Green is Good: Our Horticulture and Turf
Spring has sprung, and Edmontonians are excited to get outside and enjoy what our beautiful city has to offer. From neighbourhood parks, boulevards, or even the river valley, I often hear about the importance of these incredible green spaces for beautification, for recreation, and for the environment. I’ve also heard that when these parks are maintained well, it supports community and city pride. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes to keep these spaces and natural assets healthy and enjoyable, and I want to root our conversation in that here, plus answer some frequently asked questions.
How our city stays green
Did you know Edmonton has more than 1,000 parks? That adds up to more than 4,000 hectares of turf and almost 2 million m2 of shrub beds. Wow!
All this wonderful greenery requires a great deal of care: mowing, trimming, pruning, weed control, planting, chipping, and mulching. Since 2019, the City’s green spaces have grown by 5.1% and shrubbery and plant beds by 18.8%, meaning we have more greenery to both enjoy and also maintain.
While Edmonton is getting greener, their maintenance budgets have decreased by 9.3% and 11.9%, according to a 2023 report. While the City has found ways to increase efficiency, doing more with less only goes so far. Ultimately, not matching funding with additional assets or inflation resulted in service erosion that I’ve been clear is essential to correct.
I’m mindful that Council must balance the dual responsibilities of city maintenance and costs for services. In this case, Council was able to approve several service increases without adding to property taxes. Starting this year, $400,000 has been redirected to turf trimming, weed whacking, and tree pruning. Additionally, in 2026, a $1 million increase will be implemented for maintenance of shrub and plant beds.
What is still needed
I’ll continue to be a strong advocate for improved grass and plant maintenance frequency, as well-maintained greenspaces are so essential to enjoy the outdoors, protect the environment, and create community pride.
As it stands, it’s good to see the current improvements — let me know how you plan to enjoy the city’s green spaces this summer!
Answers to frequently asked questions
I also want to provide a little info for residents regarding some common inquiries to 311. I understand that the details of all this maintenance are not always clear, and can raise questions for residents.
Depending on the type of park, mowing occurs every 8 to 18 days. There are 10 mowing cycles per season. If it rains, the mowing schedule may change.
Mowers cut grass between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Grass clippings remain in place as a natural fertilizer, only being removed from premiere sports fields.
Residents are responsible for mowing the boulevard adjacent to their homes.
Weed whacking happens twice per season, and dandelions are cut only during mowing, as they are not a noxious weed.
And as a reminder for interested residents, applications for the Commemorative Tree and Request to Plant programs are now being accepted for this season!
