Spring — April and May
- Spring cleanup once the ground dries: winter debris, matted leaves and sand off the lawn and beds.
- Check for damage along driveway edges and walkways that showed up over winter.
- First cut once growth starts and the lawn can be mowed without tearing.
Summer — June to August
- Regular cutting, trimming and edging through peak growth.
- Raise the cutting height during dry spells rather than cutting short.
- The quietest stretch for snow contractors, which makes it the easiest time to arrange winter service for the coming season.
Fall — September to November
- Growth picks up again with cooler nights; cutting continues into October.
- Main leaf and yard cleanup once the canopy is mostly bare.
- Mark driveway edges, interlock, lighting and irrigation heads before snow hides them.
- Clear the areas where snow will be stacked, and confirm winter service is in place.
Winter — December to March
- Seasonal driveway clearing through the winter, including the ridge the city plow leaves at the end of the driveway.
- Optional hand clearing of walkways, porches and steps.
- Optional salt or ice-melt on walkways and steps where meltwater refreezes.
- Keep a path to the gas meter, vents and any hydrant clear.
The two handover points that matter
The year really has two hinge points: the fall cleanup that hands the property from lawn season to winter, and the spring cleanup that hands it back. Getting both done properly is what keeps the lawn healthy and the driveway workable — everything else in the calendar is routine.
Common questions
- When should I arrange snow service for the coming winter?
- Summer and early fall are the easiest times. Photos and property details gathered before the snow arrives produce a far more accurate estimate than photos taken mid-storm.
- Can lawn care and snow removal be handled by the same company?
- Yes — that is the point of year-round property care. The same property notes on snow storage, fragile borders and access carry across both seasons.
- What is the single most important seasonal task?
- The fall cleanup. It protects the lawn through winter and prepares the driveway, walkways and snow-storage areas before the first storm.
Related on this site
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Keep reading
- What affects snow removal cost in Ottawa
Every driveway is quoted on its own details. Here is what a contractor is actually looking at when they price an Ottawa driveway for the season, and what you can check before you ask for an estimate.
- The end-of-driveway windrow explained
You clear the driveway, the road plow passes, and a hard ridge appears across the entrance. That ridge — a windrow — is the single most common winter frustration for Ottawa homeowners.
- Ice control for Ottawa driveways and walkways
Clearing snow is only half of an Ottawa winter. Freeze-thaw cycles turn cleared surfaces into ice, and the products that fix that behave very differently depending on temperature.