Fall Yard Prep Before Freeze-Up: A London, Ontario Checklist
October in London, Ontario is a short window. The leaves are coming down, the nights are cold, and in a few weeks the ground will freeze. What you do to your yard right now decides whether spring brings a green lawn and a dry basement, or ice dams, puddles and dead patches. Use this checklist to get your property ready before freeze-up.
1. Clean gutters and extend downspouts
Fall leaves clog gutters fast. When gutters overflow, water dumps right against your foundation, and in winter it freezes into dangerous ice on walkways.
Clear gutters after most of the leaves have dropped.
Make sure every downspout discharges well away from the house. London's Drainage By-law WM-4 requires at least 0.7 metres from the exterior wall, and downspouts can't be aimed at a neighbour's side yard in a way that causes damage.
Never connect downspouts to your weeping tile.
2. Fix low spots and grading before the ground freezes
Walk your yard after a fall rain and look for water sitting near the house, on walkways or in the middle of the lawn. Those spots become ice rinks in January and ponds in April.
Small dips can be topped up with topsoil and seeded or sodded.
Water flowing toward the foundation means it's time to regrade. Read our guide to lot grading in London.
Persistent wet areas may need a French drain or catch basin. See yard drainage fixes for London's clay soil.
3. Lay or repair sod
Fall is one of the best times to lay sod in Southwestern Ontario. Cool air, warm soil and regular rain mean new sod roots with less watering. We cover the details in Why Fall Is the Best Time for Sod Installation.
Sod can go down until the ground freezes.
Keep watering when rain is light, right up until freeze-up.
Follow our new sod care schedule for the first few weeks.
4. Get the leaves off the lawn
A thick layer of wet leaves smothers grass and invites snow mould over the winter.
Rake or mulch leaves regularly instead of waiting for them all to drop.
A light layer of mulched leaves is fine; a matted blanket isn't.
Check the City of London's yard waste and composting page for collection details.
5. Final mow and lawn care
Gradually lower your mowing height over the last few cuts, but don't scalp the lawn.
Fall is a good time for a fall lawn fertilizer on established lawns to help roots store energy for spring.
Aerating and overseeding thin areas works best in late summer to early fall.
6. Winterize water lines
Shut off and drain outdoor taps and hoses.
Have in-ground irrigation systems blown out before the first hard freeze.
Disconnect hoses from the house so water doesn't freeze back into the pipe.
7. Protect new plantings and hardscapes
Water trees and shrubs deeply before the ground freezes, especially anything planted this year.
Mark driveway and walkway edges with stakes so plows and snowblowers don't tear up sod or interlock edges.
Check interlock for low or rocking pavers. Water that freezes under them will make it worse. Our interlock base prep guide explains what causes it.
8. Book excavation and pool removal before winter
Fall is prime time for heavy work. The pool season is over, the ground is often drier than in spring, and projects finished now are ready for spring landscaping.
Pool removal: get rid of the pool before another round of closing costs. See what pool removal costs in London.
Grading and drainage: fix problems before the spring melt tests them.
Excavation for spring builds: get locates, permits and site prep sorted now. See our excavation checklist.
9. Commercial properties: fall cleanup matters too
For retail plazas, offices and rental properties, fall cleanup protects curb appeal and safety. Clear leaves from catch basins and parking lot drains, cut back overgrowth from walkways, and fix drainage that creates winter ice hazards. SPM offers commercial property maintenance across London and area.
Your fall yard prep checklist
Clean gutters and extend downspouts
Fix low spots and grading
Lay or repair sod
Remove leaves regularly
Final mows and fall fertilizer
Winterize taps and irrigation
Water trees, mark edges, check interlock
Book pool removal, drainage or excavation
Frequently asked questions
Can you lay sod in the fall in Ontario?
Yes, right up until the ground freezes. Fall is one of the best times.
Should I fix drainage in the fall?
Yes. It prevents ice buildup and spring flooding.
Is it too late to book work this season?
Often not. Grading, drainage, sod and pool removals can continue until the ground freezes. Call early to get on the schedule.
Do you serve towns outside London?
Yes: St. Thomas, Strathroy, Komoka, Ilderton, Dorchester and the wider region.
Get your yard ready for winter
SPM Landscape & Excavation has helped London-area homeowners prepare their properties since 2006. Call or text (519) 474-0008 to book fall grading, drainage, sod or pool removal.
Comments