Fall cleanups and spring yard cleanups in Markham

A yard cleanup usually comes up twice a year. In the fall the leaves are down and the beds look scruffy. In spring the yard is full of soggy leaves, broken stems and the first weeds.

Fall and spring cleanups cover much the same work. Either one makes sense when raking alone won’t fix the yard: a lot under a big maple or two, a yard that got away from you over the summer, or a house you’ve just moved into.

A fall cleanup works through the leaves, the beds, the shrubs, the edges and the hard surfaces, in that order. A spring cleanup follows the same steps:

1. Leaves come off the lawn, walkways, driveway and interlock first, so we can see what we’re working with.
2. In the beds, leaves, dead annuals, fallen branches and weeds come out, and finished perennials get cut back.
3. Shrubs that have grown over a walkway or window get trimmed back.
4. We cut a clean edge where the beds meet the lawn.
5. If you want it, fresh mulch goes on the beds. It slows weed seeds from sprouting, and in spring it goes down once the soil has warmed, since mulch on cold soil keeps it cold longer. Our guide to mulch covers depth.
6. Weeds between pavers get cleared. If the joint sand has washed out, new polymeric sand is the longer-term fix.
7. Last, we sweep the hard surfaces so nothing gets tracked into the house.

Book a fall cleanup once most of the leaves are down, usually late October into November around Markham. Book a spring cleanup once the lawn is firm enough to walk on without leaving footprints, often in April.

Scroll sideways to see the whole table.

The City of Markham collects yard material every other week from April 7 to October 30 in 2026. After the last pickup, the city lists the Bloomington compost facility in Richmond Hill as a drop-off.

In spring, UConn Extension notes that wet soil compacts far more easily than dry soil and is hard to fix afterwards. Waiting a week beats rushing it.

The price comes down to how much work and material the yard holds, so we quote after seeing it. Lot size matters, and so does how much of it is beds rather than open lawn.

Trees make the biggest difference. A lot under mature maples or oaks is a different job from a newer subdivision yard with one young tree.

Time matters too: a bed cleaned last fall is far quicker than one overgrown for two summers. Extras like shrub trimming, mulch or weeding interlock joints add time, and so does a lot of material to carry out of a backyard with tight access.

Mow over light leaf fall with a mulching mower instead of letting it pile up. Virginia Tech’s extension service, citing Michigan State University research, says up to about 15 cm (6 inches) of leaves can be mulched into the lawn at a time, depending on the mower. The research also found fewer dandelions and less crabgrass.

Top up the mulch when it looks thin, and pull weeds while they’re small. Our guide to fall lawn care in Ontario covers overseeding and the rest of the lawn side.

A small yard with a rake, a mulching mower and a free afternoon doesn’t need us. Hiring makes sense for a big leaf load, neglected beds, a lot of bagging, or not having the time or the back for it.

If you’d like to do some of it yourself, our checklists for a fall cleanup and a spring cleanup go step by step.

We work across Markham and nearby, including Richmond Hill, Stouffville and Thornhill.

Our weed treatment and clean-up project shows a garden bed along a fence before and after. The sod, edging and mulch project shows what an overgrown side yard can become.

The quickest way to start is to text a few photos of the yard to (437) 684-2535 with your street or postal code. We’ll set up a time to come by and give you a free quote.

• The lawn is covered in a thick layer of wet leaves
• Garden beds are hidden under weeds and long grass
• Leaves and debris have piled up along fences and in corners
• Shrubs are crowding walkways or windows
• Weeds are coming up between the pavers
• The yard looks tired after winter and you're not sure where to start