Turfgrass and Prohibited Plants

Naturalized gardens provide opportunities for residents to explore environmentally-friendly landscaping from their properties while enhancing the natural beauty of their neighbourhoods.

The The City of St. Catharines encourages residents to create naturalized gardens on private property that support biodiversity, attract pollinators and contribute to a healthier environment.

City Council approves Turfgrass and Prohibited Plant Species By-law

The City's Turfgrass and Prohibited Plant Species By-law (2026-127) is designed to support naturalized gardening while balancing the interests of neighbouring property owners and maintaining safe, accessible neighbourhoods. The by-law recognizes the importance of allowing residents to enjoy their properties while ensuring gardens are maintained responsibly and do not negatively affect surrounding properties or public spaces.

Property owners and occupants are required to maintain their properties cut or remove grasses and weeds that are 20cm or higher that are not in a naturalized garden registered with the City. The requirement to mow grasses and weeds below 20cm applies to both your property and the abutting boulevard.

We continue to develop this program and will post more information as it becomes available.

Read the By-Law

The City's Turfgrass and Prohibited Plant Species By-law (2026-127) is designed to support naturalized gardening while balancing the interests of neighbouring property owners and maintaining safe, accessible neighbourhoods.

The by-law recognizes the importance of allowing residents to enjoy their properties while ensuring gardens are maintained responsibly and do not negatively affect surrounding properties or public spaces.

To support residents interested in creating a naturalized garden on their property, the City has introduced a permit process. Whether residents are new to naturalized gardening or already have experience, the process provides residents with guidance and assistance in planning their gardens to help ensure gardens are thoughtfully designed and meet the City's requirements.

Residents can continue to enjoy traditional lawns, vegetable gardens, flower beds and other cultivated gardens without obtaining a permit.

An approved permit also intends to provide residents with greater confidence and peace of mind, knowing their naturalized garden has been reviewed and approved by the City. This helps reduce uncertainty about potential by-law enforcement resulting from public complaints, provided the garden continues to be maintained in accordance with the approved permit and applicable requirements.

To encourage participation and support public education through this transition, application fees for naturalized garden permits are free for the remainder of 2026 and throughout 2027.

A one-time permit fee of $125 beginning in 2028 will be considered by City Council as part of the Rates and Fees amendment proposals.

Naturalized Garden Permit Application Form

Prohibited Plants

The Turfgrass and Prohibited Plant Species By-law also prohibits 38 plant species from being on private property, or on an adjacent boulevard. Property owners with an identified prohibited plant species are required to have the plant destroyed. Some plants may require the use of a landscaping professional as chemicals or other specialized methods may be required for removal of the plant.

Common Name	Scientific Name
Common Barberry	Berberis vulgaris L.
Smooth Bedstraw	Galium mollugo L
Oriental Bittersweet	Celastrus orbiculatus
European Buckthorn	Rhamnus cathartica L.
Wild Chervil	Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffmann
Coltsfoot	Tussilago farfara L.
Common Crupina	Crupina vulgaris Cass.
Woolly Cupgrass	Eriochloa villosa (Thunb.) Kunth
Dodder Spp.	Cuscuta spp.
Dog-strangling Vine	Vincetoxicum rossicum (Kleopow) Barbar.
Black Dog-strangling Vine	Vincetoxicum nigrum (L.) Moench
Euonymus, Winged / Burning Bush	Euonymus alatus
Yellow Floating Heart	Nymphoides peltata
Jointed Goatgrass	Aegilops cylindrica Host
Goutweed	Aegopodium podagraria
Hogweed, Giant	Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier and Levier
English Ivy	Hedera helix
Knapweed, Spp.	Centaurea spp.
Knotweed, Japanese	Reynoutria japonica var. japonica
Kudzu	Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr.
Purple Loosestrife	Lythrum salicaria
Mustard, Garlic	Alliaria petiolata
Wild Parsnip	Pastinaca sativa L.
Periwinkle	Vinca minor
Phragmites	Phragmites australis subsp. australis
Poison-hemlock	Conium maculatum L.
Poison-ivy	Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze
Ragweed Spp.	Ambrosia spp.
Ragwort, Tansy	Senecio jacobaea L.
Rose, Multiflora	Rosa multiflora
Sow-thistle Spp.	Sonchus spp.
Spurge, Cypress	Euphorbia cyparissias L.
Spurge, Leafy	Euphorbia esula L.
Sumac, Poison	Toxicodendron vernix
Thistle, Bull	Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Tenore
Thistle, Canada	Cirsium arvense (L.) Scopoli
Tree-of-Heaven	Ailanthus altissima
Tussock, Serrated	Nassella trichotoma Hackel ex Arech.

Sign up to our News, Notices and Updates

Stay up to date on the City's activities, events, programs and operations by subscribing to our News, Notices and Updates.

Sign Up Today!