Lawncare rates?

Question

I was wondering, how do most lawn companies charge their customers?

By hour, yard size, type of work needed (mowing, stump pulling etc) or by some linear formula involving all the above?

Answer 1

The prices are going to vary depending on what you are looking for. Lawn mowing  prices are based not only on square footage/size, but also on how much trimming there is. The longer it takes to complete the job, the higher the price will be. You can have a larger lawn with little to no trimming with a cheaper price then a smaller lawn with lots of obstacles in the way and needing to be trimmed around.

As far as fertilizer and weed spray goes, generally the price goes pretty much by lawn size alone, that is unless there is what I call the pain in the butt  factor involved.  This can be anything from steepness of the lawn to  an over abundance of flowers or gardens, which can make spraying difficult. One other factor which is more then likely going to be an issue as well with both services with the gas prices sky rocketing, is that your lawn is near by other customers, or does the company have to travel a long distance to get to your yard.

if you are asking this as a person wondering what rates to charge for your company, I would recommend that you have your lawn and  as many of your friends lawns evaluated by as many different local companies as possible, and that way you can see what the going rates for your area are.

If you are a home owner looking for a company, I would say get as many quotes as possible and ask for references, or addresses of some of their customers, so you can check and see what type of a job that they do.  Don't always go for the cheapest, nor the biggest. The larger companies tend to treat lawns as numbers, and do the same thing to all lawns. whether they need it or not. Many of the smaller companies are fly by nighters who do poor quality work.

Answer 2

Nick is right, you might be better off doing it yourself. I don't know for sure but my guess is that companys add their gas cost and a labor cost then add some extra onto that. Again, I'm not sure of that but it would be my guess

Answer 3

It sounds like you're asking not because you want to hire a professional but to become one yourself.  The work needed will vary but generally they will have various cost/hour for various tasks, because lawncare businesses charge by the hour.  As the time increases so does gas and tool use and so does the total charge.  A landscape professional will quote a property by guessing how long it will take to complete a task, how much materials will cost, and give the quote to the customer to consider.

Answer 4

There is too much to list. They charge you for everything.  And depending on where you live the rate will vary.  Grass cuts where i am range from $50 to $90, for 1/2 acre of grass.  Trees are managed by another company and they itemize everything, from different trees, shrubs, sprays for different seasons, and fertilizers.  So the more stuff you have the more you will have to pay.  Make sure your grass guy does not cut to short, or your grass will suffer. Reason easier to burn (brown patches), needs more watering, weeds grow easier.

Good Luck.

Answer 5

your better off doing it yourself, since gas prices are rising your gonna pay for their gas and their lawn care when you could just pay for gas and mow it yourself, like a 50% save right there, if its a big yard invest in a riding lawn mower and it will definatly pay for itself, if its smaller yard get either a push mower or one that doesnt require gas at all

Answer 6

It's basically by the size of your yard and how much you want done.  I have mine fertilized and I have .8 acres.  They charge me for square footage.  It costs me the same amount to have them come out and do it as it would for me to go pick it up and do it myself (I like the top brand fertilizers - not the generic).  It can start to run you money if you want them to do the mowing, weeding, etc.  Mowing I would take care of myself.