When it comes to lawn care, homeowners have a lot of questions. Some are questions that we hear over and over again. One of these happens to be, “Am I supposed to tip my lawn care service?” We will answer the question of when, how much, and why you should tip your lawn service in this article.
When, How Much, and Why to Tip a Lawn Care Service
When, how much, and why to tip is a cause of anxiety for many consumers. With lawn care, it becomes confusing with all the different types of services offered and the frequency of those services. However, when you break it down, the method for tipping for lawn care is quite simple. Ask yourself a few questions.
When to Tip for Lawn Care Service
Is This Lawn Care Company Providing Me with Regular Service?
In the case where you have year-round lawn care, one option would be to tip your service provider during the holiday season. Some contractors don’t expect tips due to company policies, but some customers like to show appreciation for work that consistently goes above and beyond. If you don’t have year-round service, tip at the end of your lawn care season.
Do You Tip a One-Time Lawn Service?
For a one-time job, it’s all about quality (and you should be hiring quality lawn care services!). It’s up to you in this case. If the one-time job is done well, feel free to give a couple of extra bucks. But don’t feel obligated.
Keep in mind, if it is a one-time lawn mowing service, this may involve them switching up their schedule to accommodate your yard. If they go to great lengths to accommodate your lawn, you should probably give them a small tip to show your appreciation.
After Large Landscaping Jobs
Many times, specialty jobs like flower bed installation and backyard patio construction take longer than expected, and good contractors will make sure to get your feedback to ensure it’s done to your specifications. If they surpassed your expectations and gave you something you can be proud of, show your appreciation with a little extra tip. They will remember it.
How Much Should You Tip a Lawn Care Service?
For recurring lawn care service, such as mowing, the average end-of-season tip ranges from $29-$65, or about the cost of one week of service. This will depend on where you live and what kind of maintenance you get.
For one-time lawn care jobs, the average is closer to $7, depending on the scope of the job. This is the typical, optional tip for a one-person crew. Prices may vary depending on the size of the landscaping crew and if the company upcharges for a one-time service.
Why Should You Tip Your Lawn Care Service?
There are many times when your lawn care service will go above and beyond for no other reason than they take pride in their work. It’s a good idea to recognize a landscaping crew’s hard work through a nice gesture. Here are two instances when lawn care companies go out of their way to provide exceptional service:
- Overgrown lawn: If your grass hasn’t been cut in a while, chances are it took a bit longer to mow. Additionally, if you’ve been doing it yourself and haven’t had a professional edging job, it may take quite some time for them to put a nice clean edge on your yard.
Depending on the scope of the job, lawn care services may or may not charge more. If the grass is over a certain height, they may charge more for the extra time, gas, and equipment use (commonly called a “long grass fee”). But, regardless of the charge, it’s a good idea to recognize their extra work with a tip.
- Rush job: Another instance is when they do a rush job, which involves amending their schedule to work around you. It’s not easy to change your schedule in the lawn care business, so offering a healthy tip in these instances is not only good practice, but incentivizes them to make special accommodations for you in the future.
Get Creative When You Tip
Sometimes there are better ways than cash to show your appreciation. You can send your regular contractors a gift basket during the holidays. You can give them cold drinks and sandwiches after a job. You can write or call the employer to praise a job well done.
Sometimes this can result in more benefits than a cash tip. In summary, don’t feel obligated to tip, but don’t feel ashamed to show your appreciation for good quality work. And don’t be afraid to get creative in doing so.
Lawn Care vs. Landscaping Services
Lawn care services and landscaping services might sound similar, but they have different roles and jobs that they fulfill. Depending on what kind of yard work you want to get done will also determine if you tip and the tip amount.
- A lawn care service will work to maintain your yard through traditional lawn work like mowing the grass, fertilizing, weeding, and providing lawn pest control services.
- A landscaping company works more with establishing a lawn through construction, hardscaping, and planting.
Landscape jobs vary widely in type and size, and there’s no one average tip that could account for what each job requires. If you want to tip your landscaper, consider the amount of time and work that was spent on the job and tip accordingly.
FAQ About Tipping Your Lawn Service
Lawn care prices will depend on the services you require:
● Mowing typically costs between $29 and $65.
● Weeding, on average, will be around $65 to $120.
● Leaf removal costs $81.25 to $464.75.
● Yard cleanups average from $170.50 to $374.30.
Landscaping projects, on average, cost somewhere between $4,000 and $20,317 with a national average of about $12,825, depending on the size of the project. Smaller projects are much less expensive:
● To have a fire pit put in will cost $500 to $3,433.
● Fencing typically costs between $1,330 and $5,550.
● Tree and bush planting averages anywhere from $25 to $3,000.
● Patio landscaping ranges from $2,363 to $5,909.
The most important thing to remember while looking at prices for landscaping and lawn care is that the size of your yard and the services you require determine the total cost. Prices will vary depending on the project.
Yes, there is a right way to mow your lawn:
● Don’t mow too short. Make sure you cut your grass at the correct height for your grass type.
● Implement regular mowing. Regular mowing allows you to use your lawn clippings as fertilizer for a healthier lawn.
● Sharpen your mower blades. Clean, sharpened blades give your grass a nice crisp look.
There are cheap ways that you can add style to your lawn without using all of your hard-earned cash.
● Use mulch. Mulch is cheap, and there are even ways to get free mulch. It adds intentionality and texture to your yard while providing health benefits to your soil.
● Add perennials. Planting perennials is a cheap way to add color to your landscape.
● Repurpose items. Use your old wheelbarrow or tub as a planter that’ll save you from having to go out and buy one.
Call (and Tip) A Lawn Care Professional
Lawn care and landscaping services do a lot for you and your yard. Consider the work that’s being completed and the manpower that it takes when asking yourself if you should tip your local pros. If your yard needs attention, call on the lawn care professionals to help achieve your yard goals. (And make sure to practice proper tipping etiquette on their way out.)
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