This Fall Lawn Care Checklist Will Keep Your Yard In Shape

Here are the essential fall landscaping tasks to take care of this season.

Dane Tashima; Styling: Elly Poston Cooper

With summer cooling off and winter just off the horizon, fall is a critical time for lawn care. Many think of spring as the season of garden-tending and lawn maintenance, but without care and foresight in the fall, spring groundskeeping might not cut it to keep up a healthy, flourishing landscape. Considering upkeep, cool weather prep, and landscaping problems typical for the season, we've compiled a manual for successful fall lawns.

Informed by experienced gardeners, landscape designers, horticulture experts, and residential landscapers, this list prioritizes the needs of the season, including busting some fall lawn care myths. Some folks may think that a nip in the air means the end of watering and mowing, but these landscaping professionals assure us that this would be doing our lawns a disservice. So, forget what you thought you knew. Stick to our fall lawn care checklist for a well-sustained lawn to last through winter and flourish come spring.

Meet The Experts

Mackenzie Chris, branch manager of residential landscaping at Southern Botanical in Dallas, Texas.

John Russell is a full-service landscape architect and designer for John Russell Landscape Architect in Birmingham, Alabama.

Peter Falkner is the landscape designer for Falkner Gardens which serves Birmingham, Alabama, Lake Martin, and Atlanta, Georgia.

Keep in mind that depending on where you live and your climate, your lawn's needs may shift. Consult a local lawn care expert for more information targeted to your area.

Time Your Pruning

Don't prune while plants are still actively blooming. Instead, wait until later in the fall when blooms fade and fall, says Mackenzie Chris, branch manager of residential landscaping at Southern Botanical. Once a shrub's blooms fade and leaves drop, Chris advises trimming down dead blooms and making height adjustments with haste before the plants can fully go dormant.

Depending on your locale's weather, the timing on this may vary. In Dallas, where Chris looks after local lawns, she says that blooms may hold out past August or even through October. That's when you should take your break. In landscape architect John Russell's stomping grounds of Birmingham, Alabama, that stopping point usually happens in August.

"For most things, stop pruning at the end of August until all of the leaves drop. Don't prune evergreen or deciduous stuff after the end of August," says landscape architect John Russell. "Once the leaves are down, you can pretty much prune anything."

Fertilize Your Lawn

"Despite what people may think, you actually do want to feed your plants before they go dormant. It helps them go to sleep before the cold weather comes in," says Chris who begins fertilizing in September. "That also includes fertilizing your turf as we're getting in prepping for those colder months."

Once the cold rolls in, there's no need to fertilize again until spring. Russell uses tax day as his marker to begin feeding again.

Plant When It's Wet

If you live in an area when fall means more rain, take that as your cue to get to planting, especially for large trees and shrubs, says landscape designer Peter Falkner with Chris in agreement. This gives trees and shrubs time to soak in the water and take root to give them a better chance to brave the winter. Even more threatening than the cold, is the fierce heat of Southerner summers. If planted in fall, well-situated plants will be more established and better prepared to survive next summer.

Seed Cool Grasses

"Seed cool season grasses when the leaves start to change color," recommends Russell. Cool season grasses include Fescues, Bentgrass, Ryegrasses, and Kentucky Bluegrass.

Don't Stop Watering

Don't be fooled into thinking that falling leaves means you can abandon your watering efforts. Watering is still very important, especially for young plants.

"Watering after planting is important," says Russell. "Nothing is no-maintenance or low-maintenance, and you've got to water every day for a couple of weeks after you put something, like a shrub, in." From there, he says you can cut back to watering shrubs and trees every other day, and then about twice a week for 30 minutes at a time.

A similar schedule goes for newly seeded grasses. Chris offers her watering instructions: "Once you throw out that seed, you'll have to keep it wet for at least the first two to three weeks. That typically means watering three to four times a day for short periods."

Trim Grass

We've heard it said that there's no need to mow in the fall, but this is a falsehood. Keep mowing, but rather than a shear, adjust the settings on your lawn mower to facilitate a trim. Chris recommends taking about an inch off your grass every week to help new seeds germinate.

Clean Up Mowing Debris

"Make sure that when you're mowing, you bag all that debris. You don't want that to build up on the lawn in the wintertime," Chris says. "You want to make sure you keep the lawn as clean as possible to alleviate issues like brown patches that can happen in the dormant season. The cleaner you can keep it in the fall, the healthier it'll be."

Mulch Before The Leaves Drop

For nearly every kind of mulch, early fall is the time to get to mulching. Pine straw for example, should be re-laid twice a year and can be updated in autumn, and Russell says that autumn is the best time of year to update shredded hardwood mulch too. One mulch to avoid in the fall however, is pine bark mulch. Russell advises against using pine bark mulch because it may float away in the fall rain.

As for timing, the reason to mulch for the season before leaves get in the way is purely logistical. "If you do put mulch out just as leaves drop, be aware that when you're removing leaves, you will potentially be picking up mulch as well," says Chris.

Clear Leaves

If let be, fallen leaves can smother your freshly planted grass. Prevent this from happening by raking leaves up and keeping the law tidy. Another option is to use a mulching mower to shred leaves into a substance that can actually be helpful for the lawn.

Joshua Jones; Landscape by Falkner Gardens

Refresh Fire Pits

After a summer spent roasting marshmallows and entertaining outdoor guests around the fire, it's time to give fire pits a good wash. Start by removing ash and debris, scrubbing the interior, and letting it dry. Then your fire pit will be clean and ready to warm you up once the fall weather takes a turn for the cooler.

Take Inventory For Spring

Don't wait until the spring to start considering your garden and landscaping plans for the warm weather months. Begin in the fall by laying a proper foundation, Falkner advises.

"Fill your infrastructure in the fall," he says. "For example, if you're gonna do garden beds, fall is a great time of year to go ahead and build those. A lot of people wait until March and April when it warms up and then they're just starting to build all these things under the sun."

Other spring preparation Falkner recommends making in the fall include buying any pots you'll need and clearing space if you plan on building a raised bed.

"Go ahead and get all that infrastructure in place so that when spring does finally get here, you're ready to go," says Falkner.

Adjust Irrigation

"Once the temperatures drop, you want to make sure you adjust your irrigation runtimes, on turf specifically," says Chris.

Those working with an irrigation system will want to run it as late as they possibly can while still giving the lawn time to dry before the day heats up. For example, instead of running irrigation at midnight like one might in the summer, Chris recommends switching to doing so at 6 a.M.

"By running it at midnight, you're letting that moisture sit on the turf all night and that'll cause fungal issues. If you let water sit too long, that's when you get fungal issues like brown patch."

Contain Thatch

In fall, take the time to prioritize your soil health. Check for thatch, a layer of dead organic plant material that sits between the turf and soil by unearthing a small patch of turf. If there's more than an inch or so, you'll need to remove the excess in the fall by pulling it out with a machine so that it won't stay there all winter long.

"You don't want that to build up in the wintertime," says Chris. "You want to make sure you keep it as clean as possible."

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How Much Does Lawn Care Business Start-Up Cost?

Photo: istockphoto.Com

Highlights

The typical cost range to start up a lawn care business runs between $5,000 and $8,000.

Start-up costs for a lawn care business will include a business license, taxes, insurance, equipment, and operating supplies.

The benefits of owning a lawn care business (as opposed to joining an established company) include the ability to start small, high revenue potential, repeat customer opportunities, and the potential to cross-sell services.

Many lawn care professionals dream of starting their own business and being their own boss. Before jumping into business ownership, however, enterprising lawn care professionals may want to consider lawn care business start-up costs for their new venture. While the typical range of start-up costs for lawn care companies is between $5,000 to $8,000, the average cost can vary quite a bit.

Factors including the location of the business, the owner's access to lawn care equipment, and ongoing operating expenses can affect the average start-up costs of a lawn care business. Some lawn care businesses can get started for as little as around $500. On the other hand, someone wanting to jump into starting a full-service lawn care and landscaping business may spend $50,000 or more.

Factors in Calculating Lawn Care Business Start-Up Cost

Some lawn care and landscaping business owners assume most of their costs are directly related to their lawn care services, such as buying the best lawn mowers or the best backpack leaf blowers for their business. However, there are other costs to consider before starting a business. In addition to the cost of lawn care equipment, lawn care businesses usually have business expenses such as:

Business license

Taxes

Insurance

Equipment and operating supplies

Business License

Depending on local regulations and requirements, lawn care businesses may have to register for a business license with their state or local municipality. Even if a lawn care and landscaping company owner lives in an area without business license requirements, they will likely still want to register their business formally.

Many lawn care and landscaping businesses register as a limited liability company, or LLC, to help separate the owner's personal assets from those owned by the company. Owner-operated businesses could also get started by registering their business name as a fictitious name or "doing business as" (DBA). The cost for a business license typically ranges between $50 and $100, depending on the location of the business.

Taxes

When a lawn care professional works for a company as an employee, their employer takes their taxes directly from their paycheck. Once the worker moves to business ownership, they'll have to pay taxes to the government on their own. Paying taxes as a business owner could include both employee and employer portions of state and federal taxes, such as FICA taxes, which include Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment benefits. Additionally, lawn care business owners may have to collect sales tax from their clients after completing a job. Those in lawn care industries such as lawn mowing services and landscaping businesses may want to contact their state tax division to learn more about tax requirements for lawn care businesses.

Insurance

The lawn care and landscaping industry involves a lot of risks—from the unexpected breakdown of expensive lawn mowers to employee injuries on the job. Lawn care business owners will want to purchase insurance from a top small business insurance provider (such as Thimble) to help lower their risk of financial fallout if an accident happens. Common commercial insurance policies for a lawn care and landscaping company include:

General liability insurance: A general liability insurance policy helps protect business owners from the cost of repairing damages and defending themselves if they're found liable for an accident. For example, if an employee of a lawn care business accidentally damages a homeowner's sprinkler system while mowing, the business owner's general liability insurance policy will help cover the cost of repairing the sprinkler system.

Business property insurance: Property damage or business property insurance helps a business owner protect the items that the business owns. This is an important insurance policy for landscaping and lawn care companies, since these businesses often own expensive lawn care tools and equipment. If a covered accident damages or destroys property belonging to the business, business property insurance helps cover the cost of replacing the damaged equipment.

Workers' compensation: Workers' compensation insurance is often a legal requirement for lawn care businesses with employees. This type of coverage helps pay for medical and legal costs if an employee is hurt while on the job. For instance, a lawn care employee learning how to use a leaf blower accidentally blows wood chips into a co-worker's eye. The injured employee requires surgery and extensive time off from work while they recover. A workers' compensation policy can help the employer cover the cost of the injured employee's medical treatment and pay lost wages.

Commercial auto insurance: Almost all lawn care companies use company vehicles to transport materials and employees to jobsites. While general liability and property damage insurance help cover the business owner when their team is working on a job, these policies may not cover the business equipment or liability while the vehicles are on the road to a jobsite. Commercial auto insurance works like personal car insurance to help protect the business owner in the event a company-owned vehicle is involved in an accident. This policy can provide liability coverage to protect the business owner in the event of a lawsuit, and it can also pay to repair damage to the vehicle.

Equipment and Materials

One of the biggest initial costs of starting a lawn care business is securing lawn care and landscaping equipment. Equipment costs for lawn care and landscaping services can vary greatly depending on how much the business owner wants to initially invest in the business.

For example, buying used equipment, such as the best leaf blowers or the best string trimmers, can help the business owner save money while getting their business off the ground. However, new equipment may be more reliable and less likely to break down than used equipment, though the cost to purchase the equipment will be higher.

Additionally, lawn care company owners will probably want to factor in the cost of landscaping materials when pricing lawn care service costs. Materials such as mulch, potting soil, and fertilizer can eat into a company's profit margins, as they have to be repurchased with use.

Additional Costs and Considerations

New lawn care businesses often have costs that may go unnoticed when the business is getting started. These additional costs can affect the average profit margin of the business and could be big expenses for the business over time. Some additional expenses and considerations for those looking to start a lawn care business include:

Choosing whether to provide services to residential or commercial clients;

Selecting the right business software;

Setting up business operations and processes;

Calculating fuel costs;

Covering the cost of marketing materials and strategies; and

Planning for equipment maintenance and storage.

Residential vs. Commercial

A big factor in lawn care business start-up costs is identifying potential clients and establishing a client base. Would-be business owners may want to ask themselves several questions about their business, including who their ideal client is. Generally, lawn care companies cater to either residential or commercial customers. Residential lawn care businesses tend to have fewer start-up costs than commercial operations, with the average cost of starting a residential operation averaging $6,900 compared to $75,000 for a commercial lawn care business. However, a commercial lawn care business often has a higher earning potential since it can charge higher fees for commercial jobs.

For example, the cost of lawn mowing services can vary greatly between residential and commercial bids. Mowing a small residential lawn requires less fuel, takes less time to complete, and generally causes less wear and tear on the mowers than a large commercial property, such as a corporate campus. In addition, commercial clients often have larger landscaping and lawn care budgets than residential clients.

Business Software

While much of a lawn care business takes place outside using physical labor, lawn care companies still generally want to invest in business software. The best lawn care scheduling software can help a landscaping business run smoothly.

For instance, many lawn care businesses use accounting software to help manage customer accounts, invoices, and payments. An accounting platform can also make tax time easier for the business owner by letting them upload receipts for business expenses and automatically tally business revenue. Other types of software let lawn care clients schedule services online, helping the business owner spend less time on the phone setting appointments and more time completing jobs. The cost for software could range from one-time licensing fees to annual subscriptions costing $30 to $50 per month. Lawn care businesses may also be able to save money on business software by using free software tools.

Operations Management

Lawn care business owners often have to rely on themselves for the management of their business. This includes managing operations related to the non-physical aspects of the job. Lawn care businesses generally require a dedicated office space, computer, and business phone line to provide customers with a professional experience. In addition, having a dedicated office and phone line or email address can help the business owner stay organized when managing the day-to-day aspects of the business. Depending on the owner's situation, it may be necessary to rent an office space and pay for business phone lines. On the other hand, some lawn care company owners have space in their homes to set up an office and use telecommunication software to manage business calls on their personal phones.

Fuel Costs

There are two types of fuel costs a landscaping and lawn care company may need to consider—auto fuel costs and equipment fuel expenses. Auto fuel costs will vary depending on the location of the lawn care business, how far employees have to travel to get to the jobsite, and what type of equipment the business uses. For example, a lawn care company that uses heavy commercial lawn care equipment and requires a larger truck to pull its equipment trailer will likely use more fuel than a smaller lawn care operation that carries all its equipment in the bed of a truck. In addition, a business that covers a larger geographic area will generally have more drive time than a business serving a limited local area, leading to potentially higher fuel costs.

Along with vehicle fuel costs, most lawn care businesses use gas-powered tools and equipment to serve clients. Lawn care business owners often have to factor in fuel costs for lawn mowers, trimmers, edgers, and leaf blowers when calculating business costs.

Marketing Expenses

A business needs clients to be successful, and a robust marketing plan is often essential to gaining clients. Lawn care businesses can use marketing to help customers find their business. There are almost endless types of marketing tools for every size and budget a business might have, whether it's handing out flyers to community members to building a custom mobile app for scheduling appointments.

Regardless of budget, many lawn care businesses use a combination of an online presence, word-of-mouth marketing, and local marketing efforts to get their business in front of potential clients. The cost for these efforts can range from nearly nothing to thousands of dollars. A tech-savvy lawn care business owner, for example, might be able to quickly create a functional website and add their business to social media platforms for little expense in order for their business to show up when a potential client searches for "lawn mowing services near me." Someone with less technical experience might instead use testimonials and referrals from past clients to help spread the word about their work in the community they serve.

Equipment Storage and Maintenance

When creating a lawn care business, the owner will want to consider what they'll do with their equipment when it's not in use. For example, if a company offers lawn aeration services using a large—and expensive—commercial lawn aerator, the owner generally must store this equipment when it's not in use. Some lawn care company owners have large workshops or a garage on their property in which they can store their equipment. If not, they may have to rent a warehouse or storage space for equipment downtime. Depending on the location of the business, storage units could cost several hundreds of dollars per month.

In addition to storage, equipment will likely need regular maintenance to keep it running and in good shape. The types of tools a lawn care company uses will often affect the company's maintenance costs. A business that uses large, expensive commercial machines may have to hire a mechanic to help maintain its equipment. On the other hand, enterprising owners might learn how to work on small engines so they can maintain their equipment on their own.

Lawn Care Business Start-Up Cost by Type of Equipment

Lawn care equipment is one of the biggest start-up costs for a lawn care company. However, not all lawn care and landscaping businesses need all types of lawn care equipment. It's common for lawn care business owners to start their business with only a few essential tools. As the business grows, the business owner will likely invest in more equipment or higher-quality items. Common lawn care equipment necessary for starting one of the best landscaping companies includes the following.

Lawn mowers

String trimmers

Leaf blowers

Transportation vehicles

Trailers

Mowers

The vast majority of lawn care companies offer lawn mowing services to clients. Some business owners even start off only offering lawn mowing, eventually adding more services like landscaping once they establish their business. A lawn mower for a lawn care business can be a big expense, with commercial lawn mowers costing thousands of dollars. On the other hand, some lawn care businesses can get by with a push mower to start, which will cost significantly less.

However, lawn care businesses may want to start with two mid-grade lawn mowers from one of the best lawn mower brands to tackle a variety of lawn projects. The cost for each mower will likely be between $500 and $1,000 depending on the brand, age, and use of the product. By purchasing two mowers, the owner helps lower the risk of losing business if one of the mowers isn't working.

String Trimmers

Even businesses offering only lawn mowing services will likely need to invest in a string trimmer. String trimmers help lawn care workers trim grass and weeds in tight spaces or near objects such as trees and signposts.

Because string trimmers are an essential item for a lawn care business, it may be a good idea for business owners to invest in a commercial model. Investing in a commercial-grade trimmer instead of a smaller residential model usually makes more financial sense for a lawn care company in the long run, as a commercial trimmer will be capable of handling bigger jobs and will likely be more durable. Lawn care company owners can generally expect to pay around $100 to $500 or more for a high-quality string trimmer.

Leaf Blowers

Like string trimmers, leaf blowers are often an essential piece of equipment necessary to start one of the best lawn care services. Leaf blowers help clean up a jobsite before and after mowing so the client is left with a beautifully maintained yard. For example, a lawn care professional might use a leaf blower to clean up grass clippings from the patio of a customer's home. While this could potentially be done using a handheld rake, a good leaf blower will reduce the time it takes to complete a job.

New business owners can choose from a small residential-size leaf blower or invest in a heavy-duty commercial backpack leaf blower. Handheld leaf blowers generally cost less than a backpack leaf blower model, but lawn care business owners may need to to spend around $100 to buy one new.

Vehicles

A lawn care company often needs at least one pickup truck or delivery-style van to operate. Most lawn care companies need to haul equipment such as mowers and leaf blowers, as well as materials such as mulch or fertilizer, to clients' homes and businesses. A larger vehicle is often necessary to transport equipment to and from the jobsite.

Many lawn care businesses use pickup trucks to haul their employees and equipment. A smaller operation may be able to use a single pickup truck to haul all of its equipment without the need for additional trailers. However, larger operations will likely need more than one vehicle to be able to handle multiple jobsites at the same time. Many new lawn care business owners opt for a used truck when they first start their business. Even if it's used, however, a pickup truck in good working condition will likely cost the business owner over $10,000.

Trailers

The bed of a pickup truck may be all a lawn care business owner needs to haul their equipment when first getting started. However, businesses that plan to offer more than basic services or want to jump in with multiple employees from the start will likely need to invest in a trailer as well as a truck.

Trailers range in size and capacity, which will affect the cost of the trailer. For example, a lawn care business owner might choose a small open-air cargo trailer with just enough space for a lawn mower. A smaller trailer like this generally costs much less than a large enclosed trailer. However, the enclosed trailer can serve as secure storage when the equipment is not in use, giving it multiple uses.

Additional Equipment

Depending on the services the lawn care business offers, the owner may need much more equipment than a mower, leaf blower, truck, and trailer. Common lawn equipment includes seed and fertilizer spreaders and sprayers, edging tools, and hedge trimmers. Additionally, most lawn care professionals like to have hand tools—such as hammers and screwdrivers—available in case adjustments need to be made to equipment on the jobsite.

The cost of non-tool equipment can also affect the start-up costs of a lawn care business. Equipment such as containers for gas and chemicals, for example, allows these materials to be kept on hand while allowing the business to buy them in bulk and store them at their headquarters. Employees or even the business owner themselves will likely want to have personal protective equipment, including earplugs and protective eyewear, to stay safe from the loud noises and sharp blades of lawn care equipment. While many of these costs are low individually, the total cost to the business can add up.

Owning a Small Lawn Care Business vs. Working For a Large Lawn Care Business

Starting a lawn care business can offer the owner a lot of benefits, despite the potential for high start-up costs. Many lawn care workers dream of being their own boss, and starting a lawn care business is the key to making that happen. Once established, a lawn care and landscaping company offers the owner high earning potential and the freedom to run their business how they see fit.

Ability to Start Small

While it may cost thousands of dollars to start a multi-employee commercial lawn care business, it's not a requirement. Most lawn care businesses can get off the ground with just a few hundred dollars invested. For example, a lawn care business owner might start their business by offering limited services within a limited location radius.

As the business grows and the owner has more revenue to invest in the company, they can expand their offerings. For instance, after offering only mowing services for the first couple of years of business, a business owner may bring in enough money to offer additional services, such as aeration or landscaping maintenance services.

Repeat Customer Opportunities

After a new lawn care business owner gets their first several customers, it becomes easier to maintain steady revenue. Many lawn care clients hire lawn care companies because they don't want to deal with the hassle of maintaining their yard on their own. If the lawn care company does a good job, the client will likely continue to hire them for the ongoing maintenance of their property, such as signing up for biweekly lawn mowing services.

Those ongoing customer arrangements can lead to additional business opportunities as well. A satisfied client who uses a lawn care business for yard maintenance is more likely to choose landscaping services, for example, from a company with whom they already have a relationship.

High Revenue Potential

With dedication and hustle, a lawn care business owner can make a lot of money. Many landscaping businesses bring in around $130,000 per year per employee in revenue, as landscaping costs average $3,415 per customer. Depending on the business expenses, this could leave a lot of money as profit. The more lean an operation, the higher the profits will be after subtracting expenses, including employee wages, taxes, insurance, and equipment costs.

In addition, the owner of a lawn care company puts their earning potential into their own hands when they start their own business. Much of the business owner's salary is dependent upon their ability to manage the business, sell services, and provide an excellent customer experience.

Potential to Cross-Sell Services

There are many different lawn care and landscaping services a business can offer clients, many of which work hand in hand to provide a full-service lawn and landscaping management experience. It's common for lawn care companies to upsell and cross-sell products and services to their customers.

For example, lawn care and landscaping is often a seasonal business. When grass goes dormant for the winter months and ice and snow start to arrive, many lawn care businesses pivot to winter services. A lawn care company that offers lawn mowing in the summer and snow removal in the winter can cross-sell these services when new clients sign up for one or the other.

How to Save Money on Lawn Care Business Start-Up Cost

Between equipment costs, business insurance, and employee wages, starting a lawn care business might seem cost-prohibitive to some lawn care professionals. Luckily, there are several ways to reduce the start-up costs of a lawn care and landscaping business, including the following.

Look for deals. Buy used equipment instead of new and look for equipment bundles to further reduce the cost of mowers, leaf blowers, and other tools.

Start small. Keep service offerings limited at the start; this requires less equipment and lets the company master one service at a time.

Skip the employees. Start as a one-person operation to lower labor costs, including wages and insurance.

Use what you have. Use existing equipment, such as a personal truck or trailer, rather than buying new (or used) vehicles and trailers specifically for the business.

Get out the word. Invest time in low-cost marketing and sales efforts, like handing out flyers or creating a free online business profile, to get the word out about the business.

Questions to Ask About Lawn Care Business Start-Up

There are a number of questions any business owner may want to ask before starting a business, including potential lawn care business owners. These questions can help the would-be business owner get a better idea of their personal strengths and weaknesses, as well as the viability of their business idea. A few questions a lawn care professional may want to ask themselves before starting their landscaping business include the following.

Do I understand the potential risks of starting a lawn care business, and am I ready to invest my time and money despite those risks?

Should I start a lawn care company from the ground up, or would it make more sense for me to become part of a franchise operation?

What are my best qualities as a business owner, and how can I put them to work to help improve my business and increase my revenue?

What are my worst qualities as a business owner, and how can I overcome them to provide the support and service my business needs?

FAQs

The cost of starting a lawn care business can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars in initial investments. Before a lawn care professional starts their own business, it's recommended that they understand the business model, the lawn care industry, and the potential costs and revenue of their business. These common questions can help lawn care professionals decide whether starting their own business is the right choice for their situation.

Q. How much do most lawn care companies charge?

The cost of lawn care services can vary greatly based on location, scope of service, and type of service (such as residential services versus commercial lawn care services). The average cost for lawn mowing services is $77 per job, while the average cost for lawn aeration and seeding is $132 and $1,500, respectively.

Q. Which state has the most lawn care companies?

The three states with the most lawn care companies are Florida with over 60,000 businesses, California with over 53,000 businesses, and New York with over 44,000 businesses.

Q. How long does it take to mow a lawn?

There are three factors that affect how long it takes to mow a lawn: the size of the lawn, the size of the mower, and the mowing speed. For example, mowing an acre of lawn with a push mower will take longer than mowing a quarter-acre lawn with a riding lawn mower. In general, it takes between 30 minutes and 2 hours to mow an average-size lawn.

Q. How many hours do lawn mowers last?

An average-quality riding lawn mower generally lasts between 500 to 700 hours. However, other factors can play a role in the longevity of a mower. For instance, a mower that regularly has to mow over rough terrain or wet grass may wear down faster than one used exclusively on even, dry grass surfaces. Additionally, proper maintenance of the machine can help extend the life of a mower.

Q. How often should you cut your lawn?

The general recommendation is that most lawns be cut every 4 to 10 days, but weather, climate, and season will play big roles in the exact range. Lawn care companies work with their clients to create lawn mowing schedules that take these factors into account. For example, a lawn may need to be mowed more frequently in the rainy part of summer and may need fewer mowings in the dry fall months.

Q. How do I calculate profit margin for a lawn care business?

The profit margin of a lawn care business is the ratio of profits earned by the business compared to earned revenue. In order to run a successful lawn care business, it's recommended that business owners aim for a 50 percent to 55 percent profit margin.

To calculate profit margin, the business owner first needs to determine the cost for providing the service. For example, if the owner has two employees mowing a lawn for 1 hour, and the employees are paid $15 per hour, it will cost $30 in wages for the job. In addition, the owner will need to calculate the fuel costs of the job—in this example, fuel will cost $5, making the total cost to mow the lawn $35. To reach a 50 percent profit margin, the business owner will double the cost of the job to reach $70, and that will be the amount they charge the customer for mowing their lawn.

Q. What is the most profitable part of landscaping?

While lawn mowing is one of the most common parts of landscaping services, it's often one of the least profitable. However, lawn mowing services are a good place for a lawn care business to start so they can upsell and cross-sell customers on additional, more profitable services such as lawn spraying, fertilizing and overseeding, or landscape maintenance.

Q. When should I aerate my lawn?

Lawn aeration times can depend on the grass that's being grown in the lawn as well as the type of soil. Cool-season grasses often require aeration in the spring or fall, while warm-season grasses may need aeration in the summer months. Likewise, grass growing on heavy, clay-like soil or lawns that experience high traffic may require more frequent aeration services than lawns that are growing well or have sandy soil.

Sources: Lawn Love, LawnStarter, ProjectionHub, ZenBusiness, Jobber, IBISWorld, Obsessed Lawn, Eagle Power Turf & Tractor, PowerPro Equipment

How Much Does Lawn Care Cost?

Photo: bobvila.Com

Highlights

Lawn care typically costs between $48 and $206, with a national average of $124.

The main cost factors in calculating lawn care costs are lawn size and shape, type of service, labor costs, grass length and type, accessibility, service frequency, and geographic location.

Homeowners may consider lawn care to save time and money, to take advantage of professional expertise, and to enhance a property's curb appeal.

Lawn care is a job many homeowners can tackle; however, it may be strenuous and time-consuming, and professionals tend to deliver the best results.

DIY Lawn Care. Simplified.

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Curb appeal starts at the curb: A beautiful lawn sets the scene for an appealing home. But keeping the yard looking its best requires an investment of time, money, and effort. Homeowners who are nervous about lawn care costs can take comfort in knowing what to expect ahead of time and look forward to a lush lawn when the work is done. So how much does lawn care cost? According to Angi and HomeAdvisor, prices range anywhere from $48 to $206. The average lawn care cost is about $124 per service.

Lawn mowing can run for $30 to $80 per week. The price fluctuates depending on the size of the yard, the frequency of mowing, and the services included. While some lawn care companies charge by the hour, others charge per service and size, with price breaks often thrown in for regular customers.

The basics begin with mowing, but some homeowners request fertilizing, weeding, mulching, cleaning up the yard, and performing other maintenance, such as aerating and watering. Those lawn care services run a little higher than basic mowing, again depending on yard size and other factors. If the yard features fences, trees, children's play structures, or other obstacles, the price is likely to go up accordingly.

Factors in Calculating Lawn Care Cost

It's difficult to pin down an exact lawn care cost because there are so many variables that create a sliding scale of pricing. In general, homeowners can expect to pay between $48 and $206 for lawn maintenance or a national average cost of $124. However, prices vary across the nation, and prices in small rural towns will differ vastly from those in urban metropolises. While city prices might be higher, remote rural areas may invoke a travel charge. Geography can factor into the cost as well. Lawns in wet climates often require more frequent work than lawns in drier regions.

Services such as trimming, dethatching, controlling weeds, removing leaves, watering, and fertilizing will add to the calculation of the cost of lawn care. What may be less obvious is how frequency impacts the cost. Letting the grass grow too tall between mowings can also raise the cost. To combat that issue, many lawn care service companies offer discounts when customers sign long-term contracts: Guaranteed repeat business generates price breaks, sometimes by as much as 25 percent.

Lawn Size 

Size can impact lawn care costs in one of two ways. If a lawn care professional charges by the hour, a larger lawn that takes more time will cost more. Hourly rates range from $25 to $60. If the charges are per square foot—which is not as common, but may be done for smaller yards—the same principle applies: bigger costs more. Typical costs start at $0.01 per square foot.

The price for maintenance of acreages is usually calculated at a different rate than for the average-size lawn. Larger properties often see smaller incremental increases because crews have less trimming and other detail work to perform. The average lawn care cost per acre is $150 to $200, with a property of 10 acres or larger priced at around $50 per acre.

Lawn Size  Cost Range 3,500 square feet $35 to $210 5,000 square feet $50 to $300 10,000 square feet $100 to $600 1 acre $150 to $200 2 acres  $300 to $400 3 acres $450 to $600 4 acres $600 to $800 5 acres $750 to $1,000 10 acres $1,500 to $2,000 15 acres $2,250 to $3,000 Lawn Shape

A standard square or rectangular yard is straightforward to mow, meaning costs will be relatively low. However, maintenance for lawns with an irregular shape or with lots of features to mow around will be on the pricier side. For example, play sets or flower beds may take longer to mow around or require different equipment. A lawn care professional will take these features into account when determining a quote.

Service Type

In addition to mowing, there are a variety of maintenance services that homeowners may want to consider. Aeration, weed and leaf removal, and edging are common services that can add to each visit's overall lawn care cost.

Labor

The bigger the lawn or the more services needed, the more manpower is required—and the higher the final bill will be. Whether a lawn care company charges per hour or per job, the charges will likely be multiplied by the number of crew members it takes to complete the work. Typically the hourly cost for landscaping services is between $25 and $60. This cost is likely to be included in the quote along with materials and other charges.

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+ Grass Length

Tall grass makes mowing the lawn a more arduous task that takes more time. Different varieties of grass have different growth rates, with cool-season grasses exhibiting more growth in the spring and fall, while warm-season types grow more through the summer. Weather, including temperatures and rainfall amounts, will influence grass growth rates. A general rule of thumb advises to never remove more than one-third of the height of the grass in a single cutting.

Grass Type

Grass type can have an effect on the cost of lawn care. Not only do different varieties of grass grow at different speeds, but some grasses thrive at different heights. For example, Bermuda grass is healthiest when mowed frequently and kept under 0.5 inches, whereas Kentucky bluegrass can grow as tall as 3 inches before needing to be mowed. The more often grass requires trimming, the more homeowners will pay for lawn care.

Grass Type Mowing Height Mowing Frequency Bermuda 0.5 to 2 inches Weekly Centipede 1 to 1.5 inches Weekly Fescue 3 to 4 inches Bimonthly Kentucky bluegrass 2 to 3 inches Bimonthly Ryegrass 1.5 to 2.5 inches Bimonthly Zoysia 1 to 2.5 inches Weekly Accessibility

Fences, trees, children's play structures, and other obstacles complicate the work to be done, increasing the time needed for mowing the lawn, trimming, and cleanup—and adding to lawn care costs. The time to complete fall and spring leaf removal is compounded by the presence of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs.

Service Frequency

Depending on what services a homeowner needs and what their budget will allow, there are often three options for lawn care service frequency: weekly, monthly, or yearly. Most contracts are billed annually; for example, if the average lawn care cost per month is $400, the homeowner will be charged $4,800 for the year. In regions where there is a significant change in weather for certain parts of the year, it may make sense to get more or less frequent service for a portion of the year. Onetime visits may also make sense in some situations, such as when the house is being put on the market or there has been a storm that has caused significant damage.

Service Frequency Annual Cost One time $75 to $200 Weekly $3,380 to $7,020 Monthly $3,600 to $6,000 Yearly