Seasonal guide · Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario Lawn Care: A Plan for a Short Season
IllustrationLawns in Northern Ontario get a short window. Sudbury and North Bay average about 135 frost-free days. Sault Ste. Marie gets 123. So plan the year in three parts. Clear the yard as soon as the snow goes in late April. Mow often and high from June to August. Then keep cutting into October, rake before the snow, and book your leaf pickup early.
How short is the lawn season in Northern Ontario?
Shorter than most people in the south expect. These numbers come from Environment Canada climate normals for each airport.
| City | Average last spring frost | Average first fall frost | Frost-free days | Snow a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sudbury | May 17 | Oct. 1 | 136 | about 263 cm |
| North Bay | May 16 | Sept. 29 | 135 | about 300 cm |
| Sault Ste. Marie | May 29 | Oct. 1 | 123 | about 321 cm |
| Thunder Bay | No frost dates published. About 10 frosty nights in May and 5 in September. | about 188 cm | ||
Sudbury, North Bay and the Soo use the 1981 to 2010 normals. Environment Canada has no 1981 to 2010 set for Thunder Bay, so its row uses the older 1971 to 2000 set.
The Soo sits at the east end of Lake Superior. The City's Official Plan says lake effect snow gives it more than most places at that latitude. Its average last frost also comes almost two weeks later than Sudbury's.
When does the grass wake up up north?
Snow melt is the first sign, not the start line. In all four cities, snow is usually gone by the end of April. At the end of March, North Bay still averages about 18 cm on the ground. Thunder Bay averages about 13 cm. Sudbury and the Soo average about 8 cm.
The Guelph Turfgrass Institute says cool-season grass starts to grow when soil reaches 4.5 to 7°C (40 to 45°F). Soil warms slower than the air. So most northern lawns don't need a cut until May.
Wait for these signs before the first mow:
- The lawn is green and growing, not flat and brown.
- You can walk on it without sinking or leaving wet prints.
- The blades are dry, with no frost or dew.
Our post on when to start mowing in Sault Ste. Marie goes deeper on the first cut.
What should a short-season lawn plan look like?
Think of the year as three jobs. Each one has a small window, so line them up before the season starts.
Late April to May: clean up fast
Spring cleanup can't wait up north. Every week a lawn spends under leaves and sticks is a week it isn't growing.
- Pick up sticks, rocks and anything the snow hid.
- Rake out leaves the plow and the wind piled up.
- Lightly rake grey or matted patches once the lawn is dry.
- Check fences and bed edges for winter damage before the first trim.
A spring and fall cleanup covers this in one visit.
June to August: mow often and high
This is when the grass grows fastest. Northern cities give the same advice on height. Greater Sudbury says to cut grass to 6 to 8 cm (2.5 to 3 inches). North Bay says to set your blades at 7.5 cm (3 inches).
Both cities say never cut more than one third of the blade at once. In a fast June, that often means a cut every week. Skip a week and the next cut takes too much off.
North Bay also says to leave the clippings. They break down in a day or two. Brown grass in a dry spell is usually dormancy, the City says, not a dead lawn.
September to October: keep cutting, then rake
Don't put the mower away at the first frost. Iowa State University Extension says cool-season grass stops growing when daytime highs stay below 10°C (50°F). In Sudbury, the normal daily high is 10.3°C in October and 2.6°C in November. So most years, growth slows through October and stops by early November.
Leaves come down at the same time. Leave them too long and they mat on the grass under the snow. Our guide to the last mow in Sudbury shows how to time the final cut.
Do long grass by-laws apply in Northern Ontario?
Yes. All four cities cap grass at 20 cm (8 inches). The details differ.
| City | By-law | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| Sudbury | Clearing of Yards By-law 2009-101 | 20 cm max from June 1 to December 1 |
| North Bay | Clean Yards By-law 2022-28 | 20 cm (8 inches) max; perennial gardens exempt |
| Thunder Bay | Clean and Clear Yards By-law 93/2022 | 20 cm max for turfgrass on private land |
| Sault Ste. Marie | Yard Maintenance By-law 2012-10 | 20 cm max, boulevard grass included |
Sudbury's rule has a twist. In 2023, Council let residents skip lawn care until June 1. The City says many local flowers don't bloom until June. You can still mow sooner if you want to.
Thunder Bay and the Soo also expect you to keep up the City boulevard next to your home. In Thunder Bay, Boulevard By-law 8-2025 caps that grass at 20 cm too.
How do northern cities pick up leaves and yard waste?
Each city runs it its own way. Know yours before October.
- Sudbury: roadside pickup every other week, all year, with no limit. Use paper bags or a labelled container, each under 18 kg (40 lbs). No plastic bags.
- North Bay: take leaves and grass to the free drop-off at 112 Patton Street, open April to October, weather permitting. Grass clippings can't go out with the garbage.
- Thunder Bay: two fall pickup windows in 2026, October 6 to 16 and November 3 to 13, on your recycling day. Kraft paper bags only, each under 18 kg. Grass clippings aren't accepted.
- Sault Ste. Marie: pickup every two weeks in paper bags up to 20 kg (44 lbs). No branches. The City aims to finish before the first big snowfall or freeze. After that, leaves are free at the landfill.
Miss Thunder Bay's two windows and you'll have to haul leaves to the landfill compost area. In North Bay, the drop-off closes after October. So in the north, late leaves can turn into a spring job.
Why does a missed week hurt more up north?
With about 125 to 135 frost-free days, there's little slack. A late spring cleanup eats into May. A missed cut in June means taking off too much next time. A wet week in October can push leaves past the last pickup.
That's why a set schedule matters more here than in the south. The same crew on the same day keeps the lawn on track, even when you're at camp. Trimming along fences and beds on each visit stops the edges from getting away too. See trimming and edging for what that covers.
Weeds come up fast in a short season too. Ontario bans most cosmetic pesticides on lawns, and our partner crews don't spray.
Can someone else handle the whole short season?
Yes. The Worry-Free Lawn Season plan covers lawn mowing, trimming and both cleanups. You pay for the season up front and can pause by text when you're away. Your crew texts you a photo after every cut. If they miss your window, that cut is free.
Golden Oak Lawn Care matches you with a vetted, insured local crew in Sudbury, North Bay, Thunder Bay or Sault Ste. Marie. They do the work. We stand behind it with the Golden Oak Guarantee. See all our Ontario cities, or go straight to Sudbury, North Bay, Thunder Bay or Sault Ste. Marie.
Want it handled? Get your price in 60 minutes, or call 1-866-904-LAWN.
Northern Ontario Lawn Season Questions
When should I start mowing in Northern Ontario?
Most years, in May. Snow is usually gone by the end of April, but the soil needs to warm up first. Wait until the grass is green, growing and dry enough to walk on.
How high should I cut my grass up north?
Greater Sudbury says 6 to 8 cm (2.5 to 3 inches). North Bay says 7.5 cm (3 inches). Both say never cut more than one third of the blade at once.
When can I stop mowing in the fall?
When the grass stops growing. Iowa State University Extension says that happens when daytime highs stay below 10°C (50°F). A frost alone doesn't mean you're done.
Does Sudbury really let me skip mowing until June?
Yes. Since 2023, Sudbury's 20 cm limit runs from June 1 to December 1. You can still mow earlier if you like. North Bay, Thunder Bay and the Soo set no such start date.
Rules change, so check with your City before you plan. Sources: Climate normals, Sudbury A, Climate normals, North Bay A, Climate normals, Sault Ste. Marie A, Climate normals, Thunder Bay A, Sault Ste. Marie Official Plan, Guelph Turfgrass Institute, Greater Sudbury lawn care, North Bay water conservation, Iowa State Extension, Sudbury By-law 2009-101, North Bay By-law 2022-28, Thunder Bay By-law 93/2022, Thunder Bay Boulevard By-law, Sault Ste. Marie by-law enforcement, Sault Ste. Marie boulevards, Sudbury leaf and yard trimmings, North Bay waste diversion, North Bay Waste Diversion Strategy, Thunder Bay fall 2026 pickup, Thunder Bay leaf and yard, Sault Ste. Marie leaf and yard waste, Sault Ste. Marie collection notice, Ontario pesticides.
