All people want a beautiful yard or garden, but not everyone has the time or energy to keep it that way.

Hiring a lawn mowing service could be just the solution if you have had a long break from caring for it yourself - be it due to illness, being so busy at work, retirement, or simply neglect. Hiring a lawn mower eliminates the cost of buying your own equipment. You also avoid the related maintenance costs. Lawn mowing services do not need to be expensive. You can choose the frequency of visits and how much work the lawn mowing professionals do. For basic service, hiring a gardener could be twice as much as using a lawn mowing service. A lawn mowing service generally charges around $100 to mow an average-sized yard in suburban areas.

Lawn mowing service price guide

The average household spends about 10 hours a week on general gardening chores such as lawn mowing, weeding, pruning, edging beds, etc. Where you live, and any additional lawn services will definitely influence lawn mowing charges. Take a look at some estimated costs of various tasks below.

Task

Estimated cost

Professional lawn mowing services

$55 per hour

Mow lawn and tidy garden beds

$100 to $150

Spring clean (clean yard of leaves and debris, removes weeds, mow the lawn

$200

A backyard garden is a sign of pride for many homeowners. A well-tended lawn and flower beds tell the neighbours that someone takes care of it.

Hourly rates for lawn mowing jobs

The hourly rate for a lawn mowing job will depend on your location and other mowing services that your lawn may require, as well as garden features. On average, the estimated hourly rate for a lawn mowing service may be around $55 per hour.

Types of lawn care services

Typically, the size of the lawn mowed, and the type of lawn mowing services you require will influence the lawn mowing costs.

Mowing only

Mowing is the most popular lawn care service. At its basic, this lawn mowing job involves just the grass cutting aspect. Additionally, the lawn mowing expert could do basic mowing or spring clean, which involves clearing leaves and debris, weed control, re-arranging garden beds, etc. If you need the lawn mower to dispose of the grass clippings, the average cost will rise because it takes more time to pick or collect and dispose of the cuttings.

Mowing and weeding

Some lawn care companies also offer weed killing, fertilising and soil aeration services. Aerating soil allows water and air to reach grass roots better. It reduces thatch build up in lawns by breaking it down, so you should only do this every other year or so if your lawn does not need it.

Fertilising lawns

Fertilising is generally done often enough, at least every six months, but it depends upon the type of grass you have as well as climate conditions. Some fertilisers are specifically designed to help with problems like infestations or disease. It is best to hire a service to clean the exterior of your swimming pool as often as they will come out for mowing visits. You should also take into consideration any extra costs such as travel time, mileage, etc., before hiring someone. Some lawn mowing experts charge a call out fee if required to visit the lawn to issue quotes.

How often should you mow your lawn?

Most types of grass require a lawn mowing service weekly. Other than that, it largely depends on factors such as weather conditions and the type of grass. If you have sandier soil, your lawn will need mowing more often but less often if you have clay soil. Tall grass type requires more frequent visits as well due to high water content or moist soils. In the tropics or a humid climate, you will need to mow your lawn more often. Having a professional lawn mower service provider maintain your yard is all about knowing when to mow and how often it can be done.

Which other costs do I need to factor into lawn mowing charges?

Some companies will charge by how long they spend on site for mowing, while others will quote a fixed price per visit when they assess your lawn each time.

Think about additional services that may be required, such as fertilisation services, sidewalk edging, and green waste disposal if you need it.

Some lawn mowing businesses also offer discounts if you sign up for their services over six months or one year. Other than that, it is best to get quotes from different gardening services so you can compare them against each other.

Finding the right gardener is not always easy, especially when it comes to something as important as your garden or yard being maintained properly. You would want to have someone who knows what they are doing.

Your lawn mower should be conversant with most general garden maintenance services, has been around for a while, and charge fairly without hidden costs beyond the quoted lawn mowing rates. The Western Australia state government has a handy guide to lawn care.

What influences the cost of lawn mowing jobs?

The lawn size. Large lawns with long, wide stretches of grass will generally cost more to mow than smaller or fenced yards. Also, the type of grass affects lawn mowing costs along with whether it is kept in neat rows like golf course turf or has big areas where multiple types of grasses are planted together.

A gardener can either charge per hour or visit, but if they offer discounts for longer commitments, you should also factor that into your decision. Contact your local lawn mowing business to get a rough idea of how much it may cost you.

How much your neighbours are paying for their lawn mower services could also impact how much you can expect to pay to maintain your backyard.

Lawn maintenance services have different rates depending on whether or not they offer fertilising, weed spraying, insecticide treatment and aeration. More expensive services may also pick up the trash and beautify beds, while others focus on maintaining grass.

People living with a disability and their carers may be able to receive subsidised lawn care from their local council. For more information, take a look at how the City of Parramatta in New South Wales manages requests for these subsidies. Check to see if such services are available in your area, however.