Essential Autumn Maintenance in Our Parks and Green Spaces

During this time, you may notice City teams trimming plants and clearing certain areas in our parks and green spaces, such as the educational Monarch Butterfly Garden.

Rest assured, we’re not harming nature! These maintenance activities, performed every year in autumn, are essential for keeping our plants, trees, and ecosystems healthy and preparing them for winter.

Why do we cut plants in the fall?

Cutting back certain plants in the fall is an important step to keep our green spaces healthy and thriving. These operations:

• Encourage healthy growth: Pruning benefits most perennials, encouraging them to come back stronger and fuller after the winter.
• Prevent disease: Removing weak or damaged parts reduces the risk of fungi and plant diseases. Too thick a layer of decomposed plant material increases the development of disease.
• Control pests: Clearing infested or decaying areas reduces the multiplication of pests while allowing beneficial insects to flourish.
• Encourage plant propagation: Clearing plant debris allows air, light and water to reach the soil.  This allows the seeds from last season to establish, develop and flower again. 

A balanced approach

Every fall our crews and contractors work carefully across the City, trimming only where needed and leaving some natural debris in place. This helps insects and small animals find shelter during the colder months and supports biodiversity.  Additionally, our natural spaces (such as Terra-Cotta Natural Park) act as a source of food and shelter for our local pollinators and birds. The City takes pride in the preservation of the environment, as a result, many of the trees, shrubs and perennials planted are selected for their ability to provide food year-round for the local fauna. 

Autumn maintenance is a vital part of caring for our city’s natural spaces. By tending to our plants now, we’re ensuring that Pointe-Claire’s parks and green spaces remain healthy, beautiful, and full of natural life year after year. These efforts help protect local biodiversity, prevent future damage, and keep our shared environment thriving through every season.