Escarpment Contracting
Lawn care & grass cutting
Grass cutting for a managed residential property — a fenced backyard with an above-ground pool, cut and striped.
Tree trimming, hedges and tree removal in St. Catharines.
Branches off the roof, hedges back in shape, and trees taken down when they need to go — on private property across St. Catharines, with the brush hauled away.
St. Catharines has lost a lot of canopy to emerald ash borer, and the trees that are left are mostly in back yards. That makes the private trees more valuable, and it makes the dead ash still standing in some yards a real hazard.
Tree & hedge trimming, tree removal in St. Catharines
Boulevard or back yard?
The tree on the strip between the sidewalk and the road belongs to the City, and By-law 2017-326 doesn't allow owners to trim it — call the City instead. Anything on your side of the property line is yours to maintain, and that's the work we quote.
Ash borer left its mark
A 2017 City report put St. Catharines' canopy at 14–16%, about two points lower than in 2011, almost entirely because of emerald ash borer. Standing dead ash turns brittle; limbs over a roof or driveway are worth taking down before a windstorm does it.
Two-thirds of the trees are private
The same report found more than 66% of the city's trees are on private property. There's no private tree by-law in St. Catharines as of that report, so pruning your own trees doesn't need a permit — but check with the City before removing anything large, in case the rules have changed.
Where we cover
Every part of St. Catharines.
- Hedges trimmed and shaped
- Tree removal, with the wood and brush taken away
- Branches cut back from the roof, eavestroughs and siding
- Overhanging limbs cleared over driveways, walkways and fences
- Low branches lifted so you can mow and walk underneath
- Dead and broken branches taken out
- Brush and cuttings hauled away
- Booked on its own or with a seasonal cleanup
Recent work in St. Catharines
Spring & fall cleanups
A fall property cleanup: the front lawn raked clear under a big maple and the leaves gathered into one row.
Tree & hedge trimming, tree removal in St. Catharines: questions
The City tree's branches hang over my roof. Can you cut them back?
Not without the City. A City tree's branches are still the City's tree, and By-law 2017-326 doesn't let owners trim them. Ask the City for a pruning request; the rest of your yard, we can quote.
Will the Region pick up the branches if I trim them myself?
Only bundled branches, and only for four weeks in spring and four in fall, and never stumps or large limbs. After a proper St. Catharines trimming or removal, the wood and brush leave with us instead.
Is it safe to take a dead ash down myself?
Rarely. Dead ash dries out and gets brittle, and limbs can let go without warning when they're cut. Near a house, a fence or a driveway, it's a job for a crew with the right gear.
Can I trim the City tree in front of my house in St. Catharines?
No. Boulevard trees are City property under By-law 2017-326. Report a problem to the City and they'll handle it.
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in my own yard?
St. Catharines didn't have a private tree by-law when the City last reported on its canopy. Large woodlands fall under a Regional by-law, but a single yard tree generally doesn't. Check with the City if you're unsure.
What about my dead ash tree?
Send a photo with your quote request. Dead ash gets brittle quickly, so the answer is usually to take it down in a controlled way rather than wait.
When should hedges be trimmed in St. Catharines?
Late spring or early summer for the main trim, once the new growth has come in, and a lighter tidy-up later in the season before growth stops in the fall.
More in St. Catharines
Other towns we work in
Get a quote
Tree & hedge trimming, tree removal in St. Catharines: get a quote.
A home, a condo corporation, or a list of sites — same form. If it's more than one property, say so and we'll ask for the list.
Prefer to talk? (905) 325-0137
Email mikeescarpment@gmail.com