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Maintaining a pristine lawn takes considerable effort. Without the right tools and products, homeowners often see mixed results. Professional lawn care companies offer convenient, personalized solutions to keep your yard looking its best, whether through do-it-yourself (DIY) subscriptions or full-service plans. We spent hours researching the top lawn care companies’ pricing, plans, benefits, and industry reputation. Make an informed decision with this guide to the best lawn care programs.
Top Lawn Care Services of 2023
Get started with these five lawn care service companies:
TruGreen
- Frequency of Service: Every four to six weeks
- State Availability: 48 (all but Alaska and Hawaii)
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit TruGreen site
What We Like
TruGreen offers convenient and comprehensive lawn care throughout the continental United States. This provider tops our list of the best lawn care companies due to its wide variety of plans, mobile app, impressive industry reputation, and more than four decades in service. We also liked TruGreen’s transparent online pricing for many of its lawn care plans. For annual plan subscribers, TruGreen offers to revisit your home as necessary to reservice your lawn between scheduled appointments. Other TruGreen offerings include soil analysis, grub control and prevention, and tree and shrub care.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Here are some of TruGreen’s pros and cons:
Upsides | Downsides |
---|---|
Has several lawn care subscription plans to choose from |
Only offers free reservice to annual subscribers |
Offers mosquito control services |
Does not offer convenient online cancellation via its company page or mobile app |
Requires its specialists to recieve ongoing training |
Plans and Pricing
TruGreen offers four lawn care plans, each providing a unique set of services:
- TruSignature Lawn Care Plan: Labeled the lawn care provider’s most comprehensive plan, this option provides overseeding, fertilization, tree and shrub services, preemergent and targeted weed control, aeration, and grub control and prevention. Typically, this plan services lawns with nine applications per year.
- TruComplete Lawn Care Plan: This plan offers lawn aeration, targeted and preemergent weed control, overseeding, lawn fertilization, and grub prevention and control. In most areas, customers can expect nine applications per year.
- TruHealth Lawn Care Plan: For simplified services, the TruHealth plan offers fertilization, grub control and prevention, and targeted and preemergent weed control. Treatment is applied eight times annually in most parts of the country.
- TruMaintenance Lawn Care Plan: For a maintained lawn, TruMaintenance provides fertilization along with preemergent and targeted weed control to keep your yard healthy. This plan typically follows a schedule of seven applications per year.
All four plans come with a Healthy Lawn Analysis by lawn care specialists to determine your yard’s specific needs, as well as a Healthy Lawn Guarantee that ensures customer satisfaction.
Pricing for TruGreen services varies by lawn size, your lawn’s current condition, your location, and the plan and additional services you choose. We obtained these quotes while secret-shopping for a one-acre lawn in Nashville:
- TruSignature Lawn Care Plan: $3,346 per year
- TruComplete Lawn Care Plan: $2,047 per year
- TruHealth Lawn Care Plan: $1,738 per year
- TruMaintenance Lawn Care Plan: $1,506 per year
What Homeowner Reviews Say
We read dozens of customer reviews for TruGreen’s services on third-party review sites such as TrustPilot.
Satisfied customers appreciated the results they saw after TruGreen’s applications, mentioning greener and fuller lawns. We also found several positive reviews for TruGreen’s mosquito control services. Negative reviews frequently cited dissatisfaction with TruGreen’s customer service, including issues with billing and the service cancellation process.
Read More: TruGreen Review
Sunday
- Frequency of Service: One to four shipments of DIY treatments per year
- State Availability: 50
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit Sunday site
What We Like
Sunday specializes in DIY lawn care, offering plans and products for lawn treatment, gardening, and pest control. The company sends customers seasonally based nutrient pouches to spray in their yards and uses as many natural ingredients as possible in its broad scope of products. With clear descriptions and bright packaging, this provider is a good fit for homeowners new to lawn maintenance.
Sunday’s website features stand-alone products for purchase, including garden bulbs, weed and pest control treatments, and a pet repair kit that helps recover your lawn from brown patches.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Here are some of Sunday’s main pros and cons:
Upsides | Downsides |
---|---|
Uses a high percentage of natural ingredients in its products and avoids synthetic chemical compounds |
Doesn’t offer preemergent weed control |
Offers a range of à la carte products |
Doesn’t have a mobile app or online chat function |
Designs its nutrient pouches to be easy to use with a hose-end sprayer |
Plans and Pricing
Sunday plans come at three price points, each providing a different level of lawn care. Sunday ships lawn care products directly to your home during the growing season and pauses shipments during the winter months.
Each plan is customized to your lawn’s needs and your preferences. From least to most coverage, here are Sunday’s three lawn care plans:
- Basic Care: A Basic Care subscription includes seasonal nutrient pouches catered to your lawn’s needs and a soil test kit sent one to four times per year, depending on your location and when you subscribe. The number of nutrient pouches provided will depend on your lawn size and regional climate information.
- Keep & Protect: A typical Keep & Protect subscription provides seasonal nutrient pouches, a reusable gallon sprayer, weed concentrate, and a soil test kit. These items come staggered over four shipments per year.
- Grow & Renew: A typical Grow & Renew subscription provides seasonal nutrient pouches, a reusable gallon sprayer, weed concentrate, a soil test kit, and three bags of grass seed. These items come staggered in up to four shipments throughout spring, summer, and fall.
No Sunday bundle offers aeration, lawn mowing, or shrub and tree services. All three bundles come with a satisfaction guarantee that promises help and replacements if a product is missing. However, Sunday does not offer a money-back guarantee. We secret-shopped for a year of Sunday’s lawn care for a home in Nashville with an acre of lawn. In the online quoting process, prices were $229 for a Basic Care plan, $258 for a Keep & Protect plan, and $330 for a Grow & Renew plan. Note that both the contents of the box and pricing may vary by lawn.
What Homeowner Reviews Say
Sunday customer reviews are sparse across trusted third-party sources, with only one customer review on TrustPilot.
Read More: Sunday Lawn Care Review
Lawnbright
- Frequency of Service: Two to three DIY applications shipped every six to eight weeks
- State Availability: 49 (all butHawaii)
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit Lawnbright site
What We Like
Lawnbright is an excellent option for homeowners who want an environmentally conscious, hands-on approach to lawn maintenance. The company offers subscription boxes through annual plans and specializes in liquid products that you can apply with your garden hose. We like Lawnbright’s commitment to using natural ingredients in its products, pledging never to use harsh chemicals. The company’s published Ingredient Promise details its pledge and many of the ingredients it uses. Lawnbright aims for low nitrogen emissions and incorporates pet-friendly compounds.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Here are the main benefits and drawbacks of using Lawnbright:
Upsides | Downsides |
---|---|
Uses naturally sourced ingredients that are safer for pets, families, and the environment |
Offers a limited range of products compared to many competitors |
Bases lawn treatment plans on a soil analysis |
Doesn’t offer tree or shrub services |
Designs user-friendly products that attach to your garden hose |
Plans and Pricing
Lawnbright designs customized plans for your lawn based on the goals you express through its online quoting process, the size of your lawn, and the region in which you live. These factors will also determine the products sent in your subscription boxes.
When we secret-shopped for a quote on a one-acre yard in Nashville, the company recommended a plan that cost $335 per year. This price was for a subscription that sends three boxes of treatments in the spring, summer, and fall. This subscription included soil conditioner, natural fertilizer, a micronutrient pack, and a treatment to promote deep rooting before the winter season.
What Homeowner Reviews Say
No customer reviews are currently available for Lawnbright on trusted third-party websites.
Lawn Doctor
- Frequency of Service: Six to eight times per year
- State Availability: 38 (all but Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming)
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit Lawn Doctor site
What We Like
Lawn Doctor offers annual lawn care plans backed with a satisfaction guarantee. If you are unsatisfied with the results of your lawn treatment, a Lawn Doctor specialist will reservice your lawn for no additional cost or refund the previous application. The company adapts its plans to varying needs, including fertilization and weed control, mosquito and tick control, and soil aeration. Before hosting a gathering, you can enroll in Lawn Doctor’s special event program. Its specialists will apply a one-time mosquito treatment to your lawn. This is ideal for events such as family reunions, weddings, and graduation parties.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Here are some pros and cons of Lawn Doctor:
Upsides | Downsides |
---|---|
Offers mower maintenance services at some locations |
Isn’t available nationwide |
Offers basic landscaping services for shrubs, trees, and other ornamental plantings |
Doesn’t sell stand-alone products to supplement its services |
Backs its plans with a satisfaction guarantee that includes free reservice or a refund |
Plans and Pricing
Lawn Doctor offers the following annual plans:
- Fertilization and Weed Plan: Customized to your lawn, this plan includes fertilization for your grass type and broadleaf weed and crabgrass control.
- Mosquito Control Plan: This plan treats an existing mosquito problem and offers prevention for future lawn infestations. Lawn Doctor uses natural ingredients in its mosquito control product.
- Tick Control Plan: For this plan, Lawn Doctor specifically treats your lawn for ticks, targeting areas where ticks tend to breed and nest. It also offers an alternative tick control solution that uses natural ingredients.
Each plan typically includes six to eight treatments throughout the year. Lawn Doctor also offers power seeding and aeration services designed to improve soil health and grow lush and vibrant grass.
Lawn Doctor prices its annual plans according to your lawn’s needs and will require you to speak to your local Lawn Doctor specialist for more information.
What Homeowner Reviews Say
We read dozens of Lawn Doctor reviews on TrustPilot and other trusted third-party review sites. Many four- and five-star reviews complimented Lawn Doctor’s successful lawn fertilization treatments and personable customer service. Other customers expressed satisfaction with the knowledge and guidance of Lawn Doctor’s specialists. Some negative reviews stated the lawn treatments didn’t work as expected for weed control.
Read More: TruGreen vs. Lawn Doctor
SavATree
- Frequency of Service: Quarterly
- State Availability: 28 plus Washington, D.C. (including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin)
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit SavATree site
What We Like
SavATree is a great fit for anyone seeking comprehensive lawn treatment plus additional care for trees. The company offers tree pruning, tree removal, disease treatment, and mite and pest treatment as an add-on to any of its lawn care plans. It also offers a support network for tree lovers via its mobile app, which quickly connects you with a local, professional arborist when you need assistance fast. The company focuses on environmentally friendly lawn care, aiming to reduce waste and carbon emissions at all levels of its services. It also offers specialized boxwood care, organic shrub care, tree cabling and bracing, and more.
Benefits and Drawbacks
The following are some pros and cons of SavATree:
Upsides | Downsides |
---|---|
Offers numerous tree and shrub care services in addition to its lawn care plans |
Doesn’t have nationwide availability |
Has organic, environmentally friendly lawn treatment options |
Varies its service offerings based on your location |
Aims to reduce waste and carbon emissions and is a strategic partner for the Sustainable Urban Forests Coalition |
Plans and Pricing
SavATree’s pricing varies by customer. The company will conduct a detailed soil analysis on your property, then offer a choice from the plans below with a custom quote.
- Organic Lawn Care: This multi-pronged, 100% organic lawn care program aims to help your lawn thrive in the most environmentally responsible way.
- Integrated Lawn Care: This program combines fertilizing services with weed control treatments. It also includes surface insect control, if necessary.
- Hybrid Lawn Care: This plan balances your desire for a beautiful lawn with SavATree’s commitment to organic products. It offers premium organic fertilizers while controlling weeds with conservative spot-treating and high-quality synthetic materials.
- All-Nutrient Lawn Care: This program is excellent for lawn revitalization. It focuses on turf nutrition rather than ongoing maintenance.
What Homeowner Reviews Say
SavATree has very few customer reviews on trusted sites, such as TrustPilot. Some Yelp reviews did compliment the company for its skilled tree work. Negative reviews mention poor customer service.
How to Choose a Lawn Care Service
Your lawn is a significant factor in your home’s overall appeal and appearance. Poor lawn care service can lead to patchy, brown, and unsightly areas, so choosing the right provider for your needs is vital. Consider the following factors when choosing the best fit for your yard.
Service Programs
Lawn care companies differ from landscaping companies in many ways. Landscaping often involves mowing, planting new trees and shrubs, and designing beautified outdoor spaces.
On the other hand, lawn care services focus on the health and composition of your grass, trees, shrubs, and soil. Standard service programs include these:
- Overseeding: This service involves laying down new seed on an existing lawn to thicken grass, fill in bare spots, and combat weed growth.
- Pest control: Most lawn care companies offer add-on pest control for outdoor creatures such as grubs, mosquitos, and ants.
- Weed control: Weed control aims to eliminate unwanted growth in your yard, while preemergent applications strike at weeds before they take root to inhibit growth.
- Aeration: Lawn service companies use both spike and core aeration to break up compacted soil, allowing grass to build a healthier root system.
- Lime soil amendment: In this service, granulated limestone is added to soil to balance its pH levels and foster growth.
- Trees and shrubs: Typical services for trees and shrubs include inspecting and treating any diseases or pests inhabiting the tree and fertilizing around the base for proper growth.
- Fertilization: Applying fertilizer during the growing season delivers additional nutrients to promote new root and leaf growth, encourages thicker grass, and supports healthy roots.
Frequency of Service
The frequency of service for lawn care will vary based on your needs and goals for your lawn.
- Monthly: Monthly lawn service is somewhat standard for full-service providers. Professionals apply treatments that improve soil health, prevent pests, and help you maintain a healthy yard every four to six weeks on average.
- Quarterly: For DIY subscription lawn care, boxes usually arrive in the spring, summer, and fall, allowing you to apply your products quarterly. Both traditional lawn care and DIY services suspend most offerings during the winter months.
- Annual: Both DIY and comprehensive lawn care companies offer options needed just once per year, such as overseeding.
- As-needed: Some services, such as aeration or lime soil amendment, are only needed every few years. These can be performed on an as-needed basis rather than on a specific annual schedule.
Ingredients
Many lawn care providers avoid harmful traditional pesticides and fertilizers in favor of more natural ingredients. If you have small children or pets, you may benefit from looking for products certified as organic, so be sure to read the labels and ingredients listed on company websites. All three providers in this review offer natural options, and both Sunday and Lawnbright have at least one fully organic product for sale.
Cost
Comprehensive professional lawn care typically costs more than a DIY lawn care subscription service. The average cost for three TruGreen comprehensive lawn care services came to $876 annually for a home with approximately a quarter-acre lawn.
The average DIY subscription cost for the same lawn came to $368 annually. We got this figure by averaging plan costs for Sunday and Lawnbright.
Compare Top Lawn Care Companies
Our Recommendation
For comprehensive service and convenience, we recommend that busy homeowners select TruGreen. This provider earns our top recommendation for its years of experience, hands-on approach, comprehensive service list, and customer support. Additionally, the company’s user-friendly mobile app allows users to manage their lawn care on the go.
For environmentally conscious homeowners, Lawnbright provides DIY plans using all-natural ingredients aimed at reducing nitrogen levels. In addition, Sunday’s plans are great for lawn care beginners looking for a cost-efficient service plan.
Professional Lawn Care FAQ
How do I choose a lawn care service?
In choosing a lawn care company, you will want to consider several factors:What services you’d like for your yard: Do you need extensive treatments like aeration and soil amendment, or simply some overseeding and fertilization? If your yard needs significant help to get healthy, you may consider a full-service provider.If you’d prefer DIY or a traditional service: Some companies like Sunday and Lawnbright will ship treatments straight to your door for you to apply, while providers like TruGreen will take care of your lawn directly. If you want to be more hands-on with your lawn, DIY may be right for you.Your price range: Unsurprisingly, traditional lawn care costs more than DIY services. The extra cost may be worth it for those who prefer not to spend their weekends on lawn care. On the other hand, a full-service price may be prohibitive for some homeowners.
How much do most lawn services cost?
Quotes we received from secret shopping for a one-acre lawn in Nashville averaged $2,159 for a year of traditional lawn care service or $288 for DIY subscription services. These services include pest control, weed control, fertilization, overseeding, and more. According to experts, pricing for landscaping services like mowing and weeding in the same area typically ranges from $50 to $200 per visit for a similar lawn.
What are some companies that have good lawn care services?
Some nationally recognized companies with good lawn care services include TruGreen, Lawn Doctor, and Weed Man for full-service choices. Good choices for DIY care include Sunday, Lawnbright, and Scotts.
Is it cheaper to fertilize your own lawn?
It is typically cheaper to fertilize your own lawn, but you lose the benefit of full-service lawn care. Lawn care specialists that provide fertilization services usually tailor a plan to your soil condition and grass type.
How can I make my lawn greener and fuller?
To grow greener, thicker grass, it’s best to start a lawn care plan that includes aeration, seeding, fertilization, and weed control.
How We Chose the Top Lawn Care Services
We researched and analyzed widely available lawn care services, spoke with customer service representatives, and analyzed customer experiences based on hundreds of consumer reviews and call listening sessions to find common pain points and lawn care service requests.
We also secret-shopped for quotes from six providers to simulate the customer experience with each process and compare pricing for similar services. Although lawn care offerings can vary based on seasonality and location, we reviewed and compared each provider’s service programs, frequency of service, customer support, pest and weed control options, contact options, industry reputation, ingredients, and state availability.