Gardening on the Shores of Lake Simcoe: Grow for Beauty, Grow for the Lake

If you’re lucky enough to garden on the shores of Lake Simcoe or near any of the rivers and streams that flow into it — the Black, Beaver, Maskinonge, Pefferlaw, and Holland Rivers, to name a few — your garden does more than grow plants. It plays a direct role in the health of the lake itself.

That means you’ve got a job to do. And don’t worry — it’s a beautiful, bird-filled, pollinator-packed kind of job.

 

The Shoreline Challenge (and Opportunity)

Shorelines are dynamic spaces. The soil tends to shift between dry and soggy, the winds can be strong, and exposure to sun and salt spray varies. It’s tempting to throw down a blanket of grass and call it a day, but turf grass has shallow roots, offers little erosion control, and does zilch for wildlife.

Instead, smart shoreline gardeners are turning their waterfront into buffer zones — natural gardens made up of native plants that stabilize soil, filter runoff, cool the water, provide habitat, and reduce algae blooms in Lake Simcoe. Yes, your flower patch can fight phosphorus pollution. Not bad, right?

5 Ways to Create a Healthier Shoreline Garden

1. Lose the Lawn (at least near the water):

Replace turf near the water’s edge with deep-rooted native plants that soak up runoff, hold the soil, and absorb pollutants like phosphorus before they get to the lake. These plants act like a living buffer zone — nature’s version of a sponge and a Brita filter all in one. And bonus: no mowing.

Tip: Aim for a minimum 3-metre (10-foot) wide buffer of native plants between your lawn and the water — the wider, the better.

2. Plant in Layers:

A healthy shoreline garden is built like a forest: groundcovers that hug the soil, grasses and perennials that fill in the middle, shrubs that give structure, and vines or small trees that provide height and shade. This layered approach:

• • Slows down stormwater.
  • Supports more species of birds, insects, and amphibians.
  • Prevents weed takeovers by filling every niche.
  • Looks amazing all year round.

The more diversity, the better. Think “mini ecosystem,” not “row of identical bushes.” Wildlife loves options.

Tip: Choose plants with staggered bloom times so something is always flowering — it keeps pollinators coming and your shoreline buzzing with life.

3. Ditch the Chemicals:

Pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers are no friend to Lake Simcoe. They often leach into the soil or get washed away by rain, ending up in nearby waterways. Once in the lake, they contribute to algae blooms, fish die-offs, and long-term water quality problems.

Native plants are a smart workaround. They’ve evolved to thrive here without help — no sprays, no extra watering, no chemical boosters needed. Instead of waging war on your garden, let it grow into balance.

Tip: Improve your soil naturally by topdressing with compost or mulch in spring and fall. Healthy soil = healthy plants.

4. Break Up the Shoreline Edge:

Shorelines that are neat, flat, and “clean” may look tidy, but they’re biologically boring — and ecologically unstable. A perfectly mowed edge, retaining wall, or riprap rock wall amplifies wave action, which erodes soil and makes it harder for plants to get established.

A better solution? Soften that edge. Use native plants, natural slopes, driftwood, native grasses, and even strategically placed logs or boulders to slow down water and give it room to settle. This more natural shoreline:

• • Absorbs wave energy.
  • Filters sediment.
  • Protects fish habitat and turtle nesting zones. 

Tip: If you’re planning shoreline work, check with the LSRCA first — they offer free guidance and may have funding to help.

5. Keep Access Natural:

We get it — you still want to enjoy your lakefront. But that doesn’t mean paving a concrete sidewalk straight to your dock. Instead, choose materials that let water through and blend in with the landscape:

• • Stepping stones
  • Mulched paths
  • Raised wooden boardwalks
  • Permeable pavers
  • Or even just a mowed path through a native wildflower meadow 

Natural access routes protect plant roots, reduce soil compaction, and keep your shoreline garden from turning into a slippery mud pit.

Tip: Designate one clear access point for foot traffic and boats, and leave the rest wild — the lake will reward you with cleaner water and more wildlife.

What to Plant (with Help from the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority)

Here's where your garden becomes a powerhouse. The LSRCA has curated a list of native plants that thrive in this area — and support butterflies, birds, bees, and biodiversity while doing it. Whether you’re dealing with sunny banks, shady woodland edges, or marshy lowlands, there’s something for every shore.

Sunny Meadows – Full Sun, Dry Soils

If your shoreline gets full sun and drains well, plant a pollinator paradise:

• • Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) – Smells like licorice, attracts bees like a magnet.
  • Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) – A milkweed that Monarchs adore.
  • Black-eyed Susan, Golden Alexander, and Wild Bergamot – All tough, native bloomers.
  • Liatris, Sky-Blue Aster, and New England Aster – Late-season bloomers for fall colour and nectar.
  • Wild Blue Lupine and Wild Strawberry for beauty and groundcover that feeds wildlife.

Woodland Wonderland – Part Shade, Drier Soils

Got tree cover or a forested edge near the lake? These woodland plants are built for it:

• • Canada Wild Ginger, Foamflower, Trout Lily, and Dutchman’s Breeches – Ground-huggers with delicate spring blooms.
  • Red Trillium, White Trillium, and Jack-in-the-Pulpit – Ontario icons.
  • Giant Solomon’s Seal, Wood Ferns, and Foxglove Beardtongue – Elegant texture and height for shady corners.

We Like Wet Feet – Full Sun to Part Shade, Moist Soils

Near the water’s edge or in low-lying areas, you’ve got the perfect home for wetland champions:

• • Blue Flag Iris, Marsh Marigold, and Cardinal Flower – Bright and bold, thriving in wet conditions.
  • Swamp Milkweed, Joe Pye Weed, and Tall Meadow-Rue – Butterfly havens.
  • Virginia Mountain Mint, Blue Vervain, Obedient Plant, and Canada Anemone – Big pollinator draws that can handle the muck.

Native Grasses

Grasses are the unsung heroes of shorelines. Their roots run deep, and they move beautifully in the breeze.

• • Switchgrass, Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Indian Grass, and Side Oats Grama – Perfect for stabilizing slopes.
  • Add Prairie Dropseed for fine texture and a hint of vanilla scent.
  • Pennsylvania Sedge – Low, tidy, and surprisingly foot-traffic friendly.

Groundcovers That Pull Their Weight

Low-growing doesn’t mean low-impact.

• • Wild Strawberry, Bearberry, Common Violet, and Bladder Sedge – All great at keeping soil in place and feeding pollinators or birds.
  • Use Wild Blue Phlox and Geranium maculatum for spring colour and pollinator support.

Climbing Vines for Vertical Interest

• • Virginia Creeper and Riverbank Grape help cover unsightly fences and add food for birds.
  • Virgin’s Bower and Purple Clematis add flowering flair.

Why It Matters

Lake Simcoe is under pressure. Urban growth, sewage treatment plants, stormwater runoff, and invasive species, are all working against it. But shoreline gardens? They fight back. They reduce erosion, absorb phosphorus, protect fish habitat, and cool the water. They give bees, butterflies, frogs, turtles, and birds a place to live. 

Plus, let’s face it — they look gorgeous.

 

One Final Note: What NOT to Plant

Avoid planting:

• Non-native ornamental grasses (like Phragmites).
• Invasive species (like Periwinkle and Goutweed).
• Fertilizer-hungry turf grass up to the waterline. 

If you’re not sure what’s safe to plant or how to stabilize your shoreline, the LSRCA offers guidance, workshops, and often even financial support to homeowners making eco-friendly improvements.

So there you have it, your garden can be more than beautiful — it can be part of the solution. So let the lake lead your plant choices, and grow something that gives back. Because what we plant at the water’s edge doesn’t just reflect in the lake — it protects it. 

Happy gardening!