical winter lawn care tips for Ontario homeowners:

1. Give Your Lawn a Final Cut Before Snowfall

As winter approaches, it’s important to lower your mower blade for the last cut of the season. Keeping your grass around 2–2.5 inches helps prevent snow mold and reduces the risk of pests settling in for the winter. Just avoid cutting it too short, as this can stress the grass.

2. Rake Up Leaves and Debris

Leaves, twigs, and leftover fall debris can trap moisture and create the perfect environment for mold and disease under the snow. A proper fall cleanup ensures your lawn gets the airflow it needs to stay healthy until spring. If you’d rather not handle the heavy lifting, our Spring & Fall Cleanup services make it simple to get your yard winter-ready.

3. Aerate and Fertilize Before the Ground Freezes

If you didn’t get around to it earlier in the fall, aerating your lawn before the soil hardens can make a big difference. Aeration allows nutrients and water to reach the roots more effectively. Pairing this with a late-season fertilizer helps strengthen your grass so it can survive the cold months and green up quickly in spring. For timing ideas, check out our guide on the Lawn Care Schedule for Canadian Seasons.

4. Avoid Heavy Traffic on Frozen Grass

Walking across your lawn during the winter may not seem harmful, but frozen grass blades are fragile and can break under pressure. Over time, this can lead to bare patches in spring. Try to keep foot traffic to sidewalks and pathways instead.

5. Protect Your Lawn from Salt Damage

In Ontario, salt is often used to keep walkways and driveways ice-free. Unfortunately, salt runoff can burn grass and damage soil quality. To reduce damage:

• Use sand or kitty litter as an alternative for traction.
• Shovel snow away from grass where possible.
• Rinse off areas in early spring to flush out excess salt.