Lawn care is the one landscaping service most homeowners buy on price alone, which is exactly why the quotes come back so far apart. A $38 cut and a $95 cut are not the same service. This guide separates what you are actually buying at each price point in the Hamilton and Halton market in 2026.
Mowing: per cut and per season
| Lot size | Approximate lawn area | Per cut | Season (26 – 28 cuts) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small / townhouse | Under 2,000 sqft | $45 – $75 | $1,300 – $1,900 |
| Standard suburban | 2,000 – 5,000 sqft | $60 – $110 | $1,700 – $2,800 |
| Large lot | 5,000 – 12,000 sqft | $110 – $210 | $2,900 – $5,200 |
| Estate / acreage | 12,000 sqft + | $210 + | Quoted per property |
| One-off cut (no contract) | Any | Add 30% – 60% | n/a |
A proper cut is mow, string trim every edge, blow all hard surfaces clean and haul nothing away because the clippings are mulched back in. If a quote is materially below the bottom of these ranges, the usual reason is that trimming and blowing are extra, or that the crew is running a 30 day route so your grass is 6 inches high every second visit.
Why the season is 26 to 28 cuts, not 20
The Ontario mowing season runs roughly from the third week of April to the last week of October. That is about 28 weeks. Most contracts are written weekly through the flush growth of May and June, then the good ones drop to every 10 to 14 days through the July and August heat when the lawn slows. Beware any contract that bills 28 fixed weekly visits regardless of growth: you will pay in August for cuts your lawn did not need.
Full-service maintenance packages
| Package | What is included | Season cost (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Mow only | Mow, trim, blow | $1,300 – $2,800 |
| Mow plus | Above, plus spring and fall cleanup | $1,900 – $3,900 |
| Full service | Above, plus bed weeding, mulch top-up, shrub pruning, fertilizer program | $2,600 – $5,800 |
| Full service plus snow | Above, plus seasonal driveway snow contract | $3,500 – $8,400 |
The jump from mow-only to full service is where most of the visible difference in a property comes from. Mowing keeps the lawn short. Bed edges, mulch and pruning are what make a yard look maintained.
Individual services, priced separately
| Service | 2026 cost | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Spring cleanup | $280 – $650 | Mid April to early May |
| Fall cleanup (leaf removal) | $320 – $850 | Late October to mid November |
| Core aeration | $130 – $280 | Late August to late September |
| Overseeding after aeration | $190 – $480 | Same visit as aeration |
| Top dressing with compost | $350 – $900 | With aeration and overseed |
| Fertilizer program, 5 applications | $380 – $750 | April through October |
| Nematode grub application | $220 – $480 | Late July to mid August |
| Bed weeding, per visit | $90 – $240 | Monthly through the season |
| Mulch supply and install, per cubic yard | $85 – $135 | May, or September |
| Shrub and hedge pruning, per hour | $75 – $120 | June, and again in September |
| Garden bed edging, per linear foot | $2.50 – $5.00 | Spring |
| Lawn repair, per patch | $120 – $400 | Spring or early fall |
Weed control in Ontario: what is actually allowed
Ontario's cosmetic pesticide restrictions mean the products that used to make lawn weed control simple are not available for turf here. Licensed applicators in this province are limited to lower-risk and permitted products, most commonly iron-based FeHEDTA herbicides for broadleaf weeds, corn gluten meal as a pre-emergent, and horticultural vinegar for hard-surface cracks.
Two practical consequences. First, expect the product to need repeat applications rather than a single knockdown. Second, be sceptical of any company promising a weed-free lawn in one visit. In Ontario the realistic path to a weed-free lawn is a dense, healthy, properly fertilized turf that crowds weeds out, supported by spot treatment. That is a two-season project, not a one-application fix.
Anyone applying a permitted product commercially needs an exterminator licence. Ask to see it.
What drives your price up or down
- Gate width. A 36 inch gate forces a push mower on what would otherwise be a 15 minute ride-on job. This is the single most common reason a quote comes back higher than a neighbour's.
- Obstacles. Trampolines, play structures, dog runs, ornamental beds and tree rings all add trimming time. A lawn with nine tree rings takes twice as long as an open rectangle of the same area.
- Slope. Escarpment-side properties in Ancaster, Dundas and Stoney Creek often have a bank that cannot be ridden and has to be cut on foot or with a line trimmer.
- Route density. If a company already services three houses on your street, your price is genuinely lower. Drive time is real cost.
- Contract length. A full-season contract is always cheaper per visit than on-call service, usually by 30% to 60%.
- Dog waste. Many companies now charge $10 to $20 per visit, or skip the section, if the yard is not cleared beforehand.
Is a lawn service worth it against doing it yourself?
The honest arithmetic. Buying in: a decent push mower is $400 to $900, a string trimmer $180 to $400, a blower $150 to $350, a spreader $60 to $120. Call it $900 to $1,700 for the kit, replaced roughly every 7 to 10 years. Running costs are $60 to $150 a year in fuel or charging plus $350 to $600 a year in fertilizer, seed and product if you do the full program yourself.
Annualised, DIY lands around $600 to $900 a year against $1,700 to $2,800 for a mow-only contract. The service costs more in money and saves roughly 45 to 70 hours a season.
Where hiring wins clearly is the work that needs equipment you will not buy: core aeration, large-volume mulch delivery and spreading, and full leaf removal in November. Many homeowners land on the sensible middle: mow it yourself, and buy the spring cleanup, the aeration and overseed, and the fall leaf removal as three separate visits for around $800 to $1,900 a year total.
How to read a lawn care quote
- Visit count, in writing. Not “weekly as needed”. A number.
- Cutting height. The right answer in Ontario is 3 to 3.5 inches. A company that cuts at 2 inches is why your lawn browns in July.
- Clippings. Mulched back in is correct and free. Bagging and hauling is a real cost and should be priced.
- What cleanup includes. Beds as well as lawn? Under the deck? Is hauling included or is there a disposal charge?
- Fertilizer product and rate. Granular slow release, with the analysis stated. Five applications is a program. Two is a top-up.
- Who fixes scalping and rut damage. It should say so.
- Rain policy. What happens to a missed week, and are you billed for it.
- WSIB and liability, same as any trade working on your property.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to cut grass in Ontario?
Between $45 and $75 per cut for a small lot, $60 to $110 for a standard suburban lot and $110 to $210 for a large lot, assuming a full-season contract. One-off cuts run 30% to 60% higher because the trip cannot be spread across a route.
How many times will my lawn be cut in a season?
Twenty-six to twenty-eight visits across roughly late April to late October. Weekly in May and June, stretching to every 10 to 14 days during the July and August slowdown, then back to weekly through the September flush.
Is a lawn fertilizer program worth the money?
It is the highest-return line item in lawn care. A properly fed lawn at the correct cutting height crowds out most weeds on its own, which matters a great deal in Ontario where strong herbicides are not available for turf. Budget $380 to $750 for five applications.
When should I aerate and overseed in Ontario?
Late August to late September, in that order and on the same visit. Soil is still warm enough for fast germination and the fall rains do the watering for you. Spring aeration is a distant second choice because it opens the soil right as crabgrass is germinating.
Why is my neighbour paying less than me?
Usually gate width, lot obstacles, slope or route density. A back yard reachable only through a 36 inch gate has to be cut with a push mower, which can double the labour time against an identical lawn with a double gate.
Do lawn companies charge for missed weeks from rain?
Reputable ones do not. The visit moves to the next dry day and you are billed for work performed. If a contract bills a flat monthly amount regardless of visits, ask in writing what happens in a wet month.
What is the cheapest way to keep a lawn looking good?
Mow it yourself at 3 to 3.5 inches, mulch the clippings back in, and buy three things: a spring cleanup, an aeration with overseeding in early September, and a fall leaf removal. That combination is typically $800 to $1,900 a year and gets you most of the visible benefit of a full contract.