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Price as of Jul 24, 2026. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Per-visit: $50-$125 for a typical 5,000-10,000 sqft lawn; $150-$300 for lawns over 15,000 sqft. Annual programs: basic 4-visit (fert + weed) $300-$500, standard 6-visit (adds pre-emergent) $400-$730, premium 7+ visit (adds grub control) $700-$1,350, comprehensive (adds aeration, tree & shrub) up to $1,500+.
| Program Tier | Visits/Year | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Basic (fert + weed) | 4 | $300-$500 |
| Standard (+ pre-emergent) | 6 | $400-$730 |
| Premium (+ grub control) | 7+ | $700-$1,350 |
| Comprehensive (+ aeration + tree) | 7+ | $1,100-$1,500+ |
TruGreen annual plans run $450-$2,000 for 7-9 visits, while independent local companies like Lawn Doctor, Lawn Buddies, and regional operators typically come in 10-25% lower for comparable 6-visit programs ($300-$800/yr). TruGreen wins on national consistency and the Healthy Lawn Guarantee; locals win on price and personal relationship. Always get 3 bids.
| Provider Type | Visits | Annual Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| TruGreen | 7-9 | $450-$2,000 | National consistency |
| Lawn Doctor | 6-8 | $300-$800 | Franchise quality |
| Local independent | 4-6 | $260-$600 | Best price |
| Comprehensive (any) | 7+ | $1,100-$1,500+ | Full-service hands-off |
Visit 1 (early spring): pre-emergent crabgrass control + slow-release nitrogen. Visit 2 (late spring): broadleaf weed control + fertilizer. Visit 3 (summer): iron + summer-safe fert. Visit 4 (late summer): grub preventer (if included) + fert. Visit 5 (early fall): aeration or core-fert blend. Visit 6 (late fall): winterizer high-potassium fert. Aeration and overseed are usually separate add-ons ($150-$400).
DIY materials run $15-$40 per 40 lb bag (covers 2,000-5,000 sqft) plus $11-$248 one-time spreader. A 6-visit DIY season for 7,500 sqft costs $90-$180 in bags. Professional 6-visit programs run $400-$730. DIY saves $300-$600/year but requires timing expertise, soil testing, and 2-3 hours per application. Most DIYers over- or under-apply — the hidden cost of DIY is streaky lawns and burned grass.
| Path | Annual Cost | Time | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY bags + spreader | $90-$180 | 12-18 hrs | Burn / missed apps |
| Pro basic 4-visit | $300-$500 | 0 hrs | Low (re-treat guarantee) |
| Pro standard 6-visit | $400-$730 | 0 hrs | Low |
| Hybrid (pro apps, DIY mow) | $300-$500 | 0 hrs | Best value |
Cool-season lawns (KBG, fescue, rye in the Northeast, Midwest, Transition Zone): start pre-emergent in March when soil hits 50-55 degrees and forsythia blooms. Warm-season lawns (Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine in the Sun Belt): start in April-May when soil stays above 65 degrees. Signing in December for a spring start locks in 5-10% prepay discounts and secures the best technicians before the March rush.
Grub control ($75-$150/app annually) is essential in the Great Lakes states, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic where Japanese beetle grubs cause 60-80% of lawn damage from July-September. Flea & tick ($60-$120/app) is worth it in the Southeast and wooded suburbs. Aeration + overseed ($150-$400 once/year) is critical every 2-3 years for cool-season lawns with clay soil. Skip add-ons in dry, sandy-soil regions with no pest pressure.
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Columbus, OH 5,000 sqft cool-season on a 6-visit program sits near the national median — HomeGuide pegs this scenario at ~$403/year basic, $450-$600 with pre-emergent crabgrass control.
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Annual = Base program tier × sqft factor + Add-ons × apps/year + Regional labor adj.Base program tier anchors the annual cost: 4-visit $300-$500, 6-visit $400-$730, 7+ visit $700-$1,350. Sqft factor scales near-linearly past 5,000 sqft with volume discounts over 10,000 sqft. Add-ons bill per application: grub control $75-$150, flea & tick $60-$120, aeration + overseed $150-$400 once per year. Regional labor adjusts ±10-20%: Sun Belt / West Coast premium, Midwest / Great Lakes discount. Warm-season programs add 1 visit for the longer growing season.
Where:
Program tier= Basic 4-visit $300-$500, Standard 6-visit $400-$730, Premium 7+ $700-$1,350Sqft factor= 5,000 baseline ×1.0, 10,000 ×1.8, 15,000 ×2.4, 20,000 ×2.9Grub control= $75-$150 per application, typically once per yearAeration + overseed= $150-$400 add-on, fall for cool-season, late-spring for warm-seasonRegional adj= Sun Belt / CA +10-20%, Midwest -5-10% vs national baselineProfessional lawn fertilization service in 2026 runs $50-$125 per visit for a typical 5,000-10,000 sqft residential lawn, or $300-$1,350 annually depending on program tier. Basic 4-visit programs (fertilizer + broadleaf weed control) cost $300-$500 per year; standard 6-visit programs (adds pre-emergent crabgrass control and a summer iron app) run $400-$730; premium 7+ visit programs with grub control hit $700-$1,350; and comprehensive "do-everything" plans that stack aeration, overseeding, and tree & shrub care can reach $1,500-$2,000 per year. A 5,000 sqft yard typically runs ~$403 on a basic annual plan; a 20,000 sqft property can exceed $884 on the same tier.
The biggest decision for homeowners is the program tier, not the provider. TruGreen, Lawn Doctor, Lawn Buddies, LawnPride, and independent regional operators all sell essentially the same 4 / 6 / 7+ visit structures — the price differences come from tier selection, lawn size, and add-ons (grub control, aeration, flea & tick). Local independents typically come in 10-25% below TruGreen for comparable 6-visit programs ($300-$800 vs $450-$2,000), but TruGreen wins on national consistency, the Healthy Lawn Guarantee, and free re-treatments between visits if weeds return within 30 days of an application.
Regional price variance is larger than most homeowners realize. The Midwest (OH, IN, IL, MI, WI) and the Mid-Atlantic (VA, MD, PA) sit at the national baseline and are where the $400-$730 standard 6-visit numbers are calibrated. The Sun Belt (FL, TX, AZ, southern CA) runs 10-20% higher because the longer growing season adds a 7th or 8th visit and warm-season grasses need more summer iron. The Upper Midwest (MN, ND, SD) and Northeast (NH, VT, ME) often come in 5-10% below the baseline due to short-season compressed 4-5 visit calendars. Urban metros everywhere carry a 15-25% premium over suburban / rural routes in the same state because drive time per route stop is higher.
Pricing in this guide is aggregated from TruGreen quote samples, HomeGuide, LawnStarter, Angi, and Today’s Homeowner 2026 survey data. Use the calculator above to size your lawn and pick a tier, then read on for the 6-visit calendar, the DIY-vs-pro math at $90-$180 of materials vs $400-$730 of service, and the December booking window that locks in 5-10% prepay discounts. For companion services, the lawn aeration service cost calculator prices the fall aeration add-on and the DIY lawn fertilizer calculator handles bag-math if you go the self-apply route.
Per-visit pricing runs $50-$100 for a small 2,500-5,000 sqft lawn, $50-$125 for a standard 5,000-10,000 sqft suburban lot, and $150-$300 per visit for large 15,000-20,000 sqft properties. National treatment averages land at about $77-$395 per application once you include professional-grade granular fertilizer, post-emergent spot spray, and labor. TruGreen specifically quotes $50-$125 per treatment for their fertilizer + weed control combo, with annual totals of $350-$875 depending on program length and lawn size.
Annual program totals scale by tier. A basic 4-visit program (early spring pre-emergent, late spring weed + feed, summer fert, fall winterizer) runs $300-$500 per year. A standard 6-visit program adds a dedicated crabgrass pre-emergent app and a summer iron / heat-safe fert for $400-$730 per year. Premium 7+ visit programs add grub control and sometimes a second crabgrass app for $700-$1,350. Comprehensive "full-service" plans that include quarterly aeration, overseeding, and tree & shrub care push $1,100-$1,500+, with some TruGreen tree & shrub stack-ons hitting $2,000 for larger properties.
Lawn size is the dominant price multiplier. A 5,000 sqft yard on a basic plan averages ~$403 per year; a 10,000 sqft yard runs roughly $600-$700 basic; a 20,000 sqft property hits $884 or more on basic and $1,500+ on premium. Past 10,000 sqft most providers apply a volume discount of 10-15% per additional 1,000 sqft, which is why the 20,000 sqft price is less than 4x the 5,000 sqft price despite being 4x the area. For homeowners who want to stack mowing with fertilization, the lawn care service cost calculator prices weekly mowing bundles that are commonly negotiated together with annual fert contracts.
| Program Tier | Visits/Year | Includes | 5,000 sqft | 10,000 sqft | 15,000+ sqft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 4 | Fert + weed | $300-$450 | $500-$700 | $800-$1,100 |
| Standard | 6 | + pre-emergent + summer iron | $400-$600 | $600-$900 | $1,000-$1,350 |
| Premium | 7+ | + grub control | $700-$900 | $900-$1,200 | $1,200-$1,500+ |
| Comprehensive | 7+ | + aeration + tree/shrub | $1,100-$1,300 | $1,300-$1,500 | $1,500-$2,000+ |
The $450-$600/year standard 6-visit number everyone quotes is for a 5,000-10,000 sqft cool-season lawn in the Midwest. Scale up +50-80% past 10,000 sqft, and add $100-$400 for any single add-on (grub, flea & tick, aeration).
TruGreen is the national benchmark with annual plans running $450-$2,000 for 7-9 visit programs, and fertilizer + weed control specifically at $50-$125 per treatment or $350-$875 annually. They bundle the Healthy Lawn Guarantee (free re-treats between visits if the problem persists), national-quality-control technician training, and bundled tree & shrub or mosquito add-ons. The tradeoff: TruGreen pricing is typically 10-25% above comparable local operators for equivalent 6-visit programs, and technician continuity varies by market.
Local independent operators (Lawn Doctor franchise, Lawn Buddies, LawnPride, regional single-market brands) typically come in at $260-$800 per year for 4-6 visit programs on a standard 5,000-10,000 sqft lawn. Lawn Doctor specifically runs $300-$800 annually for 6-8 treatments. The quality ceiling is often higher with locals — you get the same crew every visit, the owner knows your soil, and add-ons like aeration are packaged in without upsell pressure. The tradeoff: no national guarantee, variable crew size, and resale of the contract if the owner sells.
DIY fertilization costs $15-$40 per 40 lb bag of pro-grade granular fertilizer (covers 2,000-5,000 sqft), plus $11-$248 for a spreader one-time. A 6-visit DIY season on a 7,500 sqft lawn requires 2-3 bags per app x 6 apps = $90-$180 in materials. That saves $300-$600 per year vs professional service — but DIY requires soil testing, weather-windowed application (24 hours before rain for pre-emergents, dry for post-emergents), and 2-3 hours per visit. The hidden cost of DIY is over-application (fertilizer burn, yellow streaks) and poor timing (pre-emergent applied after crabgrass germinates is money wasted). For precise bag math, use the DIY lawn fertilizer calculator.
| Path | Annual Cost (5-10k sqft) | Visits | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TruGreen | $450-$2,000 | 7-9 | Guarantee, national QA | Price premium, tech churn |
| Lawn Doctor | $300-$800 | 6-8 | Franchise QA, crew continuity | Franchise-level variance |
| Local independent | $260-$600 | 4-6 | Lowest price, soil knowledge | No guarantee, crew variance |
| DIY materials | $90-$180 | 4-6 self | Max savings | 12-18 hrs, burn/timing risk |
| Hybrid (pro apps, DIY mow) | $300-$500 | 4-6 pro | Best value, hands-free fert | Coordination overhead |
Most standard 6-visit programs follow a seasonal calendar anchored to soil temperature, not the calendar date. Visit 1 lands in early spring (March in the Transition Zone, April in the Upper Midwest) when soil hits 50-55°F and forsythia blooms — the pre-emergent crabgrass app has to go down BEFORE crabgrass germinates at 55°F, or the entire visit is wasted money. Visit 2 follows 6-8 weeks later in late spring with a broadleaf weed control spot-spray plus a balanced NPK fertilizer to drive vertical growth into summer.
Visit 3 comes in summer with an iron supplement and a heat-safe slow-release fertilizer — standard urea at this temperature will burn the lawn. Visit 4 in late summer layers on grub preventer (if included in the tier) just before Japanese beetle eggs hatch in late July / early August. Visit 5 in early fall is the most important visit of the year for cool-season lawns: a high-nitrogen blast drives root development into dormancy. Visit 6 in late fall delivers a high-potassium winterizer that primes the grass for spring green-up without pushing top growth into freeze damage.
Warm-season lawns (Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine) follow a compressed calendar: 5 visits from April through September, skipping the fall and winter visits entirely because warm-season grasses go dormant. A comprehensive warm-season program typically adds a pre-emergent in March, feeding apps in May / June / July / August, and a potassium-heavy closer in September. For homeowners layering aeration on top, the lawn aeration service cost calculator prices the fall core-aeration add-on that pairs with visits 5 and 6.
Grub control ($75-$150 per application, typically once per year in late July / early August) is essential in the Great Lakes states (OH, MI, IN, WI), the Northeast (NY, PA, MA, CT, NJ), and the Mid-Atlantic (MD, VA, DE) where Japanese beetle and June beetle grubs cause 60-80% of lawn damage from July through September. Symptoms are brown patches that pull up like carpet and heavy skunk / raccoon digging. Skip grub control in the Southwest, Mountain West, and Florida where beetle pressure is minimal.
Flea & tick control ($60-$120 per application, quarterly in season) is worth the add-on in the Southeast (GA, SC, NC, TN, AL), wooded suburbs anywhere east of the Mississippi, and yards with dogs or small children. Aeration + overseed ($150-$400 once per year, bundled with visit 5 in fall) is critical every 2-3 years for cool-season lawns on clay or compacted soil — it rebuilds thatch drainage and introduces new seed genetics. Warm-season lawns get aeration less often (every 3-4 years) and skip overseeding entirely because they spread vegetatively.
Tree & shrub care ($300-$500 per year for 3-5 apps) treats landscape plants separately from turf and is a TruGreen specialty upsell. It covers spring dormant oil, aphid / scale / mite control, root fertilization, and a fall systemic insecticide. It is the single largest add-on and pushes a $700 premium program into $1,100-$1,500 comprehensive territory. For homeowners planning a broader outdoor scope where fertilization overlaps with spring mulching and irrigation, the mulch delivery cost calculator handles bed refresh and the irrigation install cost calculator handles summer watering that locks in fert ROI.
Grub control is the one add-on where the damage dwarfs the price. A single grub infestation can destroy a 1,000 sqft section of lawn and cost $500-$1,500 to re-sod. $100 of preventer in late July is cheap insurance.
The best annual lawn fertilization contracts are signed in December through February for a spring start. Technician routes fill by mid-March when pre-emergent season arrives, and late bookers in April often get pushed to Tier-2 technicians or delayed 4-6 weeks past the crabgrass germination window (which wastes Visit 1). Prepay-annual discounts of 5-10% are standard at TruGreen, Lawn Doctor, and most national franchises; new-customer first-application discounts of $29-$50 are common; and referral credits of $25-$50 per referred neighbor stack on top.
Five items to confirm in writing before signing. First, the specific number of visits and which visits include what (pre-emergent is tier-specific; grub control is tier-specific; iron is season-specific). Second, the guarantee: does it include free re-treatments between visits if weeds persist? TruGreen’s Healthy Lawn Guarantee does; many locals do not by default. Third, add-on pricing in writing per application, not bundled verbally (grub control at $125 per app x 1 app vs $125 per app x 2 apps is a 100% price difference). Fourth, the cancellation clause — most contracts have a 14-30 day notice requirement and bill a prorated amount. Fifth, whether weed control is granular + post-emergent spray or spray-only.
On pricing transparency, ask for the per-1,000-sqft rate and the minimum visit charge. A typical 2026 rate is $8-$18 per 1,000 sqft per visit with a $50-$75 minimum per visit. This lets you sanity-check quotes across providers — a 7,500 sqft quote at $95 per visit ($12.67 per 1,000 sqft) is competitive; a 7,500 sqft quote at $150 per visit ($20 per 1,000 sqft) has room to negotiate. For homeowners bundling lawn treatment with broader fall cleanup, the leaf removal service cost calculator handles the Oct-Nov cleanup that commonly rides with visit 6.
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Price mowing, aeration, overseed, irrigation, tree work, and full-service landscape programs.
Last Updated: Jul 24, 2026
This calculator is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Results are estimates and should not be considered professional financial, medical, legal, or other advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making important decisions. UseCalcPro is not responsible for any actions taken based on calculator results.