How Much Does It Cost To Maintain A Lawn?
$0.14
per sq.ft. (6,000 sq.ft. lawn; material, equipment, and labor)
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Lawn Maintenance Costs
Outdoor Cost Guides
Lawn Care & Gardening
Lawn Maintenance
Costs
Lawn maintenance is a routine activity that may combine several tasks with the objective to maintain lawn health and appearance.
How much does it cost to maintain a lawn?
You will find that the cost to maintain an average lawn depends upon the size and accessibility of the lot, the variety and quantity of vegetation, local equipment rental rates, and the labor rate.
Cost breakout
In the following table the Labor Cost figure is what the able and prepared DIY persons should expect to save by performing the complete task.
Lawn maintenance: trim and treat 6,000 sq.ft. lawn, 5 large shrubs, and 1 large tree
| Item | Unit Cost | Quantity | Line Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn: regular cutting and annual treatment; do edging and dispose of clippings; provide mower and other equipment; 5 hour task. | $0.031 | per sq. ft. | 6,000 | $188 |
| Shrubs: five units each 4’ tall; annual trimming and treatment; dispose of clippings; provide power trimmer; 3 hour task. | $15 | per shrub | 5 | $75 |
| Trees: one large tree 25 years old; tri-annual trim and treatment; dispose of clippings; provide saws, safety gear, and chipper; 5 hour task. | $197 | per tree | 1 | $197 |
| Equipment and Material Cost | $460 | per job | 1 | $460 |
| + Labor Cost | $30 | per hour | 13 | $390 |
| Total Cost | $0.14 | per sq. ft. | 6,000 | $850 |
Additional considerations and costs
- Taxes and permit fees are not included.
- Included is the typical charge for the necessary power equipment.
DIY considerations
- This project may be suitable for the able DIY persons with a set of garden and landscaping tools as well as arborist skills, tools, and climbing safety gear.
References
- Craftsman Estimator Costbook, complete series year 2015.
- Latest prices found on Home Depot and other vendor Web sites.
- Literature review of DIY Web sites.
How much does it cost to maintain a lawn in your city?
Enter your zip code to get estimates
Enter your zip code to get estimates
Cost by city
per sq.ft. (6,000 sq.ft. lawn; material, equipment, and labor)
- New York, NY$0.22
- Bronx, NY$0.18
- Brooklyn, NY$0.15
- Philadelphia, PA$0.19
- Washington, DC$0.17
- Atlanta, GA$0.15
- Miami, FL$0.14
- Fort Lauderdale, FL$0.14
- Minneapolis, MN$0.17
- Chicago, IL$0.20
- Houston, TX$0.20
- San Antonio, TX$0.14
- Austin, TX$0.15
- Denver, CO$0.13
- Phoenix, AZ$0.14
- Las Vegas, NV$0.15
- Los Angeles, CA$0.17
- San Diego, CA$0.15
- San Jose, CA$0.19
- Seattle, WA$0.14
Local costs have been calculated by accounting for labor and material cost differences across different cities. To get accurate cost estimates, indicate yours: