Lawns are more than just looks! Having a lush green lawn is not just about making your home and neighborhood look nice. There are, in fact, WAY WAY more benefits to having a healthy lawn, mental peace and well-being of the environment, just to state a few! Check out our lawn care pricing chart.
Photo Credit Lawn care costs vary heavily depending on the service and size of the lawn.
However, keeping your lawn healthy, clean, green, and serene takes time, effort, and money. Now some people may be free enough or passionate enough to do this all on their own but let’s be honest, most of us are not!
Or sometimes, the problem is not money or lack of interest but the sheer size of the lawn that might make you consider hiring professional lawn care services. So here we are sharing a detailed lawn care pricing guide for those people.
The most significant determinants of lawn care cost are the size of the yard and the services that you need. For example, mowing costs between $33 to $70 per hour. Whereas lawn dethatching can set you back a whopping $175 per hour.
Similarly, a sprinkler system installation costs between $1,700 to $3,400, while a sod or turf installation can cost you around $5000 for an average-sized lawn.
However, once again! All these prices are just estimates for average-sized lawns. Lawn care costs will vary a lot depending on many factors and the nature of the service. So, let’s go ahead and discuss these things in a bit more detail.
What Do Most Lawn Care Companies Charge?
The cost of lawn care services by different companies varies depending on the size of the lawn, services included in lawn care and the frequency of visits. Some companies charge their customers by the hour, while others charge depending on the service and size of the yard.
The lawn care pricing chart below is intended to give you a baseline idea of how much a lawn care service costs on average across the United States. Depending on where you live and the size of your property, these prices will change.
| Lawn Care Service | Average Cost |
| Aeration | $60 – $240 |
| Artificial Turf Installation | $6 – $20 per square foot |
| Bush Trimming | $40 – $75 per hour or $5 – $15 per bush |
| Dethatching | $175 per hour |
| Fertilizing | $20 – $50 per hour |
| Hedge Trimming | $50 – $80 per hour |
| Hydroseeding | $0.10 – $0.20 per square foot |
| Leaf Removal | $80 – $450 |
| Mowing | $30 – $60 per hour |
| Mulching | $40 – $100 per hour or $30 – $50 per cubic yard installed |
| Seeding | $700 – $2,000 |
| Sod Installation | $0.5 – $2 per square foot |
| Sprinkler System Installation | $1,700 – $3,400 |
| Tree Trimming | $300 – $700 |
| Weeding | $60 – $120 (varies depending on method) |
| Winterization | $400 |
| Yard Cleanups | $150 – $400 |
In addition to that, if you have trees, fences, obstacles and children’s playing structures on your lawn, the lawn care prices will automatically increase. Nonetheless, let’s go ahead and discuss the cost of lawn care by service type and factors which can increase the lawn care costs in detail.
Aeration
Photo Credit On average, homeowners usually pay $175 for lawn aeration.
Soil compaction is a common issue in lawns with high foot traffic. Compaction causes the grass growth to slow down as roots are not able to penetrate deep enough into the soil. Aeration resolves this issue by creating tiny holes in the ground that allow fresh air, water and nutrients to reach deeper into the soil.
Professional aeration services cost about $15 to $20 per 1000 square feet. So, for average-sized lawns, aeration costs will vary between $60 to $200. If you hire a company that charges by the hour, expect to pay them anywhere between $15 to $32 an hour.
Artificial Turf Installation
Photo Credit Expect to pay anywhere between $3,000 to $7,000 for artificial turf installation.
Synthetic or artificial turf is low maintenance. Unlike grass, it requires no water, no fertilization and no mowing, which is great for saving money in the long run. Also, it remains green all year long, unlike the grass. If you are looking to get an artificial turf installed in your home, expect to pay around $6,000 for a 500-square-foot lawn.
On average, artificial turf comes with an installation cost of nearly $13 per square foot. However, the price can vary between $6 and $20, depending on a number of factors. These prices include both the cost of materials and labor.
Bush Trimming
Photo Credit Lawn care companies charge around $50 an hour to trim the bushes.
If you want your lawn to look clean and all tidied up, you will have to ensure that the bushes in and around your lawn are trimmed properly and on time. This can be a pretty hefty task. That is why most lawn owners and gardeners hire professional lawn care companies to get the job done.
On average, lawn care companies charge anywhere between $40 to $75 an hour to trim or remove bushes from the lawn. If the company charges by the number of bushes, expect to pay $5 to $15 per bush. However, these costs can vary a lot depending on the number of bushes, frequency of service and location of your lawn.
Dethatching
Photo Credit Dethatching, on average, costs around $175 per hour.
Just like soil compaction. A thick layer of thatch on the grass can prevent nutrients, air and water from penetrating the soil. As a result, grass growth slows down, and in extreme cases, thatch buildup can also cause the death of the grass. Moreover, thatch also makes the grass more prone to fungal diseases.
So, if you are looking to hire a lawn care company to dethatch your lawn, expect to pay them anywhere between $150 to $200 per hour or $250 to $500 per 1000 square feet of the lawn. On average, homeowners spend between $180 and $250 for dethatching in the US.
Fertilization
Photo Credit Basic lawn fertilization costs between $0.09 to $0.25 per square foot.
If you own a lawn, you must know that fertilization can make a massive difference in terms of grass growth, health and looks. For instance, soil deficient in phosphorus suffers from poor grass growth, and soil low in nitrogen looks pale and dead. A lawn care company can quickly perform a soil test to give you an estimate of your fertilization needs.
For an average-sized lawn in the United States, you can expect to pay anywhere between $100 to $600. If the company charges by the hour, the fertilization cost will vary between $20 to $50 per hour. Most homeowners pay around $400 for getting their lawn fertilized.
Hedge Trimming
Photo Credit Hedge trimming typically costs between $50 – $80 per hour.
Just like the bushes in and around your lawn, the hedge of your yard also needs to be trimmed if you are to maintain a neat-looking lawn. Even though hedges are different from bushes, the trimming cost for both is quite similar. Hedge trimming can cost you anywhere between $50 – $80 per hour.
However, some lawn care companies can charge as little as $30 or as much as $100 an hour for their hedge trimming services. Also, most lawn care companies charge for hedge trimming by the hour. Some can also give you a quote for the whole job. The cost for an entire job varies between $45 to $1,500 usually.
Hydroseeding
Photo Credit Hydroseeding typically costs around $0.08 to $0.20 per square foot.
Even though conventional seeding methods are the most affordable way of establishing a new lawn, you can build a turf much faster with hydroseeding. Also, hydroseeding is less expensive than installing sod to create a new lawn. The cost of hydroseeding will vary depending on how much grass you need and where you live.
However, you can expect to pay anywhere between 8 and 20 cents per square foot for hydroseeding to a lawn care company. Most homeowners in the United States report paying around $500 and $4,000 for hydroseeding in their yards. Material and labor costs for hydroseeding are about $300 and $800, respectively.
RELATED: Dethatching St. Augustine Grass: A Complete Step By Step Guide
Leaf Removal
Photo Credit Expect to pay anywhere between 15 to 25 dollars per hour for leaf removal services.
If you have trees in or around your lawn, you must know that trees begin to shed their leaves when fall comes around. This can create a mess, and as a lawn owner, you will want to get rid of these fallen leaves as soon as possible. Not only do these leaves look ugly, but they can create many issues for the lawn if not removed.
Leaf removal average cost ranges between $80 to $450. However, the price can vary a lot. For instance, small jobs can cost as little as $30, whereas large jobs can cost thousands. If the company charges by the hour, expect to pay around $15 to $25 per hour.
Mowing
Photo Credit Lawn mowing can cost around $30 to $160 per week.
Mowing is the key to healthy grass growth. With each cut, the grass grows thicker, creating a vibrant-looking lawn. It also makes the grass more resilient and keeps the weeds out. However, cutting the grass can take a lot of time, and it is a tedious and boring task. That is why many people hire professionals to mow their lawns.
The cost of mowing can vary depending on the lawn area and the nature of the service. For example, companies that charge by the visit usually take $50 and $210 per visit. Whereas lawn care professionals who charge by the hour take around $30 to $60 per hour. And if you are paying by the area, it will cost you approximately $50 to $75 per square meter.
Mulching
Mulching comes with many benefits. It creates a lawn that feeds itself, and it can save your lawn soil from drying out. Also, it keeps the weeds from taking over your lawn, and it can prevent excess thatch buildup over your grass. Depending on what material you use for mulching, the cost of mulching varies a lot.
Typically, most lawn owners in the United States pay between $30 to $60 per cubic yard of mulch installed. If the company charges by the hour, expect to pay anywhere between $40 and $100 an hour. Most homeowners report to have paid from $35 to $110 per cubic yard for having mulch delivered and installed.
Seeding
Photo Credit Lawn care companies can charge you around $40 to $80 per hour for seeding your lawn.
Planting grass seed is a very economical way of expanding the green space around your home. In addition, if the grass is thinning out, you might also need to reseed or overseed your lawn. There are many things during this process that can go wrong. So, you might be looking to hire professionals to get the job done.
In the United States, the average cost to seed a lawn varies between $700 to $2,000, with most lawn owners paying around $1,400 for seeding of a 10,000 square foot lawn. Generally, you should expect to pay about $80 to $150 per 1,000 square feet for seeding your yard or overseeding an existing one.
Sod Installation
Photo Credit Expect to pay around $0.8 to $1.8 per square foot of the lawn for both labor and materials.
If you are looking to build a new lawn in a short period of time, you can go for sodding instead of seeding.
By this method, you can create a lush green lawn within a matter of just a few weeks instead of waiting for months or years to see your grass grow up. Most people hire professionals to get sod installed in their yards.
The cost of a 500-square-foot sod pellet ranges between $150 to $350. On average, you can expect to pay around $0.5 to $2 per square foot to get sod installed on your lawn. In addition to the material cost, lawn care companies charge a labor fee of around $0.5 to $1 per square foot to install the sod.
Sprinkler System Installation
Photo Credit The national cost average of installing a sprinkler system is around $2,538.
If you do not have time to water your lawn or you have a very large yard, installing a water sprinkler system can help you out. Installing a water sprinkler system is also a great way to save some water and money on irrigation. On average, in the United States, people pay between $1,700 to $3,400 to get a sprinkler system installed.
However, the price can be as low as $500 for a low-end sprinkler system or as high as $7000 for a high-end system. Other than material costs, there are labor costs as well. Expect to pay around $30 to $50 an hour in terms of labor cost for getting a sprinkler system installed on your lawn in the United States.
Tree Trimming
Photo Credit It can cost you around $300 to $700 to get the trees trimmed in and around your home.
Just like the bushes and hedges in your lawn, trees also need trimming. If you let trees and their branches grow uncontrollably over your lawn, it will not only ruin the aesthetics of your lawn but will also block sunlight from reaching the ground. This can result in the grass turning yellow or, in extreme cases, grass death.
In the United States, the national average cost for tree trimming is almost $500. However, the price can vary depending on the number, size and location of the trees. Some companies also charge their customers by the hour. In that case, expect to pay around $87 to $116 per hour for their service.
RELATED: What Is Causing Bumps In My Lawn? And How To Get Rid Of Small Dirt Mounds!
Weeding
Photo Credit Most homeowners spend around $100 for weeding in the United States.
Let’s be honest; no one likes weeds. You want to get rid of them as soon as possible. Not only do weeds in the grass look unsightly, but they can also damage the turf and soil as well. Getting rid of weeds is not rocket science, but it requires proper knowledge of the weed plants and herbicides to use.
Most lawn care companies and independent contractors charge for weeding by the hour. Rates vary depending on many factors, but you can expect to pay around $30 to $50 an hour. If the lawn or property is large, lawn care companies might also quote a total price for the complete job.
Winterization
Photo Credit It costs around $87 on average to get winterization services for your lawn.
Lawn winterization is an essential part of lawn care, especially when it comes to caring for the cool-season grasses. It will keep your grass healthy and green in the coming summer. Not only that, but it also protects the grass against lawn diseases. In addition to that, there is also a sprinkler system winterization.
Since each lawn is different, the prices for winterization will vary from lawn to lawn. However, for an average-sized lawn, you can expect to pay between $100 to $400. And if you have a water sprinkler system installed on your lawn, expect to pay around $50 to $110 to get it ready for the cold winter months.
Yard Cleanup
Photo Credit Yard cleanup costs around $150 on average.
Cleaning your lawn of leaves, tree branches and other debris is an integral part of lawn care. Especially in spring, when you have many downed tree leaves, stems and other debris present on your grass. In addition to that, yard cleanups also include weeding, trimming and debris removal. The task is quite boring and tedious, so most people hire professionals to get the job done.
On average, the cost of the yard cleanup varies from $150 for a low-end service to $400 for high-end service. However, this is just a placeholder for the price. Actual costs will vary a lot depending on the condition of the lawn and the nature of service that your lawn care company provides.
Factors In Calculating Lawn Care Cost
When it comes to calculating costs for various lawn care services, TV commercials and internet pages usually do not provide an exact price. Many variables can increase or decrease the total lawn care cost. For instance, prices in small towns are lower than lawn care prices in cities.
Here are a few variables that can impact the cost of lawn care services:
Lawn Size
Most lawn care companies charge their customers in two ways. Either they charge by the hour, or their charges are per square foot. So, the bigger the lawn area, the more will be the cost of any lawn care service provided to you.
Labor
Another variable that can affect the price of lawn care is the labor cost. In some areas, labor costs are lower than in others. Also, for larger lawns, labor costs are usually higher. Again, it is because it takes more labor to get a job done in larger areas.
Lawn Features
If there are fences, children’s playing structures, trees and obstacles on your lawn, it will complicate the work. As a result, a lawn care company will have to spend more time and more labor which will definitely increase your lawn care bill in the end.
Location
Your bill will be lower if your home is located near a lawn care company center. It is because a lawn care company has to move people, equipment, and trucks around to get a job done, the cost of which is directly reflected in your bill.
Contracts
Many lawn care companies offer discounts to their regular customers. You can check a company’s website to see any such offers. Moreover, lawn care companies might also offer different lawn care packages at discounted prices.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much is lawn care monthly?
For general lawn care services, homeowners in the United States pay around $100 to $200 on an average. General lawn care services include mowing, trimming, upkeep and fertilization etc. However, keep in mind that these prices will vary a lot depending on the nature of services being provided and the size and location of your lawn.
How much does it cost to mow a lawn?
Generally, mowing costs around $48 to $211. On average, people pay around $129 to get their lawns mowed. However, once again, like every other lawn care service, these prices will differ from lawn to lawn and location to location.
Is lawn care expensive?
Well, it all comes down to your demands and requirements. If you demand a high-end service, it will definitely cost you more. In general, lawn care costs between $900 and $8,000 per year, though it will vary depending on several factors as mentioned above.
Sources for Further Reading
- Choosing Home Lawn Care Services – Lawn Talk – University of Illinois Extension
- What to Look for in a Lawn Care Service. Ohioline – Ohio State University Extension
- Lawn Care – 7.202. (2022). Colorado State University Extension
Do you want to add anything else to our lawn care pricing chart? Comment below. Also, check out our other lawn care tips:
Shade Tolerant Grass Species | Which Species Is The Best?
How To Get Bermuda Grass To Spread Fast | Bermuda Grass Lawn Care Tips
Why Is My Grass Turning Yellow And How To Fix It Fast?
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