Every homeowner dreams of a beautiful, healthy, green lawn that every neighbor walks by and envies. Unfortunately, it can be relatively challenging and time-consuming to maintain healthy grass. That’s why countless homeowners turn to professional lawn care services for help. The best lawn care services have the tools and expertise to treat any issue that arises and can provide your lawn with the nutrients it needs to thrive. The average homeowner pays around $150 per month for expert lawn care services.
Lawn Care Service Pricing
Lawn maintenance services range wildly from one lawn care service provider to another and between plans offered by each company. Many factors influence what you’ll pay for your lawn care, from the size of your property and the depth of care to the current state of your lawn and the demand for services in your area. Of course, the type of services you need will be the most significant cost factor to consider. Here are some quick price estimates for standard services:
- Average monthly cost for comprehensive lawn care: $150
- Average monthly lawn mowing cost: $180
- Average one-time cost for lawn fertilization: $50 (typically as part of a service plan)
- Average one-time cost for lawn aeration: $125
- Average one-time cost for dethatching: $210
- Average one-time cost for overseeding: $800
- Average one-time cost for preventative weed control: $85
- Average monthly cost for reactive weed treatments: $85
- Average monthly cost for lawn pest control: $80
- Average one-time cost for tree and shrub care: $600
Factors That Affect Lawn Care Costs
The costs mentioned above are just averages, so you could find that your estimates fall well above or below these numbers. Many different factors can have an impact on your cost of lawn care. We’ll discuss the most crucial things to consider below.
Services Needed
One of the most significant cost factors you need to think about is the breadth of services you need. Homeowners looking for fertilization alone will pay a fraction of the price of those who want full-service treatment. Each additional service you add — options commonly include lawn fertilization, soil amendments, aeration, dethatching, weed control, etc. — will bump up your total cost. While scheduling multiple services at once is more expensive, they can often work synergistically to produce a healthier, fuller lawn.
Property Size
The average costs above are estimated based on a standard property size of around 10,000 square feet. The prices for most services scale proportionately with your property size. A more oversized lot will not only require more time and labor for each individual service to be completed, but services that use fertilizers, amendments, or other treatments will also include higher product costs based on how much your lawn needs. The larger your property, the higher your costs for most lawn maintenance services.
Lawn Features (fences, trees, gardens, etc.)
In all cases, a square lawn plot with no obstructions is easiest to treat, but not many homeowners’ properties are set up like that. Your lawn care professionals will need to work around your house, fences, patios, decks, garden beds, trees, and other obstructions to get the job done. The more decorative and elaborate your outdoor setup is, the more work the professionals will have to do to treat and service your lawn.
In some cases, additional equipment might be needed to get your lawn serviced adequately without interrupting or compromising your other lawn features.
Labor
Every lawn care treatment will include some labor cost at an hourly rate, and the less work you need to be done, the lower your total will be. For example, suppose you have one technician applying a pre-emergent weed killer to your grass. In that case, you’ll pay far less in labor costs than if you need multiple professionals working together to service your lawn correctly. Generally speaking, the more services you need to be done, the more you’ll pay in labor. However, you might enjoy some per-hour savings if you schedule multiple services at once.
Location
The location of your home will impact your total lawn care costs as well. The climate in which you live can determine to some extent what products are required to maintain a healthy lawn, which can affect your pricing. More importantly, services can range in price depending on the cost of living in your neighborhood, and the distance from the local lawn care pro to your home can increase travel time, which could also bump up the cost of service.
Grass Length & Type
Just as the climate in your area can affect the products needed to maintain a healthy lawn, so too can the grass species on your property and the length of the lawn. If you’re requesting simple lawn mowing services for an overgrown lawn, your professional will likely charge a higher first-service rate with the expectation that your lawn will take longer to get under control. Other services will vary more based on the grass type. For example, warm-season grass often needs different soil amendments, pH balance, and nutrients than cool-season grass. Certain grass species are also susceptible to some weed killers, so more costly treatment options might be required.
Landscaper Experience & Insurance
Finally, the lawn care professional’s experience and insurance coverage can affect your total pricing. Generally speaking, more experienced technicians and companies come at higher prices, but their expertise yields better and faster results in most cases. For example, hiring a well-established company like TruGreen with full insurance coverage and a long history of success in the lawn maintenance industry will probably cost a bit more than a local company that’s just a few years old. However, your lawn will be in better hands with the former, and your money will likely go further.
Lawn Maintenance & Services Costs
Most homeowners will do just about anything for a beautiful, healthy-looking lawn, but the lawn care price will always be an important thing to consider when scheduling lawn maintenance services. Below, we’ll provide national average costs for one-off and recurring lawn care services that many homeowners find beneficial.
Lawn Mowing
Lawn mowing is the most basic lawn care service available, and it’s a requirement not only for lawn health but also to abide by your local municipality’s laws and regulations. Lawn mowing services for the average property will cost around $30 per week or $120 per month. Lawn mowing is typically needed once a week in the spring and summer when the growth rate peaks, and a biweekly mowing or service once a month is usually sufficient in the mid to late fall. Your total for mowing will be substantially higher if you have an oversized property.
Watering
Some lawn care companies offer lawn watering services for homeowners who don’t have automatic sprinkler systems. Watering services are helpful throughout the harsh summer to keep your grass from burning, but they’re beneficial for homeowners growing new grass. The average cost for lawn watering services is around $50-75 for 10,000-square feet or around $400 for a 1-acre property.
Edging
Edging is a lawn service that is purely used to improve the aesthetic appeal of your property. It creates clean lines between the lawn and any border, like driveways, walkways, curbs, and sidewalks. Edging services will be priced according to your property size and how many landscaping features the company needs to edge around. The service usually costs between $20 and $100, but it’s more often included in a landscaping package than completed as a one-off service.
Fertilizing
Lawn fertilization services provide the nutrients your grass needs to live — nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium — according to the current nutrient levels in your soil. Fertilization usually costs around $50 per service for a 10,000-sq ft property, but most homeowners benefit from two to four treatments per year and pay for a seasonal treatment package. Larger properties will cost more to fertilize due to higher fertilizer costs and more time required to complete the work.
Lawn Aeration
Lawn aeration is a service that decreases and prevents soil compaction. Your soil naturally gets compacted with foot traffic, vehicle traffic, and precipitation. Heavily compacted soil slowly kills grass by preventing adequate nutrients and water uptake from the ground. Aeration removes small cylinders of soil to loosen the dirt, providing the roots with oxygen, water, and sustenance. Lawn aeration is usually needed at least once a year and costs an average of $125 per service. Larger properties will naturally cost significantly more to aerate.
Seeding
Seeding is the process of putting down grass seed to grow new grass. Seeding can be done on bare dirt or over an already-established lawn, in which case the service is called overseeding.
Standard Seeding
Laying down grass seed to grow a lawn from scratch is a costly service that usually totals around $1,000 for a 10,000-square-foot property. An immense amount of time and effort goes into maintaining proper soil moisture after seeding is completed, so you’ll pay much more if you need your landscaper to provide water services as well.
Overseeding
Overseeding is the process of putting down grass seed on an existing lawn to fill in bare patches and create a thicker lawn. Overseeding usually costs around $300-500 for a standard property, but the cost can increase based on the type of grass you want and the size of your lawn.
Pest Control
Many lawn care companies offer pest control for outdoor pests, including ants, spiders, mosquitoes, lawn grubs, fleas, and ticks. Pest control service for these insects typically falls around $80 for a single service, and you might require monthly or quarterly treatments depending on the pest you’re trying to eradicate. The cost will likely increase for larger properties, as more pesticides and labor will be required to get the job done.
Some lawn specialists offer perimeter pest control for termites as well. Termite treatment most often involves bait stations being placed around the outside of your property. The installation cost averages around $1,750, and ongoing inspections are usually required and priced separately.
Weed Control
Nearly every homeowner will battle weeds on their property at some point, so weed control is a popular service to request from lawn care professionals. Pre-emergent and post-emergent weed treatments will differ in cost.
Pre-Emergent Weed Control
Pre-emergent weed control is typically completed in the spring before weeds take root on your property. The chemicals usually prevent the root growth of weeds and grass, so these treatments are best administered before weeds pop up and only on well-established lawns. Pre-emergent weed treatments typically cost around $85-100 per application, with larger properties costing significantly more.
Post-Emergent Weed Control
Post-emergent weed control is best for properties where weeds have already taken root, so the services are most useful in the summer or early fall.
Each service will include spot treatment for areas where weeds are appearing. The services average between $60 and $80 in most cases, but this cost can go up significantly if you have a lot of weed growth on your property.
Winterizing
Winterizing your lawn consists of preparing it for dormancy throughout the winter. This service often involves a full fall cleanup of sticks, leaves, and other lawn debris that could kill the grass over time and fertilization for cool-season grasses that need additional nutrients to thrive in the fall and survive through the winter. Winterization usually costs around $80 as a one-time service. Many homeowners opt to get their irrigation system winterized simultaneously for an additional $100, on average.
Tree Trimming
Tree trimming is another popular service that only a select few landscaping maintenance companies provide, TruGreen being one of them. Pruning your trees will help improve the appearance of your trees and promote healthy growth, minimizing competition for sunlight between branches and reducing dead or dying areas for overall health. Tree trimming is usually priced at around $300 per small-to-medium tree or about $600 for larger trees. Of course, your total will depend on the number of trees that need trimming.
Landscaping
While many homeowners commonly refer to general lawn care as “landscaping,” this typically means landscaping design. This service can include designing or installing edging for walkways, mulching, and implementing landscaping features like pergolas, garden beds, decks, patios, outdoor lighting, and more. Landscaping design services will vary wildly in price depending on what features you want. You could pay as little as a few hundred dollars or several tens of thousands of dollars based on your needs.
Leaf Removal
A yard cleanup or routine leaf removal is another common lawn service. This one is self-evident from the name and includes either ongoing services or a one-off bulk removal. The typical cost for a 10,000-square-foot property is approximately $150, with larger properties demanding a higher average price.
Additional Costs & Considerations
In addition to all of the above service costs, you’ll have to consider a few other things if you want to estimate your lawn service costs appropriately. Some lawn maintenance professionals offer deals and discounts for packages or multiple services or for treating specific lawn health issues, and you can sometimes save money in the long run by completing routine upkeep rather than one-off temporary fixes for problems.
Some of the additional cost factors to consider are explained below:
- Travel Expenses: Depending on the distance between your lawn care professional’s headquarters and your home, you might incur additional travel expenses. These range from a small $15 charge to up to around $100 for long-distance travel, although expenses over $100 are rare.
- Package Deals: Most homeowners choose landscaping packages rather than bother with one-off services. A package not only lets you “set it and forget it,” but most lawn care companies will offer a significant discount if you schedule multiple seasons’ worth of services ahead of time. Some companies, like TruGreen, have a multitude of lawn care package options plus a la carte offerings for full customization.
- Upkeep Costs: Lawn upkeep involves preventative maintenance that helps avoid future expenses and keeps ongoing costs relatively low. For example, once you get your lawn looking beautiful, some routine maintenance that comes at a lower price will go a long way in maintaining that aesthetically pleasing yard and keeping future costs down.
- Lawn Health Issues: Lawn care professionals will often charge more for lawn health issues, like severe pest infestations, brown patch disease, dollar spot lawn disease, snow mold, and other common problems. This is another reason why ongoing maintenance is so valuable.
Why You May Need Lawn Care
While a beautiful lawn is most homeowners’ dream, some might wonder why professional lawn care is required to get to that point. It’s possible to DIY your lawn care, but hiring a professional like TruGreen provides three major benefits.
Save Money
First, hiring a professional to take care of your lawn maintenance can often save you money. While you’ll spend more for the same services, the care from a professional can help get you the best and fastest results possible, avoid mistakes and lawn damage, and provides expert advice and guidance to include only the products and services you need.
Save Time
One of the more apparent benefits of hiring a professional is that you’ll save time. Lawn care is hugely time-consuming, especially if you’re unsure how to deal with specific issues. Professionals have the tools and experience to get the job done quickly, leaving you more time to enjoy your yard and take care of other home improvements.
Curb Appeal
Hiring a professional lawn care company will almost always lead to a better curb appeal for your property. Experts like TruGreen use science and soil tests to decide which treatments will benefit your lawn the most. This leads to the healthiest-looking yard, garden beds, and overall property.
Hiring a Professional Lawn Care Service vs. DIY
As far as lawn care services go, you have your choice of a full-service company like TruGreen or a hybrid option like Sunday Lawn Care. You also, of course, have the choice of a total DIY solution. All of these options have their upsides and drawbacks, which we’ll discuss below.
Best Professional Lawn Care Service: TruGreen
If you’re looking for a professional to handle your lawn care, TruGreen is one of the best options. With years of experience and success stories and a customer satisfaction guarantee, you can’t go wrong with the services it provides. It tackles everything from routine fertilization and soil amendments to tree and shrub care, aeration, and pest and weed control. It has many plans to choose from, plus a la carte services that let you fully customize your lawn care plan.
Read our TruGreen Review to learn more.
Compare TruGreen to other lawn care companies
Best DIY Lawn Care Service: Sunday
Sunday Lawn Care is a semi-DIY solution, where the company provides you with the tools and products you need, and you supply the time and work of treating your lawn. The overall cost is much lower than TruGreen, but you don’t get the personalized care of a lawn care expert to carry out the treatments. Sunday is a good option for homeowners looking to save money on lawn care who don’t need the rapid results TruGreen provides. Sunday also uses products that are kid and pet safe.
Read our detailed Sunday Lawn Care Review to find out more.
DIY – The Old Fashioned Way
Finally, you can choose to do everything yourself. Some of the more dedicated homeowners select this option for the pride it provides, although researching the products you need and how to treat certain issues properly can take a very long time. Of course, you’ll save the most money this way, but you’ll spend way more on elbow grease.
Best Ways to Save Money on Lawn Care
Given the relatively high cost of all-inclusive lawn care, many homeowners will look for ways to save money in the process of treating their lawns.
The below tips will help you keep costs down and lawn health at a maximum:
- Shop around: Get quotes from a few professionals, but be sure to compare based on value and not cost alone
- Request a contract: Having a detailed contract will help keep costs under control
- Look for deals: Many professionals offer discounts on spring services for new customers or for certain holidays
- Carry out maintenance: Once you fix any existing lawn issues, carry out maintenance to prevent the problems from coming back
Compare Lawn Care Companies
Finding the ideal lawn care company for your needs can be confusing and challenging, especially given how many options you have. The table below shows a side-by-side view of the most popular lawn care companies to help you decide which is right for you.
| Company | TruGreen | Sunday | LawnBright | Lawn Doctor | Weed Man |
| Website | trugreen.com | getsunday.com | getlawnbright.com | lawndoctor.com | weedman.com/en-us |
| Cost | $$$ | $ | $$ | $$$$ | $$$ |
| Plan Options | Five plans plus a la carte services | Three plans | Customized Plans | One-off services only | One plan plus a la carte services |
| BBB rating | A+ | NR | NR | B+ | A- |
| Our Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.6/5 | 4/5 | 3.8/5 |
Want to see which of these companies is best to tackle your lawn care? Check out these company comparisons for more information:
Final Thoughts
Unfortunately, your grass won’t just maintain its rich, beautiful green color and perfect health on its own, so lawn care is essential if you want your lawn to look good. Given how time-consuming and confusing DIY lawn maintenance can be, many homeowners opt for professional help.
TruGreen is our top recommendation for a professional lawn care company. It has many different affordable plans with add-on services for complete customization, years of experience, and proven science behind its work. It also offers a satisfaction guarantee on all of its services. Check out TruGreen’s plans today to see which one works best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TruGreen a Rip Off?
Not at all! TruGreen’s services are backed by science and a satisfaction guarantee. The company has amassed countless positive reviews and maintains an A+ rating with the BBB. Its plans are more costly than DIY work, but they’re quite affordable compared to its competitors.
Which is the best TruGreen plan?
The TruGreen plans vary based on the services you need, so no single program is better than the others. If you just want the basic services, TruMaintenance is the most affordable. If you’re looking for white-glove service, TruSignature covers your lawn, garden beds, trees, and everything in between. You can also opt for the TruNatural if children or pets frequent your lawn.
Where can I get a quote from TruGreen?
You can check out TruGreen’s plans and get a free quote by clicking the button above.
Today's Homeowner Rating & Methodology
At Today's Homeowner, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. That’s why we took the time to create an objective rating system and score each lawn company/service according to our methodology.
Our research team dug deep into the fine print of contracts, combed through more than one hundred customer reviews, and thoroughly investigated all of each lawn care service’s services, costs, and products. We’ve done the homework for you by researching nearly all of the lawn care companies on the market so you can have the information you need to make the best choice for your home.
We developed a formula to objectively determine the best lawn care companies and give each a score out of 100 based on the following criteria:
- Plan Options (30): Do they provide a variety of plan options? We looked at the number of plans each company offered and the flexibility of adjusting the plan.
- Services offered (20): How many services are offered in each plan? We looked at the number of lawn care coverages, including weed control, seeding, irrigation, aeration, dethatching, and more.
- Trust (10): What do customers say after their lawn has been serviced? Does this company offer a guarantee? We considered how satisfied customers are post-service if the company does what it says it will, BBB accreditation, and service guarantees.
- Prices (10): How reasonable are the costs of the plan or service in comparison to the industry average? We compared the costs of each company to competitors that offer the same lawn services.
- Unique perks (10): Does the company offer discounts or special services such as organic treatments, pest control, or a mobile app? We looked for perks each company offers that set them apart from the competition.
- Customer Service (10): How is the customer experience when contacting the company? We considered the speed of response, weekend/holiday availability, and ease of communication through phone calls, email, and online chat functions.
- Nationwide availability (10): How many states does the company offer its services? Companies that operate nationally and in all zip codes are favored over those with limited availability.
