The costs associated with having your lawn care needs handled by a professional depend on the type of services you choose. Some homeowners simply want a professional to treat their lawn for weeds and fertilize it. Others want someone to mow, edge, prune and manage the maintenance of the lawn and surrounding landscaping.
There is a variety of lawn maintenance payment scales depending upon the type of services you select. A reputable lawn care company will send someone to your home to give you an estimate. He will check the size and configuration of your yard and find out which services you want to calculate the monthly or yearly cost.
Chemical Treatments
You may prefer to mow your own lawn but want to hire someone to apply fertilizer and weed killer each month. Larger companies like Scott's or Turfbuilder are more expensive than smaller ones that may be located only in your hometown. A larger lawn treatment company will usually operate only under a 12-month contract. Smaller companies will sometimes care for your lawn without a contract or on a pay-as-you-go basis. The cost as of 2009 will generally add up to about $500 to $700 per year, depending on the size of your lawn.
Mowing and Blowing
If you just want your lawn mowed and the clippings blown away, there are lawn care companies in every city that will perform this kind of service. You can also often find a college or high school student who will take on this responsibility to earn extra money. If you choose to have a professional lawn care company mow, edge and blow your lawn, the cost will depend on the size of your yard and how often you want it done. If you want your lawn serviced once a week, the cost as of 2009 will be about $30 a week for a quarter-acre lawn or less.
Full Service Lawn Care
Homeowners often want their lawn mowed, edged and cleaned up, but also want trees and shrubs pruned, as well as regular chemical treatments for fertilizer and weed control. Full service lawn care companies will perform these tasks at a higher monthly cost.
It is not uncommon for comprehensive care of your lawn and landscape to cost $1,000 a month. This includes maintaining the lawn, pruning shrubs and trees, fertilizing, controlling weeds, planting seasonal flowers and removing limbs and other debris. The size of your property and the complexity of the services will influence the cost of a full service lawn care company.
Contract or Not?
Many people do not like the idea of being locked into a long-term contract for lawn care. A lawn care company will usually give a substantial discount if you sign a one- or two-year contract. There are companies, though, that operate without contracts. If you are not sure you will be satisfied with the quality of a service's work, pay on a month-by-month basis until you have decided it is worth signing a contract.
Do Your Research
Do your research before you commit to a lawn care company. Determine your budget so you will know what type of services you can afford. Get quotes from at least three companies. More often than not, a lawn care company is going to suggest additional services that will enhance your lawn's beauty but also increase your expense.
