Landscaping in Markham, neighbourhood by neighbourhood

We’re based in Markham, Ontario, so landscaping in Markham is the work closest to home for us. The city has two very different kinds of yard. Older homes have mature trees and interlock that has been through decades of winters. Newer subdivisions have small yards and a lawn the builder put down. Each needs different work, and the City has rules on trees, fences, watering and heritage districts that are worth knowing before anyone starts digging.

What does landscaping in Markham usually involve?

It depends mostly on how old the house is. In established parts of the city, like Unionville, Markham Village and the Markham side of Thornhill, the work is about catching up on age:

• Driveways and walkways laid years ago often have dips where water sits, a few rocking pavers and joints full of weeds and moss. Most of that can be fixed without replacing the whole surface. See interlock repair, polymeric sand and weed removal and our guide on why interlock sinks.
• Cedar hedges and foundation shrubs that haven’t been cut back in a while need a careful trim to get them back into shape. See hedge and bush trimming.
• Mature trees mean heavy leaf drop. A thick layer of leaves left on the grass over winter raises the risk of snow mould, which shows up in spring as matted, crusty patches. A fall cleanup before the last yard waste pickup deals with it.
• Decks and fences go grey once their finish wears off, and without upkeep the boards check, crack and grow mildew. Washing and a fresh coat slows that down. See deck staining and waterproofing and deck and fence repair.

In newer areas such as Cornell, Cathedraltown and the newer parts of Berczy Village, the problems are different:

• Builder sod doesn’t always take. Where the topsoil under it is thin or the ground is compacted, it thins out, browns in summer or never knits. Sometimes patches will do. Sometimes it needs new sod over better soil.
• Many front gardens start with a few shrubs and some stone or mulch. A planted, mulched garden bed makes a small front yard look finished.
• Narrow side yards often get interlock paths, which can settle where the ground beside the house was backfilled.

Regular lawn care fits both kinds of yard.

What Markham rules affect yard work?

Five City of Markham rules come up again and again. This table sums them up. The City’s own pages, linked below, are the final word.

Scroll sideways to see the whole table.

Leaf and yard waste pickup

The City lists yard material collection every other week from April 7 to October 30 in 2026. Plastic bags aren’t accepted. Branches go in bundles less than 1.2 m long, with no branch thicker than 15 cm.

Put material out by 7 a.m. on collection day, and no earlier than the night before. Grass clippings aren’t collected, so leave them on the lawn. The City also suggests mulching leaves with the mower and leaving them there.

Book a fall cleanup early enough that the bags can go out before the last pickup. Our fall cleanup checklist has the timing. If you miss it, the City lists the Richmond Hill (Bloomington) Compost Facility at 1351 Bloomington Rd. E. as a drop-off.

Trees

Markham’s Tree Preservation By-law (2023-164) requires a permit before injuring or removing a private tree with a trunk 20 cm (about 8 inches) across or more, measured 1.37 m above the ground. That applies even if the tree is dead or leaning.

The by-law counts root damage as injury, so ask the City before heavy digging next to a large tree. Pruning branches for maintenance, done to good arboricultural practice, isn’t injury. The City lists a $20.50 processing fee per application.

Fences

The City’s fence rules allow up to 1.2 m (4 feet) in the front yard and up to 1.8 m (6 feet) along the side and rear property lines. On a corner lot, the side facing the street is limited to 1.2 m. Check the height before you replace a fence. Our guide to fence height rules in Markham and Toronto covers pool fences and shared fences too.

Watering

From June 1 to September 30, Markham’s water use by-law (2019-53) allows lawn watering from 6 to 9 a.m. or from 6 to 9 p.m. (not both). Even-numbered addresses water on even days, odd-numbered ones on odd days. New sod is exempt for two months after it’s laid.

That exemption matters, because Iowa State University Extension advises watering new sod every morning for the first 7–10 days, plus an afternoon watering in hot weather. Our guide on watering new sod goes week by week.

Heritage conservation districts

Markham has four heritage conservation districts, covering the old village areas of Unionville, Markham Village, Thornhill and Buttonville. They don’t take in the whole of those neighbourhoods, and the City has a map of each district so you can check your street.

The City’s heritage permit page lists new or changed driveways, front yard patios and walkways, and new or different fences as work that needs a permit there. Planting, general repairs to existing fences, and backyard patios that can’t be seen from the street don’t. Talk to the City before booking a new driveway or front walk.

How much does landscaping cost in Markham?

There’s no single figure, but published rates give you a starting point. Landscape Ontario’s 2022 charge-out rate survey lists $55 to $90 an hour for a landscape labourer and $75 to $110 for a technician. HomeStars’ Toronto cost guide, updated August 2026, says basic projects on small yards can start around $2,000.

Those are published GTA ranges, not our prices. Our guide to what landscaping costs in Markham breaks them down job by job.

How do I get a landscaping quote in Markham?

Text us your street or postal code and a couple of photos at (437) 684-2535, or use the form below, and we’ll book a free visit to look at the job.

One thing to mention up front: if the house is in the Unionville, Markham Village, Thornhill or Buttonville heritage district and the job changes the driveway, a front walk or a fence, the heritage permit has to come before the work. Planting, cleanups and repairs to an existing fence don’t need one.

Just over the city line, we also work in Thornhill, Richmond Hill, Stouffville, Pickering and the other areas we cover.