Most homeowners will agree that a garden makes a home. If your lawn is well kept, it looks inviting, and let’s face it, walking around outside in a beautiful and luscious green garden is much more therapeutic than being in a dull, lifeless-looking one. However, the cost of maintaining a lawn can be quite high. So, how much does lawn care cost?
Lawn care costs differ from yard to yard. The typical range for lawn care costs between $48 to $211, with a national average of $129. Cost is based on the size of your yard, region, climatic conditions, products, materials, and labor. A lawn care service company can provide you with an accurate quote.
Everybody wants a lawn they can be proud of, and this article will break down the costs and help you draw up a lawn care 101 price list that suits your lawn’s specific needs.
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How To Determine The Cost Of Lawn Care
The cost of lawn care differs from one house to the next. Some homeowners choose to maintain their own lawns by mowing, fertilizing, and keeping lawn pests at bay with pesticides. Some gardeners even make their own organic compost using leftover kitchen scraps and garden waste.
For those homeowners who don’t have the time or would rather have a professional lawn care service groom their lawn once or twice a month, the following factor in:
The Size Of The Lawn
A small lawn will cost a lot less to maintain than a big lawn. A bigger yard requires more labor, more fertilizers, and other lawn care products, increasing the price significantly.
Self-Maintenance Or Lawn Care Services?
If you were to care for and service your lawn yourself, you would save a lot of money in the long run. However, a professional gardening service knows what is best for a lawn, and they may save you quite a bit of money on having to replace a dead lawn due to pests and diseases.
Regularly scheduled maintenance ends up costing much less at the end of the day. Lawn care professionals are worth it because they know what signs to look for and are equipped with all the products needed to care for a lawn. They can fix any anomalies such as;
- Fertilizer burn
- Chinch bug infestation
- Too much shade
- Brown patches
- Lawn grubs
- Fungus
Lawn Care Service Costs
You can request a quotation from a lawn care service company in your area, as they know the cost of keeping a lawn in top shape. A lawn care expert will inspect your lawn first before drawing up a quote.
| Size | Mowing | Maintenance Included | Cost |
| 3000 Square ft | Monthly (once a month) | None | $25 (min) |
| 3000-8000 Square ft | Biweekly (every second week) | Yes (general maintenance and cleanup) | $45 (average) – average ranges from $30-$80 (depending on the size of the yard) |
| 1 Acre (with edging) | Weekly (once a week) | Yes (general maintenance, weed control, and fertilization | $150 (max) |
Mowing Costs
If your lawn that is 1 acre or larger, hiring a lawn care service only to mow your lawn (without maintenance) will cost as follows;
| No. Of Acres | Weekly Cost | Biweekly Cost |
| 1 | $50 | $60 |
| 2 | $100 | $120 |
| 3 | $105 | $150 |
| 4 | $140 | $200 |
| 5 | $175 | $250 |
Mowing Costs (Per Square Foot)
The weekly mowing price per square foot is about $0.009 – $0.015. The biweekly mowing cost per square foot is $0.015 – $0.020.
Rates Per Hour
If a property has various obstacles such as playing equipment, large trees and bushes, or fences, a lawn care company may charge a client hourly. That is because a tricky yard takes longer to mow, clean up, and maintain than an obstacle-free yard.
Where they could have done more jobs in one day, they lose a job or two while dealing with a difficult yard. Hourly rates are generally between $40 and $80 ($60 being the average price)
Monthly Service Costs (On Contract)
A one-time service costs more than a monthly contract with a lawn service. Even though you pay a larger monthly fee of $200 – $250 (3000 – 5000 square feet), your daily rate works out to be more expensive per day.
Climate And Geography
Usually, lawn care costs about $48 to $211 with an average cost of $129 but keep in mind that prices can vary across the nation. The location and climate conditions of your property also play a big part in determining the cost of your lawn care.
A lawn situated in an area where the climate is mostly wet requires more frequent care than a lawn in a drier region.
For the average cost of lawn care services (per state), click here to see a price breakdown by state.
Travel Fees
Even though the lawn care costs in the city are higher, remote rural areas have an additional travel fee added to their bill.
Lawn Cost Breakdown (Summary)
Though it may seem a simple task, lawn maintenance requires more than just moving. A quote is generated based on the services performed with each visit (including special considerations and conditions). These include:
- Size of the lawn
- Region
- Dethatching
- Leaf removal
- Fertilization
- Weed control
- Mowing
- Trimming
- Labor (per hour or on contract)
- Watering
- Edging
- Aerating
- Pest control
- Clean up
Extra Costs
- Type of terrain (hilly, rocky, etc.)
- Traveling distance
- Special equipment (chainsaw, woodchipper, etc.)
- Equipment maintenance
- Landscaping (professional landscapers charge $50 to $100 per hour)
- Spring/Fall yard clean-up (professionals charge 100 to $250 size-dependent)
- Winterizing ($80 to $380 – size dependent)
- Seeding ($90 to 180 dollars per thousand square feet)
- Tree trimming (depending on the size of the trees)
- Obstacles and obstructions (fences, children’s toys, and jungle gyms)
* Any additional work required.
| Service Description | Estimated Cost |
| Lawn Fertilizing and Cutting (includes mowing, raking, fertilizing, and aerating) | +/- $150 – $300 |
| On-going maintenance (contract) | $150 – $450/month |
| Tree Removal (tree removal company or professional arborist) | +/- $150 (inspection only)Up to $2000 (large tree removal) |
| Flower Bed Installation (by professional landscapers) | $1000 – $3000 (depending on the size and scale of the project) |
| Flower Bed Maintenance | +/- $25 – $65/month |
Wrapping Up
Lawn costs can get expensive, especially when you use a professional to get the job done. Sometimes when we try to DIY, things can go wrong, and you will have to spend even more time and money to correct it.
If you are serious about the curb appeal of your lawn, invest in opting for the lawn experts, or as some call them, “the lawn doctors.”
Whatever the costs involved, if you want to have a beautifully lush, well-kept lawn, you need to spend a bit of money to get it to a level that is easy for you to maintain.
Is paying for lawn care worth it?
Click the button below to read our deep-dive article on whether or not paying for lawn care is worth it!
Kevin is the owner of Land Lawn & Garden. In addition to taking a lot of pride in his lawn at home, he also helps manage the family land. You can find more about him here.