2024 Average Cost of Landscaping Maintenance & Prices // HomeGuide (2024)

Average cost of landscaping maintenance

Landscaping maintenance costs $100 to $200 per month on average or up to $300 per month for large yards. This includes lawn care, gardening, and general yard upkeep. The total cost depends on the yard size, location, amount of work, and visit frequency.

Popular landscaping maintenance services

Common landscaping maintenance services include:

• Landscaping costs $50 to $100 per hour.

• Sod installation costs $1 to $2 per square foot.

• Mulch costs $15 to $65 per yard.

• Landscaping rock prices are $50 to $160 per yard.

• Snow removal costs $30 to $70 per hour.

Tree trimming & removal costs

Lawn service agreement often include tree trimming and removal as part of the grounds maintenance.

• Tree trimming costs $200 to $900.

• Tree removal costs $300 to $2,000.

• Tree stump removal costs $100 to $400.

Contractors chop up or mulch large trees and branches on-site. Any part of the lawn left exposed is filled in with dirt and re-seeded.

When is the best time to do tree trimming?

Fall is the best to do tree trimming and remove overgrown branches that could cause injury during a storm. An arborist costs $100 to $250 per hour for professional pruning. Heavy pruning in summer can harm the tree.

To avoid killing the tree, hire an arborist with these certifications:

• ISA Certified Arborist

• TDA Commercial Pesticide Applicators License

• Tree Risk Assessment Qualified

• American Society of Consulting Arborists member

• Commercial Arborists member

Lawn care prices

Lawn care costs $40 to $80 per hour for most average services, and lawn mowing prices are $30 to $85 per visit. Prices vary according to how many visits are necessary, the treatments needed, and the lawn size.

Full-service lawn care can include:

• Weekly or biweekly mowing

• Aeration and fertilizing

• Weed-control treatments

• Spring and fall yard cleanups

• Garden cleanup and mulching

• Hedge and tree trimming

Lawn fertilizing cost

The cost to fertilize a lawn is $65 to $100 per application. Most lawns need 4 to 6 fertilizer treatments per year, according to the climate. Organic fertilizers typically cost more than chemical fertilizers.

Lawn aeration costs

Lawn aeration costs $75 to $250. Aeration helps ensure the soil is permeable to allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots. Landscapers advise aerating before re-seeding a lawn.

Dethatching cost

Lawn dethatching costs $100 to $300 on average. Dethatching removes compacted natural debris above the grass roots to let in more air, water, and nutrients into the soil. The best time to dethatch a lawn is early spring or late fall.

Sprinkler system install & repair costs

Asprinkler system costs$1,800 to $5,200, depending on the lawn size and if landscaping is already installed or not.Sprinkler system repairs cost$100 to $400on average, or$50 to $100 per hourfor a professional plumber.

Installing adrip irrigation system costs$300 to $1,200 per zoneon average.

Leaf removal costs

Leaf removal costs $150 to $350 on average, depending on the lawn size, amount of leaves, and disposal fees for hauling debris. Leaf removal is important because a thick layer of dead leaves left on a lawn will suffocate and kill the grass.

Lawn weeding costs

Weed control costs $50 to $125 per application. Manually pulling weeds by hand costs $50 to $100 per hour for a 2-person crew. Stop weeds from spreading by uprooting them in spring.

Pest control prices

Pest control pricesare $80 to $120 per visit according to the type and severity of the infestation. Severe pest problems require up to 3 to 6 months of treatments.

Types of pests to watch out for:

• Cinch bugs– These pests are common in St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Zoysia grasses growing in hot and arid climates. A natural method of cinch bug control is to attract birds who eat these bugs with bird feeders and fountains.

• Grubs– Grubs eat the roots of Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia grasses. Some species of worms called "Nematodes" eat grubs, but other pesticides can be more effective.

• Fire ants– If found in small mounds, pouring boiling water on the mound can be effective.

• Moles and voles– If you see broken sod and mounds forming in the yard, try pouring liquid or granular mixes of castor oil around the yard.

• Japanese beetles, mole crickets, cut worms, army worms– Neem oil and sprays containing potassium bicarbonate can be effective on beetles. Ask for liquid concentrates that kill harmful worms without affecting birds, or earthworms.

• European crane fly– This fly destroys plant roots and stems. Ask about insecticidal soaps and slow-dissolving granular pesticides to get rid of them.

Gardener cost

• A gardener costs $75 to $250 for yard and garden maintenance.

• Landscapers charge $15 to $45 per square foot to plant flowers.

• Filling a garden bed with new topsoil costs $10 to $50 per cubic yard.

• Compost costs $20 to $50 per cubic yard to add nutrients to depleted soil.

Preparing for winter

• Gutter cleaning costs $100 to $250 on average. Cleaning the gutters protects the landscaping, extends the roof's life, and prevents damage to windows and walls.

• Winterizing a sprinkler system costs $50 to $150. Winterizing protects the sprinkler heads and lines from damage when the ground freezes.

• Sealing and waterproofing a deck costs $1.00 to $3.50 per square foot. Sealing a deck protects it from water damage, rot, warping, and mold growth.

Find your landscaping maintenance service

Before hiring a landscaping company near you, be sure to:

• Compare multiple quotes from companies with 5+ years of experience.

• Ask if they have horticulture or design training.

• Verify that they have surety bonds and full liability insurance.

• Read their reviews on HomeGuide and Google.

• Request an itemized estimate and contract upfront.

• Beware of the lowest bids that often yield low-quality results.

• Don’t give a full payment. Follow a payment plan instead.