Is lawn care expensive?

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What is the cost of lawn care? It depends on the kind of lawn care services you need. Considering the average cost of mowing is $29 to $65 , yard cleanup prices range from $170.50 to $374.30 , and overseeding will typically cost $336 to $1,010 depending on the size of your lawn.

The golden rule: The size of your yard and the services you need will have the greatest influence on how much you spend on lawn care.

Our price guide can assist you in estimating the cost of various lawn care services. We’ll review their prices, how the services can benefit your lawn, and what other factors can affect total cost.

Cost Estimator by Service Type

Lawn care services have a range of costs, with mowing usually being the least expensive. Certain lawn care services need more manpower and/or more costly equipment.

The following are the typical sums that most US homes spend on regular lawn care services:

Mowing

Most homeowners pay $29 to $65 to get their lawn mowed by a professional. Keep in mind that the fee will vary based on the size of your lawn, how often you want service, and how tall your grass is. If you haven’t mowed your lawn in a while, the thick grass may be tough for the professional to cut, resulting in a higher price.

Lawn care pros typically charge $33 to $70 per hour to mow the grass. Hiring a professional can be more costly if your yard is huge. Although most individuals can mow their own lawns, hiring a professional mower is often more convenient and saves you time.

Aeration

Aeration generates holes in compacted soil, allowing air, nutrients, and water to reach the roots of your grass. When the soil is too compact, your grass won’t have optimal access to the vital resources it needs to flourish and be as green as it can be.

Homeowners usually pay between $75 to $225 for lawn aeration, with the average lawn aeration price being $174. 

Dethatching

Thatch is a dense layer of live and dead organic material that accumulates between the soil and growing turf, such as leaves and grass clippings. Thatch is a natural element of your grass and has several benefits. Thatch functions as a mulch layer when it is less than a half-inch thick, helping to store moisture and protect the soil.

But, if thatch reaches a thickness of half an inch to one inch, it might harm your grass. A dense thatch layer may prevent water and fertilizer from reaching the roots, leading grass to become dehydrated and stressed. Thatch is also a haven for bugs and illness.

Expect professional lawn dethatching to cost  $190 per hour  or  $250 per 1,000 square feet . 

Weeding

Weeds will always ruin the appearance of your yard. Keep the crabgrass and dandelions off your yard with chemical applications, or hire a gardener to pull the weeds for you.

Depending on the size of your lawn and the technique of control you select, you may anticipate to spend between $65 to $120 for weed control. You should expect to spend an hourly cost of between $50 and $100 if you hire a gardener to hand-pull the weeds. $30 to $60 .

Winterization

Freezing temperatures and strong winter winds may be damaging to your grass. You’ve worked hard all year to maintain your lawn healthy and green. The last thing you want is for the first frost or blizzard to undo all of your efforts.

Discuss with a local lawn care specialist what your grass need to survive the winter. Every yard is unique, and what your grass need for the winter may vary from what your neighbor’s lawn requires. The majority of homeowners pay $393 for lawn winterizing. 

Fertilizing

If the lawn across the street seems to be greener, your grass may not be receiving enough nutrients. A lawn care professional can conduct a soil test and help you determine the best fertilization regimen for your lawn.

The overall cost of your fertilizer treatment will be determined mostly by the size of your grass. The typical price range for fertilizing runs between $88 and $544 , with most homeowners spending $380 to fertilize their lawns. 

Seeding

Is it time to replace the grass on your lawn? For homeowners on a tight budget, seeding is the most cost-effective choice. The average homeowner spends $336 to $1,010 most homeowners pay for professional seeding $668.

Hydroseeding

Hydroseeding is more costly than traditional seeding but less expensive than putting sod. Professional hydroseeding typically costs between $0.08 to $0.20 per square foot . 

Hydroseeding is a technique of sowing grass that combines seed, mulch, fertilizer, water, and soil additives. The mixture is called “slurry” and is often spread over large pieces of land or slopes where conventional seeding is challenging.

Sod Installation

Sod installation, as opposed to seeding, which may take one to two years to develop into a mature grass, can give you with a new yard immediately before your eyes.

On average, sod costs between $0.30 to $0.83 per square foot . Most lawn care services charge a labor cost of between $0.57 to $0.93 per square foot to install the sod. In all, homeowners should spend between $0.87 to $1.76 per square foot for both labor and materials.

Artificial Turf Installation

The most costly option for building a new lawn is artificial grass. Despite the expense, the advantage of artificial grass is that it requires no lawn upkeep. Once a professional installs your synthetic grass, you won’t have to worry about lawn maintenance charges like you would with a grass lawn.

The average cost of installing artificial grass is $12.33 per square foot , usually ranging between $5.50 to $18.75 per square foot. For a Installation of synthetic grass on a 500-square-foot area typically takes between $3,104 to $7,245 , with most homeowners paying $6,165. 

Leaf Removal

A carpet of damp leaves does not look nice on any lawn, and it is also not good for the grass. Leaf removal typically costs between $81.25 to $464.75 and can cost as low as $30 for small jobs. 

If you love a little yard labor every now and again, use the correct leaf blower vacuum.

Sprinkler System Installation

If you don’t have time to water your grass, a sprinkler system may be all it needs to keep healthy and hydrated. The average cost for sprinkler system installation is $3,150 , with most prices ranging between $2,400 to $4,200 . Homeowners should budget for a quarter-acre lawn. $2,000 to $11,000 for a sprinkler system. 

Mulching

Mulch is a fantastic complement to the flower beds and gardens that surround your lawn. Mulch retains moisture in the soil, limits erosion in the beds, and adds beautiful texture to the landscape.

Mulch typically costs $17 to $68 per cubic yard or $2 to $5.50 per bag. A professional will normally charge you to scatter the mulch for you. $20 to $45 per cubic yard installed or $43 to $98 per hour. 

Tree Trimming

Trees are among the most stunning plants that may be found on your yard. If your trees begin to look unhealthy or unsightly, your front yard won’t be turning heads for the reasons you want.

Tree trimming will cost between $315 to $700 per tree or $475 on the whole. Costs may vary greatly depending on the size of the tree. A tiny tree may be purchased for as low as $85 to trim. 

Bush Trimming

Photo Credit: ArtisticOperations / Pixabay

Your shrubs, like your trees, need pruning. Hiring a professional to trim back your lawn’s shrubs can keep them looking fresh and beautiful. The average price range for bush cutting is $50 to $75 per hour or $6 to $15 per bush. The average cost is   $63 per hour or $10 per bush . 

Hedge Trimming

While hedges are not the same as bushes, the average cost of cutting hedges is almost the same as bush trimming. Homeowners can expect to pay $63 per hour most professional costs for hedge cutting range from $48 to $79 per hour . 

Yard Cleanups

Yard cleaning includes a variety of activities done simultaneously to straighten up your yard, such as weeding, spring and autumn cleanups, tree trimming, and waste removal. Instead of charging each task as a separate service, your lawn care provider will bundle them together in a yard cleanup service at a lower cost.

Yard cleanup usually costs $170.50 to $374.30 , with an average price of $280 . 

Other Factors that Affect Cost

The pricing for each lawn care service mentioned above are all typical expenses. There are many facets to your yard that will impact your lawn care bill’s overall costs, making it higher or lower than the national average.

We’ll go through these influencing elements in further detail below so you can see how your overall lawn care expenditure may vary from the typical homeowner’s.

Yard Size

The average U.S. lawn size is 8,712 square feet or one-fifth of an acre. If your lawn is much bigger or smaller than the national average, your total lawn care cost will vary from the national average.

For example, most homeowners pay $336 to $1,010 to They should overseed or reseed their grass. But, homeowners with a larger-than-average seeding area may expect to spend far more than the national average cost of seeding. Most households can’t afford to seed an acre of land. $5,990. 

The bottom line: Homeowners with extensive lawns will often spend more money on lawn maintenance than the norm.

Obstacles in Your Yard

If obstructions in the lawn make their task more difficult, a lawn care professional’s prices may rise. Old tree stumps or large tree roots can slow down the task at hand.

For example, if you are having sod placed, a professional will need additional time and work to ensure that the sod is aligned with the surrounding obstacle.

Current Condition of Lawn

The healthier your grass is, the less you may have to spend for lawn care services.

For example, if you don’t manage your grass properly by detaching, aeration, or watering, you may have to spend more money to combat pests, disease, and heat stress. Or, if you haven’t had your lawn mowed in weeks, you may be charged a higher fee to cut the overgrown grass.

Experience of the Lawn Care Provider

The training, experience, and skill of a service provider might have an impact on your overall lawn care expenditures. Hiring a pro that is fresh to the field will cost significantly less than employing a veteran with years of experience. Remember that selecting a more experienced specialist will most likely result in better outcomes.

Recurring Lawn Care Services

Several lawn care firms provide services on a weekly, bimonthly, or monthly basis. Signing up for regular lawn care, such as a weekly lawn mowing service, will often lead to lower costs than paying for a one-time service each week.

Packaged Plans

Several professionals provide many services as part of a periodic lawn care contract. A low-cost lawn care package plan may include mowing, fertilizer, and aeration. Instead of paying for each service individually, consider recurring package options to be bulk lawn care purchases.

Cost of Lawn Care by Location

Recall that this price guide is based on national average expenses. These pricing may differ on a local level. Local demand, geography, soil conditions, prevalent grass varieties, and climate may all have an influence on total expenses.

DIY Lawn Care Costs

If you like mowing your lawn and caring for your yard and flowers, you’ll need to invest in some lawn care equipment. You may even need to purchase a shed to store all your lawn care gear if your garage is already full.

Our lawn care equipment costs range from cheap to expensive, based on our listings of the finest mulching mowers, riding mowers, string trimmers, and so on. Your actual price will vary by the type, power source, and features of the lawn care equipment you purchase.

For walk-behind mower pricing, for example, visit our Best Push Lawn Mowers list.

Below is a basic list of lawn care equipment and its usual cost:

You’ll also need to schedule time in your week for yard maintenance. How much time will it take to mow, trim, and edge your yard? It is determined by the size of your yard. In general, you should set aside at least a couple of hours every week for yard maintenance.

FAQS About Lawn Care

1. What are the advantages of using a lawn care service?

Hiring a lawn care expert has several advantages, including:

Convenience: Hiring a lawn care service relieves many homeowners of the hassle of lawn upkeep. Not everyone wants to spend a Saturday morning sweating under the hot sun pushing a lawn mower.

Time: Lawn maintenance takes a significant amount of time. Your week is jam-packed with work, putting food on the table, and paying expenses. Don’t allow lawn care rob you of the valuable hours you’ve finally gotten to spend with family and friends.

Lawn Health: A healthy lawn is a beautiful lawn. When you hire a professional to take care of your lawn, you can be certain that it will grow, bloom, and attract the attention of your neighbors.

Professional Results: Several lawn care options are simple do-it-yourself operations. Although they may save you a few pennies, your lawn may lack the distinctive touch that only a professional can provide. Hiring a professional to maintain your lawn may help you have the greatest lawn on the block.

2. Can I request an organic lawn care service?

Several lawn care firms provide chemical-free or natural lawn care services. As you look for a local lawn care professional to hire, ask them what their organic options are and decide which natural treatments serve your needs best.

3. When is the best time to water my lawn?

Watering your grass in the morning, generally before 10 a.m., is the finest time. If you wait too long to water your grass, the scorching sun will evaporate the water before it has a chance to refill the roots. Watering your lawn late in the day or at night should be avoided since droplets may remain on the grass blades overnight, encouraging illness.

Watering seldom but thoroughly is the key to a healthy grass with a deep root system. Watering frequently for a short period won’t encourage your turf to develop a deep root system.

Conclusion

The cost of lawn care is determined on the services required. While mowing costs on average $29 to $65 , prices for leaf removal range from $81.25 to $464.75 , and sprinkler system installation will normally cost $2,539 to $4,773. All of these costs are determined by the size of your lawn.

Hiring a lawn care professional keeps your grass looking healthy and lovely. It’s a time-saving and handy option that provides you piece of mind. Hire a local lawn care expert immediately so you can return your lawn mower to the garage and begin enjoying the benefits of a weekly mowing service.

Note that lawn care rates will vary greatly based on a variety of variables, including the size of your lawn, the service you want, and how often you choose lawn care.

Main Photo Credit: Clayton800 / Pixabay

Jane Purnell

Jane Purnell is a New York City-based freelance writer and performer. She earned her B.A. from the University of Virginia and enjoys a warm cup of French press coffee.

Sources:

• https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/cost/lawn-care-price/