Local service guide
Lawn mowing in Quebec City: hiring and autumn care
For lawn mowing in Quebec City, ask for a written quote that specifies the areas to cut, trimming, clipping handling, weather delays and autumn leaf work. Request an 8 cm maintenance height and agree on the final cut before winter, for which the City recommends 5 cm. Choose a provider who explains how they will manage leaves and skipped visits before you commit to a seasonal plan. [1]
Get quotes for the same mowing work
Send each provider the same photos and description: front and rear lawns, gate opening, slopes, steps, trees, garden edges and any areas you want left untouched. Identify the access route and where the crew can place equipment. Ask whether they need a site visit before giving a firm price.
Have the provider list mowing, trimming around obstacles, edging and cleanup as separate inclusions or exclusions. Specify whether they will mulch clippings, bag them or take them away. Ask for a separate first-visit price if you need an overgrown lawn cut or accumulated leaves handled.
The available municipal guidance does not establish a local mowing price. Compare property-specific quotes rather than using a citywide estimate. For a seasonal agreement, request the service dates, included visits, taxes, extra-work charges and cancellation terms. For per-visit billing, confirm whether the provider charges anything when you agree to skip a cut.
Choose cutting height and visits around conditions
Ask the crew to maintain grass at about 8 cm and leave the clippings on the lawn. The City calls this practice herbicyclage and recommends it to help retain soil moisture. Include the cutting height in your agreement so the crew has a clear instruction. [1] [4]
Agree on how you will approve changes to the mowing schedule. The City advises avoiding mowing during heat waves. Ask who will notify you, when the crew will return and how the provider handles payment for a postponed or skipped visit. [4]
Use the airport temperature chart as seasonal context when discussing the start and end of service. It shows historical monthly averages, not current lawn conditions or a required mowing calendar. Ask the provider to assess growth and ground conditions before promising a fixed final visit. [5]
Specify the autumn work before the final visit
For an October booking, tell the provider whether you want mowing, leaf mulching, bagging or removal. The City recommends mowing leaf-covered lawns once or twice a week, increasing the frequency when leaves accumulate, and working when leaves are dry. It recommends shredding leaves into pieces of 1 to 2 cm. [1]
Ask whether the quoted leaf work includes another pass over pieces the mower misses. The City recommends a mulching mower, or a second pass when a standard mower leaves poorly cut leaves. Confirm who decides whether the amount of leaves calls for collection instead of mulching. [1]
Keep the winter preparation instruction distinct from routine maintenance. The City recommends an 8 cm cutting height during leaf mulching, then 5 cm before winter. Ask the provider to identify which visit includes that final cut and whether later leaf work carries an extra charge. [1]
Screen treatment add-ons and protect your property
Keep weed and pest treatments separate from the mowing agreement unless you want them. Under the City's pesticide guidance, businesses offering pesticide applications need an annual municipal registration certificate. Businesses that do not use pesticides do not need to appear on the City's registration list. [3]
If a provider proposes treatment, ask for the diagnosis, product name and current municipal registration. The City restricts pesticide use to biopesticides, products in Annex II of Québec's pesticide management code and exceptional cases. Do not accept an unspecified weed-treatment package. [3]
Ask for proof of liability insurance and agree on how to report damage. Before the crew arrives, remove toys and pet waste, identify sprinkler heads and mark plants you want protected. Arrange gate access and keep pets indoors during the visit. Request notice before the provider adds work or charges.
Historical monthly temperatures for seasonal mowing planning
Local details that affect your job
Arrange bags around the 2026 autumn collection
The City's autumn collection runs October 5 through November 14, 2026. Put leaf bags at the street edge on your property on Sunday; the City says crews collect them during the following two weeks. Use paper bags designed for leaves, keep each bag at or below 12 kg and exclude branches. Ask whether your provider supplies bags and places them out, or leaves that task to you. Keep bags clear of the public way; where the sidewalk is the only deposit location, the City requires placement near the building without blocking pedestrians. [2]
Vieux-Québec needs a different leaf plan
The City no longer offers leaf collection in Vieux-Québec. If mulching does not handle your leaves, the City suggests home or community composting. For a property in that sector, agree on composting or provider removal before booking bagging. Ask the provider where they will take material and whether disposal forms part of the quoted price. [2]
Do not rely on summer garbage for clippings
The City listed no seasonal leaf collection from May 25 through October 4, 2026. Its guidance permits composting or garbage disposal for gardening residues and hedge trimmings outside collection periods, but excludes grass from that garbage option. For next season's contract, specify mulching or an agreed disposal route and check the new collection schedule when the City publishes it. [2]
Check watering before adding it to maintenance
The City limits lawn watering to one day per week, with permitted periods depending on the address and watering method. Its watering page directs residents to Info-Eau for their schedule. If you want the provider to water after a visit, check your address-specific period first and give the crew that instruction. [4]
Choose the service scope for your lawn
| Your situation | Service to request | Confirm before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Routine mowing | Mowing with clippings left on the lawn | An 8 cm maintenance height, trimming and cleanup |
| Leaf-covered lawn | Leaf mulching, with another pass if needed | Whether the crew can shred leaves into 1 to 2 cm pieces |
| Leaves to bag during autumn collection | Bagging and agreed placement | Paper leaf bags, a 12 kg maximum per bag and who sets them out |
| Property in Vieux-Québec | Mulching, composting or agreed removal | A disposal plan because the City does not offer leaf collection there |
| Mowing with pesticide treatment | Separate treatment proposal | Diagnosis, product name and annual municipal registration |
Your hiring checklist
- Send matching property photos and access details to each provider.
- Request written inclusions for mowing, trimming, edging and cleanup.
- Specify the maintenance height and how the crew will handle clippings.
- Agree on notification, rescheduling and billing for skipped visits.
- Separate autumn leaf work and the final winter cut in the quote.
- Confirm who supplies leaf bags, places them out or removes material.
- Check insurance and agree on damage reporting and approval of extras.
- Clear loose objects, mark sprinkler heads and arrange gate access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I ask the mower to bag the grass?
Request mulching with clippings left on the lawn unless you have agreed on another handling method. The City recommends herbicyclage and an 8 cm grass height to help preserve moisture. Ask the provider to explain any proposed bagging and its disposal cost. [1]
Can I put leaf bags out after an October mowing visit?
During the 2026 autumn collection period, October 5 through November 14, the City instructs residents to set bags out on Sunday for collection during the following two weeks. Use paper leaf bags weighing no more than 12 kg. Vieux-Québec has no leaf collection. [2]
Does a mowing provider need to be on the City's pesticide list?
The City says businesses that do not use pesticides do not need municipal pesticide registration. If you add pesticide applications, ask for the company's annual registration certificate and details of the proposed product. [3]
How do I compare a seasonal plan with per-visit mowing?
Ask both providers to quote the same areas, cutting instructions and cleanup. For a seasonal plan, confirm included visits, weather adjustments and autumn work. For per-visit service, confirm the visit price and extras. Compare the written scope and payment terms before choosing.
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.