The Real Costs of Lawn Care

Caring for your own lawn can be expensive. On average, a lawnmower costs $637, and that’s not counting the cost of oil changes and other routine maintenance. Add in tree pruning saws, rakes, leaf blowers, and other yard tools, and the costs of lawn care can skyrocket.

And that’s not counting the cost of your time. According to The Chicago Tribune, the average homeowner spends 70 hours per year on lawn care. If you work slowly or you’ve got a larger property, you can easily double that estimate. Whether you know it or not, you’re spending thousands of dollars per year on your lawn.

On average, lawn care services charge from $35 to $80 per visit, and many have special rates for regular customers. While paying for lawn care might seem unnecessary, think of the time you’ll save — time you could spend on hobbies, with your family, or simply relaxing and enjoying your property.

Lawn Care Services Keep Homeowners Safer

There’s another important factor to consider: Lawn work is surprisingly dangerous. According to The Washington Post, in the United States, about 6,400 people sustain serious injuries in lawn mower accidents each year. Those injuries include burns and lacerations that are serious enough to warrant a hospital visit.

That figure doesn’t include heart attacks and strokes. Lawn care can be physically taxing, especially in hot weather. People can limit these risks by wearing appropriate clothing, drinking plenty of liquid, and scheduling lawn care for the early morning or early evening when temperatures are coolest.

Another solution: Pay professionals to handle the job. Many older adults have turned to professional lawn care services to avoid overexertion, and given the low cost of many of these services, it’s a smart investment.

Professional Services Have More Resources

If you’ve got a larger property or if you’re trying to achieve a certain effect — for instance, if you’re trying to get golf-course-caliber grass — lawn care services can save even more time and money.

Services have access to professional-grade fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and equipment. More importantly, they know how to use those tools safely to get gorgeous results for their customers. A homeowner might spend hundreds of hours trying to get the perfect lawn, while an experienced professional would only need a few visits to achieve the same effect.

That’s not to say that all lawn care services are the same. To achieve the best results at the best price, you’ll need to understand your options, and that requires some research.

Keeping Costs Low for Professional Lawn Care

While professional services are well worth the money, you can’t expect to get a great deal if you don’t look into local options. Consider these questions when evaluating professional lawn care services:

• Does the service offer seasonal deals or discounts? Many services have seasonal pricing, and some offer discounts to new customers. Lawn care companies are competitive, and you can often learn about these deals by looking for online ads for your local area.
• Can I save by scheduling regular visits? Consider each company’s “package" options, which might include regular trimmings, fertilization, and winterization. Package deals can cut the cost of ongoing services considerably.
• Are there any extra fees? Read contracts carefully to make sure you know what you’re getting. Some services have fees for fertilizers, herbicides, and other products. While these fees are often reasonable, you’ll want to keep them in mind when comparing quotes.
• What types of products does the service use? Find out whether the service uses organic or synthetic products. This isn’t much of a concern if you’re just looking for lawn mowing, but if you’re paying for other services, you’ll want to research any substance you’re putting onto your property, particularly if you have children or pets that spend time outdoors.

If you’ve never hired a service to maintain your property, you’ll probably need to look at several options to get a sense of how professional lawn care works. The time you spend comparing quotes will give you peace of mind when the time comes to make a decision.

Looking Online for Affordable Lawn Care

With the right approach, you can actually save on lawn care by paying professionals, and you’ll have consistent, professional results with every visit. You’ll also save a tremendous amount of time.

To start your search, look online for at least 3-4 lawn care companies that provide service in your area. Read carefully, checking for hidden fees. When in doubt, look for customer reviews or ask for references. Remember, you’re trusting part of your home to your lawn care service — any time you spend on research will pay off in the long run.