Lawn care and mowing service

What lawn care services include

• Mowing, edging and trimming, and blowing off paths — weekly or every other week in the growing season.
• Fertilizing on a seasonal schedule.
• Weed control, pre- and post-emergent.
• Aeration and overseeding, usually once a year.
• Spring and fall cleanups, leaf removal.

Some companies only mow; others only treat (“fertilization and weed control” programs); full-service firms do both. Make sure you are comparing like with like.

Fertilizer and weed control: the licence question

Whoever applies weed killer or insecticide to your lawn as a business is handling pesticides. Federal law requires certification for restricted-use pesticides, and EPA notes that many states require certification for any commercial pesticide application, whether or not the product is restricted (EPA). Ask a lawn company for its state applicator licence before it sprays.

Ask what products they use, when people and pets can go back on the grass, and whether they post notice flags after treatment — some states and cities require it.

Signs your lawn needs more than mowing

• Thin or bare patches that do not recover.
• Water pooling or running off instead of soaking in — often compaction, which aeration helps.
• A spongy layer of thatch at the soil line.
• Weeds outcompeting the grass.
• Brown patches that pull up like carpet (a possible grub problem).

How to choose a lawn care service

• Ask what each visit includes, how often they come, and what happens in a wet week.
• For treatment programs, ask for the schedule of applications and the applicator licence.
• Ask for proof of liability insurance — mowers throw stones.
• Check whether the price is per visit, monthly or seasonal, and how to cancel.
• Ask whether clippings are mulched or bagged, and whether the crew cleans paths.

What affects the cost

• Lot size and how much is lawn versus beds.
• Frequency of visits.
• Obstacles and slopes, which slow a mower down.
• Treatments included: fertilizer, weed control, aeration, overseeding.
• Cleanups and leaf removal, often priced separately.

Landscaping & Lawn Care cost guide: the factors pros price on →

DIY or pro?

Mowing is the classic DIY job; pros earn their price on time saved, equipment such as aerators, and a consistent treatment program. If you apply products yourself, read and follow the label — EPA says using a pesticide in a way that is inconsistent with its label directions is illegal (EPA).

Common questions

How often should my lawn be mowed?

Weekly in peak growing season is common, every other week as growth slows. Your grass type, climate and rainfall decide it.

Does a lawn care company need a licence to spray?

Commercial pesticide application usually needs a state applicator licence; EPA notes many states require it for any commercial application. Ask to see it.

When should I aerate my lawn?

When the grass is actively growing so it can recover — timing differs for cool- and warm-season grasses. Your lawn company should schedule it for your grass type.

Is it safe for pets after a lawn treatment?

Follow the product label and the company’s instructions on when people and pets can go back on treated grass. Ask before the first application.

Should I bag or mulch grass clippings?

Mulching returns nutrients to the soil and is fine for regular mowing; bagging makes sense when the grass is very long or diseased. Tell your lawn service which you want.

Mowing service or full lawn care program?

Mowing keeps it tidy; a program (fertilizer, weed control, aeration) is what changes how the lawn grows. Many homeowners use one company for both.

Sources

Safety and standards advice on this page comes from these publishers. Dates are the ones each page shows.

• US EPA, Certification Standards for Pesticide Applicators (last updated March 6, 2026)
• US EPA, Citizen’s Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety (August 2017)