Your Guide to the Best Lawn Care Companies

When you just don’t have the time or energy (or desire) to maintain good lawn care, you’re likely doing some research into comprehensive lawn care services that will provide your yard with what it needs at a reasonable price. You’re not alone—a national survey found that 40% of Americans with a yard hired lawn care professionals in 2017.

In this article, we compile the best values on lawn care programs in the market today, so you can choose the best lawn care company for you. We consider important factors like availability in your area, BBB ratings, offers and packages, and reputation.

Our top recommendation is TruGreen, a leading company in the lawn care industry. To get a free quote for their services, call 888.535.3193.

Still on the fence about hiring professionals?

Consider this: You may be missing out on using one of the best parts of your home because you haven’t gotten to fixing up your lawn. What’s more, if you’re trying to sell your home, a healthy lawn can heavily impact potential buyers’ impression of your home. So what is your lawn saying about you? Let the professionals put that worry out of your mind.

You may think all your yard needs is a grass-cutting service and someone to pull the weeds, but oftentimes, the problems start with the soil. Pests eat healthy grass, and weeds absorb nutrients from the soil. If soil is not properly aerated, grass and trees can wither and die. Calling in a local professional who knows climate conditions in the area and how they affect the soil will go a long way if you have been dealing with a chronically patchy or overgrown lawn.

Click here for examples of common lawn diseases and pests. Do you recognize the symptoms in your yard? Get a free quote from America’s #1 professional lawn care company, TruGreen, to see what they can do for your lawn.*

What to look for when searching for the best lawn care companies

Within the landscaping and lawn care industry, what factors are important to take into account?

• BBB ratings—The Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings reflect their research and opinion of a business, including customer reviews. This rating can range between A+ to F, or NR for “No Rating.” Other factors should always be taken into account in conjunction with the BBB’s ratings.
• Availability in your state—Some providers may not be available in all states. Call or check their locations online.
• Reputation—Is the company reliable and trustworthy? While there will always be negative reviews and comments about every company, we take the negative and weigh it with the positive.
• Offers and packages—We lay out a brief summary of the packages each company provides.

TruGreen: House Method’s pick

Who they are: TruGreen is the biggest lawn care provider in the US. Their size allows them to have flexibility in resources that’s not offered by smaller companies. They have a team of PhD agronomists that work in conjunction with a local specialist in your area who knows the climate and soil conditions, so you get expert, tailored-to-you service. TruGreen merged with Scotts LawnService, another leader in the lawn care industry, in 2015.

What makes them stand out: TruGreen operates as a subscription service. There is no binding contract, and you can cancel your subscription anytime. You can prepay and sign up for lawn care service and maintenance for the year. However, keep in mind that the subscription automatically renews, so mark your calendar to cancel if you don’t want them to charge you for another year.

• BBB rating: A+
  
• Available in your state? TruGreen services are available everywhere in the US except Vermont, Hawaii, and Alaska.
• Reputation:
  •  #1 Professional Lawn Care Company in America*
  • Official Lawn Care Provider of the PGA of America*
  • Top-notch customer reviews and ratings from Consumer Affairs
• Offers and packages:
  • TruGreen plans are $29.95 for the first application when you purchase an annual plan.^★
  • TruGreen also offers tick and flea, tree and shrub, pest, mosquito, and grub services. You can read more about House Method’s review of TruGreen’s pest protection services and how it compares to others here: TruGreen Pest Control Service Review

The plans listed below are perfect for homeowners who want a healthy lawn without the hassle.

Lawn Doctor: The All-or-Nothing Guarantee

Who they are: Lawn Doctor has grown through franchising across the US. It is now a national chain with independent owners. They provide a wide range of year-round lawn and landscaping services.

What makes them stand out: Customizable services as well as an all-or-nothing guarantee: If you’re not satisfied with their services, they will return and try again, or refund the full cost of an application back to your account. Franchisees are locally owned and backed by Lawn Doctor’s headquarters.

• BBB rating: C
  • Note: This is the rating for the Lawn Doctor’s headquarters, who have had issues responding to BBB’s requests for verification.
  • Each individual Lawn Doctor franchise will have a different BBB profile and/or rating.
• Available in your state? Lawn Doctor’s services are not available in Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.
• Reputation:
  • They have had consistently high reviews on Trustpilot, an online review website. However, please note that your experience will largely depend on your local Lawn Doctor franchise’s performance.
• Offers and packages:
  • Pick and choose the services you need, or try one of their annual service plans.
  • Lawn Doctor provides lawn care and pest control services, as well as annual plans if you want a long-term solution.
  • Their lawn care services include fertilization, power seeding, mosquito and tick control, lime, weed control, aeration, tree and shrub care, pest control, lawn mower maintenance, and more.

Weed Man USA: The Stewards

Who they are: Founded in Canada, Weed Man has grown exponentially through franchising. They now serve Canada, North America, and the United Kingdom.

What makes them stand out: They are the #1 lawn care and landscaping provider in the world. In partnership with the EPA, Weed Man participates in the EPA Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program, which promotes responsible pest management practices. Weed Man promotes environmentally friendly solutions. They also focus on weed prevention.

• BBB rating: A-
  • Note: The headquarters is not BBB accredited.
  • Each individual Weed Man USA franchise will have a different BBB profile and/or rating.
• Available in your state? Weed Man USA’s services are not available in Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Maine, Mississippi, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming.
• Reputation:
  • Weed Man is known for its franchising popularity and environmentally conscious practices that are incorporated into their services.
• Offers and packages:
  • Weed man offers a variety of services including weed control, fertilization, seeding, lime, disease control, mole control, and more.
  • Referring friends can earn you rewards.

The Davey Tree Expert Company: The Tree People

Who they are: Davey has been around since 1880. While they offer mostly tree-related services, many of their services involve lawn care. They employ International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborists.

What makes them stand out: Davey focuses on holistic landscaping, so their services include trees, lawns, utilities, and environmental consulting. However, they pride themselves on being tree experts, and they provide lawn services with tree health in mind. Davey was founded by John Davey, a pioneering tree expert in the 19th century.

• BBB rating: A+
• Available in your state? They provide services throughout 47 states and Canada.
• Reputation:
  • ISA Certified Arborists provide professional care.
  • Davey is a trusted long-standing business and employee owned.
• Offers and packages:
  • Davey’s lawn care services include fertilization, aeration, pest control, overseeding, and disease management. You can choose one of the aforementioned services, or you can get comprehensive services (subject to availability).
  • They do free house calls for weed inspection and provide continuous service throughout the year.

Why we choose TruGreen

Out of the top lawn care companies, we pick TruGreen because of the variety of available annual plans. If you are looking for the best value on this list, you will find it with one of the plans they outlined. We like that TruGreen is the most accessible in the US with services and offices throughout the nation. They have the widespread reputation along with the local expertise to help with your landscaping needs.

In addition, their Healthy Lawn Guarantee can help give you peace of mind when it comes to your yard. Their certified specialists visit your property throughout the year to treat your yard, and they also provide extra tips on how to maintain the health of your grass in between visits and long term.

With over two million customers across the nation, their lawn care specialists are experts in treating grass, soil, and landscapes of all types. With about 45 years in the industry, TruGreen has developed new, cutting-edge formulas and tools for lawn maintenance by enlisting the help of PhD researchers. Other lawn care companies may offer similar services, but their network of skilled specialists, innovative products and readily available resources separate TruGreen from other competitors.

What should you expect from these lawn care companies?

A local representative who will come and check in

Only the companies that have the widest market in the US were included in this list. The people that will come to inspect and work on your lawn are likely a franchisee of one of these major lawn care providers.

Local is always better because a local representative will know what diseases and pests frequent lawns in the area. They also know climate and soil conditions. And, they’ve likely provided their services to someone in your neighborhood or down the block.

In addition, since they’re local, they can come check in on your lawn over the course of the year. They will also be available to you if you have concerns.

A la carte and annual packages

Some companies give you the option to get only the services you need or want at one time, while also having optional annual packages that will save you money if you want long-term lawn care.

Basic services provided

Does the lawn care company offer these services that are essential to almost every lawn?

Lawn fertilization

Nitrogen is key in building a dense green turf. Different types of grass need different levels to flourish. Introducing nitrogen-rich fertilizer is a basic service that lawn care companies should offer. But nitrogen isn’t the only important nutrient, and there are several factors that contribute to the composition of your soil (grass type, climate, foot traffic, season, etc.). It can be overwhelming to choose a fertilizer on your own. A professional lawn care company should do that for you and maximize the effect of the best fertilizer for your lawn.

Lawn aeration

Like any living thing, your grass needs to breathe, too. Over time, your yard may develop thick thatches and compacted soil beneath the surface of your lawn. This dense material makes it difficult for necessary nutrients to penetrate the soil. If your turf is suffering from these problems, aeration is the solution.

Lime/pH/soil amendment

Soil is the base of healthy grass, and a well maintained pH level will promote new growth and root development in your yard.  Even with fertilizer, your grass may need lime treatment. Ground limestone rock has magnesium and calcium, which reduce the acidity in your soil. Less acid and more alkaline soil equals more nutrients for your lawn. Keeping a proper balance between alkalinity and acidity lays the groundwork for your turf to gain the most benefits from other lawn treatments like aeration, fertilization, and weed prevention. The optimal soil condition for most grass types has a pH level that is minorly acidic, falling between 5.5 and 6.5 on the pH scale. A professional should test and tend to your soil by using lime, sulfur or other micronutrients to reach the perfect pH balance for your lawn.

Overseeding

Like hair, grass gets thin over time. Overseeding is the process of sowing grass seeds over an existing lawn to keep it lush and green. When your lawn is in its primary growing season, overseeding is a proven method that allows new grass to develop once the seeds are planted into nutrient-rich soil. With this lawn treatment service, your yard will produce thicker grass that will help fight off damaging insects and diseases. In order for your lawn to benefit from this added protection, you’ll need to know exactly when, how, and where to apply seed for your grass type and climate conditions. For the best results, a professional should do this service for you.

Pest control

A healthy lawn can’t happen if pests—moles, voles, chinch bugs, grubs, beetles, grass-devouring creatures—feast on your grass. Your lawn care provider should provide solutions for pests, along with treatments for pests that bite, sting, and make your yard unenjoyable, such as mosquitoes, fire ants, and chiggers

Pre-emergent and targeted weed control

No matter where you live, weeds are a common nuisance for most lawns that can be difficult to contain, diminish the appearance of your lawn, and steal valuable nutrients from your grass roots. With numerous species of weeds, it’s difficult to completely remove them from your yard without knowing how to treat each strain. Mowing your lawn may reduce weeds, but it does not prevent them from competing with your grass for water, air, and minerals. An expert will know how how handle this issue, so make sure this service is offered.

Disease control

Trees and shrubs are easy to forget about if you aren’t paying attention to the bigger picture of a healthy lawn. To better care for the trees and shrubs on your property, root zone fertilization, targeted trunk injection, and horticultural oil applications can help fight disease and keep your entire yard looking its best.

Natural/organic options

If your kids or pets are often in the lawn, or if you prefer more eco-friendly lawn treatments, ask the provider if they offer a plan that uses natural fertilizer and other organic solutions.

5 useful tips when choosing a provider

There are a few rules of thumb when you’re in the process of narrowing down between lawn care companies:

1. Do the research. There is no substitute for doing your due diligence. If you are interested in one of the companies above, make sure to do a deeper dive before decision time.
2. There’s nothing wrong with quote shopping. While providers like TruGreen have prepackaged plans, you still need to get a custom quote for the work you need done. Having an experienced representative from your chosen provider come and analyze your lawn is the best indicator of what you will need.
3. Make sure your chosen provider operates in your state. The providers we listed above allow you to enter your zip code on their website in order to find out if they have an office near you.
4. Talk to the neighbor with the best-looking lawn. Referrals from people you know and trust go a long way to finding the right lawn care provider for you. You may even get a referral discount.
5. Long-term contracts save you money in the long run. Annual plans can not only save you money, but can put your mind at ease, knowing you already have scheduled visits from your lawn maintenance representative. They are there to monitor and protect your lawn throughout the year, so you can relax and enjoy the time you’ve saved by hiring a professional.