What Affects Hedge Trimming Cost? (And Why There's No Price List)

Hedge trimming cost depends on how much hedge you have and how hard it is to cut. The big drivers are the total length, the height, how overgrown it is, how many times a year you trim, how easy it is to reach, and how the clippings get cleaned up. That's why we don't post one price for every hedge in Canada. We look at your yard and text you a real number.

Why isn't there a set price for hedge trimming?

Hedges are all over the map. One yard has three small shrubs by the front step. The next has a cedar wall along the whole back fence.

A flat price would be wrong for both. The small job would pay too much. The big job would get rushed, or come with a surprise at the end.

So we price each yard on its own. We measure your property from satellite images. Then we text your price within 60 minutes, from 7am to 8pm. Nobody needs to visit, and you don't need to be home. Our page on how the 60-minute satellite price works explains the steps.

Here's what moves the number up or down.

Does the length of your hedge change the cost?

Yes. Length is the first thing that sets the price. Every metre of hedge has a top and two sides to cut. A long row along a property line takes far more time than a few shrubs.

Satellite images show this well from above. They show:

• How long each hedge row runs
• How many separate hedges and shrubs you have
• Whether a hedge wraps around a corner or a whole yard
• Whether both sides face your yard, or one side faces a neighbour

That last one matters. If one side of the hedge sits on your neighbour's land, your crew may only trim your side and the top. Less surface means less time.

How much does hedge height matter?

A lot. Height is where hedge jobs get slow.

A waist-high hedge can be trimmed from the ground in long, easy passes. A head-high hedge needs more reach. Past that, your crew needs a step ladder. They climb up, trim a section, climb down and move the ladder. Then they do it again, every few metres.

Tall hedges have more side to cut too. A hedge twice as tall has about twice the side surface.

How tall can a hedge get?

Taller than most people expect. The Ontario government says eastern white cedar can reach 15 metres (about 49 feet) high. It's slow-growing, which is why it makes a good hedge. But left alone for years, it keeps climbing.

Our partner crews trim what they can reach from the ground or a short step ladder. That covers most home hedges. If yours needs a bucket truck or an arborist, we'll tell you plainly instead of quoting it.

Does an overgrown hedge cost more to trim?

Yes. A hedge trimmed every season only needs its new growth taken off. A hedge left for years has thick, woody growth that's slower to cut. It also makes a much bigger pile of clippings.

Overgrown cedars need a careful hand. Penn State Extension says that, except for yews, cutting back to brown wood won't make that branch grow again. So your crew can't just chop an overgrown hedge back to the size you want. Cut too deep and you get brown holes that stay.

The University of Arkansas Extension says to try not to remove more than one third of the plant when pruning. For a big height cut on arborvitae (cedar), the University of Maine Extension suggests spreading it over 2 to 3 years. The top won't regrow once it's removed, and taking too much at once can leave dead spots.

So a badly overgrown hedge is often a few seasons of work, not one visit. Each trim costs less than one giant cut would, and the hedge stays green.

How often should a hedge be trimmed?

Iowa State University Extension says most hedges need pruning 2 to 4 times during the growing season, and possibly more. Fast growers sit at the high end. Slow cedars can sit at the low end.

More visits cost more in a year. But each visit is lighter and faster, because there's less growth to take off. A hedge kept on a schedule also never gets to the overgrown stage.

Many people pick one of these plans:

• Once a season: fine for slow cedars and small shrubs.
• Twice a season: a main trim in early spring, then a light tidy in mid-summer.
• More often: for fast-growing hedges, or formal hedges you want sharp all year.

Does the time of year change the price?

Timing changes the work more than the price. For evergreens, Iowa State says to prune in early spring before new growth begins, with light pruning in mid-summer. It also says to avoid pruning evergreen shrubs in the fall, because fall-pruned evergreens get more winter injury.

So if you're reading this in October, the best move is to book your spring trim now. Our post on when to trim cedar hedges covers the timing in more detail.

Do bird nests affect the job?

They can. Environment and Climate Change Canada says the general nesting period can start as early as mid-March and run to late August. Under federal rules, a migratory bird nest is protected when it holds a live bird or a viable egg.

Your crew checks the hedge before the trimmer starts. If they find an active nest, they leave that section for later. That can mean a short second visit to finish the job.

Do access and obstacles change the cost?

Yes. Anything that slows your crew down changes the price.

• Narrow side yards. A hedge squeezed against a house or fence is slow to reach.
• Beds in front of the hedge. Your crew has to step around plants and set the ladder with care.
• Slopes. A hedge on a bank is harder to trim straight and to set a ladder beside.
• Fences, wires and windows. Cutting close to these takes extra time and care.
• Locked gates and dogs. If no one can get in, the back hedge can't get done that day.

Satellite images show slopes and beds. They can't show a hedge's height or a locked gate. If your hedge is tall, overgrown or hard to reach, tell us when we text your price so it fits your yard.

What about shape and cleanup?

Does the shape of the hedge matter?

A plain, boxy hedge is quicker than a formal shape with curves. A good hedge is also cut a bit wider at the bottom than the top. Penn State and Iowa State both say this shape lets sunlight reach the lower branches, so the hedge stays full from top to bottom. That taper takes a little more care than flat sides, and it's worth it.

Who cleans up the clippings?

Your crew does. Clippings get raked off the lawn, beds and walk. Then they're bagged for your city's yard waste pickup or hauled away. Haul-away uses truck space and a trip to a drop-off site, so it adds to the price. A big hedge makes a lot of clippings, so this part can add up.

How can you keep hedge trimming costs down?

• Trim on a schedule so the hedge never gets overgrown.
• Book the hedge with your mowing, so the same crew does both on one visit.
• Move patio furniture, pots and toys away from the hedge line.
• Leave the gate open and keep pets inside on trim day.
• Pair a spring hedge trim with a spring cleanup.

See every service our partner crews offer on the lawn care page. They stick to maintenance, so they don't remove trees, grind stumps or spray for bugs.

Who trims the hedge when you book with Golden Oak?

Golden Oak Lawn Care matches you with a vetted, insured local crew in your city. They do the work. We stand behind it with the Golden Oak Guarantee. You can add hedge and shrub trimming to the Worry-Free Lawn Season, so the same crew mows and trims all year. Your crew texts you a photo when the job is done. The season is paid up front, and your first cut is free when you book it. See how it works in three steps.

Want it handled? Get your price in 60 minutes, or call 1-866-904-LAWN.

Hedge Trimming Cost Questions

Sources: Iowa State formal hedges, Iowa State pruning times, Penn State needled evergreens, University of Arkansas arborvitae, University of Maine arborvitae hedges, Ontario eastern white cedar, Canada nesting periods, Migratory Birds Regulations FAQ.