A Hamilton lawn has two very different jobs depending on which side of the escarpment it sits. Below the brow, in the lower city, Stoney Creek and Dundas, lawns grow on heavy clay over shale and stay wet into May. Up on the Mountain and in Binbrook and Glanbrook, they sit on the Haldimand Clay Plain, which drains poorly and bakes hard in July. Here is what lawn care costs across the city, and what a crew should be doing differently on each.
2026 lawn mowing prices in Hamilton
These are per cut and full season prices for mowing, string trimming, edging hard surfaces and blowing clippings off the driveway and walks. One-off cuts cost 30% to 60% more, because the trip cannot be spread across a season.
| Lot size | Per cut (season contract) | Full season, 26 to 28 cuts |
|---|---|---|
| Townhouse or small lot, under 2,000 sq ft of lawn | $45 - $75 | $1,300 - $1,900 |
| Standard suburban, 2,000 to 5,000 sq ft | $60 - $110 | $1,700 - $2,800 |
| Large lot, 5,000 to 12,000 sq ft | $110 - $210 | $2,900 - $5,200 |
Most Hamilton homes fall in the standard band. Older lots in Westdale, Kirkendall and the east end are often smaller than they look from the street, while Ancaster, Waterdown and rural Flamborough properties regularly land in the large lot band. Corner lots, steep side yards on the escarpment and lots of beds to trim around push a quote toward the top of its range.
Cleanups, aeration and feeding
| Service | 2026 price | When |
|---|---|---|
| Spring cleanup | $280 - $650 | Mid April to early May |
| Fall cleanup and leaf removal | $320 - $850 | Late October to mid November |
| Core aeration | $130 - $280 | Late August to late September |
| Overseeding with aeration | $190 - $480 | Same visit as aeration |
| Fertilizer program, 5 visits | $380 - $750 | April through October |
| Grub control with nematodes | $220 - $480 | Late July to mid August |
On Hamilton clay, core aeration is the add-on that pays back most. Clay compacts under foot traffic and mowers, roots stay shallow, and the lawn browns out in the first dry spell of July. Pulling cores in late August or September, then overseeding into the holes, is how a thin lawn on the Mountain gets thick again. Our guide to when to aerate and overseed covers the timing.
Hamilton's 21 cm grass rule
Hamilton's Yard Maintenance By-law (10-118, amended in October 2025) requires turfgrass and other vegetation on urban lots of 0.4 ha or less to be cut to 21 cm or lower. On bigger urban lots the limit applies within 10 m of every property line. Gardens, shrubs, vegetable beds and properly kept naturalized areas are exempt. If an officer issues an order and the lawn is not cut, the City can have the work done at the owner's expense and recover the cost by adding it to the tax roll, with interest at 15% a year. A missed few weeks in a wet June gets past 21 cm faster than most people expect, which is one of the quieter reasons people sign a mowing contract before going away for the summer.
Grass clippings and leaves in Hamilton
Hamilton collects leaf and yard waste weekly on your pickup day, with no limit on the amount. Grass clippings are allowed with it, but not in the green bin. Use brown paper yard waste bags, bushel baskets, or rigid open containers of 135 L or less with the free City yard waste sticker, each under 50 lb, and bundle branches no thicker than 9 cm. Sod, soil and rocks are not taken. Hamilton has no vacuum leaf pickup, so leaves have to be bagged or taken to a Community Recycling Centre, which accepts residential yard waste free.
We mulch clippings back into the lawn on most cuts. It feeds the turf, and Ontario's agriculture ministry says leaving clippings replaces up to 15% of the nitrogen a lawn needs. We bag only when the grass is wet and long, usually the first spring cut. On fall cleanups we haul the leaves away so nothing sits at the curb for a week.
Watering in Hamilton
Hamilton's watering by-law is mandatory, not a request. Lawns can be watered every other day: even-numbered addresses on even dates, odd on odd. There are no set hours unless the City announces them. Deep watering once or twice a week, early in the morning, beats a short sprinkle every allowed day. Our summer watering schedule has the details.
Weed control under Ontario's pesticide ban
Under Ontario's cosmetic pesticide rules, products like 2,4-D and glyphosate cannot be used to make a lawn look better. Cosmetic use is limited to active ingredients on the provincial Allowable List, which includes iron-based weed killers (FeHEDTA), corn gluten meal and soaps. Anyone paid to apply a pesticide on your property needs an Ontario exterminator licence in the Landscape class, so ask for the licence number before anyone sprays. Iron products knock back dandelions and clover for a few weeks; they do not fix the reason the weeds are there. Thin turf is the reason. A thick lawn mowed tall, fed and overseeded every fall leaves weeds very little room, which is why our programs lean on feeding and overseeding first.
Where we cut in Hamilton
Lower city, the Mountain, Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Dundas, Waterdown and Binbrook. Routes are built by area, so we can keep the same day each week, and a visit is moved, not skipped, when it rains.
Mowing season runs from late April to early November. Spring routes are set in March, so most of the year's contracts are signed between February and April. Fall cleanups are booked now, in October.
Want the lawn watered for you? See sprinkler systems in Hamilton and what water really costs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does lawn mowing cost in Hamilton?
About $45 to $75 a cut for a small lot and $60 to $110 for a typical suburban lot on a season contract, or $1,300 to $2,800 for a full season of 26 to 28 cuts. Large lots in Ancaster and Flamborough run $110 to $210 a cut.
How long can grass be in Hamilton?
21 cm on urban lots of 0.4 ha or less, under the Yard Maintenance By-law as amended in 2025. The City can cut an overgrown lawn after an order and add the cost to your taxes.
Does Hamilton pick up grass clippings?
Yes, with weekly leaf and yard waste, in paper bags or stickered rigid containers. Grass is not accepted in the green bin.
Does Hamilton have loose leaf collection?
No. Leaves go out in paper yard waste bags or stickered containers on your weekly pickup day, or to a Community Recycling Centre for free.
When should lawns be aerated in Hamilton?
Late August to late September, ideally followed by overseeding. Hamilton clay compacts easily, so most lawns benefit from aeration every year or two.
Can a lawn company spray weeds in Hamilton?
Only with products on Ontario's Allowable List, such as iron-based weed killers, and only with an Ontario exterminator licence in the Landscape class. 2,4-D and glyphosate are banned for cosmetic use.
When do lawn care contracts start?
Mowing starts in late April and runs to early November. Most people sign between February and April so they get a fixed weekly day.