Selecting a Lawn Care Service
Last updated May 2025
If you want to hire a lawn care service, here are some steps to take to vet companies.
Compare Proposals
Most lawn care services won’t tailor their tasks to your property. Instead, they offer customers a selection of annual packages with specified treatment plans. Some services also offer one-time treatments, some automatically renew the contract each year, but almost all allow you to cancel a contract at any time and pay for only the visits you have received.
Since different companies will propose different combos of treatments, it’s hard to compare prices. Instead, you’ll have to detail the quality of service you want and any special factors—for example, your tolerance for weeds and the types of fertilizers or pesticides they can use. Then get prices for the service each company suggests for your yard. Keep in mind that many companies don’t have well-informed salespeople, and their advice should be regarded with skepticism.
Invite several companies to inspect your lawn and propose programs and prices. Although most don’t require you to be present during inspections, we recommend meeting with representatives in person. It’s a good way to size them up. Let each know:
- Your tolerance for weeds, thin spots, and other lawn defects
- What you envision as the end result
- How soon you expect the lawn to reach an acceptable condition
- Your concerns (if any) about the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides
- What kinds of notification and other precautions against possible pesticide risk you can expect
Show the representatives what you don’t like about your lawn’s current condition, and ask them how they would fix it.
When our undercover shoppers asked lawn care services to propose the work needed, and the cost for one year of service, to meet our quality expectations for two lawns, they received enormous price differences.
When collecting prices, keep in mind that the specific services recommended to meet your expectations will vary from company to company—and that some companies might not be able to satisfy you. You may discover that many price differences exist because some companies recommend expensive treatments (aeration, seeding) as part of their annual programs while others do not. Some companies will propose regular periodic visits for the basics (fertilization, weed control, insect control) and later recommend more expensive treatments (seeding, aeration), if needed. If a company doesn’t include these expensive treatments in its quote, ask how much it will charge for them in case you need them later.
Ask About Guarantees
Almost all companies provide guarantees, usually to refund money for a single treatment or reapply it if the customer is not satisfied. But this standard promise doesn’t cut it if you’re unhappy with an entire year’s service. Ask each business if it will agree, in writing, to refund your money if you are not satisfied or to continue service at no cost until you are.
Consider a Limited Program
For most lawns, proper mowing can reduce the need for other expensive treatments throughout the year. An established lawn needs less treatment and maintenance, with annual fertilization and seeding (if needed) the most critical. If a company offers a limited program—and if you can be patient—try it for a year or two; if things don’t progress satisfactorily, switch to a more extensive program.
Weighing Organic Options
Nearly all lawn care services offer “natural” or “organic” programs. Although these labels are used rather loosely, these plans usually apply natural fertilizer several times a year, plus periodic core aeration and over-seeding. Coupled with proper mowing and watering, these simple programs can create lawns just as attractive as those that receive conventional treatments.
Some companies offer more extensive organic programs with controls for weed and pest problems, and inspection by knowledgeable, trained staff. Many companies use natural less-toxic herbicides such as corn gluten meal and insecticidal oils.