Peterborough Ice Storm Cleanup Services & Local Resources

Meyer’s has assembled a dedicated team to support residents in Peterborough and surrounding areas with post–ice storm cleanup. We specialize in removing large fallen branches, storm debris, and yard waste safely and efficiently.

Our crew is equipped with trailers and professional chainsaws to handle heavy lifting and debris removal. Please note: branches that are too high to safely reach from a ladder are outside our scope. For elevated or hazardous work, we recommend contacting a certified arborist (see recommendations below).

Cleanup Resources in Peterborough

In the aftermath of the recent ice storm, residents have access to several city-supported cleanup and disposal options:

Yard Waste & Tree Debris Disposal

Curbside Collection
Yard waste collection continues on its regular schedule. Residents can place small branches, twigs, and leaves at the curb on their designated collection day. Be sure all materials are properly bundled or contained to ensure pickup.

City-County Landfill
For large tree limbs and excess debris, drop-off is available at the landfill (1260 Bensfort Rd). During this cleanup period, yard waste and tree debris are being accepted free of charge.

Spoiled Food Disposal

Green Bin Program
Residents can dispose of spoiled food using the green bin program. Be sure to remove all packaging before placing food waste in the bin to support proper processing.

Public Health & Safety

Food and Water Safety
Power outages may impact food and water safety. Residents are encouraged to follow guidelines from local public health authorities to avoid illness. For more information, contact Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000.

Additional Support & Updates

Storm Response Updates
Stay informed with the latest updates on service disruptions, recovery efforts, and facility closures through the City of Peterborough.

Community Support
Residents looking for help or hoping to volunteer can connect with local initiatives like Clean Up Peterborough, a community-driven Facebook group supporting storm recovery efforts.

Recommended Arborists (For High-Risk or Elevated Work)

For services beyond ground-level cleanup, including:

  • Tree pruning and removal
  • Storm damage and hazardous tree removal
  • Tree health care and planting
  • Stump removal
  • Cabling and bracing
  • Tree risk assessments and reports

Consider reaching out to:

Vital Tree Care

Hyland Tree Care

 

 

Here are the top 10 landscaping trends for 2025:

  1. 🌱 Sustainable Landscaping: Eco-friendly practices like xeriscaping, rain gardens, and native plantings to reduce water usage and support biodiversity.
  2. 🌿 Edible Gardens: Blending vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees into ornamental landscapes for beauty and function.
  3. 🔆 Smart Irrigation Systems: Integrating tech like soil moisture sensors and weather-based watering for efficient water management.
  4. 🪵 Naturalistic Designs: Embracing organic shapes, wildflower meadows, and “rewilding” areas to mimic natural ecosystems.
  5. 💡 Outdoor Living Spaces: Expanding patios with kitchens, fire pits, and cozy seating to create year-round outdoor retreats.
  6. 🎨 Bold Plant Choices: Incorporating statement plants with dramatic foliage, unique textures, and vibrant colors for visual impact.
  7. 🌐 Climate-Adaptive Landscaping: Selecting resilient plants that thrive in shifting climates and extreme weather conditions.
  8. 🏡 Vertical Gardens & Green Walls: Maximizing space with lush vertical plantings on fences, walls, and urban settings.
  9. 🌔 Mood Lighting: Using soft, energy-efficient LED lights to highlight pathways, trees, and water features for evening ambiance.

 

Our Favourite Native Perennial Plant List
 

Selecting plants that thrive in Peterborough, Ontario, involves understanding the local climate and choosing species suited to the region’s conditions. Here’s how to approach this:

🌡️ Climate and Hardiness Zone

Peterborough is situated in Hardiness Zone 5. This zone designation helps gardeners determine which plants can withstand local winter conditions. We can generally plants any plant suited to Zone 5 and under, occassionally we may try a Zone 6 plant that is in sheltered area but that is always a risk. https://planthardiness.gc.ca

🌿 Native Plant Recommendations

Incorporating native plants is beneficial as they are well-adapted to the local environment and support regional biodiversity. Here are some native species suitable for Peterborough gardens:

  • Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis): A perennial with distinctive red and yellow flowers that attract hummingbirds.
  • Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata): A moisture-loving plant that serves as a host for monarch butterfly caterpillars.
  • Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa): Known for its bright orange flowers, this drought-tolerant plant also supports pollinators.
  • Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): A hardy perennial producing vibrant yellow blooms, attracting various pollinators.
  • Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa): Features lavender flowers and aromatic foliage, appealing to bees and butterflies.
  • White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum): Ontario’s provincial flower, thriving in shaded woodland settings.
  • Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum): This plants likes partial sun and blooms in spring to early summer, and will spread slowly from its roots in well-drained, dry to wet-mesic soils. 

These recommendations are sourced from the Peterborough Pollinators’ plant list.

https://peterboroughpollinators.com

🛒 Local Native Plant Nurseries

To obtain native plants and receive region-specific advice, consider visiting these local nurseries:

 

📚 Additional Resources

For further guidance on native plants and gardening practices in Peterborough:

By selecting plants adapted to Peterborough’s climate and incorporating native species, you can create a resilient and ecologically supportive garden.

Thinning an overgrown Yew quick notes and video:

– Thin out the branches and allow the light to facilitate growth
– Next year the sun will fill in the spaces in the spring and it should come back strong
– This was done two years ago and this yew came back very strong and has a much better shape. 

FALL CLEAN-UP & WINTER PREP

Did rabbits eat your euonymus or burning bush last winter? Did your evergreens go brown on one side? Or did your garden just look messy come spring?

We are happy to help you put your gardens to rest for the winter this year, whether that’s just a little advice or a visit from one of our staff. 

Please send us a message if you would like a visit before we close down for the season. We are also happy to chat with you directly if you have any questions.

PLANTS TO WRAP IN BURLAP

  • Anything Zone 6 (on the edge of our climate comfort)
  • Any evergreen that is near a heat exchange or heat exhaust (the freeze thaw can cause the plants to go brown)
  • Yew (optional, depending on wind exposure)
  • Alberta Spruce
  • Trees or shrubs threatened by deer (cedars, yews)

PLANTS TO PROTECT FROM RABBITS (you can buy deer and rabbit spray or use some kind of fencing)

  • Burning Bush
  • Euonymus
  • Barberry
  • Balloon flowers

PLANTS TO PROTECT FROM DEER

  • Cedar
  • Yew 

PLANTS WE LEAVE UP FOR WINTER INTEREST (optional)

  • Hydrangea
  • Most ornamental grasses

 

PLANT BULBS NOW,TO ENJOY IN THE SPRING

Fall is a great time of year to plant bulbs that can come up early in the spring and create a beautiful show as soon as the weather warms up.

This year make sure to pick up some tulips, daffodils, alliums or any other type of bulb at your local plant supplier. You can plant bulbs up until the ground is frozen.

We are also happy to plant some for you when we do our fall clean-up!

Give your gardens a second burst of colour!

July is a great month to get on top of your gardening and make sure you get the most out of your plants, including a second bloom from some perennials.

We’re always happy to do any gardening task for you, just send us an email with your requests. Steph, our lead gardener may also reach out to you to offer suggestions for your garden if you are on our regular maintenance list (picture of our lead gardener Steph above).

 

 

Here’s a breakdown of tasks to help you organize and prioritize what’s important to you:

Flower Maintenance, encourage a second bloom:

Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming and maintain a tidy garden appearance.
Cut back perennials that have finished their first blooming period to potentially stimulate a second bloom. Some great rebloomers that require your attention: daylilies (Video Tutorial), cranesbill geranium, dianthus, delphinium ( Video Tutorial).

Stake any flopping plants, like annabel hydrangea that tend to droop after rain:

Check staked plants to ensure they have sufficient support.
Stake plants that need support.

Trim bushes

Shape bushes that have finished flowering like many spirea, to maintain shape and promote healthy growth.

Turf Care:

Keep your lawn green by applying an organic slow-release nitrogen fertilizer. We are happy to come by and do a treatment for you.
Water your lawn early in the morning to prevent wilting and reduce disease risk.
Pull out weeds like crabgrass before they seed and take over.

Weeding:

Make regular passes through your garden beds to remove weeds. Aim to catch them before they go to seed to minimize future weed growth.
Pay special attention to groundcovers to keep them tidy and encourage spreading.

Watering:

Ensure plants, especially those in containers, are well-watered, especially during hot summer months. Consider setting up an automated watering system if you’re going on vacation. A mechanical timer is also a great option, you can set your sprinkler for 20 mins and walk away!

Disease Prevention:

Keep your garden clean and promote air flow. Remove excess plant foliage that can lead to a congested humid environment where disease and mildew flourish.
Monitor for powdery mildew and other diseases, taking preventive measures as needed.

Mulching:

Top up mulch around plants to conserve soil moisture and suppress weed growth.

By breaking down your tasks into manageable steps, you can tackle each aspect of garden maintenance effectively. Happy gardening!