Recent wet and warm weather has caused grass to grow taller and thicker than usual, leading to longer cutting times for staff and more grass clippings than usual being left behind. Here’s how King Township is managing grass maintenance:
Weather delays: Wet grass can delay cutting as it can damage both the turf and equipment. Staff will return to cut these areas when the ground is drier.
Grasscycling: Grass clippings are left on the ground to act as natural fertilizer, benefiting the grass.
Pesticide-free policy: King Township does not use pesticides, so weeds like dandelions are cut as part of the regular schedule.
Grass maintenance is handled by a dedicated team of eight full-time staff and 12 contract staff. While this is a large part of King’s portfolio, it’s also responsible for:
- 28 parks
- 70 km of trails
- 8 baseball diamonds
- 24 soccer fields
- 65,000 square feet of community gardens
- 337 horticulture baskets and barrels
- 14 heritage cemeteries
- municipal tree canopy
Grass cutting schedule and limitations
During the spring and summer, the goal is to cut park and open space grass every five to seven days. Soccer fields and baseball diamonds are cut every five days between April and May, every eight days between June and October.
In wet periods, some areas may be too wet for equipment to access safely. During dry weather, grass may grow slowly or go dormant, reducing the need for frequent cutting. King Township does not cut grass:
- Along regional roads (York Region handles this)
- Beside private properties (private property owners are responsible for boulevards)
Dandelion season
Dandelions bloom in late May and early June, coinciding with the first cycle of grass cutting. While some residents may find dandelion seed heads unsightly, dandelions are beneficial:
- They provide food for early emerging insects and pollinators.
- They help fix nitrogen into the soil, promoting healthy grass growth.
- They aerate the soil in early spring, improving soil quality.
Yard waste collection
Yard waste collection in King Township starts the week of April 7 and ends the week of December 1. Material should be placed at the curb in paper organic yard waste bags, or open rigid containers, clearly marked as yard waste, before 7 a.m. on the collection day specified in the waste calendar, available at www.king.ca/waste. Accepted yard waste includes:
- Leaves (can be mulched and left on lawns)
- Small tree branches, trunks, stumps
- Plant material, including weeds and brush
- Mulch
- Pumpkins, corn stalks
- Christmas trees (collected curbside on a designated day in January)
Grass clippings are not accepted for yard waste collection. Instead, residents are encouraged to practice grasscycling.
Yard waste bags should not be placed at the curb before 5 p.m. the day before your collection day.
In case of a missed collection, please call GFL Environmental Corporation at 1-866-421-5625 or email WasteLine@gflenv.com.
Benefits of grasscycling
Grasscycling involves leaving grass clippings on the lawn, which:
- Reduces waste sent to landfills
- Improves lawn health by retaining moisture and providing nutrients
- Saves money on fertilizers
- Saves time by eliminating the need to bag clippings
King Township encourages residents to practice responsible yard waste management and grasscycling to maintain a healthy lawn and contribute to a greener environment. For more information, visit king.ca/yardwaste.
For regular updates on Township programs and events, follow the official corporate social media channels on X, Facebook and Instagram or visit king.ca.
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Media Contact
Township of King
Jason Ballantyne, Communications Officer
Township of King | Phone: 905-833-5321 | Email: media@king.ca