How Much Does It Cost to Maintain and Mow the Lawn?

In this guide

Lawn Mowing Prices

Lawn mowing is very important for not just the appearance of your lawn but its health as well. Regular mowing promotes growth, makes your grass stronger, and helps it get more nutrients from the mulch. Every company prices out services in its own way. Some charge by the size of the area, others by the hour. Some adjust the cost based on how often they come, with the biweekly costing slightly more than weekly mows. Below, you will see some of the average costs for lawn mowing service based on common pricing methods and the average cost you can expect to spend for each.

Average Cost of Lawn Mowing per Square Foot

On average, you can expect to pay anywhere between $0.01 to $0.05 per sq.ft. for mowing. Mowing costs are sometimes calculated by the square foot, especially for smaller yards. Keep in mind that as the size of the area approaches a full acre, your costs may switch to acreage to make the estimates more accurate. Your professional may also choose to charge by square footage if your yard has large, landscaped areas.

Lawn Mowing Prices Per Acre

You can expect to pay between $50 and $100 per acre for average lawn mowing prices. Charging lawn care prices per acre is more common with commercial services providing maintenance for large plots of land. However, some smaller companies charge a per acre cost for homes with less acreage as well. The lawn care prices per acre are typically a little higher than per square foot, primarily because they will use additional gas and time going to the far edge of the property and back than they would with a smaller space. Below you will see the lawn care cost per acre average per mow for companies that charge their services based on acreage.

Lawn Mowing Rates per Hour

The average hourly rate for lawn mowing runs between $25 and $80. For tricky properties with fences, trees, children’s play equipment, and other obstacles, your company may charge by the hour rather than by the job. The more obstacles they encounter, the higher the price. Working around many small odd-shaped landscaped areas may also result in an hourly rate charge. Some yards require multiple workers, making the price per hour increase. However, the total cost should remain the same because the total number of hours will be reduced.

Lawn Mowing Cost per Week

Regular lawn mowing once a week will run you an average of $30 to $80 per visit. Weekly costs are generally calculated based on the property size and type of work being done. Weekly mowing service is the most common contract option, especially during peak growing season, normally the spring and summer. This is because your lawn will grow faster, and the watering, sunshine, and fertilizer continue to nourish it.

One-Time

If you are looking for a one time lawn mowing, you will be charged a flat rate for the service. A flat rate mowing runs from $40 to $90, depending on the size of the yard. Flat rate or one time mowing is most often utilized when people are out of town and will be unable to mow during their time away.

Monthly Lawn Service Cost

You can expect to pay an average of $200 to $250 a month for monthly lawn care on a 3,000 to 5,000 sq.ft. area if you contract for a monthly service. A monthly contract allows you to get lower rates than you would for a one-time service. Keep in mind that monthly service plans are only for weekly or biweekly mows and services. Most companies do not offer plans with three-week or monthly mows.

Lawn Service Cost by Type of Service

Mowing is not the only service that these professionals usually provide, nor is it the only service your lawn may require. Your yard maintenance cost may include many maintenance tasks that may be used to help bring your lawn back to a healthy state, prepare it for the upcoming season, or reduce the risk of weeds, pests, and other intrusions into your yard that can damage its aesthetic. Below, you will see the average lawn maintenance cost based on the most common maintenance tasks that may be combined with your mowing to keep the outdoor of your home as beautiful and healthy as possible.

Weed Control

You can expect to pay $65 to $150 per visit for weeding. You can choose to have regular weeding throughout the growing season, which may lower your cost, or call for service as needed. Taking care of weeds periodically keeps your grass healthy, makes it look more aesthetically pleasing, and eliminates some of the hiding spots for insects.

Fertilization

As with any living thing, your lawn needs food to help it grow. Fertilizer is its food, and you can expect to pay between $150 and $500 per application, depending on the size of the area. Fertilizing in the spring helps your grass bounce back from its winter dormancy. Fertilization in the fall prepares it for the harsh upcoming season and is referred to as winterization.

Trimming

Tree trimming is an additional cost you can include in your landscape maintenance which runs between $175 to $750. Tree trimming will often be a one-time occurrence for your seasonal maintenance and may be done for aesthetic purposes or to take care of dead branches and brush. The cost you pay for tree trimming varies widely. The thickness of the branches, type of tree or shrub, and its location play a role in the cost.

Leaf Removal

Leaf removal services run from $200 to $400 per visit. Larger yards and yards with more trees cost more. You may choose to have your leaf removal performed in spring or fall, depending on what time of year your leaves fall and whether or not you are in an area that sees snow. If you live in a colder climate, leaf removal in the fall is the ideal option.

Yard Cleanup

If your yard has a large amount of natural debris, you may want to consider a yard cleanup, which costs from $200 to $500 for a visit. While most yard cleanup services include leaf removal, they also include the removal of brush, branches, acorns, and anything else that has fallen in your yard throughout the season.

Stump Removal

Whether you have had a recent tree removal or are fighting with a stump that takes up space in your yard, removing it costs between $200 and $700, depending on the size of the stump. Removing stumps from your yard gives you more open space, improves the aesthetic of your yard, and gets rid of a potential home for carpenter ants. The tree stump removal process often involves using heavy equipment to pull out the stump whole, along with any attached roots.

Aeration

Aeration of your lawn costs from $220 to $870 per visit. The aeration process entails putting holes into the grass and soil. This process allows the oxygen and nutrients to penetrate down into the soil, where it can better fuel your grass. This process should be used in conjunction with fertilization to maximize the health of your yard.

Tree pruning

The cost of tree pruning will run from $350 to $650, depending on the type of trees and the number that need to be tended. If you have fruit trees, pruning is essential. This keeps them healthy and helps them produce more fruit. Pruning is different from trimming because it focuses only on dead branches on the tree, keeps the tree healthy, and maintains its shape.

Pest Control

Pest control is another common maintenance process that costs between $350 and $1,000. The cost varies depending on the size of your yard and the type of pests. Common services to control pests in your yard include tick treatment, earwig treatment, mosquito prevention, and other pests removal.

Lawn Seeding

Pest control is a very common maintenance task that costs between $350 and $1,000. The cost varies depending on the size of your yard and the type of pests. Common services to control pests in your yard include tick treatment, earwig treatment, mosquito prevention, and other pests removal.

Landscape Edging

Another popular maintenance project is landscape edging, which costs from $1,200 to $2,000. Popular options include concrete and brick. Edging can be made from several materials. The cost you will pay for your edging project will be determined by your type of edging, the length that needs to be edged, and whether or not mulch is included in the price.

Lawn Care Cost by Rate

There are several ways that your lawn care professional may bill for the maintenance services provided. Their method of billing depends on the size of the project, the project scope, or the company’s preferred method. Below you will see the average cost for lawn maintenance by rate, which is higher than mowing prices because it typically includes one or more maintenance items mentioned in previous sections.

Lawn Care Cost Per Square Foot

Though pricing per square foot is not the most common method for pricing this type of project, you can expect to pay between $0.03 and $0.08 per sq.ft. The square foot pricing method is almost always reserved for yard sizes that are less than an acre and may be the preferred method for heavily landscaped or wooded yards.

Lawn Care Costs Per Acre

Lawn care prices per acre run from $150 to $250. Just like with mowing, more significant lawn care such as seeding, weed control, fertilization, and aeration is typically priced per acre, with many companies performing more than one of these services at a time. Maintenance costs range widely due to the variety of services that may be needed. They may include one or more services, such as seeding with fertilization or aeration. These services are usually performed and billed separately from mowing. If you have several acres, costs will definitely be higher:

Lawn Care Maintenance Costs per Hour

Most professionals offer hourly rates on lawn care maintenance. You can expect to pay from $40 to $90 per hour for these services, depending on the additional maintenance tasks required. It is important to note that this price is per person per hour, so if multiple workers are used, the price per hour will go up, but the overall cost will likely be the same since having more people means it will be completed sooner. Very large areas often require multiple workers.

Weekly Lawn Care Cost

Weekly grass maintenance averages from $65 to $125 per week, depending on the size of your lawn and maintenance items involved. Your maintenance company may choose to bill you for the services performed on a specific week or include all of the seasonal items and break it out to a weekly contract price. Most often, contracts include leaf removal, mowing, fertilizing, and aeration.

One-Time Lawn Service

If you call a maintenance company for a one-time service visit, you can expect to pay from $80 to $150 per call. Rates run extensively higher if you have major projects such as significant tree trimming, but the most common services fall in the average range. During a one-time visit, your professional will likely recommend needed services for that time in the growing season.

Lawn Care Costs per Month

The average cost of lawn maintenance if you have all of your maintenance services billed monthly is between $350 and $450 per month. Monthly service most often includes weekly mowing and different maintenance items based on the season. Because different services will be performed each month, your monthly service cost will be higher some months and lower on others.

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Cost Factors

Many factors determine the final cost of your lawn care. These include the size of the area, your location, grass type, number of fences, how many sidewalks to edge, required maintenance like aeration or fertilization, and number of trees. Many services provide discounts if neighbors hire the same maintenance service at the same time.

Location can be a major factor because it often determines the types of services you need and the frequency. For example, in locations that see all four seasons and are heavily wooded, like the Midwest, you can expect to pay more for leaf cleanup, pruning, etc. For warmer weather, climates such as the south, you may need to have more frequent mowings that go much longer into the year.

If your lawn is in poor health, your starting costs may be higher than if it only needs maintenance. Costs for residential areas differ from costs for commercial properties.

Types of Grass

While there are many grass varieties, most are broken down into two categories: cool-season and warm-season. Cool-season grasses grow the most during the spring and fall and include popular varieties like ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass. These varieties are hardy enough to survive frigid temperatures and moderate summers, ideal for northern climates. Their ideal temperatures for growth ranges between 65 and 80 degrees, which is why they grow the most in spring and fall. Warm-season grasses grow the most during the summer and include widespread varieties like Bermuda grass. Warm grasses grow best when the temperature is above 75 degrees. You mostly find these grasses in the south. These varieties grow during late spring and summer before going dormant in the fall. Each grass type has a different maintenance schedule, some requiring care more frequently or at a specific time of year. All this impacts your final costs.

Benefits of Lawn Care

Keeping your lawn regularly maintained comes with a lot of benefits. The first and most noticeable is the appearance of your yard. When kept in good condition, it can add beauty to the look of your home and even value when it comes time to sell it. Maintaining it also helps you to have a healthy grass that prevents bare and burnt patches. Keeping your yard weeded and properly mowed lowers your risk of pests since it removes one of their most popular hiding spots.

How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn?

The frequency of mowing your lawn depends on the weather in your area, the season, and your personal preference. During the prime growing season, you will most likely want to mow your yard weekly, though you may stretch that to ten days if you live in a hot area with lots of sun and prefer longer grass to protect the roots from the heat. Preseason and the end of the growing season see slower growth, so bi-weekly mowing will likely be sufficient.

How You Can Keep Your Lawn Healthy Year-Round

If a healthy lawn is what you want, then year-round maintenance is vital. Your lawn needs different treatments and maintenance depending on the season to ensure that it is properly prepared for the months when it is at its peak for growing. Below you will see some of the most common maintenance tasks performed during each season of the year.

Fall

During the fall season, the goal is to prepare your lawn for hibernation during winter. You will likely need to continue mowing during this season, though you may be able to move from weekly mowings to bi-weekly mowings at this point. You will want to have all sticks and leaves removed from your yard to allow the lawn to aerate as needed. Special fertilizers will also be put on by your maintenance specialist to protect your grass through the winter and allow for better recovery in the spring.

Winter

Many professionals urge you to continue to mow your grass until the point that it ceases to grow. If you live in more temperate or warmer climates, you will not complete your final mowing until as late as December. Aside from that, no maintenance will need to be done during the winter months.

Spring

The spring season is the biggest time for preparation for the upcoming growing season. There are several maintenance items you will want to perform to help your lawn bounce back from winter and give it a healthy start to the season. Common maintenance during this time of year includes mowing, fertilization, aeration, and application of crabgrass control.

Summer

Summer is considered the main growing season for your grass and the time of the year when your it is considered most on display. During the summer months, it is important to stay on top of mowing, with weekly mowing being ideal. You will also want to make sure that you water your grass frequently during this time of year, making sure to avoid watering at the hottest times of the day.