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10 Best Lawn Care Companies in Santa Cruz, CA

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Written By David Cusick

Last Updated April 2024

Everyone dreams of a healthy, lush lawn, but few enjoy the time and effort required for upkeep. Santa Cruz gets higher temperatures than much of the country, and your lawn could require increased attention during the hotter months.

To help, we've assembled a list of Santa Cruz's top-rated lawn care providers to help you choose the right one for you.

Top 10 Best Lawn Care Companies in Santa Cruz

The Landscape Company

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1840 41st Ave, Capitola, CA 95010 (831) 476-7070 thelandscapecompany.com

Punctual service

Transparent pricing

Helps educate customers

Good customer service

Services Offered

Irrigation
Gardens
Hardscapes
Lawn maintenance
Mulching
Landscaping
Tree & shrub trimming
Pavers

Stevenson's Landscaping

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141 Hacienda Dr, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 (831) 438-6364 stevensonslandscaping.com

Transparent pricing

Free quotes

Services Offered

Outdoor lighting
Landscaping
Irrigation
Pavers
Hardscapes
Lawn maintenance

LawnStarter Lawn Care Service

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690 Saratoga Ave #100 Suite A, 690 Saratoga Ave 1st floor, San Jose, CA 95129 (408) 609-3843 lawnstarter.com

Good customer service

Free quotes

Transparent pricing

Helps educate customers

Services Offered

Lawn mowing
Mulching
Sod installation
Landscaping
Gardens
Tree & shrub trimming
Lawn edging
Hardscapes
Irrigation
Lawn maintenance
Fertilizing
Water features
Powerwashing
Leaf removal

All One Landscape

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5149 Pebbletree Ct, San Jose, CA 95111 (408) 771-0056 allonelandscape.com

Good customer service

Punctual service

Transparent pricing

Services Offered

Lawn mowing
Pavers
Sod installation
Outdoor lighting
Hardscapes
Tree & shrub trimming
Landscaping
Irrigation
Gardens
Lawn maintenance
Water features

Quality Green Gardening and Landscaping

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1719 Little Orchard St # D, San Jose, CA 95125 (669) 228-3221 qualitygreengardening.com

Good customer service

Free quotes

Punctual service

Helps educate customers

Transparent pricing

Services Offered

Landscaping
Pavers
Gardens
Mulching
Lawn maintenance
Irrigation
Hardscapes

Lawn Love Lawn Care of San Jose

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97 S Second St #215, San Jose, CA 95113 (408) 474-0737 lawnlove.com

Transparent pricing

Free quotes

Helps educate customers

Good customer service

Services Offered

Gardens
Lawn maintenance
Fertilizing
Debris removal
Lawn mowing
Leaf removal
Snow removal
Weed control

SILVERSTONE LANDSCAPING & TREE SERVICE

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47 Martines Rd, Salinas, CA 93907 (831) 277-7854 silverstonelandscapingservice.com

Good customer service

Transparent pricing

Services Offered

Gardens
Pavers
Lawn maintenance
Tree & shrub trimming
Hardscapes
Landscaping

Turftenders Landscape

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San Juan Grade Rd, Salinas, CA 93906 (831) 578-2379 turftenderslandscape.com

Transparent pricing

Free quotes

Punctual service

Good customer service

Helps educate customers

Services Offered

Artificial turf
Tree & shrub trimming
Pavers
Landscaping
Lawn maintenance
Irrigation
Hardscapes

Yarrow Design

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1451 Yosemite Ave, San Jose, CA 95126 (408) 993-1164 yarrowdesignsanjose.com

Helps educate customers

Transparent pricing

Free quotes

Good customer service

Services Offered

Water features
Gardens
Hardscapes

Garden Center at The Home Depot

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1177 Great Mall Dr, Milpitas, CA 95035 (408) 942-7301 homedepot.com

Good customer service

Transparent pricing

Free quotes

Helps educate customers

Services Offered

Leaf removal
Lawn mowing
Reseeding/overseeding
Sod installation
Fertilizing
Outdoor lighting
Powerwashing
Hardscapes
Tree & shrub trimming
Pavers
Irrigation
Mulching
Landscaping
Gardens
Today's Homeowner Ranking Methodology

Today's Homeowner looks at dozens of datapoints on lawn care companies to come up with our data-driven rankings. It's not possible for a company to pay for preferential treatment in our rankings. We look at the following key factors in determining who should top our list:

  • Company Experience
  • Real User Reviews
  • Company Reputation
  • Accreditations and Licenses
  • Service Area
  • Customer Service
Have questions about our methodology or company ratings? Reach out to FindAPro@TodaysHomeowner.com.
Santa Cruz Lawn Calculator

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Estimates will vary greatly based on size, shape, terrain, and other factors of your lawn. Most lawn care companies give discounts for more frequent mowing, and may offer bigger discounts if you commit to an annual contract.

How To Choose a Lawn Care Provider

Professional lawn care companies can help you achieve a lush lawn through services like weed control, insect prevention, and fertilization. This guide highlights key considerations to consider when selecting the best residential lawn care provider for you.

Assess Years of Experience

Look for a lawn care company with five or more years of maintaining local properties in Santa Cruz. An experienced company is highly familiar with your climate, soil, local pests, and common problems. They'll also understand the ideal timing for important treatments throughout the year.

Evaluate Offered Services

All lawn care professionals should provide essential treatments like fertilization, aeration, and weed control. Extra services such as seeding, tree trimming, and lime treatment are other normal offerings. Your company should be open to tailoring your plan for your lawn and goals.

Examine Product Offerings

Reputable lawn care companies will use only safe and approved residential lawn care products. Ask your provider more natural treatment options if you'd prefer fewer harsh chemicals on your grass.

Look For Customized Lawn Care Plans

Avoid lawn care companies that use a one-size-fits-all approach. The best lawn care providers will tailor treatments based on your unique needs. After discussing your lawn care plan, you should understand which treatments your service professional will use, and on what schedule.

Evaluate Responsiveness and Communication

You want a lawn care company that excels at communication. Look for quick responses, friendliness, and proactive communication. The company should address all of your questions, notify you about upcoming visits, make you aware of problems, and take the time to learn what you want your lawn to look like.

Check Reviews and Ask Neighbors for Referrals

Reading online reviews on Yelp, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and Google Reviews is helpful for getting a sense of a lawn care company’s public reputation based on reviews. You could also ask for referrals from friends or family in the area who've used local lawn services before.

Lawn Care Services in Santa Cruz

Lawn care companies in Santa Cruz may offer a number of different services. Common services offered by lawn care professionals include the following:

  • Pest Control: If pests like insects or moles are ruining your lawn, many local lawn care experts can help with pest control. Ensure that any specialist who applies pesticides on your property is authorized by the EPA.
  • Soil Care: Your local lawn professional can evaluate the pH balance of your soil and improve it by adding lime. This helps make sure your lawn receives all the nutrients it needs.
  • Seeding/Overseeding: There are two processes to add grass seed to your lawn: seeding and overseeding. Seeding involves turning the soil and is usually a one-time undertaking. Overseeding involves scattering grass seed on your existing lawn when needed. Both can improve thin or bare patches.
  • Weed Control: Your lawn care provider can remove weeds from your lawn with a combination of manual and chemical methods. This gives your grass and other plants more room to flourish.
  • Aeration: Aerating your lawn involves making tiny holes to promote growth. The holes let air, water, and nutrients move through the soil more easily.
  • Fertilization: Using fertilizer encourages it to grow faster, enhances plant health, and boosts resistance to diseases. Ask your lawn service provider about options for natural fertilizers.

Below, we outline the average cost of these and other lawn care services in Santa Cruz.

ServiceCost
Lawn Care$77-$173
Lawn Weed Control$82-$96
Lawn Fertilization$48-$144
Lawn Seeding$673-$961
Lawn Overseeding$288-$480
Lawn Aeration$82-$120
Lawn Soil Care$19-$96
Lawn Leaf Removal$72-$480
Lawn Snow Removal$72-$144
Lawn Mowing$115-$173
Lawn Edging$19-$96
Lawn Tree & Shrub Care$288-$577
Lawn Pest Visit$96-$1,249

Frequently Asked Questions About Lawn Care in Santa Cruz, CA

The type of lawn care that will best suit your needs depends on the amount of money you want to spend and how much work you want to do. Hiring a full-service lawn care company will cost more money, but will require the least manual labor on your part. On the other end of the spectrum, handling everything on your own will mean you don't need to pay someone else, but will necessitate the most planning and hard work. Subscription lawn care companies fall between these two options — they provide the materials, and you do the application.

During the hottest months of the year, you'll want to tackle soil care, seeding, and overseeding. As it starts to get cooler, you might need to think about winterization. Year-round, you will want to do aeration and fertilization, tree and shrub care, and weed and pest control as needed. One of the perks of hiring a lawn care company is that they can help you determine the optimal schedule for your lawn.

Risks to look out for in Santa Cruz include:

  • Dry weather: Periods of low rainfall may require you to water your lawn more frequently.
  • Wet weather: On the flip side, periods of heavy rain could also damage your lawn – overall, it's important to be aware of the weather forecast in your area.
  • Pests: Pests can dig holes in your lawn or eat your plants. Common Santa Cruz pests include PestFlies, PestTicks, and PestRats.

No matter if you or a lawn care company are performing services, your children and pets should stay inside during the process. If you are getting your products from a subscription company, they should provide safety information with their products. Should you hire a full-service company, it will inform you when it's safe to let your children and pets on your lawn following treatment.

Many lawn care companies have a list of ingredients on their websites. If you can't find this information on a company's website, contact them and ask.

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