How Much Does Lawn Maintenance Cost

Landscaping & Lawn Care Costs In Canada

Canadians have spent less money on landscaping jobs in the last 5 years. Its safe to say the average Canadian is spending less in general since 2008, so this trend isnt surprising. With an average project cost of nearly $13,000.00 for reviews under the category of Landscaping Contractor and Designers, theres still plenty of beautiful yards in Canada.

Maybe a little less spending on major landscaping designs isnt a bad thing at all. A recent story by the Globe and Mail suggests that extensive landscaping is one of the six renovations that do not add value to your home. Elaborate landscaping requires regular maintenance which can be costly and time consuming. This is an important consideration when designing your landscape.

Across Canada the trends in pricing are fairly stable. Our review data suggests slightly lower costs in Alberta with average costs trending around $5-$6,000 in Calgary and Edmonton. On the other end of the spectrum, Ontario lawns trend toward a higher average of closer to $11,000. Rural areas, as opposed to urban Toronto yards, tend to be driving up the numbers. Understandable since the average Toronto yard is a fraction of the size of their rural neighbors.

It Will Help To Save Your Time

Lawns require constant upkeep and can take up a lot of your time. Maintaining your garden can become like a second job, and Im sure youd rather spend your time off work relaxing and doing the things you enjoy.

If you dont know what you are doing, you will also have to spend time researching, to find out what products are best and what steps you need to take.

A professional already has this knowledge and can straight to work on making your garden look its best, leaving you with more time to enjoy it!

Why Does A Lawn Grow Faster In The Summer

Your lawn grows faster in the summer due to better temperatures and increased sun exposure. As part of photosynthesis, your grass depends on plenty of sunlight. Although too much will kill it off, too little prevents it from flourishing. Grass growth begins to peak when temperatures rise above 10 degrees Celsius. If they dip between 5 degrees Celsius, it wont grow at all. Its worth noting that poor moisture during hot mid-summer months reduces growth. Like sun and heat, your grass depends on a ready supply of water to thrive. If you live in an area where rainfall is poor, you may want to consider watering your lawn during hot months. This is a great article that discusses summer gardening tips Finally, some lawns will benefit from a nitrogen-based fertiliser. When nitrogen reacts with other factors, it accelerates your lawns growth, resulting in greener and lusher grass.

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Do I Need Fertilization

Yes, fertilization matters a lot in good gardening. As much as possible, go with natural fertilization, like compost, old leaves, ash, etc. Natural fertilizers work on their own without much efforts needed on your side. In case, however, your soil is absolutely unwelcoming for planting, go with professional fertilization of your gardeners choice.

Structural And Legal Expenses

Business License You dont need any type of permit specifically for a lawn care business, but you do need to get a business license for your company and a name. An LLC typically costs around $100. In some states, you can file a fictitious name fee, also known as a DBA, which costs around $50. Other expenses might include legal fees for setting up a corporation.

Taxes You also have to register with the federal government and IRS to get a number for withholding taxes.

In addition, most states require you to collect and pay sales tax on services completed. Check with your states department of taxation for the requirements of your state.

Insurance You also have to get insurance if you plan to hire staff. Workers compensation insurance is mandatory. Workers’ compensation rates range from $0.50 – $2.00 per $100 of covered payroll.

You also have to pay any company or employee insurance premiums, which are usually based on estimated income. Youll also have to open a business bank account for your company to process checks and make cash deposits so that you can pay your bills with business checks. The alternative is accepting cash only, which will severely limit your customers and make it impossible to offer expensive services.

It may sound complex, but it is possible to complete these procedures in as little as one day. With all of the resources available online, its easier than ever to get started.

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Lawn Replacement Or Restoration Costs

Sod costs between $120 and $400 per pallet. Youll pay between $2,500 and $6,620 to fully replace or restore an average-sized lawn thats about one-fifth of an acre.

To seed a lawn costs between $410 and $1,510. It takes between one and two years for a seeded lawn to fully grow in. During this time, its susceptible to pests and damage. Sod is a much quicker way to get the look and feel you want.

Cost To Maintain A Lawn

These estimates are for BASIC work performed in serviceable conditions by qualified trade professionals using MID GRADE materials. Work not mentioned on this page and/or work using master craftsman, premium materials and project supervision will result in HIGHER COSTS! Explore the full range of lawn care service new installation labor options and material prices here.

These estimates are NOT substitutes for written quotes from trade professionals. Homewyse strongly recommends that you contact reputable professionals for accurate assessments of work required and costs for your project – before making any decisions or commitments.

The cost estimate includes:

• Costs for local material / equipment delivery to and service provider transportation to and from the job site.
• Costs to prepare the worksite for Lawn Maintenance, including costs to protect existing structure, finishes, materials and components.
• Labor setup time, mobilization time and minimum hourly charges that are commonly included for small Lawn Maintenance jobs.

The cost estimate does NOT include:

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What Type Of Grass Do You Have

There are two main categories of lawn grass: cool-season, which typically grow during early spring and fall, and warm-season, which flourish during late spring and summer. Popular cool-season grasses include rye, Kentucky bluegrass and fescues. Two examples of warm-season grasses include Bermuda and zoysia grass.

Each of these different types of grass require different lawn care regimens. For example, lawn care pros will typically cut Kentucky bluegrass shorter during warm weather than Bermuda grass. The different types of grasses also have different sun and shade needs, different needs for fertilization and watering, and even different needs for how often to cut during cool or warm months.

All these factors are compounded by your geographic region and local climate. By working with a lawn care professional you can be sure your grass will get the proper attention and treatment to allow it to flourish.

A Recent Study Shows Americans Spend Years On Lawn Care

In a recent study, researchers have found that the average person can spend 1248 days of his/her performing lawn care.

Additionally, you need to consider the cost of the equipment, the cost of maintaining that equipment, and the potential risks associated with mowing.

You could argue that its actually much cheaper to hire a pro to handle lawn care.

Below are some reasons that may help you decide whether or not to fire up the lawn mower or instead to fire up GreenPalan easy-to-use website that helps you find lawn care.

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Find Your Landscaping Maintenance Service

Looking after your yard can take a chunk of time and effort, as there is a wide range of things that need to be taken care of to protect the yard during the winter and best position it for a glorious rebirth in the spring. For those to whom this may seem overwhelming, contact your yard service company to get on their schedule to take care of it all for you. Some tasks, however, are easier than others, so have your exact list of tasks ready for an accurate quote.

When looking for the right company:

• Look at their degrees, certificates, licenses, memberships, experience
• Ask for referrals from friends
• Check online reviews and portfolios
• Ask about eco-friendly/organic/sustainability practices
• Look for an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
• Make sure they are licensed and bonded
• Get at least three quotes

Find your landscaping maintenance professional today, and we hope you enjoy your beautiful yard for many years to come.

When you’re ready, get free estimates on HomeGuide from trusted landscapers:

Daniel W.

Factors Impacting The Cost Of Lawn Mowing

Type of lawn

A big expanse may take less time to cut than smaller ones with lots of plantings. If your lawn is difficult to access or hard to mow due to a slope, this can increase the rate. A hand mower may have to replace a riding mower, raising lawn mowing prices per hour.

Size of lawn

If you have an acre or more, your price will be higher. It takes longer to mow a broad expanse, even using the high-powered riding mowers that are used today.

Time of year

At the peak of the mowing season, you may pay higher rates. Cheap lawn mowing services and specials may be available during the slow-growth winter months.

Insured companies

You may get a higher rate from an insured company, but you will also know that they are more likely to take pride in a job well done.

Added costs

Many services include the cost of tidying. They will blow or sweep cuttings from sidewalk and driveway. Edging may be included, especially if you have a contract. This service cuts down on the work that the mowing company will have to do because it eliminates the need for extensive weed-eating. It is advisable to ask what is included when you are getting quotes.

Location

Lawn mowing services prices may be affected by the area in which you live. Your hourly rate will be higher if you live in New South Wales or the Australian Capital Territory. Queensland, South Australia and Victorian lawns will cost about the same per hour. The least expensive hourly rates are in Western Australia and Tasmania.

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When Is The Best Time To Do Tree Trimming

Fall is the time to cut back any unruly limbs or branches that have become unsightly, or are simply growing in a manner that could cause injury. Special consideration should be given to branches that could possibly fall and injure someone when there is a snowfall, or during any high winds from winter storms.

When hiring an arborist, look for certifications like ISA Certified Arborist, TDA Commercial Pesticide Applicators License, and Tree Risk Assessment Qualified and membership to the American Society of Consulting Arborists or Commercial Arborists.

Monthly Lawn Service Cost

If you contract for a monthly service, you may get lower rates than you would for a one-time service. Keep in mind that monthly service plans are only for weekly or biweekly mows and service. Most companies do not offer plans with three-week or monthly mows. Most monthly service plans are around $200 to $250 a month for a 3,000 to 5,000-square-foot lawn. Costs are higher or lower for differently sized yards.

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What Influences The Prices For Lawn Mowing Jobs

Time, Place, Accessibility and Size

The typical lawn mowing cost is affected by several factors, some of which weve previously mentioned in the last section. Supply and demand tend to shift, depending on where you live.

The size and accessibility of your lawn can play a part in increasing prices due to the difficulty of the job, requiring different mower sizes to be utilized.

The time of the year can also be a big factor in whether you can take advantage of seasonal discount prices when demand might be slowing down.

Equipment Models

Lawn mowing services may also charge you depending on the equipment they use. Electric lawn mower variants may not cost that much but make use of your electric line to charge up instead.

Gas lawn mower models will have to consider gas usage and possible maintenance costs, raising the price but providing a more effective clean sweep of the lawn.

If your lawn only needs the barest of maintenance, they may opt to use a lawn cutter instead, which might lead them to charge you less for equipment use.

Cordless mowers allow a more quiet and compact way of trimming grass, although the limited battery life can be a barrier to a thorough cutting.

Ride on mower prices are the highest-prices of lawn cutter models, reaching up to $6,999 per unit, but arguably give the most convenient services provided your lawn has reasonable ease of access.

Cost Of Remodeling Your Landscape

The national average cost for remodeling your homes landscape is between, $3,140 $6,000. If youre not happy with your current landscaping layout or look, it might be time for a more comprehensive remodeling of your outdoor spaces. This can become as detailed on all areas or just certain areas of your yard and landscaping as your budget allows.

Most experts suggest investing approximately 5% of your homes value on landscaping. So, using the existing national median home value of $250,000, that would mean you should spend around $12,500 on landscaping. Of course, that depends on your current landscaping and what you want to be done when the job is completed.

So, how should you spend that money if you hope to completely remodel your landscaping? Ideas include:

• New hardscape like walkways
• Outdoor living spaces
• Fencing

The cost for making major changes to your landscaping and outdoor living areas will depend on several factors. Where you live will impact the cost. Cost of living impacts the cost to hire professionals to do your work.

Other factors for the cost will include the size of your yard. The average yard size across America is a quarter acre. Obviously, the larger your yard, the more it will cost to landscape. Most contractors charge as a cost per hour, so you want to know their cost per hour and an estimate of how long they anticipate your job to take.

Lets take a closer look at some of the areas you might consider as part of your landscaping overhaul.

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Why Is Landscape Edging Important To Install

Landscape edging is a key element to a well-maintained lawn.

Edging creates a clear and attractive line separating the grass from garden beds.

There are many different types of lawn edging materials, and if youre having edging professionally installed the cost will depend upon the linear feet of edging installed, and the material youll use.

Popular types include stone, wood, plastic, concrete, or brick.

Landscape edging usually costs between $700 and $1,700, installed. Again, the size of your property and the type of edging youll use will impact how much youll pay.

It Will Increase The Value Of Your Property

When it comes to selling your house, the appearance of your lawn and garden area can be a big selling point, especially if your lawn is at the font of your house, welcoming the potential buyers. First impressions count, and a neat and tidy front lawn can make all the difference when it comes to boosting the likeability of your property, as well as the price.

Is a lawn care service worth the money? Yes, because people are more willing to pay a premium for a house when they are impressed by its well-kept features. In effect, it is paying for itself.

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Are Lawn Care Services Worth The Cost

Hiring a lawn care contracting service is worth investing in if youre too busy to properly maintain your lawn. Theres a lot of work that goes into keeping a lawn healthy and youd be surprised how quickly yours will begin to show signs of wilting when left alone for a week or so. Hiring a lawn care service will save you time and let you enjoy the nice weather during the spring and especially summer.

Whats The Average Cost Of Lawn Care Per Acre

The average cost of lawn care per acre ranges from $60 to $2,000 and up. What youll pay depends on factors like the services you purchase, the size of your property and regional costs. For example, if you live near a large city and need to fertilize an acre, you can expect to pay significantly more than if you live in a suburban or rural area and need mowing services for your property.

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Lawn Care Products Utilized

Like any other product you might purchase, there are varying levels of quality. The types of lawn care products a company utilizes are directly reflected in the price you pay for lawn care services. That means when a company uses a higher quality product, youll likely pay a little more for their services.

Like technician experience, products can have a big impact on results. Simply put, higher quality products are going to work better. A lawn care company that costs less might be making up for charging less by using lower quality products.

The Size Of The Business

Solopreneurs may charge less than those running a large business. Thats because the following costs dont mount up as much:

• Business insurance

• Advertising

• Employee uniforms

Hiring someone who works alone doesnt mean youll get less for your money. However, they may not have backup resources. For example, employees to cover them if theyre sick. Or, additional machines if theirs breaks.

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