Park Grass and Weed Maintenance

NEW! Grass Maintenance Tracker Tool

Follow Parks Maintenance crews updates as they maintain Brampton’s lawns and green spaces. The new Grass Maintenance Tracker Tool provides access to live updates of the parks and boulevards that have been mowed.

Visit the Grass Maintenance Tracker to view grass maintenance progress throughout the season.

Submit a grass maintenance service request

Spring Grass Cuts

The City of Brampton started spring grass cuts ahead of schedule on April 22, 2024.

New this year, to help keep Brampton’s parks in the best shape possible:

Brampton’s City Council approved a 22 per cent grass maintenance budget increase.
There will be an increase in garbage removal at each playground or parkland location to prevent overflow, with additional maintenance scheduled on weekends.
Grass within Brampton parks and along boulevards will be cut 14 times from May to October; an additional two cuts in comparison to last season.

The average cutting height is three inches. Dandelions may appear within 24 to 48 hours after an area has been cut, due to the natural weed growth rate. Beginning May 2024, Parks staff will begin citywide weed control activities. This includes removal of weeds and unwanted grass by mechanical and manual means within landscaped areas, such as in parks, along roads, etc.

Levels of grass maintenance range from low, medium to high

As a part of Brampton’s Don't Mow, Let it Grow initiative, to support and preserve development of healthy ecosystems, certain recognized valleys, stormwater management ponds and “No Mow” zones in subdivisions are not to be maintained and are to be left in natural condition. These areas contribute to the overall health of the environment we live in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the City doing to control weeds?

Since the provincial government passed the Ontario Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act in 2009 -- which banned the sale and use of more than 250 products and 80 pesticide ingredients -- the City has adopted an “Integrated Plant Health Care” strategy to increase the heartiness of grass and deter weed growth where possible. The following steps are taken by the City to combat weed growth, while remaining compliant with The Act:

Adjusting the frequency and timing of when City-owned lawns are cut, to reduce the number of weeds that spread seeds (dandelions flower in both May and August).
Mowing grass at a 3 to 4” height to promote stronger grass roots, create shade at the soil level, and discourage the germination of seeds to weeds.
Increasing the fertilizing and aerating of high-traffic grass areas.
Treating hard surface areas such as walkways with a high-pressure steam system called “Aquacide” to control the spread of weeds.
Covering garden and shrub areas with mulch to help retain water and prevent weed seeds from coming in contact with soil.
Through the development planning process, trees are replacing some of our shrub borders in new developments to reduce the areas prone to weed growth.
Reducing the number of hard surfaces utilizing unit pavers, which permit weed growth along seams between the pavers.
In the areas where the above-mentioned methods are not practical, City staff will manually/mechanically remove weeds.
Using applications of non-banned substances (fatty acids) to control weed growth on hard and granular surfaces in parks and on selected sports fields.

Why does the City leave some grass unmaintained?

Valleylands, flood plains, and stormwater management ponds are intentionally not maintained to support and preserve the health of the environment. The longer grass in these areas improves soil stability and helps reduce erosion. Visit Grow Green to learn more about environmental sustainability.

How often are the garbage cans in parks emptied?

Garbage cans emptied at minimum once a week at each playground or parkland location to prevent overflow, with additional maintenance scheduled on weekends. If you have notice an overflowing garbage can that needs to be emptied, please contact 3-1-1.

How often are sport fields maintained?

The grass at sport fields are cut at least once a week (weather permitting). After mowing, staff paint markings on the fields that are used for "games only".

Park Maintenance & Operations strive to maintain a mowing height of three inches, which contributes to a much healthier turf surface. Maintaining this height has proven to reduce weeds, endure heat stress and tolerate drought in the hot summer months. This practice is highly recommended on your own lawn to produce the same results.

How often is grass maintained in Brampton?

City staff cut the grass at boulevards and Brampton parks 14 times throughout the season, from May to October.

Grass in naturalized areas (stormwater management ponds, valleys, and flood plains) is not cut, as the longer grass in these areas improves soil stability, helping reduce erosion.