When Should I Do My Spring Yard Cleanup in Ontario?

When should I start spring cleanup in Ontario?

Toronto Master Gardeners say "it is better not to rush the spring clean-up until temperatures are consistently above 10C."

Leaf litter in garden beds is where many insects spend the winter, so clearing beds is the job to leave until it's warmer.

Why wait for warmer weather before clearing beds?

Moths and butterflies overwinter in leaf litter in all four life stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult (Toronto Master Gardeners). Raking beds bare too early removes them.

Toronto Master Gardeners also note that leaf litter can hold ticks and jumping-worm eggs, so take care when you handle it.

When does yard-waste pickup start in spring?

• Burlington and Oakville (Halton Region): "First week of April to the second week of December," on your regular garbage day. Set it out by 7 a.m., and no more than one day early.
• Hamilton: curbside yard waste restarted on March 6, 2023, "for spring clean-up." We could not confirm the 2026 or 2027 restart date. Check the City of Hamilton's yard waste page.

In past years, Hamilton residents could drop off yard waste for free at Community Recycling Centres in the off-season, Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (2022 information).

How should I bag yard waste in Hamilton and Halton?

• Hamilton: use brown paper yard-waste bags, or an open-top rigid reusable container with a City of Hamilton yard waste sticker. Leaf and yard waste hasn't been allowed in the green bin since April 1, 2019. In 2022, blue boxes and cardboard boxes were not accepted as containers.
• Halton: paper yard-waste bags, or open, labelled, reusable rigid containers with no lid. Each one can hold up to 125 L and weigh up to 50 lb. Brush bundles can be up to 2 m × 1 m, with branches no more than 7.5 cm (3 in.) across. Halton doesn't take plastic or compostable bags, sod, soil, rocks or stumps.

Can I use weed killer during spring cleanup?

Only certain products. Ontario bans cosmetic pesticide use on lawns, gardens, patios and driveways. Ingredients such as 2,4-D, diazinon and glyphosate are banned for cosmetic use. Products on the province's Allowable List, such as corn gluten meal, soap, sulphur and borax, can be used. There are health and safety exceptions, including poison ivy, giant hogweed, wasps and ticks.

When is the last frost in Hamilton?

Sources don't agree. One page gives April 25 as the average last frost, but its own FAQ says "early-to-mid May" (Growers Guide). That matters more for planting than for cleanup. Hold off on tender plants until the risk has passed.

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