The strip of land where your property meets the water — the riparian zone — does more for the lake than any other part of your lot. A shoreline left in (or returned to) its natural state protects your property and the water at the same time.
What a naturalized shoreline does
- Holds the bank together. Deep native root systems anchor soil against ice heave, waves and boat wakes far better than mowed grass, whose roots reach only a few centimetres.
- Filters runoff. A buffer of shrubs and grasses traps phosphorus, fertilizer and sediment before they reach the lake — the same nutrients that feed algae blooms.
- Brings back habitat. Overhanging vegetation shelters minnows and insects, feeds birds, and supports the food chain our lake trout and loons sit on top of.
- Discourages geese. Canada geese avoid shorelines where taller vegetation could hide predators — a naturalized edge is the most effective goose deterrent there is.
Getting started is easier than you think
- Start by doing less. Stop mowing a strip along the water and let native growth return — even a buffer of 2–3 metres makes a measurable difference.
- Keep your access. Naturalizing doesn't mean losing your view or your swimming spot: keep a defined path and dock area, and let the rest go natural.
- Plant natives. Species native to Haliburton — dogwoods, sweet gale, meadowsweet, blue flag iris, native grasses and ferns — establish quickly and need no watering or fertilizer once rooted.
- Mind the by-law. Shoreline vegetation within 30 metres of the high-water mark is protected in Haliburton County — see our Healthy Shoreline guide for the rules before removing anything.
Local help: Abbey Gardens
Abbey Gardens, just down Highway 118 in Haliburton, runs a shoreline naturalization program for lakefront owners — native plants suited to our shorelines and guidance on putting the right plant in the right place. They're the easiest first phone call if you want help planning a planting.
More resources
- Our Healthy Shoreline guide — native plant sources, the shoreline tree by-law, and FAQs
- Watersheds Canada: The Natural Edge program
- Shoreline restoration and where to start from our archives