Cedar hedges are everywhere in Hamilton, from the Mountain subdivisions to Ancaster and Waterdown. Most were planted for privacy and then left to grow until they are too tall to reach, too wide for the yard or brown at the bottom. Here is what trimming costs, when to do it, and the City rule most people only hear about after a complaint.
2026 hedge trimming prices in Hamilton
| Job | Typical 2026 price |
|---|---|
| Cedar hedge shaping, sides and top, clippings hauled | $18 - $32 per linear metre |
| Shrub pruning (boxwood, yew, spirea, hydrangea and similar) | $45 - $120 per shrub |
| Lowering an overgrown hedge, or tying and wrapping for winter | Quoted on site |
We measure the hedge along its length. Price depends on height, since anything over about 2.5 m needs staging or a lift, on how overgrown it is, and on whether both faces are reachable. A hedge trimmed every year stays at the low end. A hedge skipped for three or four years takes much longer, because the new growth is thicker and the clippings fill a truck. Doing your neighbour's side at the same time, with their agreement, is usually cheaper for both of you.
The corner and front-yard height rule
This is the rule that catches Hamilton homeowners. Under the City's Zoning By-law 05-200, a hedge or row of shrubs planted to act as a fence counts as a fence when it sits in a corner visibility triangle, a driveway visibility triangle, or within 3.0 m of a street line. Fences in those spots are limited to 0.9 m (about 3 ft).
- Corner visibility triangle: on a corner lot, measure 5.4 m along each street line from the corner and join the two points. Anything inside that triangle should stay under 0.9 m so drivers can see around the corner.
- Driveway visibility triangle: the small triangles either side of where your driveway meets the sidewalk or road. A tall hedge there hides children and cyclists from cars backing out.
- Within 3.0 m of the street line: a hedge right along the front of the property is held to the same 0.9 m.
Remember that the street line is often well inside the sidewalk, sometimes several metres into what looks like your lawn. If a hedge in one of these spots is well over 0.9 m, we can bring it down in stages so it does not die back to bare stems, or move the tall section further back. If you are not sure where your lot line is, check your survey or ask the City before planting a new hedge out front.
When to trim cedars and other hedges
- Cedar (white cedar, Emerald and Brandon): the main trim is late May to June, after the spring growth has flushed. A light second trim in late August keeps it tidy. Avoid hard trimming in late fall, as fresh cuts going into winter are more prone to browning.
- Yew: very forgiving. Trim in early summer. Yew will regrow from old wood, so it can be cut back hard when needed.
- Privet, dogwood and burning bush: trim after the spring flush and again mid-summer.
- Boxwood: trim lightly in early summer. Check for box tree moth caterpillars and webbing on the inside of the plant; the Canadian Food Inspection Agency lists Ontario as an area infested with it.
- Lilac and forsythia: trim right after flowering, or you lose next spring's flowers.
Spring and summer trimming is also nesting season. Under the federal nesting period guidance, nesting in southern Ontario runs from about early April to late August, and dense hedges are among birds' favourite nest sites. We check for active nests before trimming and leave the section around an active nest until the young have left.
Why cedar hedges go bare and brown
Cedar only grows new foliage from green growth. Cut back past the green into brown wood and that patch will never fill in. That is why you cannot simply chop an old cedar hedge back to half its width. The answer is to shape it slightly narrower at the top than the bottom, so light reaches the lower branches. A hedge cut wider at the top shades its own base, and the bottom goes thin and bare within a few years.
Brown patches can also come from winter salt spray along busy Hamilton roads, from dogs, from snow piled from the driveway, or from drought in late summer. A healthy cedar hedge on clay needs a deep watering every week or so in a dry August.
Getting a hedge ready for winter
November is the time to protect cedars, especially on the Mountain and along the escarpment, where heavy wet snow and wind are common. Tall, narrow cedars splay open under snow load and often never close back up. Tying the tops loosely with soft twine or tree tie, and wrapping hedges along the road with burlap on stakes, prevents most of the damage. Do not wrap tightly in plastic, because cedars need air. If you would like it done, ask us to quote tying and wrapping with a fall cleanup.
Lowering a hedge that has got away
A cedar hedge that has reached 4 or 5 m can usually be cut down in height, because the top is the youngest wood. Take the top down to the height you want, then keep the new top flat and narrow. The sides are the problem. Cutting them in hard leaves bare brown faces. We take height down in one visit and narrow the sides gradually over two or three seasons, which keeps the hedge green. If the bottom is already bare, sometimes the honest answer is to replant. Our privacy hedge guide covers the best replacements.
Hedges on the property line
If the hedge runs along the line, the plants may be partly your neighbour's. Under Ontario's Forestry Act, trees growing on a boundary are owned by both neighbours, and injuring one without consent is an offence. A cedar hedge planted on the line is usually treated the same way. Trim your own side and the top only with your neighbour's agreement, and do not cut so hard that the plants die. Often the easiest fix is to agree to have both sides done at once.
Where we trim hedges in Hamilton
The Mountain, the lower city, Westdale, Ancaster, Dundas, Stoney Creek, Waterdown, Binbrook and Mount Hope. If a tree is shading your hedge, see Hamilton tree trimming.
Frequently asked questions
How much does hedge trimming cost in Hamilton?
About $18 to $32 per linear metre for a cedar hedge, with cleanup. A 20 m hedge is roughly $360 to $640. Shrubs are $45 to $120 each.
How tall can a hedge be in Hamilton?
Within a corner or driveway visibility triangle, or 3 m of the street line, a hedge used as a fence is treated as one and limited to 0.9 m. Elsewhere, height is not usually restricted.
When should cedar hedges be trimmed?
Late May to June for the main trim, with a light trim in late August. Avoid hard cuts in late fall.
Can a cedar hedge be cut back hard?
The top can be lowered, but cutting the sides back into brown wood leaves bare patches that never regrow. Narrow the sides over two or three seasons.
Can I trim a hedge during nesting season?
Yes, but check for active nests first and leave any section with one until the young have gone. Nesting runs from about April to late August.
How do I protect cedars in winter?
Tie tall cedars loosely so snow does not splay them, and wrap hedges along the road with burlap on stakes against salt spray.