Lawn care costs vary depending on the services you need. On average, mowing costs around $36 to $105, yard cleanup prices range from $174 to $436, and overseeding will typically cost between $592 and $1,768.
The size of your lawn and the services you require will have the most significant impact on how much you spend on lawn care.
Average Costs of Lawn Care Services in 2024
| Lawn Care Service | Extreme Low-End Cost | Extreme High-End Cost |
| Mowing | $30 | $278 |
| Aeration | $42 | $636 |
| Dethatching | $98 | $1,135 |
| Fertilization | $42 | $733 |
| Yard cleanup | $109 | $1,089 |
The most common lawn care service you’ll need is mowing, which costs as low as $30 to as much as $278. Aeration, dethatching, and fertilization are also some of the most important maintenance tasks that will help promote a healthy and beautiful lawn. You can expect to pay anywhere from $42 to $1,135 for these services.
Most homeowners spend within these cost ranges for lawn care services. However, your total project cost will still vary depending on several factors, including your yard size, terrain, and obstructive landscape features.
Cost Estimator by Service Type
Lawn care costs differ depending on the type of service, with mowing being the least expensive. Some yard services require more labor and/or expensive equipment.
In the chart below, you’ll find the average cost most homeowners spend on lawn care and yard maintenance:
| Lawn Care Service | Average Cost |
| Mowing | $36 – $105 |
| Aeration | $78 – $238 |
| Dethatching | $146 – $246 |
| Weeding | $65 – $120 |
| Fertilization | $103 – $343 |
| Seeding | $592 – $1,768 |
| Sod installation | $1,048 – $2,992 |
| Hydroseeding | $493 – $2,900 |
| Leaf removal | $165 – $485 |
| Sprinkler system | Installation: $2,400 – $4,200 Repair: $110 – $365 |
| Mulching | $43 – $98 per hour or $20 – $45 per cubic yard |
| Tree trimming | $315 – $700 per tree |
| Bush trimming | $50 – $75 per hour or $6 – $15 per bush |
| Hedge trimming | $48 – $79 per hour |
| Yard cleanup | $174 – $436 |
| Winterization | $393 |
Mowing
If you don’t have the time to mow your own lawn, you can hire a lawn care company to do the task on your behalf. While most homeowners can do it themselves, professional lawn mowing services are more convenient and save you time.
On average, lawn mowing costs between $36 and $105 per visit or around $32 to $68 per hour. The larger your yard, the more expensive hiring a pro will be.
Aeration
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. Aeration creates holes in compacted soil so air, nutrients, and water can reach the grassroots.
Homeowners usually pay between $78 and $238 for lawn aeration, with the national average cost being $144.
Dethatching
A natural part of your lawn, thatch is a compact layer of living and dead organic debris, such as leaves and grass clippings, accumulating between the soil and growing turf. When it’s under a half-inch thick, thatch acts as a mulch layer to help conserve moisture and protect the soil.
But once the thatch reaches between a half inch to 1 inch, the buildup can have adverse effects on your lawn, blocking water and fertilizer from reaching the roots. It also can be a breeding ground for pests and diseases.
For professional lawn dethatching, you can expect to pay around $195 or anywhere from $98 to $1,135.
Weeding
Your lawn will never look its best if it’s littered with weeds. Keep the crabgrass and dandelions off your yard with chemical treatments, or hire a gardener to pull the weeds for you.
Depending on your lawn’s size and the control method you use, you can expect to pay between $65 and $120 for weed control. If you’re hiring a gardener to hand-pull the weeds, it will cost you around $30 to $60 per hour.
Fertilization
If the lawn looks greener across the street, your grass might not be getting all the nutrients it needs. A lawn care professional can conduct a soil test and help you determine the best fertilization regimen for your lawn.
The total cost of your fertilizing treatment will largely depend on the size of your lawn. Typically, the average price of lawn fertilization is around $289, but most homeowners spend between $103 and $343.
Seeding
Does your lawn need new grass? Seeding is the most affordable option for homeowners looking for a fresh new yard on a budget. If you hire a professional to seed your lawn, you can expect the overall cost of your project to be anywhere from $592 to $1,768, or around $1,122 on average.
Sod Installation
Unlike seeding, which can take one to two years to grow into a mature lawn, sod installation can provide you with a new yard instantly. On average, installing sod costs around $2,010, but your project may cost as low as $583 to as high as $7,238, depending on various factors like the size of your lawn and the type of grass used.
Hydroseeding
Planting grass through hydroseeding involves applying a mixture of seed, mulch, fertilizer, water, and soil amendments. The mixture is called “slurry” and is often spread over large pieces of land or slopes where conventional seeding is challenging.
Professional hydroseeding costs between $0.06 and $0.20 per square foot. It’s more expensive than conventional seeding but more affordable than installing sod.
Leaf Removal
A mat of wet leaves doesn’t look good on any lawn, and it’s not healthy for the grass, either. On average, leaf removal costs between $165 and $485 and can cost as low as $60 for small jobs.
Sprinkler System
If you don’t have the time to water your lawn, a sprinkler system may be just what you need for your grass to stay healthy and hydrated. Installing a sprinkler system costs around $3,150, with most homeowners spending from $2,400 to $4,200.
For lawns already equipped with sprinklers, homeowners can expect to pay around $110 to $365 for sprinkler repair.
Mulching
Your flower beds and gardens will benefit from mulch. It helps retain moisture in the soil, limits erosion in the beds, and adds beautiful texture to the landscape.
Typically, mulch costs around $17 to $68 per cubic yard or $2 to $5.50 per bag. If you want someone to spread the mulch for you, a pro will usually charge $20 to $45 per cubic yard installed or $43 to $98 per hour.
Tree Trimming
Trees are among the most remarkable plants growing on your lawn. But if they begin to look unhealthy or unsightly, your front yard won’t be turning heads for the right reasons.
On average, tree trimming will cost around $475 or between $315 and $700 per tree. Prices will vary significantly based on the tree’s size. If you only need to trim a small tree, it can cost as little as $85.
Bush Trimming
Just like your trees need trimming, so do your bushes. Keep them looking crisp and pristine by hiring a pro to trim back their branches. The typical cost range for bush trimming is $50 to $75 per hour or $6 to $15 per bush, while the average is around $63 per hour or $10 per bush.
Hedge Trimming
Hedges are different from bushes, but the average cost to trim hedges is nearly the same as bush trimming. Homeowners can expect to pay $63 per hour for hedge trimming, with most professional rates ranging from $48 to $79 per hour.
Yard Cleanup
Yard cleanup entails various services performed to tidy up your lawn, including tasks like raking leaves, bagging yard waste, and removing trash or old furniture. On average, yard cleanup costs between $174 and $436, with an average price of $318.
After spring and fall cleaning, you’ll also need to have the debris removed, which can cost an additional $160 to $400.
Winterization
Cold temperatures and harsh winter winds can harm your lawn. If you’ve tried to keep your grass healthy and green all year long, the last thing you want is for the first frost or snowstorm to ruin your hard work.
The solution is to hire a lawn care professional for lawn winterization. This service costs around $393, but it can help give your grass whatever it needs to survive the winter. Note, though, that every yard is different. So, what your lawn needs for the winter might be different from what your neighbor’s lawn needs.
Other Factors That Affect Cost
The prices listed for each lawn care service are all average costs. 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.
Let’s go over these determining factors in detail, so you can better understand how your total lawn care bill may differ from the average homeowner’s.
Yard Size
The average lawn size is 8,712 square feet or one-fifth of an acre. If your lawn is significantly larger or smaller than the average lawn size, you can expect your total lawn care cost to differ from the national average.
For example, most homeowners pay between $592 and $1,768 to overseed or reseed their lawns. But if you need to seed an area that’s larger than average, you can expect to pay much more than the national average cost of seeding. Seeding 1 acre of land, for instance, can cost anywhere from $3,920 to $8,276.
The bottom line: Homeowners with large lawns will often spend more on lawn care than the average costs.
Obstacles in Your Yard
A lawn care professional may raise their rates if obstacles in the lawn make their job more difficult. Old tree stumps or large tree roots can slow down the task at hand.
For example, if you’re having sod installed, a professional will require more time and labor to ensure the sod aligns with the surrounding obstacle.
Lawn’s Current Condition
For some lawn care services, the healthier you keep your lawn, the less you may need to pay.
For example, if you’re not maintaining your lawn with the proper dethatching, aeration, or watering regimen, then you may have to spend more money on pest control and fighting off lawn diseases. Or, if you haven’t had your lawn mowed in weeks, you may be charged a higher fee to cut the overgrown grass.
Lawn Care Provider’s Experience
A service provider’s training, experience, and expertise can affect your total lawn care costs. If you’re hiring a pro who is new to the industry, you can expect their hourly rate to be much less than hiring a pro with years of experience. Keep in mind that hiring a more experienced professional is likely to provide better results.
Recurring Lawn Care Services
Some lawn care companies offer weekly, biweekly, or monthly lawn care services. The average maintenance cost per month or per week will often be lower than paying for a one-time service. For instance, a monthly lawn care cost ranges between $125 and $500.
Signing up for regular lawn care, such as a weekly mowing service, can help you save money compared to paying for a one-time service each week.
Packaged Plans
Many pros provide additional services as part of a recurring lawn care plan. A basic lawn care package plan may include mowing, fertilizing, and aeration, all at a lower cost. Instead of paying for each service separately, think of recurring package plans as buying lawn care in bulk.
Pro Cost vs. DIY Lawn Care Costs
If you enjoy mowing your grass and tending to your yard, you’ll need to purchase several pieces of lawn care equipment.
While the actual price of the equipment may vary depending on the type, power source, and features, here is a bare-bones list of needed lawn care equipment and the average costs:
| Lawn Care Equipment | Typical Cost |
| Lawn mower | Reel: $71 – $326 Robot: $665 – $17,042 Gas push: $188 – $431 Electric push: $108 – $836 Zero-turn riding: $2,750 – $9,912 |
| String trimmer | Gas: $159 – $179 Electric: $43 – $59 Battery-powered: $48 – $275 |
| Leaf blower | Gas: $118 – $369 Electric: $52 – $308 Backpack: $249 – $599 Battery-powered: $156 – $454 |
| Aerator rental | Spike: $54 per day Core: $98 per day |
| Dethatching machine | $140 |
| Fertilizer spreader | Handheld: $11 – $35 Broadcast: $88 – $282 |
| Leaf rake | $32 |
| Wheelbarrow | $69 |
If you don’t have enough space in your garage, you’ll need a sturdy shed to store all your lawn care equipment. Most homeowners spend anywhere from $1,767 to $9,567 to have a garden shed built by a professional.
You’ll also need to find time to spend on your yard work. How much time will it take to mow, trim, and edge your lawn? It depends on the size of your yard. Generally, you’ll need to block out at least a couple of hours a week for lawn care.
Pro Tip: If you don’t already have these pieces of equipment at home, it might be more cost-effective in the long run to hire a professional service. Not only will you save on initial equipment costs but also on potential maintenance and storage expenses.
Cost of Lawn Care by Location
Where you live also matters, as different regions or climates can impact the overall cost of lawn care services. Some of the cost factors that influence the type of treatments needed, as well as the frequency of lawn care pro visits, include varying climates, grass types, demand, soil types and conditions, topography, and local regulations.
Additionally, the cost of living in your particular region can affect both material and labor costs.
FAQ
What are the Benefits of Hiring a Lawn Care Service?
There are many benefits to hiring a lawn care professional, including:
- Convenience: For many homeowners, hiring a lawn care professional takes the lawn care burden off their shoulders. Not everyone wants to spend Saturday mornings pushing a lawn mower and sweating under the hot sun.
- Time saver: Taking care of your lawn eats up a lot of time. Your week is filled with a heavy work schedule, putting food on the table, and paying the bills. Don’t let lawn care take away the precious hours you finally get to spend with family and friends.
- Better lawn health: A healthy lawn is a beautiful lawn. When you have a professional on the job, you know your grass is getting everything it needs to grow, flourish, and get the neighbors’ attention.
- Professional results: Many lawn care solutions are easy DIY projects. While they may save you a few dollars, your lawn may be missing the special touch only a professional has. If you’re looking to have the best lawn on the block, hiring a professional can help boost curb appeal.
When is the Best Time to Water My Lawn?
The best time to water your lawn is before 10 in the morning. If you water your lawn any later, the hot sun may evaporate the water before it has time to replenish the roots. Avoid watering your yard late in the day or at night, as droplets may settle on the grass blades overnight and encourage disease.
The key to a healthy lawn with a deep root system is to water infrequently but deeply. Watering frequently for a short period won’t encourage your turf to develop a deep root system.
How Can I Measure the Size of My Lawn?
To determine your lawn size, measure its length and width (in feet) before multiplying the two numbers. For example, if your lawn has a length of 50 feet and a width of 30 feet, its size is 1,500 square feet. If your lawn has irregular shapes, you can measure it in small sections and just add the results.
Most lawn care companies base their fees on the square footage of the lawn. So, if you know the correct size of your lawn, you’ll get more accurate cost estimates.
Let a Pro Take Care of Your Lawn
To keep your grass healthy and beautiful, you should hire a reliable lawn care company. It’s a convenient and time-saving solution that gives you peace of mind.
Lawn care costs greatly depend on the lawn maintenance services included. You may have to pay between $32 and $68 per hour for lawn mowing, $0.04 to $0.06 per square foot for dethatching, and around $78 to $238 for aeration. However, the size of your lawn will still have an impact on your overall lawn care costs.
Book a local lawn care professional today so you can put your push mower back in the garage and start enjoying your yard without lifting a finger to maintain it.
Note: LawnStarter may get a referral fee for matching you with contractors in your area.
Main Photo Credit: Clayton800 / Pixabay
