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.
Healthy Yards Plant and Garden Sale on Now!
Create a beautiful garden at a low cost until Monday, May 24 (or while quantities last).
Richmond Hill residents can pre-order native trees, shrubs, perennial flower kits (sun or shade), rain barrels and/or composters. York Region residents outside of Richmond Hill can pre-order rain barrels and composters only.
View the 2021 Healthy Yards Plant, Rain Barrel and Composter Guide for full descriptions of the sale items.
How to order
Pre-order items through the Healthy Yards Plant and Garden Sale Online Store.
Order pickup details
Orders will be available for drive-thru pickup with health and safety protocols in place on Saturday, June 12 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Richmond Green (1300 Elgin Mills Road East), Parking Lot D near the skateboard park. You will be required to choose from one of three pickup time slots when you make your online order.
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Please note: There is a limit of 5 trees and/or shrubs, 1 wildflower kit, 5 rain barrels and 1 composter per household.
Prices do not include HST. |
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If you have any questions, please email us at naturalenvironment@richmondhill.ca.
Free How-to Gardening Webinars
The Healthy Yards program provides the community with educational resources and opportunities to learn more about sustainable gardening.
- Webinar: Beautiful Native Plants: Less Work, Less Water (Tuesday, April 6, 6:30 - 8 p.m.)
- Webinar: Planning Your Community Garden Plot (Saturday, April 24, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.)
- Webinar: Kick Start Your Lawn and Garden (Tuesday, May 11, 6:30 - 8 p.m.)
Free wood chips for your garden
Free wood chips will be available for pickup starting mid-May. Subscribe for updates below to be notified when the mulch becomes available.
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 will be located 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.
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
| National Flight of the Monarch Day |
| Richmond Hill is proud to participate in the Flight of the Monarch Day on August 22, a nationwide event to celebrate the iconic monarch butterfly. |
| 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. |