Lawn Care – How Much Does It Cost?
Lawn Care – How Much Does It Cost?
Regardless of the time of year, you’ll always want to be ready for lawn care and be aware of the costs and what you need to face for every season. Whether you hire someone to do the work for you or you do it yourself, it’s best to be armed with what expenses are ahead.
One reason we decided to purchase a townhouse was that they take of our lawns for us. Lawn care was a factor for us, and I have to say, we still work on our lawns too. Planting flowers, weeding, and general maintenance too. As someone who cares greatly about the appearance of your lawn, you’ll want to be empowered with the facts so be sure to take notes and get ready for the Spring!
You want to make sure your lawn is well cared for; so that it looks green and fresh instead of a brown, dead mess. You need to decide whether you want to do the work yourself, or it’s best to hire a professional to care for your lawn. One of the most important issues you need to consider is the cost of professional vs DIY lawn care.
When you are looking at the cost you need to think about the high upfront cost of looking after the lawn yourself and the ongoing expense of paying someone to do it for you. The costs need to be considered alongside other matter such as how much time is taken up by DIY lawn care.
The cost of hiring someone to care for your lawn
It’s worth saying that the only way to get an accurate idea of how much professional lawn care will cost you is to ask for estimates. These estimates will reflect factors such as where you live and how many lawn care specialists are competing for business in the area. However, there are some average costs that it’s useful to know.
- Mowing: $25-50
- Aeration: $80-170
- Fertilizing: $40-$65
- Removal of leaves $50-$80
You can see that these costs can mount up, especially in the spring when your lawn needs to be rejuvenated after winter, so extra care is required.
The cost of DIY lawn maintenance
The biggest costs of DIY lawn maintenance are up front. For a start, you need to buy a reliable lawn mower. Prices for these machines vary greatly. As a guide, you should expect to pay around $450-$650 for a mid-range model with a good reputation. That is not to say there are not good lawn mowers to be had for less than this.
You also need to think about what other tools you need. One way to save costs is to not invest in an aerator. You can do the job just as well with a pitchfork, at it’s a lot less expensive.
Once you have considered the upfront costs, you need to think about ongoing expenses such as lawnmower maintenance. You can maintain your machine for around $20 each year if you do the work yourself. Alternatively, professional maintenance and repair costs at around $30-$50 per visit. It’s worth remembering that lawn mowers do not last forever, so factor in the cost of replacing your machine at some point.
Even so, just one visit by a lawn care professional could cost the same as buying your own mower and keeping it in good working order. Of course, that is not the end of the story. Once you know the cost of lawn care, you need to decide whether it’s worth paying extra just to be able to save your time to be used for something else. You may decide it’s worth paying out, or you may relish the thought of providing your own dedicated lawn care.
Don’t forget to read 42 Spring Flowers Inspired by Pantone Colors of the Year
