Getting Your Cottage Property Ready for the Season

Spring in Muskoka comes fast once it arrives. Owners who get their properties assessed early are the ones who have everything sorted before long weekend traffic picks up. Those who wait until May often find themselves in a queue.

What a spring walkthrough covers

When we open a property for the season, we're looking at everything the winter left behind:

• —Hardscape integrity — Did any stone work shift? Are there heaved pavers, cracked steps, or retaining walls that moved? Frost does surprising things to stone, especially in a year with a lot of freeze-thaw cycling.
• —Drainage — Winter often reveals drainage problems that weren't visible before. Low spots, areas where ice formed repeatedly, and places where water is pooling against structures all need attention.
• —Lawn and garden beds — What came back? What didn't? Early identification means we can replant, reseed, or address bare patches before they become weed problems.
• —Trees and large shrubs — Winter storm damage isn't always obvious until you're looking for it. Broken limbs, split trunks, and frost-heaved root systems are all worth catching early.
• —Shoreline — Ice movement on lakes can shift rock work, undercut banks, and displace plantings. A quick shoreline assessment in early spring is worthwhile on any waterfront property.

Timing

We start taking spring bookings in February. By late April our schedule is typically full through to June. If you want your property assessed and addressed before the May long weekend, reach out before the end of March.