Sustainable Lawn & Garden Care
Maintaining a beautiful property in your Sunset Lakes subdivision goes hand-in-hand with protecting our natural environment. By following these low-impact practices, you help prevent algae growth and ensure our lakes remain clear and healthy for everyone.
The Golden Rule: Protect Our Lakes
The primary cause of algal blooms in our lakes is excess nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers. Under our community covenants, residents are permitted to use ONLY slow-release, organic fertilizers with low nitrogen and phosphorus levels.
Low Nitrogen (N): High-nitrogen “industrial” fertilizers cause rapid growth but lead to harmful runoff.
Buffer Zones: If your property is on the water, maintain a 10-foot buffer of unfertilized lawn at the shoreline to absorb nutrients before they enter the lake.
Contractor Notice: If you hire a lawn care company, you must explicitly inform them that only organic, low-nitrogen (WIN) products are permitted on your property.
The following brands of fertilizers may be used if necessary. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions with respect to quantities:
- CANAGRO VIGORO Natural Fertilizing 5-4-7
- NUTRITE Vitorganic 8-2-0
- CIL Mother Earth 100% organic Summer Lawn Food 8-2-0
- SO-GREEN Envirosoft 6-2-0
- MILGANIT Green & Fairway Fertilizer 6-2-0
Tip: Leave your lawn clippings on the lawn after you mow — they make an ideal (and free) fertilizer. As they break down they release nitrogen into the soil. Use compost or all-organic fertilizer in the fall to feed the roots of your lawn.
Regular Maintenance
One of the primary ways that a weed-free lawn can be maintained easily, cheaply and with a minimum of effort is through good lawn care practices which encourage the natural vigorous growth of turfgrass. Most weeds cannot compete with dense, healthy turf. The most important practices for weed control are detailed below.
MOWING:
Regular mowing induces the sod to become thick and dense. Grass should be cut at a height of 2.5″ to 3″; any shorter may cause an invasion of weeds. In addition many weeds cannot survive having their tops repeatedly cut off.
AERATING:
Aerating removes plugs of dirt from the lawn so that air, water and nutrients can reach the roots. Over time, soil can become hard and compacted; therefore, by aerating regularly (spring and fall) you will loosen up the soil and feed the roots. Aerators can be rented from a rental company or you can hire a landscape company to do this for you.
FERTILIZING:
According to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, late summer or early fall is the best time to apply fertilizer. They can also be applied in the early spring.
In order to minimize any adverse affects on the lakes, use “organic” fertilizers (meaning most of the nitrogen is water insoluble).
The following brands of fertilizers may be used if necessary. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions with respect to quantities:
- CANAGRO VIGORO Natural Fertilizing 5-4-7
- NUTRITE Vitorganic 8-2-0
- CIL Mother Earth 100% organic Summer Lawn Food 8-2-0
- SO-GREEN Envirosoft 6-2-0
- MILGANIT Green & Fairway Fertilizer 6-2-0
Tip: Leave your lawn clippings on the lawn after you mow — they make an ideal (and free) fertilizer. As they break down they release nitrogen into the soil. Use compost or all-organic fertilizer in the fall to feed the roots of your lawn.
DETHATCHING:
Excessive thatch can lead to poor grass growth and weed encroachment. Dethatch in the spring.
WATERING:
During a period of drought, to prevent weeds from becoming established it is important to give one weekly soaking. Frequent light waterings encourage germination of shallow rooted weeds such as crab grass and creeping bent grass.
RESEEDING:
Reseed sparse areas before weeds become established.
Natural Weed Control & Maintenance
Maintaining a healthy, dense lawn is the best defense against weeds. Below are effective, chemical-free methods to keep your property looking its best.
Cultural Practices for a Healthy Lawn
Dethatching: Excessive thatch can lead to poor grass growth and weed encroachment. Plan to dethatch your lawn in the spring to allow the soil to breathe.
Deep Watering: During periods of drought, provide one deep weekly soaking to prevent weeds from becoming established.
Avoid Shallow Watering: Frequent, light waterings should be avoided as they encourage the germination of shallow-rooted weeds like crabgrass and creeping bentgrass.
Reseeding: Always reseed sparse or bare areas promptly before weeds have the opportunity to take root.
Manual Removal: For minor issues, pulling weeds by hand or using hand tools is often the best method. This removes the immediate problem and prevents the plants from dropping seeds for future seasons.
Understanding the Ontario Cosmetic Pesticide Ban
As of April 22, 2009, Ontario has banned the use of cosmetic pesticides. This legislation was enacted to protect families and pets from unnecessary chemical exposure, following recommendations from medical experts like the Canadian Cancer Society.
Susceptibility: Children are generally more susceptible to the potential toxic effects of pesticides, making reduced exposure a priority for our community.
Greener Alternatives: While many traditional herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides are restricted, you can still maintain a beautiful landscape using natural methods and biopesticides.
Approved Products: You may still purchase and use certain lower-risk pesticides and biopesticides designated by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency. These products have low human toxicity and minimal environmental impact.
Resources: To search for specific approved products, visit the Ministry’s database at www.ontario.ca/pesticideban. Under provincial law, all pesticides must be used strictly according to label directions.
Pro Tip: Using Corn Gluten Meal
Corn Gluten Meal is an excellent natural way to keep lawn weeds at bay.
How it works: It acts as a pre-emergent, inhibiting growth during seed germination.
Application: Apply in the early spring.
Note: Wait at least four weeks after application before over-seeding your lawn, as it will also prevent new grass seed from germinating.
"Fertilizer-Free" Native Gardens
GARDENS:
There are no herbicides available for weed control in established gardens and flower beds without the risk of damaging or killing desirable flowers and shrubs. Usually one must resort to pulling by hand, hoeing, competition and/or mulching.
HOEING:
A single hoeing will kill most annual weeds by cutting off all weeds to just below the ground surface. Perennial weeds are more persistent but repeated hoeing throughout one growing season will kill most and repeated hoeing into the second season will kill the rest.
COMPETITION:
Planting flowers and shrubs closer together than usually recommended may interfere with their shape and productivity, however, by shading the soil it can reduce the number of late germinating weeds.
MULCHING:
Mulch, particularly when used with landscape fabric, is effective in preventing weed growth. It also conserves moisture and moderates soil temperatures. Mulches can be organic (such as bark or wood chips) or inorganic (such as stones, pea gravel or brick rubble).
FERTILIZER FREE GARDENS
The following expands upon information previously distributed concerning “fertilizer free gardens” and provides an extended plant list.
On all lots, but particularly waterfront lots, it is encouraged that “fertilizer free gardens” be planted. Unlike lawns and most other garden plants, the plants listed below require little topsoil and no fertilizers to grow. Keep in mind that on waterfront lots, mature height of plants within 75 ft. of the water must be less than 3 ft.
Most of the following “fertilizer free” plants listed below are native plants and all are very hardy in the Ottawa area. They are commonly found in local nurseries:
TREES:
- White Spruce (Picea Glauca)
- Norway Spruce (Picea Albies)
- Austrian or Black Pine (Pinus Nigra)
- White Pine (Pinus Strobus)
- Canadian r Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis)
- Eastern White Cedar (Thuja Occidentalis)
SMALL TREES/LARGE SHRUBS:
- Amur Maple (Acer Ginnala)
- Serviceberry or Shadblow (Amelanchier Canadensis)
- Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus Stolonifera)
- Russian Olive ( Elaeagnus Angustifolia)
- Choke Cherry (Prunus Virginiana)
- Mountain Ash (Sorbus Americana)
- Common Lilac (Syringa Vulgaris)
- Nannyberry or Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum Lentago)
- High Bush – Cranberry (Viburnum Tribobum)
SMALL SHRUBS/PERENNIALS:
- Meadow Sweet (Filipendula)
- Potentilla or Cinquefoil (Potentilla Friuticosa)
- Rugosa Rose (Rose Rugosa)
- Raspberry (Rubus)
- Arctic Willow (Salix Purpurea Gracilis)
- Snowberry (Symphorecarpos Albus)
GROUNDCOVER:
The following plants are good for shady locations:
- Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra Terminalis)
- Periwinkle (Vinca Minor)
It is highly recommended that for waterfront lots, instead of a lawn, a “fertilizer free garden” of the following ground cover plants, which thrive in full sun, be grown within 20 ft. of the lake along at least 75% of the length of the shoreline. They will absorb nutrients before they enter the lake, thus minimizing aquatic plant and algae growth. In addition they will minimize soil erosion into the lake. They can also be used for other areas of your garden.
- Adjudge or Boggled (Adjudge Reptans)
- Bearberry (Arctostaphylos Uvaursi)
- Trumpet Vine (Campis Radicans)
- American Bittersweet (Celastrus Scandus)
- Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus Quinquifolia)
Local Resources
The material provided is for information only and should not be construed as professional advice. The listing or omission of companies does not constitute an endorsement or disapproval.
- Appleseed Organic Lawn Care 613-224-7336
- Artistic Citywide Rototilling & Aeration 613-769-7079
- Avant Gardeners 613-839-0280
- B&C Landscaping 613-523-1952
- Forevergreen Canada Inc. 613-730-9595
- Hansen Lawn & Garden Ltd. 613-260-8175
- Natural Choice 1-866-GRUB-GUYS (613-823-9257)
- Nature’s Way Design Company – Consultant Services 613-831-1852
- Precision Landscape Group Inc. 613-721-6337
- The Pond Clinic (Turf Grass Alternatives) 613-225-POND (613-225-7663)
- Turf’s Up Landscaping & Property Maintenance Inc. 613-596-3127