Deter Geese at Your Cottage Using Native Plants

Native plants can be a useful tool if want to deter geese at your cottage. Here’s a comprehensive guide.

That grass you’ve got sloping down to the lake: it gives you a lovely view of the water and plenty of space to play. What’s not to like?

The trouble is, Canada Geese like it too!

A Canada Goose.
We’re unwittingly creating the ideal conditions for geese when we maintain a large mowed lawn by the lake. Photo by Jonathan Mast on Unsplash

Lakeside lawns create exactly the kind of habitat geese love. Lawns provide all the birds’ basic needs in one location. Indeed, with its simple aesthetic and lack of vertical elements, this landscape is pretty close to the tundra that’s the goose’s natural home.

The birds feel safe on lawns that slope towards the lake because there are open sightlines to water so they can escape predators; there’s no vertical elements that will stop them from flying in and out; and the short grass… well, they find it delicious!

So if we want geese to feel less at home, we need to make our landscapes less like home. Using vegetation to deter the birds isn’t just environmentally friendly, it’s a flexible way to work with goose natural behaviours and instincts. And what’s more, if you do it well, you can enhance your cottage landscape while bringing a pleasant kind of nature to your lakeshore.

🪿Getting inside a goose’s head🪿

If you were to ask a goose to give you a checklist of its ideal real estate, it would look something like this:

Easy walking access to water

Just like us, geese don’t want to climb a hill to get to the lake. They like a nice slope from where they can easily survey their surroundings. During molting season for four to six weeks in late spring and early summer, they can’t fly, so they have to use their feet. While getting to the grass is important, escaping to the water is even more important: the lake is their primary place of safety should they need to make a dash for it.

Canada geese love a mowed lawn, with its juicy blades of grass and easy access to the lake.

360-degree views

Everyone like to see view from the dining table, and geese are no exception. Geese want to be able to see predators from nine metres away, so they prefer open, unobstructed views. They don’t feel safe in complicated landscapes, pocked with places where predators could hide.

A handy airport close by

Sometimes geese just need to get away. This means they need clear flight paths. Indeed, a goose is slow to gain height, so it needs a takeoff angle of less than 13 degrees. They don’t want tall plants or trees with overhanging branches to get in their way of a flight to safety in the water.

Good restaurants close by

Imagine an all-you-can eat buffet, lovingly prepared for you all summer long. That’s what we’re giving geese when we have mowed lawns. Cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky Bluegrass, are particularly attractive to geese because they love the young, tender shoots. So when we keep mowing the lawn, we’re providing a non-stop stream of salad. If we fertilize the lawn, that salad is even more nutritious.

(By the way, the cool-season turf grasses we use for our lawns aren’t native to North America. Even Kentucky Bluegrass is European – it’s just called that because it was found to grow particularly well there.)

🪿Make goose life a misery🪿

Now we know what geese like, we can ruin their day by taking that all away from them.

A difficult hike from the water

If we create obstacles between the lake and the grass, geese won’t be happy. It makes it difficult to access their grazing areas, causing them to use more energy and making their feeding less efficient. A bit like putting McDonalds at the top of a mountain and closing the drive-thru.

Obstructed views

No-one wants concert tickets where you can’t see the stage. For geese, it’s even more serious because they will feel constantly unsafe. Instead of chowing down, they’ll feel constantly stressed because they’re always keeping watch for predators.

Closing the airport

Put trees (or even tall shrubs) in the middle of the runway and a goose will think twice about landing there. Geese like an easy in and out to the airport without any complicated manoeuvres.

Fire the chef

Serve tough, fibrous plants and coarse-textured vegetation. That kind of food is hard to eat and geese use more energy to digest it. Imagine opening a restaurant that’s looking for one-star Google reviews.

🪿How to use native plants to deter geese at the cottage🪿

Time to look at some guidelines for lakeshore planting. The choice of plants is important, but first we will look at how those plants are arranged.

Below is what I consider the ideal type of landscaping to deter geese. But don’t worry, later in this article we’ll talk about a compromise for if you still want easy water access and want to keep some lawn.

Arranging your landscaping

You need a certain height to effectively deter geese. Have plants that grow at least 30 inches tall so the birds can’t easily step over them. If you want to make it harder for them to fly in and out, include some taller plants and trees – at least four to six feet in height. Don’t rely on herbaceous perennials that go dormant each winter – use some shrubs for year-round structure.

Plant densely. When the plants are mature, you want them to be touching so geese can’t get through the gaps easily. Indeed, avoid gaps as much as possible along the entire shoreline (but it’s okay to cut pathways through – see later). Use multiple layers of planting: a tough groundcover layer; taller perennials; and strong shrubs and trees.

Place your plantings to control sightlines. Block goose views beyond about 30 feet to make the birds feel enclosed and unsafe. Block direct paths to the water with dense plantings that are difficult to cross.

Make the area less attractive to graze in general by replacing cool-season turf grasses with warm-season prairie species and sedges. Use other types of groundcovers (see ideas below). If you want to keep some lawn, put it as far away from the water as possible.

Choose plants that are tough and unpalatable. Use shrubs with sturdy stems and branches that create structure that gets denser as the years go on.

Characteristics of ideal native plants to deter geese

I’ve come up with some guidelines to help me choose suitable plants.

Grasses and Sedges

  • A tough, fibrous leaf texture
  • Coarse rather than fine-bladed
  • Sharp-edged leaves
  • Taller growth habit (over six inches)
  • Forms dense growth
  • Quick to mature
Red Osier Dogwood, just coming into leaf by a lake or river.
Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) could be an excellent choice for a moist shoreline. It forms dense, impenetrable thickets and provides year-round interest with its red stems in winter.

Herbaceous Perennials

  • Dense growth habit
  • Over 30 inches tall
  • Strong stems that don’t easily bend
  • Leaves that persist through the season
  • Ideally quick spring growth to establish barriers early

Shrubs

  • Dense branching to ground level
  • Rigid branches that don’t easily part
  • Thorny or thick branches
  • Over 30 inches tall
  • Ability form dense hedges
  • Interlocking growth pattern

Trees

  • Low branching structure
  • Dense canopy
  • Can be planted in dense groupings
  • Make a good visual barrier
  • Should not provide attractive, shaded resting areas

Additional characteristics for all plants

  • Plants that maintain structural integrity so they don’t flop or flatten
  • Quick to establish
  • Able to recover from damage
  • Dense growth patterns that help form barriers
  • Year-round structure, whenever possible
  • Native species that offer multiple wildlife benefits
  • Attractive to humans

Native plant suggestions

Below are some Ontario native plants you might like to consider. However, remember that deterring geese is only one factor you need to think about: you also need to consider the factors that influence your site. For example, is it sunny or shaded and is it dry or moist (or perhaps it is moist near the lake but drier further upland)?

You will also want to consider how the plants will grow together. For example, do they have similar levels of competitiveness? What are their survival strategies? Will you get blooms throughout the year for aesthetic reasons?

Don’t worry, these are the kind of things we here at Grounded think about when we plan a shoreline planting.

Grasses

Tall Dense Stand Formers (>1m)

Scientific NameCommon NameHeightKey Physical CharacteristicsReasons for Selection
Calamagrostis canadensisBluejoint Grass60-150cmDense, upright tufts. Tough leaf blades. Strong vertical structureForms impenetrable stands. Maintains year-round structure. Creates effective sight barriers
Elymus canadensisCanada Wild Rye100-150cmRobust, arching form. Blue-green foliage. Strong structural presenceCreates tall barriers. Good winter presence. Effective sight blocker

Medium Height Barrier Formers (50-100cm)

Scientific NameCommon NameHeightKey Physical CharacteristicsReasons for Selection
Schizachyrium scopariumLittle Bluestem60-120cmDense bunches. Strong upright form. Excellent winter presenceCreates effective barriers. Maintains structure year-round. Forms continuous barriers
Bouteloua curtipendulaSide-oats Grama60-90cmDense clumps. Tough leaf blades. Strong structureForms good sight barriers. Maintains winter presence. Creates physical barriers

Low Dense Mound Formers (<50cm)

Scientific NameCommon NameHeightKey Physical CharacteristicsReasons for Selection
Sporobolus heterolepisPrairie Dropseed30-60cmDense, fountain-like mounds. Fine but tough foliage. Strong structureCreates low barriers. Difficult to penetrate. Excellent border plant

Sedges

Tall Barrier Formers (>60cm)

Scientific NameCommon NameHeightKey Physical CharacteristicsReasons for Selection
Carex sparganioidesBur-reed Sedge60-90cmLarge, substantial clumps. Broad, tough leaves. Strong vertical growthCreates dense barriers. Maintains upright structure\n- Difficult to traverse
Carex lupulinaHop Sedge30-100cmBroad leaves. Dense upright clumps. Coarse textureForms effective barriers. Strong structure. Good wetland edge plant

Medium Height Matrix Formers (30-60 cm)

Scientific NameCommon NameHeightKey Physical CharacteristicsReasons for Selection
Carex vulpinoidaFox Sedge30-90cmDense upright clumps. Rough-edged leaves. Strong structure.Forms right colonies. Creates effective barriers. Excellent edge planting.
Carex bebiiBebb’s Sedge30-90cmDense clumps. Rough-edged leaves. Strong upright form.Creates continuous barriers. Strong structure. Effective sight blocker.

Low Growing Dense Mats (<30cm)

Scientific NameCommon NameHeightKey Physical CharacteristicsReasons for Selection
Carex pensylvanicaPennsylvania Sedge15-30cmDense, fine-textured growth. Forms thick mats. Spreading habitCreates low barriers. Forms thick groundcover. Difficult to traverse

Herbaceous Perennials (Forbs)

Tall Robust Barrier Formers (>1m)

Scientific NameCommon NameHeightKey Physical CharacteristicsReasons for Selection
Eupatorium perfoliatumCommon Boneset90-150cmStrong stems. Dense growth habit. Rough-textured leavesCreates tall sight barriers. Forms dense colonies. Difficult to penetrate
Rudbeckia laciniataGreen-headed Coneflower100-300cmLarge, substantial stems. Dense clump formation. Strong upright structureCreates tall barriers. Strong vertical presence. Excellent background plant

Medium Height Matrix Formers (50-100cm)

Scientific NameCommon NameHeightKey Physical CharacteristicsReasons for Selection
Iris versicolorHarlequin Blueflag60-90cmSword-like leaves. Strong vertical structure. Forms expanding clumpsCreates dense barriers. Sharp-edged leaves. Difficult to penetrate
Monarda fistulosaWild Bergamot60-120cmStrong stems. Dense growth habit. Forms extensive patchesCreates effective barriers. Forms dense colonies. Good sight barrier

Low Growing Dense Spreaders (<50cm)

Scientific NameCommon NameHeightKey Physical CharacteristicsReasons for Selection
Pycnanthemum tenuifoliumNarrowleaf Mountain Mint30-45cmDense growth. Forms thick patches. Strong aromatic essence.Creates low barriers. Forms continuous cover. Spreads to fill gaps
Gaultheria procumbensEastern Teaberry10-15cmLeathery leaves. Dense growth habit. Evergreen presenceForms solid groundcover. Year-round barrier. Creates continuous cover

Shrubs

Dense Barrier/Thicket Formers

Scientific NameCommon NameHeightKey Physical CharacteristicsReasons for Selection
Cornus racemosaGrey Dogwood2.5-4.5mDense thicket formation. Sturdy branching. Multi-layered growthCreates impenetrable barriers. Excellent sight barrier. Forms continuous thickets
Cornus sericeaRed Osier Dogwood1.5-2.5mDense thicket formation. Bright red stems. Strong structureCreates effective barriers. Year-round presence. Good wetland edge plant

Low-Growing Dense Spreaders

Scientific NameCommon NameHeightKey Physical CharacteristicsReasons for Selection
Diervilla loniceraBush Honeysuckle0.6-1.2mDense, low growth. Forms small thickets. Strong branchingCreates low barriers. Excellent understory plant. Good sight barrier
Spiraea albaMeadowsweet0.9-1.5mForms dense thickets. Sharp-toothed leaves. Upright growthCreates effective barriers. Good for wet areas. Dense growth habit

Wetland Barrier Plants

Scientific NameCommon NameHeightKey Physical CharacteristicsReasons for Selection
Cephalanthus occidentalisButtonbush1-3mDense, rounded form. Glossy leave. Strong structureExcellent wetland barrier. Creates sight barriers. Good edge plant
Salix petiolarisMeadow Willow2-4mDense branching. Narrow leaves. Strong structureCreates effective barriers. Good for wet areas. Forms dense colonies

🪿Shoreline landscaping to deter geese🪿

As we know, a naturalized shoreline using native plants doesn’t just help deter geese: it has a myriad of benefits. A healthy shoreline helps ensure a healthy lake.

AI generated image of a green lawn by a lake in Ontario's cottage country.
This mowed lawn by the lake is enticing for geese… and a blank canvas for using vegetation to deter them. (Image generated by AI)

In an ideal world according to Canadian guidelines, at least 75% of our shoreline would be naturalized to a depth of 30 metres, using a variety of native plants. That would have the benefit of maximum geese deterrence.

However, a shoreline of this depth isn’t always possible. And to many people, it’s not desirable. So here are several scenarios, from a full natural shoreline through to a design that maximizes effectiveness while minimizing changes to your landscape.

The bottom line is, the more plants you have, the fewer the geese. But something is better than nothing.

Ideal comprehensive approach

Multiple barrier zones

  • Aquatic zone (0-5 feet from shore)
    • Emergent plants in water
    • Dense wetland species
    • Continuous shoreline coverage
    • Strong vertical structure
  • Primary barrier zone (5-25 feet from shore)
    • Tallest plants (4-6 feet)
    • Multiple species for density
    • Year-round structure
    • Complete visual barrier
  • Transition zone (25-35 feet from shore)
    • Medium height plants (2-4 feet)
    • Mixed species composition
    • Links to upland areas
    • Allows controlled access

Layered plantings

  • Vertical layering
    • Tall background plants
    • Medium height middle layer
    • Lower growing front layer
    • Ground cover base
  • Horizontal layering
    • Overlapping plant groups
    • No direct sight lines
    • Multiple species at each level
    • Dense plant spacing

Complete site treatment

  • Continuous barriers along shoreline
  • Connected planting zones
  • No gaps larger than three feet
Illustration showing the use of vegetation to deter geese.
In an ideal, comprehensive approach, the lakeshore vegetation would be deep, extending many feet from the water. Tall vertical elements deter geese from flying in and dense barrier of shrubs stops them for walking. The size, density and height of the vegetation blocks sightlines to the lake. A curving path provides access to the lake for humans without limiting the effectiveness of the vegetation.

80/20 approach options (focusing on the planting with the most bang for the buck)

Strategic partial implementations

  • Focus on main access points
    • Where geese typically enter property
    • High-traffic areas
    • Critical view corridors
    • Primary human use areas
  • Create effective nodes
    • Dense planting clusters
    • Multiple layer structure
    • Key location targeting
    • Maximum impact points

Minimum effective barriers

  • Essential elements
    • 30-inch minimum height
    • Dense enough to block sightlines
    • Strong structural plants
    • Year-round presence
  • Strategic placement
    • Main goose entry points
    • Between water and primary grazing areas
    • Along major sight lines
    • Where maximum impact needed

Focus areas for maximum impact

  • Beach access points
    • Frame entry points
    • Create indirect paths
    • Maintain views while blocking access
    • Use strong structural plants
  • High-use areas
    • Protect primary activity spaces
    • Screen gathering areas
Illustration showing the use of vegetation to deter geese.
In this strategic partial implementation, geese still face a deterrent, while humans can still enjoy the lawn. Height and density is used and sightlines are as indirect as possible.

🪿Final thoughts🪿

This article has focused on deterring geese. But it goes without saying that naturalizing your shoreline has much wider benefits. As I wrote about in my article on shoreline naturalization, a vegetated lakefront helps keep the lake healthy, helps prevent erosion, helps regulate water temperatures, and provides habitat for wildlife.

But perhaps most importantly, it’s beautiful. A well-landscaped naturalization project should enhance your lakefront, not take away from it. It should provide visual interest with its varying heights and plethora of plants. And it should add to your enjoyment of your cottage by encouraging birds, butterflies and all sorts of wildlife to your lakefront.

It’s a win-win. (Unless you’re a goose.)

Source and further reading

My main source of information for this article was A Source Book: Habitat Modification and Canada Geese. It’s an excellent resource if you’d like to dig deeper into this topic.