How Much Does Professional Lawn Care Cost?

Maintaining a healthy lawn in Atlanta takes a lot of time, effort, care, and money. A lush, green lawn is the goal for many homeowners, but achieving this can be challenging. Many juggle deciding whether to hire a professional lawn care service or go the DIY route. Taking care of a lawn can be rewarding, but is it cheaper? We’ll break down everything you need to know about the average lawn care cost when comparing DIY vs hiring the pros.  

Everything a Healthy Lawn Needs

To determine the true cost of great lawn care, you need to consider everything you need to maintain a happy, healthy lawn.

Mowing and Watering

• Mowing is crucial for promoting healthy growth. The height and frequency depend on the type of grass and the season.

• Watering your grass should be a top priority to see the best results from everything else you’re doing on the lawn. Proper irrigation ensures the grass roots grow deep and strong. Sprinkler systems are a great tool to ensure your lawn is never thirsty.

Weed Control and Lawn Fertilization

• Effective weed control includes pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides that need to be applied at the right time of year for best results.

• Regular fertilization provides essential nutrients that promote growth and green color. The type of fertilizer and the schedule depend on the grass type, season, and soil condition.

Aeration and Overseeding

• Core aeration involves perforating the soil with an aerator machine to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots. This helps alleviate soil compaction and promotes root growth. Warm-season grasses should be core aerated in late spring.

• Overseeding involves planting grass seeds into existing fescue grass to improve lawn density and fill in bare spots. Overseeding is paired with aeration and primarily takes place during fall when cool-season grass types are thriving.

Insect and Disease Control

• Lawn pests like grubs and chinch bugs can damage your lawn fast. Regular monitoring and appropriate insecticides can prevent and control infestations.

• Lawn diseases can also affect healthy lawns. Proper maintenance and timely fungicide applications can keep diseases at bay. Certain grass types need preventative fungicides throughout the year for common seasonal lawn diseases.

DIY Lawn Care vs. Professional Lawn Care

DIY Lawn Care: The main expenses include equipment, products, and your time. It’s also important to do solid research on your grass type to know what it needs and when. Soil testing is also beneficial to determine what nutrients are lacking in the soil.  

• Equipment: Lawnmowers, spreaders, sprayers, and aerators can be purchased or rented. Transportation, storage, and equipment maintenance should also be factored in.

• Products & Storage: Fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and grass seed.

• Safety & Expertise: Always follow product labels and safety guidelines to avoid harm to the lawn or anything else. Research the ideal time windows for grass types and products to see results.

• Time: Regular lawn maintenance tasks can be time-consuming. Mowing and watering should be a weekly task. Adding in time for scheduled fertilization, weed control, and other seasonal lawn treatments doesn’t leave you with much time to enjoy your outdoor space!

Professional Lawn Care: When choosing a local lawn care company, you’ll have a set annual cost but what’s included? You can build a plan based on what your lawn needs and you’ll have the peace of mind knowing your lawn is in good hands.  

• Lawn Care Programs: Many lawn care companies offer packages for weed control, fertilization, and more. A typical lawn care program cost varies but you won’t have to worry about product research, timing, or storage.

• Quality & Safety: Professional treatments for pests, mosquito control, diseases, and other lawn issues can be more effective. Companies have access to commercial-grade products and have the know-how to apply them correctly and safely.

• Aeration and Seeding: Most lawn care companies offer additional services so you don’t have to worry about renting equipment or buying products. Timing is also crucial with fescue overseeding and professionals can ensure you see the best results.

• Lawn Maintenance: Maintenance companies include services like mowing, trimming, and edging. Costs vary but if you don’t have the time or means to store mowing equipment, you may consider a professional.

The Average Cost of Lawn Care Services

The main factor that determines lawn care cost is the size of your lawn. The amount of product you need and time spent on the lawn is based on square footage. When it’s all said and done, the average cost breakdown of either route is similar. The main differences are the time, knowledge, results, and hassle that come with doing it all on your own.  

Professional lawn care services like All Turf Lawn Care offer free estimates for lawn care pricing per application. We’ll provide a breakdown of everything that’s included and when to give you a solid idea of the annual cost. When planning DIY lawn care costs, you’ll need to calculate the amount of fertilizer and weed control products you’ll need for your lawn size, the application rate, schedule, and equipment such as sprayers and spreaders. Equipment rentals like aerators include hourly and daily rates. You’ll also need to factor in delivery or pick-up costs to transport large machinery.  

The Best Professional Lawn Care for Atlanta Homeowners

If you want to skip the headache and enjoy your weekends, All Turf Lawn Care is here to help. At All Turf, we make it simple. We offer all-inclusive monthly lawn care programs that cover everything your lawn needs. Our program includes weed control, fertilization, insecticides, fungicides, fire ant control, and limestone at a monthly rate. We also offer free service calls because we know lawn care can be unpredictable. If any area needs extra attention, we’ll schedule a return visit at no additional cost. A beautiful outdoor space doesn’t stop at the lawn, which is why we also offer tree and shrub care, mosquito control, and more. Our service areas cover the greater Atlanta area including Marietta, Tyrone, Loganville, Suwanee, Cumming, Buford, Covington, Kennesaw, Hiram, and surrounding areas. Contact us today for a free quote.