The Best Lawn Care Services to Keep Your Yard Pristine
Give your yard some TLC this summer with these top-rated lawn care services.
Summertime is upon us and we’re spending every spare moment hanging out in the backyard. But all the time spent out there makes it all too easy to pick up on the subtle buzz of pesky bugs and some, let’s say, inconsistencies (read: brown dead spots) in your grass.
Fret not, friend — we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re searching for products to spruce up your yard yourself or seeking streamlined services and subscription plans to achieve head-turning curb appeal: you’re in the right place.
We spent hours researching the top-rated lawn care services available across the United States, comparing each company based on their unique services and products, accessibility and ease of scheduling. From there, we narrowed our top three recommendations and outlined their standout qualities below. Finally, we consulted Marc Mayer, Director of Technical Operations at TruGreen, and Maggie Reiter, Turfgrass Scientist at Sunday, to learn professional tips on how to select your services and keep your lawn looking lush between service appointments.
How to Choose Your Service
Gorgeous Natural Stone Pavers Embedded in Lushes Green Grass
The luscious landscaping outside of this beautiful white farmhouse is filled with bold greenery from bushes to ornamental grasses. In the grass is a row of gorgeous natural stone pavers that have been embedded at ground level. Rather than use mulch, the homeowners opted for ornamental grass groundcover around the bushes.
Photo by: Anthony Crisafulli
Anthony Crisafulli
The first step to selecting the best service for you is checking whether the lawn care company caters to your location. From there, assess what problems you want to be addressed or preventative care you require to reach your lawn aspirations.
If you’re looking for tailored, science-based lawn care TruGreen is your ideal fit. Sunday is our recommendation for the DIY enthusiast, and if you’re looking for streamlined online scheduling and a money-back guarantee then Lawn Love is the way to go.
“Homeowners need to know their lawn’s grass type and the type of environment around the home,” shares Mayer. “Some grass types prefer full sun and warm conditions, while others prefer cooler spring and fall temperatures. Knowing your grass type will allow you to understand the growing conditions required for your lawn to be happy and healthy."
How to Maintain Your Lawn Between Appointments
Beautiful Stone Retaining Wall With Manicured Shrubs
This gorgeous stone retaining wall separates the upper level of the backyard with the lower level of the yard. The wall is lined with manicured bushes and ornamental grasses and features multiple sets of steps leading through to the lower level. Each set of steps is flanked by bushes.
Photo by: Anthony Crisafulli
Anthony Crisafulli
Keeping your lawn happy between your service appointments is a must. But sometimes that’s easier said than done, right? Each company featured below offers tailored post-service recommendations to help you maintain your curb appeal throughout the year but Mayer and Reiter have some insider tips to help you along the way, too.
“As it applies to recommended post-service watering practices, lawns usually require 1-2 inches of water per week, depending on factors like soil type, local temperature, and humidity,” he says. “When it comes to fertilization, mid-summer is the ideal time to fertilize warm-season grasses (e.g. Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, St. Augustine, Centipedegrass) while fertilizing cool-season grasses (e.g. Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, Fine Fescue) is best left for the spring and the fall.”
Reiter's first tip? "Mow high as longer grass blades mean deeper roots below." And watering properly is paramount, too. "Drought is often the main cause of brown or discolored lawns, but many people don’t check their sprinklers to ensure they’re working properly," she says. "Water based on the weather, or install a smart irrigation controller that does it for you."
Our Top 3 Lawn Care Services
- Services are tailored to your lawn
- Personalized maintenance plans
- Trained agronomists use science-driven expertise ensure desired results
- Basic lawn mowing services are unavailable
- Website offers overwhelming amount of information
TruGreen has a standout reputation in the lawn care industry – and for good reason. It offers five detailed lawn care plans as well as a carte lawn, fertilization and pest control services. Better still, the company has been around for 50 years and operates successfully in various climates as it exceeds 290 locations across the United States and Canada.
The three top plans include TruMaintenance, TruComplete and TruHealth. TruComplete offers comprehensive treatment with nutrients, aeration, weed control, overseeding and tailored law treatment. The TruHealth plan offers professional strategy and services to maintain a vibrant, healthy lawn and TruMaintenance includes services that feed your lawn and combat weeds throughout the season.
All TruGreen plans are tailored to your yard to ensure head-turning curb appeal. “After a customer purchases a lawn care package, a TruGreen specialist will conduct a free lawn assessment to inform the creation of a tailored lawn care plan that addresses their lawn's specific needs,” explains Mayer. “Depending on the region a customer is located, the services that will benefit their outdoor space the most can vary based on local weather, soil conditions, grass type, and other local factors.”
And, speaking of regions: TruGreen caters to pretty much all of them in the United States.“In each market, we have highly trained agronomists who provide tailored solutions and science-driven expertise to help outdoor living spaces in all climates look and feel their very best.”
Maintaining your lawn during the 4-6 weeks between your TruGreen services is simple, too. Mayer’s two recommendations? Strategic watering and modest mowing. “We recommend customers water their yards with one inch of water within 48 hours after an application, except in the event of a modest rainfall,” he says. “This will help deliver essential nutrients to the grass roots so they can actively utilize it to grow and achieve optimal results from our lawn application.” For mowing, less is more. “To avoid injuring your lawn, we recommend customers cut off no more than one-third of the leaf blade at a time when mowing in between services,” continues Mayer. “Note that certain grasses, such as Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, and Centipedegrass, require lower mowing heights to stay healthy — if left unchecked, these grasses can grow too high and develop a thatch layer in your lawn.”
- Coverage Area AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
- Services TruComplete Lawn Plan, TruHealth Lawn Plan, TruMaintenance Lawn Plan, TruNatural Lawn Plan, TruBasic Lawn Plan, lawn aeration and overseeding, grub prevention, soil amendment and treatment, perimeter pest control, outdoor nuisance pest control, lawn fertilization, weed control, lawn disease
- Pricing Pricing varies by plan based on the individual services you require to reach your lawn goals. You can compare the pricing for each plan under the tab Plans & Services on the company website.
- Wallet-friendly approach
- Eco-friendly formulations
- Seasonal deliveries for maintenance
- Requires time and energy for self application
- There's more room for error without a professional assessment
- Best suited for smaller yards
Sunday is making a name for itself in the lawn care market this year and we understand why. Unlike its competitors who bring professionals out to complete lawn services, Sunday provides you with all the products you need to do the job yourself. This DIY approach reduces costs and makes it less expensive to nurture your yard year-round.
This innovative company offers a la carte lawn care, pest control and gardening products as well as customized lawn or pest plans. These plans are our recommendation for anyone interested in giving their yard a facelift this summer with minimal effort.
The process is streamlined and stress-free. “It all starts with our comprehensive lawn analysis and guided lawn quiz,” says Reiter. “We utilize climate data, predictive soil analysis, aerial yard imagery, and yard size to tailor a nutrient plan specific to your lawn’s needs.”
Sunday uses your location in its lawn engine, combining data topography and climate data to tailor your products to your soil. From there, Sunday creates a custom subscription that delivers the precise products necessary to produce head-turning results. “Different locations will have different growth timings, grass species, weeds, and potential problems,” explains Reiter. “Sunday customizes the program based on location and customer traits like pet ownership."
"More Sunday customers have pets than not," continues Reiter. "We recommend pet-specific products to grow urine-resistant grass, repair pet spots, and withstand extra wear and tear."
Your subscription products arrive seasonally to maintain care throughout the year. Unlimited one-on-one human support is also included to help guide you and answer any questions that may arise along the way. “Whether you’re dealing with dry heat or heavy rainfall, our tailored plans and unlimited expert Yard Advisor support will help you maintain your lawn year-round,” says Reiter.
And, the best part? The only thing you need to get started is a good, old-fashioned garden hose. Sunday’s customized lawn plan products fit onto the end of your hose and each application requires around 10 minutes. Plus, you are equipped with a My Plan checklist that tells you when to apply your lawn care for the most enviable results.
- Coverage Area Nationwide in the U.S.
- Services Custom lawn plan, custom pest plan, lawn care products, pest control, weed control, gardening tools and materials
- Pricing Custom subscription plan quotes and individually priced products are available on the website.
- Offers classic lawn mowing services
- Online payment and scheduling
- Backed by 100 percent satisfaction guarantee
- Assigns independent lawn professionals to jobs
Lawn Love takes the guesswork out of scheduling your standard (and more involved) lawn and garden services, including mowing, fertilization, aeration, weed control and more. This top-rated company is a must-know because it values your time, making it quick and painless to schedule and complete services online or on your phone. With the help of your address and their satellite mapping technology, Lawn Love provides a competitive price quote for your requested services online instantly.
Once you decide what services are needed, Lawn Love matches you with the best nearby independent lawn care professional for your chosen project and schedules you in 5 minutes or less. Each independent lawn expert is vetted by Lawn Love to ensure top-quality results every time. With that said, if you’re unhappy with your services for any reason, you are backed with a money-back guarantee. Better still, Lawn Love carries a multi-million dollar liability insurance policy to ensure full coverage on the job.
Those who value easy, efficient scheduling with quick turnaround will appreciate the Lawn Love online app. The app offers online scheduling and payments. Plus, you can set up service plans with custom frequency to suit your needs and receive push notifications informing you to schedule your next appointment. It allows you to skip services as necessary, and Lawn Love stands apart from other subscriptions because you are charged for services only after their completion.
- Coverage Area AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME. MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV
- Services Mowing, fertilization, aeration, gardening, gutter cleaning, leaf removal, seeding, snow removal, pre-emergent weed control, weed control
- Pricing Varies by service but estimated $30-$50 for bi-weekly mowing and trimming and $35-$50 for bi-weekly mowing and fertilization
