2022 Lawn Care Services Prices | Mowing & Maintenance Cost

HomeGuide / Cost Guides / Lawn Care Prices

Lawn Care Prices

When you’re looking to hire a person or a company to mow your lawn, size and location matter a lot. Ryan Farley, co-founder and chief operating officer of Austin, Texas-based LawnStarter, says the main factor in how much you’ll be charged for lawn-mowing services is size. In other words, how much grass will be mowed?

In addition, the frequency of service also will determine the price you pay for lawn-mowing services. The more often you have your grass cut, the less you’ll probably have to pay. (See charts below.)

Don’t forget that the price will fluctuate based on how many services you order. A simple mow will cost less than if you have a lawn care provider also do fertilizing, watering, aerating and other services.

Lawn Care Service Prices
Lawn Care Cost Factors

Cost of Lawn Mowing
Cost of Tree Trimming
Cost of Aerating Your Lawn
Cost of Lawn Fertilizing
Cost of Lawn Seeding
Cost of Lawn Weeding
Cost of Leaf Removal
Cost of Lawn Winterizing
Cost of Landscaping
Cost of Landscaping Maintenance

Can you negotiate the price?
What should I beware of?
Tips Before Hiring
Lawn Care Services Near Me

Lawn Care Service Prices

Lawn care professionals provide many different service outside of just mowing. Depending on where you live, and how long its been since your yard has been maintained, some additional services may be needed. Let's take a look at some common lawn services and their prices:

Lawn Mowing: Average cost $25 - $50
Tree Trimming: Average cost $250 - $500
Lawn Aeration: Average cost $80 - $175
Lawn Weeding: Average cost $20 - $40 /hour
Lawn Winterization: Average cost $350
Lawn Fertilizing: Average cost $40 - $60 /application
Lawn Seeding: Average cost for professional $700
Leaf Removal: Average cost $50 - $80
Landscaping: Average cost between $3,000 and $15,950

Popular Lawn Care Services & Costs

Landscaping Costs

$50 /hr

Lawn Mower Repair Cost

Landscaping Maintenance Cost

$150

Sod Installation Cost

$1.50/sqft

Mulch Prices

Lawn Aeration cost

Lawn Care Cost Factors

There are a few factors that directly how much you will spend for lawn care:

Yard Size
Services Needed
Experience of landscaper
Property Location
Residential or Commercial
Landscaper Insurance

Prices you will pay for lawn services will vary based on your yard size, the location of property, current health of the yard, and if it's a residential or commercial property. Climate also makes a big difference, especially in wet climates. This will dramatically increase your yearly cost because the rate of growth of your grass.

Typically, a lawn care service provider will provide a quote based on the square feet of the yard and if there are any obstacles. This means you can get a fairly accurate lawn care quote just from a phone call or instantly here on HomeGuide.

Cost of Lawn Mowing

Location is another big consideration in the cost of lawn mowing, Farley says. For instance, you might pay more for lawn-mowing services in a midsize city in Missouri than you would in a major urban area in California. On average, you can expect to pay $25 - $50 for lawn mowing with no additional services.

Here’s a more detailed look at lawn-mowing prices in California as of January 2018, courtesy of LawnStarter:

Frequency	1/8 Acre	1/4 Acre	1/3 Acre	1/2 Acre	1 Acre
Weekly	$24.22	$30.71	$38.50	$52.77	$78.29
Biweekly	$25.52	$35.90	$41.96	$62.72	$85.21
Monthly	$26.38	$38.93	$47.58	$62.72	$92.56

Here’s a more detailed look at lawn-mowing prices in Missouri as of January 2018, courtesy of LawnStarter:

Frequency	1/8 Acre	1/4 Acre	1/3 Acre	1/2 Acre	1 Acre
Weekly	$23.66	$29.79	$42.94	$52.14	$84.56
Biweekly	$24.97	$35.05	$42.94	$63.53	$88.06
Monthly	$28.92	$38.99	$46.00	$63.97	$93.32

Return to Top

Lawn Care

Cost of Tree Trimming

Hiring someone to trim just one tree can cost up to $1,000, with $250 to $500 being the typical price range for trimming a tree. And keep in mind that those prices cover one-time service for just one tree. If you’ve got several trees around your house that need to be trimmed or trees must be trimmed several times a year, the bill will go up accordingly.

Tree Removal Costs

Tree removal is based on a price per foot, with average costs being $12–$13/foot. Expect the following:

Height	Average Cost
Up to 25 feet The root system is small and the trunk is thin.	$150 – $500
25 - 75 feet The difference in price can vary dramatically depending on the root depth and trunk diameter.	$200 – $1,000
Over 75 feet A crane is needed to remove very large trees, with care taken to remove root systems without damaging utility or plumbing lines nearby.	$1,500 and up

Cost of Aerating Your Lawn

Lawn aeration costs $75 to $250 for an average home. Aerating your lawn brings a fresh look and feel and keeps it healthy, growing, and beautiful. The cost of aerating your lawn is mainly based on yard size.

Landscaping Design

Cost of Fertilizing Your Lawn

Your lawn needs the proper nutrients to look its best and your soil does not always have enough nutrients. This is where fertilizer comes in. Fertilizing your lawn is the best way to improve the health and appearance of your lawn.Fertilizers contain the necessary minerals and nutrients that your grass needs to grow to its full potential. But it is important to note that different types of grass require different fertilizers.

The minimum cost for lawn fertilizer is $0.08/sf
The maximum cost for lawn fertilizer is $0.48/sf

If you do not have the time or the tools to fertilize your lawn on your own, you can hire a contractor to do the job. If you hire a contractor, the cost of fertilizing your lawn is about $12-$15/hr. You can also hire a lawn care expert or professional lawn care company, which will bring your lawn fertilizing cost up to about $60 per hour, on average. The more experience someone has, the more it will cost. That said, if you go with an expert you will do the least amount of work and you will likely get the best results.

Return to Top

Cost of Seeding Your Lawn

Lawn seeding is another great way to improve and/or maintain the long-term health and vibrancy of your lawn. It depends on how large of a lawn you have, but the average cost of seeding your lawn is between $850 – $1,700. The more area you need seeded the higher the price because it will take longer, and you will need more seed to finish the job.

Cost of Weeding Your Lawn

Wedding your lawn is also very important maintenance. Removing unwanted and unsightly weeds is a sure way to improve the appearance of your lawn. If you have a regular lawn care professional who does your weekly mowing and trimming, you can ask them to get rid of the weeds on their next visit. There are a couple ways to go about weeding your lawn. You can pull them regularly or you can kill them with chemicals designed for the job for a more permanent solution.

The average cost of weeding is about $12 and $40 per hour, depending on which method you choose and how many weeds you have. Using weed killer is usually the more expensive route and cost closer to the $25 - $40 per hour mark since you are paying for labor and the chemicals.

Many weed killers are environmentally safe and pet friendly, but some are not. Be sure to consult a lawn care professional before making decisions on which path to take.

Cost of Leaf Removal

Fall is undoubtedly a beautiful time of year. The one down side is that your lush green lawn gets covered with leaves. Leaf removal is something many people can manage on their own, but if you have a large lawn, limited time, and/or enough room in the budget, you can hire a leaf removal pro.

The average price range for hiring a professional for leaf removal is $205 - $330. Some professionals will charge an hourly rate, others will charge $10 per bag. Some may charge an hourly rate of $12-$15 plus a fee per bag ranging from $5 - $15. The cost of leaf removal depends on how large the lawn is, how many leaves you have, and how much it cost the professional to dispose of the leaves.

Return to Top

Cost of Winterizing Your Lawn

Depending on where you live, you may need to winterize your lawn for the harsh winter weather. Winterizing your lawn will ensure the lawn your worked so hard to keep healthy and beautiful does not die from the first snow, and can also prevent dead spots or the unappealing brown spots that we all see too often at the beginning of spring.

The average cost for winterizing a lawn is about $400, but the price can vary drastically depending on where you live and the size of your lawn. If you have a lawn care provider you can ask them about their winterizing process and what your lawn would need, or you can find a lawn care professional today to take on the job.

Cost of Landscaping

In most situations, landscaping includes designing and planning your land usage, getting the land ready, and planting or installing your desired additions.

Hiring a landscaper for various projects, you can expect to pay around $50 to $100 per hour. On average, landscapers will charge 115% more than the cost of the grass sod, plants, and shrubbery. If you're starting from scratch, most homeowners will spend between $3,000 and $15,950 for an average 10,000 sqft. lawn. A general rule of thumb is to spend 10% of your home's value on landscaping.

Cost of Landscaping Maintenance

For general landscaping maintenance, lawn care, gardening, and up keep, the average homeowner will spend $100 - $200/month. Cost will also depend on the size of your yard, your location, and the amount of work you need to have done on a regular basis.

Return to Top

Tips When Hiring a Lawn Care Professional

Ask for a lawn inspection and free estimate.

Lawn care companies that quote a price without seeing your lawn can’t be sure what you need and, therefore, can’t provide an accurate estimate. Top-quality lawn care providers will give you an estimate only after they’ve visited your home.

“Beware of companies that quote guaranteed annual prices without having seen your lawn,” Better Homes & Gardens warns.

Can you negotiate the price?

So, it is possible to get a deal on lawn-mowing services? Maybe.

“Generally, the only way to negotiate lawn-mowing prices is to go in on a bulk discount with a group of four or more neighbors. Since the lawn care professional has reduced drive time, they can charge less and still come out ahead,” Farley says.

What should I beware of?

One thing to be mindful of when comparing lawn-mowing prices is whether the quote you’re getting seems reasonable.

“Beware of prices that seem too good to be true. Often, you’ll end up getting what you pay for,” Farley says.

Also, keep in mind that a lawn-mowing professional or company might try to bump up the price simply because you live in a fancy neighborhood. Why? “Because they think you can afford it,” Farley says.

Regardless of what sort of neighborhood you live in, there are some things you can do to avoid lawn care rip-offs. (It’s worth noting that most lawn care professionals are trustworthy and upfront.) The Better Business Bureau, Better Homes & Gardens, HomeAdvisor and the National Association of Lawn Care Professionals offer these tips:

Shop around.

Contact three or four providers so you can nail down the best price quote. Some providers will itemize each service you want, while others will bundle them into one package.

Request a written contract

A contract should clearly state what types of services you’ll receive, as well as how you’ll pay for it (cash or credit card, for instance). If you’re signing up for a regular service, such as biweekly, the contract should spell out how often your lawn will be mowed and when you’ll be billed.

Lawn Care

Check the reputation

Before hiring a lawn care professional or company, search online for reviews, and seek recommendations from friends, relatives, neighbors and coworkers. If the feedback isn’t good, you should avoid hiring that professional or company; otherwise, you could end up being ripped off.

It’s also smart to hire lawn care professionals who are members of national, state or local industry associations. This shows a professional is interested in excellence, safety and best practices. When considering a lawn care provider, inquire about professional affiliations as well as customer references.

Find out the track record.

Ask how long a lawn care provider has been in business. What level of experience and education does the person or a provider’s staff have? Also, is the provider properly licensed and insured?

Unfortunately, some providers are fly-by-night operators that haven’t been in business very long and are interested only in taking your money, not in providing top-notch service. As noted by MarketWatch, providing lawn care requires little more than some equipment and a business license. Almost no training is required.

Ask about service guarantees.

Some lawn care providers will guarantee performance, and others will refund your money if you’re not satisfied with the work. You’re the one who’s paying, so don’t be afraid to speak up if the service is shoddy.

Remember that lawn care is an investment.

Your home is one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make, so you’ll want to protect that investment by ensuring your lawn is healthy and well-manicured.

“The worth of well-tended lawns and gardens is measured in quality of life and home resale value,” HomeAdvisor says.

Find your lawn care pro today, and we hope you enjoy your beautiful new yard for many years to come.

When you're ready, get free estimates on HomeGuide from trusted lawn care pros:

Get free estimates

Author: Daniel W.
Millions of people ask HomeGuide for cost estimates every year. We track the estimates they get from local companies, then we share those prices with you.