Longing to have a lush, healthy lawn? Let our top lawn care service providers in Houston help.
by House Method Local Advisors - Updated August 10, 2022
Having a beautiful lawn improves both the appearance and value of your house, but good lawn upkeep takes a lot of hard work. Houston has higher average temperatures than 96.3% of the U.S., which means your lawn might require extra attention in the hotter months.
To assist you, we have compiled a list of the top-rated lawn care service providers in and around the Houston area. Keep reading to discover our expertly assembled list and choose the right one for you.
TruGreen, founded in 1974 under the original name ChemLawn, now operates in 48 U.S. states. The company is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Their variety of pre-set and flexible plans can be purchased online. All of the company's services are performed by TruExpert℠ Certified Specialists, and their full programs are backed by their TruGreen Guarantee®.
Sunday Lawn Care in Houston
Sunday Lawn Care uses soil and climate data to deliver "custom lawn nutrients, herbicides, pest control, grass seed, bare spot repair, pet spot solutions, garden fertilizer, flower bulbs, and wildflower seeds" to your door at various times throughout the year. Sunday customers are able to choose from one of three different subscription plans. All of these plans are customized to your individual lawn and backed by the company's Sunday guarantee.
Some people may prefer handling lawn care on their own. For times when you want professional assistance, you can go with a subscription company, or pay one of the full-service lawn care companies in Houston. Tackling lawn care on your own might save you money at first. However, without expert advice from a lawn care professional, you might make mistakes that prove costly in the future.
Some companies, such as Sunday Lawn Care, provide assistance to supplement your DIY lawn care. This is usually in the form of subscription packages that provide all the necessary chemicals and equipment for your lawn, depending on your location in Texas and the time of year. These companies offer a lot of guidance with lawn care, but you will still be the one outside pulling weeds.
Rather have someone else handling everything? A full-service company like TruGreen might be the best fit for you. A full-service lawn care company may be the most expensive option, but they will take care of not only the decision-making but also the manual labor.
There are a variety of different services that Houston's lawn care companies can provide, including:
Weed Control: Weed control is the process of removing and preventing weeds and other bothersome plants. These types of services involve processes like manually pulling unwanted greenery and using chemicals to kill weeds and prevent more of them. The majority of full-service and subscription lawn care companies — if not all of them — offer weed control services.
Fertilization: Fertilization helps encourage the growth of grasses and plants using the application of certain compounds and chemicals at various intervals throughout the year. Similar to weed control, the majority of — if not all — full-service and subscription lawn care companies provide fertilization services.
Soil Care: Soil care helps improve your lawn growth by balancing the pH and chemistry of your soil to improve nutrient availability. The majority of full-service and subscription lawn care companies can provide this service.
Aeration: Aeration involves making small perforations in your lawn's soil. This allows air, nutrients, and water to penetrate the soil more easily. This, in turn, helps roots grow deeper, strengthening your lawn. These services are provided by the majority of full-service lawn care companies.
Seeding/Overseeding: Seeding and overseeding are both offered by the majority of full-service lawn care companies and by many subscription companies. Seeding services involve putting seed down in bare spots. Overseeding involves laying down additional seed in thin spots. Both services help improve the color and look of your lawn.
Tree and Shrub Care: Many full-service lawn care companies can help you with trees and shrubs that are wilting, overgrowing, or simply need some TLC. These services can result in large improvements in your lawn's appearance.
Pest Control: Have bugs or other pests invading your lawn? Pest control involves the application of pesticides and other techniques to get rid of animals and insects that could damage your lawn. Many full-service lawn care companies provide pest control services. Always ensure that you use a pest control professional who is properly licensed to apply pesticides through the Texas Department of Agriculture.
Leaf/Snow Removal: Are you worried about snow or leaves sitting on and killing your grass? Certain lawn care companies will come out and clear everything away. You might rarely need snow removal services and infrequently require leaf removal services in Houston. If and when you do need these services, be sure to talk to a company to verify that it is something they are able to do.
Mowing/Edging: There are some full-service lawn care companies that offer mowing and edging, and there are some companies that specialize in these kinds of services. Edging and mowing help prevent overgrowth, and they quickly improve your lawn's overall appearance.
No matter what services you want, there is a Houston lawn care company that can handle it. We recommend looking into one or more of the companies on our list above to discover which one is the best fit.
Houston Quick Facts
Houston gets more rain than about 71.8% of places in the U.S.
Houston's average high of 79° F is higher than 96.3% of the United States.
Houston is in the Hot-Humid climate zone.
Houston is around the 22% percentile in the U.S. when it comes to tree coverage.
Houston is one of the sunnier places in the country. It sits around the 85.3% percentile for average daily sunlight.
Choosing a Houston Lawn Care Company
When it comes time to select a lawn care services company, you want to make sure they are reliable. If they are going to apply chemicals like pesticides to your lawn, a technician needs to be licensed through the Texas Department of Agriculture. If you are hiring for landscaping services like edging and mowing, check to see if a company meets all of Texas's landscaper licensing requirements. You can also see if a company belongs to an organization like the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). Membership is not mandatory, but NALP allows landscaping professionals to collaborate and share information about best practices. Finally, you can read company reviews online and browse their website to learn more about the guarantees they offer.
"We are committed to helping our members achieve success through education and training and increasing professionalism through certification and accreditation."
National Association of Landscape Professionals - About Us
Next, you'll want to learn which companies in Houston offer the specific services you need. Companies may let you pick between both plans and "a la carte" options which enable you to pick and choose from a list of services.
After narrowing down your list even more, you can begin asking companies about free inspections and getting a service quote. An inspection can happen quickly — some companies are even able to quickly estimate the size of your yard via GPS before visiting your home. They can then give you an estimate based on the size of your lawn and the specific services you need.
Homeowner Responsibilities
When you're looking to hire a Houston lawn care company, you might be wondering what to expect. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Before Treatments: Full-service companies will ask you to keep any pets indoors the day they come to your home. They will also want you to make sure that they will be able to access your lawn, for example by opening any gates. You should not need to do any lawn preparation (such as watering) in advance unless you are asked to do so. If you've opted to go with a subscription company, make sure you provide all necessary information and submit your order in advance.
During Treatments: If you've opted for a subscription company, you will handle all treatments yourself based on the provided instructions. If you've hired a full-service company like TruGreen, they will come to your home to do any requested lawn care. Your company may ask you to be home the first time they come out. However, you generally do not need to be present for your lawn care technician to do treatments. The company will inform you (either electronically or in writing) what treatments were done and when.
After and Between Treatments: It's important to keep in mind that it might take weeks to see the effects of treatments such as weed control and overseeding. In the meantime, your lawn care services company may recommend that you water your lawn 24 hours following some treatments. They will also tell you when pets and family can safely be on your lawn. In the rare instance that there is an unexpected problem with your lawn care, many subscription and full-service companies have guarantees backing their products and services. In most cases, lawn care services of any type will continue regularly until you cancel.
Selecting a reliable Houston lawn care company can help you feel much more confident and comfortable with the process. Any provider from our list of Houston's best lawn care companies can walk you through the process and help you know exactly what to expect.
Frequently asked questions for lawn care companies
What is the cost of lawn care in Houston?
The amount you will pay for lawn care in Houston will depend on certain factors. One is how large your lawn is, and another is what type of services you need. The cost will also change based on how often your lawn needs services. Subscription companies will be less expensive up front, but you will have to do all of the manual work yourself. We suggest you contact one or two of the companies on our list of Houston's top lawn service providers to get an estimate.
How do I pick between all of the different types of lawn care companies? How do I choose between going with a company and doing it myself?
The plan that fits best for you will depend on what you think of the trade-off between money and work. If you do everything on your own, you won't have to pay for labor, but this option will necessitate the most work from you. If you employ one of Houston's full-service lawn care companies (such as TruGreen), they will handle all the labor and logistics, but you will pay more money. Subscription companies are generally somewhere in between.
What lawn care services does my lawn need in different seasons in Houston?
Throughout the year, you should be completing tree and shrub care, weed and pest control, and aeration and fertilization as needed. During the warmer months, you may also want to take care of seeding/overseeding and soil care. When it starts to get cooler, you may consider winterizing your lawn. The perks of choosing a Houston lawn care company include getting expert help finding the schedule that is best for you and your lawn.
How can I find a lawn care company in Houston that uses natural ingredients?
Many lawn care companies will explain their ingredients on their website. Some (such as Sunday Lawn Care) use natural ingredients in their products. If there is no ingredients list on a company's website, you can call or email them and ask.
What happens if there is inclement weather and my lawn care servicer needs to cancel?
If the weather is bad, it may change which services are appropriate for a certain day, and your technician may need to cancel. Should something like this occur, they will contact you as soon as possible to reschedule. Some lawn care companies in Houston also have mobile apps where you can see and edit your schedule.
