The average cost for weed control on a 1/4-acre lot is $95, with prices ranging from $65 – $120. On the extreme high-end, expect to pay a professional about $200 for an acre. If you have a very small area to treat, costs will be closer to $35.
If you want that picture-perfect, healthy green lawn, expect to dedicate significant amounts of time, energy, and money towards maintaining it. Weed control is a large part of this, with costs varying based on acreage, application, equipment, and cleanup. Other factors such as location may also affect the total cost of weed removal services.
- Average Weed Control Costs in 2023
- Weed Control Cost Estimator by Lawn Size
- Other Factors That Affect Cost
- Related Services
- Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost
- Cost of Weed Control by Location
- FAQ
Average Weed Control Costs in 2023
| National Average Cost | $95 |
| Typical Price Range | $65 – $120 |
| Extreme Low-End Cost (<1/8 acre) | $35 |
| Extreme High-End Cost (1 acre) | $200 |
These are the typical costs for an average yard. The average yard size is around one-fifth of an acre or about 8,712 square feet. Most homeowners can expect to pay between $65 – $120 for weed control services on yards of this size.
Ultimately, the final cost depends on what you want to do and the space you want to cover. For a small space with limited application such as “weed and feed” herbicide, prices start as little as $35. For larger spaces with more intensive services, you’re looking closer to $200.
Weed Control Cost Estimator by Lawn Size
Depending on your weed control service, you may be charged per acre. For yards between 1/8 acre and 1/4 acre, typical costs range between $45 and $265 for an average of $155. For larger yards over 1/4 acre, expect that number to increase exponentially, with an average low starting at $150.
| 1/8-1/4 acre (average cost) | $155 |
| Over 1/4 acre | Starts at $150 |
Other Factors That Affect Cost
There are other factors that determine the total cost other than lawn size:
Weed Control Method
The type of weed removal method that you choose will affect the total cost of the treatment. The most common methods are hand-pulling weeds and herbicides.
- Manual weed pulling involves more labor and only includes the removal of existing weeds. Costs may vary depending on how much labor is required. The average cost for hand-pulling weeds is $45 per hour with a typical range of $30 – $60 per hour.
- Herbicides are chemicals used either to prevent or get rid of weeds. This common weed control method often involves less work than hand-pulling. Costs vary depending on the type of herbicide used. Depending on the herbicide (see below), expect to pay between $65 – $135 per treatment.
Types of Herbicides
- Weed and feed is a type of product that combines a traditional herbicide with a fertilizer that is then used on lawns to get rid of weeds. The average cost for a weed and feed treatment in a standard 1/4-acre lawn is $95 with a typical range of $65 – $125.
- Pre-emergent herbicides are used prior to the growth of weeds in a yard. By applying pre-emergents before the start of the growing season, you can effectively prevent the growth of any new weeds above the surface. You can expect to pay anywhere from $65 – $120 with an average of $90 for pre-emergent treatments.
- Post-emergent herbicides are used for weeds that have already sprouted during the growing season. If you’re trying to get rid of the existing weeds in your yard, post-emergents are most likely what you’ll be looking at. Typical prices for professional post-emergent treatments range from $75 – $135 with an average cost of $105.
Pet and Eco-Friendly Options
When considering weed removal, pet-friendly and environmentally-friendly organic weed control should be something to consider.
- Organic weed killer is essential for those who want to be environmentally aware. Also, while not all herbicides will hurt animals, it’s best to avoid the possibility of allergies or harm by choosing an organic, pet-friendly option. Organic weed control services cost between $35 to $125 with an average price of $80.
Landscape Fabric
If you’re in the market for weed removal, you might come across landscape fabric. When used correctly, landscape fabric can help to limit weed growth by acting as a physical barrier. It prevents weeds in the soil from getting sunlight, thus reducing the need for post-emergent weed control.
- Woven landscape fabric is usually made from linen fibers or polypropylene woven together and is the most common. Rolls of this fabric come in different sizes. The small end, from 3 feet to 100 feet is about $35. On the large end, 10 feet by 300 feet rolls cost about $280.
- Non-woven fabrics are mostly made from polypropylene or polyester. These are best used for rock, gravel paths, or beds. The cost for a 3 feet by 50 feet roll comes to around $20. The price for a 10 feet by 300 feet roll is about $180.
- Spun landscape fabrics are a type of non-woven fabric that layers bonded polyester. On the small side, for a 1.5-ounce thin fabric roll, 3 feet by 100 feet will cost about $20. Thicker options, 3-plus ounces (weight per yard) go for $30 or more. More robust 8-ounce industrial rolls are around 6 feet to 100 feet and can go as high as $300.
- Perforated landscape fabrics are usually the cheapest and the lightest fabric. They have pre-cut holes in them designed for your plants. Typically these are purchased as 4 feet. by 8 feet. sheets for less than $10. Others can be purchased as 3 feet. by 300 feet. rolls for around $80.
Related Services
The best way to get rid of weeds for good, is with a healthy lawn. Don’t stop with weed removal. Try these related lawn care services to keep your lawn growing healthy without pesky weeds popping up year after year:
Gardener Services
Some people prefer to hire services such as a gardener yearly rather than for one-time visits. Regular maintenance can be one less thing you have to worry about, and depending on what you want to be done, you might be able to find one that fits your budget.
Unlike lawn care services that will cover traditional lawn maintenance like lawn mowing, weeding, trimming, and occasionally pest control, gardeners focus on garden and flower beds. The national average to hire a gardener is $150 per visit, with a typical range of $110 – $200 per visit.
| National Average | $150 per visit |
| Typical Price Range | $110 – $200 per visit |
Aeration
One of the most important things to include when thinking about a healthy yard with fewer weeds is lawn aeration. This technique pokes holes into the soil to give the grass roots more nutrients and oxygen. Aeration is most useful on heavily compacted yards with a lot of foot traffic.
On average, you can expect to pay $145 to aerate a lawn with a typical range of about $75 – $225. If you’re trying to pinch pennies, you may be able to spend as little as $40 for a small yard. On the other end of that scale, depending on how big your yard is and what equipment is needed, you could spend as much as $700.
| National Average | $145 |
| Typical Price Range | $75 – $225 |
| Extreme Low-End Cost | $40 |
| Extreme High-End Cost | $700 |
Dethatching
Thatch, a layer of organic materials such as dead grass, can be very beneficial to your yard. That said, excessive thatch can prevent the soil beneath from getting the nutrients it needs. Dethatching your lawn helps to break the surface of the thatch so that the soil beneath can breathe easy. Healthy soil means a healthy lawn with less opportunity for weeds to sprout.
The average cost to dethatch your lawn is about $190 per hour. The price can also be measured in square feet. Prices typically range from $0.15 – $0.35 per square foot.
| National Average | $190 |
| Typical Price Range | $0.15 – $0.35 |
Fertilization
As discussed in the weed and feed section, fertilizer is a great way to keep your lawn healthy. Covering an entire lawn with fertilizer can be expensive, so let’s break it down. The average cost is roughly $380 with location, type of fertilizer, and lawn size all influencing the price. Costs for lawn fertilization can range from $88 – $544.
| National Average | $380 |
| Typical Price Range | $88 – $544 |
Hydroseeding
Hydroseeding is an easy and cheaper way to plant grass in large areas. This method uses a mixture called a slurry that contains seed, fertilizer, mulch, soil amendments, and water. It works faster than conventional seed planting and is cost-effective for large lots. The typical average for hydroseeding is about $0.08 – $0.20 per square foot.
Mulching
Mulch is a great way to keep weeds out of garden beds and comes in organic and inorganic options such as wood chips, lawn clippings, leaves, plastics, or rocks. Not only will mulch help to keep moisture and nutrients in your garden, but it will also suppress weed growth.
The average price range for mulch is about $17 – $68 per cubic yard. If you’re looking for less volume, you can buy mulch by the bag for $2 – $5.50. You can also have mulch professionally installed for an additional $20 – $45 per cubic yard or $43 – $98 per hour.
| Typical Price Range (per cubic yard) | $17 – $68 |
| Price Per Bag | $2 – $5.50 |
| Professionally Installed | $37 – $113 |
| Price Per Hour | $43 – $98 |
Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost
If you want to tackle the weeds in the lawn by yourself, first choose a method. Hand-pulling weeds is a great way to save money but can be strenuous and time-consuming. The basic equipment you’ll want for hand-pulling weeds is gardening gloves, a kneeling pad, and the occasional weeder tool to get the particularly tough weeds out of the soil.
| Equipment | Average Cost Per Product |
| Gardening gloves | $9 |
| Kneeling pad | $16 |
| Weeder tool | $25 |
| Total DIY Cost | $50 |
Prices for a weeder tool vary depending on the specific kind of weeder. Glove and Knee pad costs may vary based on whether they are multipacks, the brand, and size. If you’d prefer to jump straight to weed killers, costs change based on the size of your lawn and the brand you choose. Organic and inorganic costs differ slightly.
| Herbicide | Average Cost Per Product |
| Chemical herbicide | $30 |
| Organic herbicide | $45 |
Homeowners with large areas to cover will probably spend more on herbicides than others. Still, hiring professionals to apply weed treatment typically costs $65 – $120. Taking matters into your own hands can save you a lot of money, but you’re likely to pay for it in time and labor spent out in the yard.
If you want to go the DIY route, see our recommendations for the best weed killers overall and the best weed killers for flower beds specifically to help you choose the right product to use.
Cost of Weed Control by Location
One thing to know about weeds is that they’ll grow just about anywhere. Prices for weed control may vary from location to location depending on the cost of living. The main thing that will determine the price of weed removal, however, is the size of the lawn or garden area. The current average household lot size is about 8,177 square feet, or under 1/4 acre.
Rural areas with larger yards and room for more plants will likely pay more than someone in the city suburbs with a small plot of soil to work with. For example, in Vermont, the average lot size is about 78,408 square feet. Homeowners there that are looking for weed control for their whole property will likely be looking at higher prices.
FAQ
The cheapest way to get rid of weeds is to simply grab and pull. Hand-pulling weeds from your yard, garden, or flower beds costs next to nothing. The only thing you’ll spend is time and manual labor out in the dirt.
Granted, this method isn’t always the most effective, and at times a weed-puller tool is needed to get the deep-rooted weeds.
One sure way to stop weeds from coming back the following year is to use systemic herbicides. Weeds are known for their stubbornness and more often than not, you’ll see them pop up in your garden regardless. Don’t give up hope just yet! Systemic herbicides are the best option to kill the entire weed down to the root.
These herbicides are absorbed by the plant once applied and are then transported through the rest of the plant. This process kills the roots so that there is no chance of future germination. Systemic herbicides are especially useful on weeds such as dandelions whose taproots can reach 10 inches down into the soil.
The most effective way to kill weeds is through herbicides. For weeds that are already poking through the soil in your garden, post-emergent systemic herbicides are the most effective. Whether you’re using herbicides or hand-pulling, the key is to get the roots of the weed so that it doesn’t appear next season.
Take it a step further by using pre-emergent herbicides to prevent weeds before the growing season begins.
Final Thoughts
Weeds continue to be a nuisance for anyone interested in lawn care. Whether you’re a master gardener or just trying to keep a neat yard, weeds can be a headache to deal with year after year. Get back to a beautiful lawn and contact a local lawn care professional for price estimates on weed control services.
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