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!

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.

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

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 Name | Common Name | Height | Key Physical Characteristics | Reasons for Selection |
---|---|---|---|---|
Calamagrostis canadensis | Bluejoint Grass | 60-150cm | Dense, upright tufts. Tough leaf blades. Strong vertical structure | Forms impenetrable stands. Maintains year-round structure. Creates effective sight barriers |
Elymus canadensis | Canada Wild Rye | 100-150cm | Robust, arching form. Blue-green foliage. Strong structural presence | Creates tall barriers. Good winter presence. Effective sight blocker |
Medium Height Barrier Formers (50-100cm)
Scientific Name | Common Name | Height | Key Physical Characteristics | Reasons for Selection |
---|---|---|---|---|
Schizachyrium scoparium | Little Bluestem | 60-120cm | Dense bunches. Strong upright form. Excellent winter presence | Creates effective barriers. Maintains structure year-round. Forms continuous barriers |
Bouteloua curtipendula | Side-oats Grama | 60-90cm | Dense clumps. Tough leaf blades. Strong structure | Forms good sight barriers. Maintains winter presence. Creates physical barriers |
Low Dense Mound Formers (<50cm)
Scientific Name | Common Name | Height | Key Physical Characteristics | Reasons for Selection |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sporobolus heterolepis | Prairie Dropseed | 30-60cm | Dense, fountain-like mounds. Fine but tough foliage. Strong structure | Creates low barriers. Difficult to penetrate. Excellent border plant |
Sedges
Tall Barrier Formers (>60cm)
Scientific Name | Common Name | Height | Key Physical Characteristics | Reasons for Selection |
---|---|---|---|---|
Carex sparganioides | Bur-reed Sedge | 60-90cm | Large, substantial clumps. Broad, tough leaves. Strong vertical growth | Creates dense barriers. Maintains upright structure\n- Difficult to traverse |
Carex lupulina | Hop Sedge | 30-100cm | Broad leaves. Dense upright clumps. Coarse texture | Forms effective barriers. Strong structure. Good wetland edge plant |
Medium Height Matrix Formers (30-60 cm)
Scientific Name | Common Name | Height | Key Physical Characteristics | Reasons for Selection |
---|---|---|---|---|
Carex vulpinoida | Fox Sedge | 30-90cm | Dense upright clumps. Rough-edged leaves. Strong structure. | Forms right colonies. Creates effective barriers. Excellent edge planting. |
Carex bebii | Bebb’s Sedge | 30-90cm | Dense clumps. Rough-edged leaves. Strong upright form. | Creates continuous barriers. Strong structure. Effective sight blocker. |
Low Growing Dense Mats (<30cm)
Scientific Name | Common Name | Height | Key Physical Characteristics | Reasons for Selection |
---|---|---|---|---|
Carex pensylvanica | Pennsylvania Sedge | 15-30cm | Dense, fine-textured growth. Forms thick mats. Spreading habit | Creates low barriers. Forms thick groundcover. Difficult to traverse |
Herbaceous Perennials (Forbs)
Tall Robust Barrier Formers (>1m)
Scientific Name | Common Name | Height | Key Physical Characteristics | Reasons for Selection |
---|---|---|---|---|
Eupatorium perfoliatum | Common Boneset | 90-150cm | Strong stems. Dense growth habit. Rough-textured leaves | Creates tall sight barriers. Forms dense colonies. Difficult to penetrate |
Rudbeckia laciniata | Green-headed Coneflower | 100-300cm | Large, substantial stems. Dense clump formation. Strong upright structure | Creates tall barriers. Strong vertical presence. Excellent background plant |
Medium Height Matrix Formers (50-100cm)
Scientific Name | Common Name | Height | Key Physical Characteristics | Reasons for Selection |
---|---|---|---|---|
Iris versicolor | Harlequin Blueflag | 60-90cm | Sword-like leaves. Strong vertical structure. Forms expanding clumps | Creates dense barriers. Sharp-edged leaves. Difficult to penetrate |
Monarda fistulosa | Wild Bergamot | 60-120cm | Strong stems. Dense growth habit. Forms extensive patches | Creates effective barriers. Forms dense colonies. Good sight barrier |
Low Growing Dense Spreaders (<50cm)
Scientific Name | Common Name | Height | Key Physical Characteristics | Reasons for Selection |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium | Narrowleaf Mountain Mint | 30-45cm | Dense growth. Forms thick patches. Strong aromatic essence. | Creates low barriers. Forms continuous cover. Spreads to fill gaps |
Gaultheria procumbens | Eastern Teaberry | 10-15cm | Leathery leaves. Dense growth habit. Evergreen presence | Forms solid groundcover. Year-round barrier. Creates continuous cover |
Shrubs
Dense Barrier/Thicket Formers
Scientific Name | Common Name | Height | Key Physical Characteristics | Reasons for Selection |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cornus racemosa | Grey Dogwood | 2.5-4.5m | Dense thicket formation. Sturdy branching. Multi-layered growth | Creates impenetrable barriers. Excellent sight barrier. Forms continuous thickets |
Cornus sericea | Red Osier Dogwood | 1.5-2.5m | Dense thicket formation. Bright red stems. Strong structure | Creates effective barriers. Year-round presence. Good wetland edge plant |
Low-Growing Dense Spreaders
Scientific Name | Common Name | Height | Key Physical Characteristics | Reasons for Selection |
---|---|---|---|---|
Diervilla lonicera | Bush Honeysuckle | 0.6-1.2m | Dense, low growth. Forms small thickets. Strong branching | Creates low barriers. Excellent understory plant. Good sight barrier |
Spiraea alba | Meadowsweet | 0.9-1.5m | Forms dense thickets. Sharp-toothed leaves. Upright growth | Creates effective barriers. Good for wet areas. Dense growth habit |
Wetland Barrier Plants
Scientific Name | Common Name | Height | Key Physical Characteristics | Reasons for Selection |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cephalanthus occidentalis | Buttonbush | 1-3m | Dense, rounded form. Glossy leave. Strong structure | Excellent wetland barrier. Creates sight barriers. Good edge plant |
Salix petiolaris | Meadow Willow | 2-4m | Dense branching. Narrow leaves. Strong structure | Creates 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.

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

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

🪿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.