What's the cheapest way to get my lawn mowed professionally?
Countless homeowners are looking for ways to get high-quality lawn maintenance at a good price. There are plenty of professional lawn care companies out there, but many charge an arm and a leg for landscaping. Most people just want simple lawn mowing services. They just need someone to keep up with cutting their grass so that they don’t have to.
Unfortunately, finding good services at a good rate is harder than it sounds. Most people give up on trying to find an affordable lawn care professional and just keep doing it themselves. There is an easier way, though: GreenPal. Learn why this platform is the cheapest way to get professional landscaping services, what average prices you can expect, and how to find the best contractor for your needs.
Understanding average costs: Cheap vs good value
It’s very important for you to understand that cheap does not always equal good. Some of the least expensive lawn care pros do the worst quality work. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend hundreds to get weekly mowing services. It’s all about defining value.
Value is more than just a dollar amount. It’s the worth of something. You could be given two lawn care prices from a contractor, but one may offer more premium services. This makes them a better value. Or, they might include something that other people charge extra for, like bagging up grass clippings. The more you get for your money, the better the value is.
Cheap vs. luxury lawn care: Pros and cons
When you hire someone else to do your lawn care, you have the option to pick a standard, run-of-the-mill lawn care pro or someone who specializes in high-end services. Who you hire really depends on your needs. Here are some pros and cons of each:
Standard lawn care |
Luxury lawn care |
Pros |
Cons |
Pros |
Cons |
Affordable Easy to find More availability Minimal ongoing maintenance needed |
Stuck with basic lawn Risk of inexperienced contractors Your lawn won’t look unique |
Makes your lawn stand out Never have to worry about quality Increases property value |
Expensive Hard to find someone Requires constant maintenance and upkeep |
How much do lawn care services cost based on yard size?
GreenPal has found that the national average for the cost of lawn care is around $50. This is for an average lawn and regular mowing. However, don’t compare your service provider’s bid to this national average. There are so many variables involved, especially the lawn size. A 1,000 to 5,000 square foot small yard might only cost $25 each mow. A large yard of around 20,000 square feet might cost closer to $60. Larger yards over an acre could cost $75+.
Besides yard size, though, you have to consider:
Service frequency: The more frequently you have a lawn care business cut your lawn, the cheaper it will be. One-time services are the most expensive, followed by bi-weekly and then weekly.
Additional services: Add-ons like lawn aeration, dethatching, weed control, mulch, and lawn fertilization will all cost more.
Yard cleanup costs: A basic yard cleanup and sidewalk blowing are usually included in standard grass cutting. If you need leaf removal or grass clippings hauled away, however, be prepared to pay a little more.
Location: Lawn care costs vary by city. For example, mowing services in Tampa, FL might cost less than San Diego because of the relative costs of living.
What’s included with basic lawn care?
One homeowner's expectation of lawn care can look very different than someone else’s. When comparing labor costs from lawn care providers, it’s important to have a standardized set of services. This is one of the biggest benefits of GreenPal. Every bid on the platform includes the same things. You never have to wonder if one bid is cheaper than another because they cut corners.
You can expect four main standard services included in lawn mowing costs on GreenPal:
Professional mowing of grass that is under 10” tall (some providers may have different limits).
Weed wacking around obstacles like trees, shrubs, and flower beds.
Trimming and edging around sidewalks.
Clean up and sidewalk blowing.
Don’t hire someone too cheap: Red flags to look out for
Everyone wants a great deal, but you might want to reconsider hiring the cheapest bid you get. Oftentimes, there’s a reason why it’s priced so low. It’s fine to hire someone who provides a cheap quote as long as it falls close to other bids. Outliers should be avoided.
When you hire someone who’s too cheap, you run into a couple of risks. For one, they may not have experience with the grass type around your property. This is very important for a healthy lawn. Cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses have different lawn care needs, so they need to have expert knowledge in lawn care. They might be unreliable and not show up on time. Or their landscaping skills could just be very inferior, and you end up with a poorly cut lawn.
It’s pretty easy to spot an inexperienced contractor who’s too cheap. Some red flags to look out for include:
They demand upfront payment.
They charge an hourly rate, but won’t tell you how long it takes.
They won’t give you an accurate quote.
They’re not insured.
They don’t respond to your questions promptly.
They have bad reviews on their profile.
They have amateur lawn care equipment.
Get multiple bids to secure the best price
The best way to get cheap lawn care while not sacrificing quality is to get multiple bids. Marketplace platforms are convenient for this because all the quotes are laid out for you. By getting bids from various contractors, you can determine who’s too high and who’s too low. You can find the middle-ground quotes that have good value, and pick the most affordable from them.
Find affordable home lawn care today
If you’re searching for high-quality lawn care with low maintenance costs, GreenPal is the best way to find it. Homeowners can get the best price for their property by comparing multiple bids. Every contractor is carefully vetted and must have a registered bank account to use the service. Additionally, their reputation is clearly displayed for review, so you don’t have to be concerned about the contractors’ qualifications.
If you’re a first-time user of the platform, sign up for a free account. Enter your property address, answer a couple of questions about your yard, and experienced pros will start sending you affordable bids. Get started today.
