1st period
Spring
Roughly April – June · opening season
The lineup
Services that cover every shift
Gardening and yard care for Muskoka cottages and homes. Every property is different, so pricing is by free quote. See draft starting-at prices or book online.
Need cottage checks or cleaning? That's our sister company, Rosseau Cottage Keepers. Visit Rosseau Cottage Keepers
The top line
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Top line
The comeback season
Yard Regeneration & Touch-Ups
Bring tired, thin or patchy lawns and beds back into the game. We fix the bare spots and give worn areas what they need to fill back in.
What's included
- Overseeding thin or worn lawn areas
- Patching bare spots (soil prep + seed)
- Topdressing with soil or compost
- Reviving tired beds: refresh soil, fill gaps, replant
- 1st period · Spring
- 2nd period · Summer
- 3rd period · Fall
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Top line
Keep it game-ready
Grass Cutting / Lawn Mowing
Regular mowing that keeps the lawn neat between your weekends at the lake, on a schedule that suits the property.
What's included
- Mowing at a healthy height for the season
- String-trimming around rocks, trees, gardens and paths
- Tidy edges along walkways
- Clippings blown off decks, docks paths and driveways
- 1st period · Spring
- 2nd period · Summer
- 3rd period · Fall
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Top line
Clear the crease
Leaf Blowing & Leaf Removal
Muskoka's maples and oaks drop a lot of leaves. We clear them from lawns, beds and hardscapes so the grass can breathe.
What's included
- Blowing leaves off lawns, beds, decks and paths
- Clearing leaves from around buildings and steps
- Raking and gathering into piles
- Bagging or haul-away / on-site composting (as arranged)
- 3rd period · Fall
- 1st period · Spring
The full roster
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Opening face-off
Spring Cleanup
Shake off winter: clear debris, wake up the beds and get the property ready for the season ahead.
What's included
- Raking winter debris, twigs and matted grass
- Cutting back last year's perennials and grasses
- Clearing beds and refreshing edges
- Final tidy and haul-away
- 1st period · Spring
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Third-period push
Fall Cleanup
Put the gardens to bed properly before freeze-up so spring starts on a clean sheet.
What's included
- Leaf cleanup from lawns and beds
- Cutting back spent perennials
- Final mow and trim
- Tidying beds and paths before snow
- 3rd period · Fall
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Drop the puck · Final buzzer
Cottage Opening & Closing Yard Care
Arrive to a cottage yard that's ready to enjoy, and leave knowing the grounds are tucked in for winter.
What's included
- Opening: clear paths, steps and deck areas of debris
- Opening: first mow, bed cleanup and planters ready
- Closing: final leaf and debris cleanup
- Closing: hoses, planters and garden items put away (as arranged)
- 1st period · Spring
- 3rd period · Fall
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Building the lineup
Garden Bed Planting & Maintenance
New beds, refreshed borders and ongoing care with plants chosen for Muskoka's shade, thin soils and short season.
What's included
- Bed design and plant selection
- Planting perennials, shrubs and annuals
- Deadheading, dividing and staking
- Seasonal bed upkeep visits
- 1st period · Spring
- 2nd period · Summer
- 3rd period · Fall
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Clean lines
Mulching & Edging
Crisp spade-cut edges and a fresh layer of mulch for tidy beds, fewer weeds and better moisture.
What's included
- Spade-cut bed edges
- Mulch supply and spreading
- Top-ups for existing beds
- Clean-up of walkways after install
- 1st period · Spring
- 2nd period · Summer
- 3rd period · Fall
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On the penalty kill
Weeding
Keep weeds from taking over beds, paths and stonework with regular or one-time weeding.
What's included
- Hand-weeding garden beds
- Weeds pulled from paths, gravel and stone joints
- Removal of weeds and debris
- One-time or recurring visits
- 1st period · Spring
- 2nd period · Summer
- 3rd period · Fall
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Sharp shape
Hedge & Shrub Trimming
Shaping and tidying hedges and shrubs so they stay healthy, neat and in their lanes.
What's included
- Hedge trimming and shaping
- Shrub pruning and dead-wood removal
- Clearing overgrowth from paths and windows
- Clippings cleaned up and removed
- 1st period · Spring
- 2nd period · Summer
- 3rd period · Fall
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Natural defence
Shoreline & Native Plant Gardens
Native plantings that suit the lake and look at home on the granite. Shoreline work near the water can require municipal or District of Muskoka approvals — we can help you plan within local shoreline guidelines.
What's included
- Native and hardy plant selection
- Naturalized buffer and shoreline-style plantings
- Planting plans that work with rock and slope
- Help planning within local shoreline guidelines
- 1st period · Spring
- 3rd period · Fall
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Clearing the ice
Storm & Branch Debris Cleanup
After a windstorm, we clear the fallen branches and mess so the property is usable again.
What's included
- Gathering fallen branches and twigs
- Clearing debris from lawns, beds and paths
- Piling, chipping or haul-away (as arranged)
- Flagging bigger damage for you to follow up on
- 1st period · Spring
- 2nd period · Summer
- 3rd period · Fall
- Intermission · Off-season
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All-star arrangements
Seasonal Planters
Planters and containers for the deck, dock or front step, refreshed as the seasons change.
What's included
- Spring and summer planter design and planting
- Fall planter refresh
- Planter watering/check-ins on maintenance visits
- End-of-season planter cleanup
- 1st period · Spring
- 2nd period · Summer
- 3rd period · Fall
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Eyes on the net
Property Checks for Absentee Owners
When you can't get up to the lake, we can walk the grounds and let you know how things look.
What's included
- Walk-around of the yard and gardens
- Photo update sent to you
- Note of fallen branches or storm debris
- Visit schedule that suits you
- 2nd period · Summer
- 3rd period · Fall
- Intermission · Off-season
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Line change
Need something else?
If it's in the yard or the garden and not listed here, ask. If it's not something we do, we'll tell you straight.
Ask for a quote
No services in this period — check another.
Pricing: free quote. No two properties are alike, so every job gets an honest quote after we understand it.
The season, in periods
Three periods and an intermission
Timing in Muskoka shifts with the weather each year — here's how a typical season plays out.
2nd period
Summer
Roughly June – August · peak cottage season
3rd period
Fall
Roughly September – November · closing season
- Yard Regeneration & Touch-Ups
- Grass Cutting / Lawn Mowing
- Leaf Blowing & Leaf Removal
- Fall Cleanup
- Cottage Opening & Closing Yard Care
- Garden Bed Planting & Maintenance
- Mulching & Edging
- Weeding
- Hedge & Shrub Trimming
- Shoreline & Native Plant Gardens
- Storm & Branch Debris Cleanup
- Seasonal Planters
- Property Checks for Absentee Owners
Intermission
Off-season
While the lake's a rink
Plus: plan next year's gardens and book your spring spot early.