Best Landscaper in Kamloops, British Columbia

Local lawn notes

How the Best Landscaper in Kamloops Handles a Dry Lawn

The City calls Kamloops semi-arid. Its official plan says the land runs from about 300 metres up past 1,100 metres, through grassland, ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. A lawn in that setting needs a different plan.

A hot, dry season

Environment Canada climate normals (1981 to 2010) for Kamloops Airport show the last spring frost around April 24. The first fall frost lands around October 10. That's about 169 frost-free days.

Rain is the catch. June, July and August bring only about 37, 31 and 24 mm. That's why weekly lawn mowing here is about height, not speed.

Mow high, water less

The City says a Kamloops lawn needs about 2.5 cm (1 inch) of water a week, one or two days a week. An empty tuna can holds about that much. Sandy soil drains faster than silt or clay.

For mowing, the City's tip is 5 to 7.5 cm (2 to 3 inches), about a finger length. Never cut more than a third of the blade. Leave the clippings. They can cover about a third of what your lawn needs to feed.

Summer is when it counts. The City says each resident uses about 1,800 litres of water a day in summer, and 80% of it goes outside.

Hills, silt and grassland

The City's plan lists steep slopes, silt bluffs and flood plains as limits on building. Along the South Thompson, the silt bluffs can form sinkholes. Some lots on the Aberdeen slope even carry covenants that limit outdoor watering. Hillside yards dry out first, so ask your crew about a higher cut there.

Kamloops rules that touch your lawn

• Untidy yards. The Good Neighbour Bylaw (No. 49-1) counts overgrown or neglected landscaping as unsightly. It sets no grass height. A ticket is $100, and if an order is ignored, the City can do the work and add the cost to your taxes.
• Boulevards. Owners mow and trim the boulevard grass next to their lot.
• Watering. Your days come from the last two digits of your address. At normal levels (0 to 3), sprinklers run three days a week. Level 4 cuts that to one day. Level 5 bans sprinklers.
• Yard waste. Leaves, grass, weeds and small prunings go in the weekly organics cart. No plastic bags. Paper yard bags can line the cart.
• Pesticides. The Pesticide Use Control Bylaw (No. 26-4) bans most pesticides on home lawns, so our partner crews never spray.
• Japanese beetle. In June 2026 the CFIA set a regulated area downtown, including Riverside Park, and in part of Westsyde. The City asks you to clean soil off mowers, trimmers and rakes before moving to another site.

The City changes these rules, so check before you water. Sources: bylaws, water use, yard waste, healthy lawns, Japanese beetle, climate normals.