The Complete Spring Yard Clean-Up Checklist for GTA Homes

Spring clean-up is the single most cost-effective service in landscaping. One well-executed visit in late March or early April sets up everything that follows — healthier lawn, cleaner beds, fewer pests, and a property that looks intentional from the first warm weekend.

Here's the full checklist we work through on every GTA spring clean-up, in order.

Lawn

1. Walk the lawn and remove every branch, stick and piece of winter debris.
2. Rake (lightly) any matted or snow-mould patches to lift the grass and let air in.
3. Spot-treat any vole runs — they show up as winding bare lines, and they recover with overseeding.
4. Run a first low cut at 2.5 inches once growth is consistent, then raise the deck back to 3 inches for the rest of spring.

Garden beds

1. Cut back every perennial and ornamental grass that you left standing for winter interest.
2. Pull every weed that broke ground while it's still small — 30 seconds now versus 30 minutes in June.
3. Edge the beds with a half-moon edger or square spade for a clean, deep line. This single step does more for curb appeal than any other.
4. Top up mulch to 2–3 inches. Don't pile it against trunks or stems (mulch volcanoes kill plants).

Hardscape & exterior

1. Power-wash patios, decks, walkways and any siding that took winter spray.
2. Clean gutters and check downspout extensions — see our gutter cleaning article for timing.
3. Inspect fences, gates and rail caps for winter loosening and re-tighten or re-set as needed.
4. Check exterior lighting and replace any bulbs that quit over the winter.

Common spring mistakes

• Raking too aggressively — you tear out healthy crowns. Light raking only.
• Mowing before the lawn is actively growing — cold-stress damage.
• Burying perennial crowns under mulch — they suffocate.
• Skipping the edge — beds look unfinished no matter how clean the mulch is.

Why timing matters in the GTA

Aim for late March in lakeside Burlington and Oakville, first or second week of April in Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Aurora, mid-April in Stouffville and the rural pockets. Going too early means working frozen ground; going too late means weeds get ahead and you spend the whole season catching up.

If a twelve-task list feels like too much, our spring clean-up service handles every item above in a single visit, with photos sent on completion. Bookings open in February and the best windows fill fast.