Access Richmond Hill
The Access Richmond Hill Contact Centre provides assistance for general inquiries, responds to questions or concerns regarding programs and services as well as accepts in person payments.
Contact Us
905-771-8800
Hours of Service:
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Report Feedback
Report a problem with a service, e.g. missed garbage collection, overnight parking, potholes, street lights, etc.
Richmond Hill's Healthy Yards Program provides the community with information and materials to help take care of your lawn, trees and garden and help improve the natural environment. The Program also offers residents the opportunity to buy native plant kits, backyard composters and rain barrels at an affordable cost every spring.
Native plant is a term used to describe plants that occur naturally and have existed for many years in a given area. Why grow native plants?
- They are adapted to local climate and soil conditions and therefore require less water and maintenance.
- They improve local biodiversity by providing habitat and food for birds, mammals and insects.
Free wood chips for your garden
Using wood chips in your garden means less weeding, less watering, faster plant growth, protection from overheated soils during hot summers, added nutrients to your soil and less bruised fruit under fruit trees!
Free wood chips are available for pickup at Richmond Green, 1300 Elgin Mills Road East. The pile is located at the west end of the parking lot in front of Tom Graham Arena. Please help yourself. Tools and containers are not provided, so please bring your own.
To help stop the spread of COVID-19, there is a limit of 5 people at the pile at a time. Please also remember to practice physical distancing unless you live together.
Healthy Yards Plant and Garden Sale
The 2020 plant and garden sale has ended. If you would like to be notified when the 2021 sale begins, subscribe to this page by clicking on 'Receive Email Updates' below.
Order delivery and pickup details
UPDATED: If you purchased items through the 2020 sale, order delivery and pickup details are as follows:
- Pre-ordered plants will be delivered to your home from Wednesday, June 17 to Saturday, June 20, 2020. Additional details, including delivery times will be sent to purchasers at a later date.
- Rain barrels and backyard composters will be available for pickup in the Tom Graham Arena parking lot (1300 Elgin Mills Road East) during the scheduled times below. Please note that these are the only two scheduled dates and there will be no exceptions. Residents who have ordered these items have been notified.
- Wednesday, June 24 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Thursday, June 25 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- For orders that contain a combination of plants, rain barrels and/or composters, only plant material will be delivered to your home. Residents are expected to pick up the remaining items at the locations and dates/times listed above.
The City continues to monitor the COVID-19 outbreak and further pickup and distribution changes will be made if necessary. Measures will be in place to ensure physical distancing.
If you have any questions, please email us at naturalenvironment@richmondhill.ca.
Backyard Tree Planting Program
The Backyard Tree Planting Program provides trees to residents at a reduced price.
| LEAF Backyard Tree Planting Program |
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Trees range from 5' to 8' and costs range from $150 to $220. The cost of the tree includes a site consultation with a tree specialist, one tree and full planting service. You can also get shrubs, native garden kits and edible garden kits. Replace your ash tree and save $100 off a new tree! Limited number of rebates available to York Region property owners. The Program is a partnership between Richmond Hill, York Region and the Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF). LEAF has planted more than 17,000 native trees and shrubs in residential backyards since 1996. Call LEAF at 416-413-9244 for more information about their program. |
Richmond Hill Blooms
Are you proud of your healthy yard and beautiful garden? Richmond Hill Blooms is an event that allows the community to showcase the best gardens in Richmond Hill. Learn how to nominate a garden for the annual Richmond Hill Blooms contest.
Backyard Habitat Certification
The Canadian Wildlife Federation's Backyard Habitat Certification Program recognizes the amazing efforts Canadians are taking to meet the habitat needs of wildlife.
| Get Certified! |
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The Canadian Wildlife Federation allows individuals to have their property certified by officially designating their gardens as wildlife friendly. Whether you have a small patio or acres of land, your property may receive certification once specific criteria and established best practices are met. Visit the Canadian Wildlife Federation website for more information. You can also find helpful gardening resources on the Backyard Habitat and Native Plant Encyclopedia webpages. |
Other Resources
| David Suzuki Foundation (DSF) Butterflyway Project |
| Richmond Hill is part of the David Suzuki Foundation's Butterflyway Project which is a citizen-led movement growing highways of habitat for pollinators across Canada. Become part of Richmond Hill's Butterflyway by planting a pollinator patch in your yard. |
| Master Gardeners |
| Master Gardeners of Ontario Inc. is a group of trained and certified volunteers who give gardening advice to the general public. |
| North American Native Plant Society (NANPS) |
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NANPS is a charitable organization concerned with preserving native plant habitat in wild areas and restoring indigenous flora to developed areas. Their key purpose is to provide information and inspire an appreciation of native plants with an aim to restoring healthy ecosystems across the continent. They offer resources on native plant gardens including workshops and an annual plant sale. |
| Richmond Hill Garden and Horticultural Society (RHGHS) |
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The objective of the Richmond Hill Garden and Horticultural Society is to promote interest, involvement, education, and improvement in all areas of horticulture, thereby providing beauty and enjoyment throughout the community. Become a member to access resources and view upcoming guest speakers. |
| Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) |
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Toronto and Region Conservation Authority offers a number of fact sheets providing information on how to create a healthy yard, including natural lawn care, wildlife habitat and rain gardens. |
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Richmond Hill's Community Garden Programs |
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Community gardens provide residents with a number of social and environmental benefits including opportunities to engage in a healthy recreational activity, spend time with friends and neighbours, meet new people, grow and/or learn about growing nutritious food, as well as ornamental and native plants. Richmond Hill offers two community garden programs - rental of plots at allotment gardens to grow vegetables and support for groups who would like to start a community garden on public land. |