Spring cleanup and fall cleanup are both "cleanups" in the sense that they involve clearing your property. But they have completely different goals, and the work involved is different enough that most landscaping companies price them separately.
Fall cleanup (October – November)
The goal: Put the property to bed for winter without setting it up for disease, pest damage, or a difficult spring.
What's typically included:
- Leaf removal from lawn, beds, and walkways
- Final mowing (at reduced height)
- Cutting back dead perennials (or leaving the ones that benefit wildlife through winter)
- Clearing garden beds of dead annuals
- Removing yard waste and debris
- Optional: mulching beds (insulates roots through freeze-thaw)
- Optional: winterizer fertilizer application
Why it matters: Leaves left on the lawn over winter mat down and create snow mould — a common fungal problem in Ontario. Dead plant material left in beds harbours overwintering pests and disease. A proper fall cleanup significantly reduces spring remediation work.
Spring cleanup (April – May)
The goal: Remove winter debris and wake the lawn and garden up for the growing season.
What's typically included:
- Removing any remaining leaves and debris (often more than expected after snowmelt)
- Raking out dead grass and early dethatching
- First edging of beds and lawn borders
- Clearing drains and catch basins of debris
- Pruning winter-damaged branches and stems
- Removing winter protection (burlap, stakes, tree wraps)
- Optional: power dethatching, aeration, overseeding of bare patches
- Optional: spring fertilizer application
Why it matters: Dead material sitting on your lawn in spring blocks light and airflow — the two things grass needs most to break dormancy and start growing. A proper spring cleanup also identifies winter damage early so you can address it before it turns into a problem.
Do you need both?
Yes — if you want a consistently healthy lawn and garden. Each cleanup sets up the following season. A good fall cleanup makes spring cleanup easier and faster. A good spring cleanup sets up the growing season for success. Skipping one typically costs you more work (and money) in subsequent seasons.
Most of our customers book both as part of a seasonal service. If budget is a constraint, fall cleanup is generally the higher priority — the consequences of skipping it (snow mould, pest overwintering, difficult spring awakening) are more expensive to fix.