TruGreen Pest Control Review

Our Preferred Pest Control Providers

Today’s Homeowner recommends several trustworthy pest control companies. The panel below shows our top picks with their unique superlatives and money-saving deals. Read our review of the best pest control companies to learn more.

Highlights

• TruGreen is one of the only companies providing grub control and prevention.
• TruGreen’s pest control services focus primarily on outdoor pests.
• You can save money with TruGreen by bundling a pest control and lawn care package together.

What’s My Review of TruGreen Pest Control?

Another issue comes from its services. TruGreen doesn’t offer anything to help with bed bugs or termites. Since the company is primarily a lawn care company, its focus tends to be on anything that happens outside the home, and while it offers a few services for inside, they’re limited.

Company Pros and Cons

This section covers TruGreen Pest Control’s high-level pros and cons. Keep these points in mind as you read the rest of the review.

Service Plan and Contract

Like most lawn care or pest control companies, TruGreen (formerly ChemLawn) requires you to sign up for a service contract when you agree to hire it. The range of the contract will depend on the services you choose, but in most cases, it will span the course of a “season” or year.

The company offers a few different plans with the simplest one being the Perimeter Pest Control. This focuses on creating a protective barrier around the exterior of your home to prevent pests from entering. This service targets common pests like ants, spiders, and other crawling insects, effectively keeping them at bay.

TruGreen also offers an outdoor pest control service that targets a wider range, including ticks, mosquitos, fleas, and fire ants.

Its guarantee is that it’ll eliminate and control the population of whatever pest you have in 24 hours, and if you’re not 100% satisfied, it’ll re-treat at no cost.

For most of its services, you get a minimum of four treatments a year, and that provides you with the results you need to last throughout the year.

What I Like

TruGreen’s pest control services are right on par with the competition, and I personally like the fact that it’s mostly a perimeter solution, so you don’t have to worry about being around for someone to come inside.

I think the four treatment per year plan is reasonable and should be enough to provide you with the results you need.

What I Don’t Like

You want to be very careful when signing up for contracts with TruGreen because it has a reputation for baking return services into the contract. Next thing you know, it’s team is showing up year after year and treating you for problems you don’t have anymore.

Reputation and Credentials

TruGreen doesn’t necessarily have the best reputation for pest control out there, but I think there is a stigma around the company that it doesn’t deserve. It’s important to try and separate the lawn care company from the pest control services in this regard.

What I Like

The company is transparent about its treatments, and it’ll tell you that you’ll want to stay off the lawn and out of the area for a period of time following treatments.

What I Don’t Like

One of the major issues with dealing with a large company like TruGreen is that you never know who is the one providing you with the services. While TruGreen doesn’t subcontract its services out, you never know about expertise at the individual level of each TruGreen local office.

Safety and Environmental Protection

This is where things get a little dicey. There are many customer reviews complaining about TruGreen’s use of toxic pesticides. There’s even a petition to get the company to change its formula.

According to a Community Action Works white paper, the company is using potential carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and reproductive toxins as part of its pesticide formula.

There was even a 2020 lawsuit regarding TruGreen’s practices. The lawsuit states that the company is misleading by saying that all its products are determined safe by the EPA, but it’s stated that not all EPA-approved substances are considered “safe,” and the EPA believes that no pesticide is ever considered “perfectly safe.”

What I Like

Not much to like here, and I scoured for a long time to find any information regarding the ingredients used in TruGreens pesticides.

In fact, I was only able to find a Product Use Statement from TruGreen that came out to say that it doesn’t use known allergens or carcinogens in its formula. But again, this is a gray area, so it’s unclear whether these ingredients are safe because the company refuses to share anything about the exact ingredients.

Today’s Homeowner Tips

Very few companies can actually claim to provide “all-natural” pest control. There’s no such thing. Your best option is to do nothing at all and just deal with the pests if you’re concerned.

Since TruGreen is a large national company, it’s become the scapegoat in this situation.

What I Don’t Like

I think TruGreen needs to do a better job of providing alternative pest control solutions for people who don’t want to take these risks. Not to mention the fact that spraying your entire yard for mosquitoes can cause negative effects on your neighbors as well.

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What Is TruGreen’s Pricing for Extermination

The price of Trugreen is budget-friendly. For a standard lawn between 5,000–10,000 square feet, it costs around $450 per year for the Mosquito Defense treatment. It’s important to understand that this is only a mosquito service and doesn’t include grubs, ticks, fleas, or other perimeter insects. You’ll have to get a traditional lawn care plan for grub prevention and control, which can run you another $650 annually.

TruGreen offers a “TruShield” flea and tick prevention plan, but there is no information for pricing available online, even when signing up for a plan. I imagine it’s somewhere in the realm of the previous options, so you can see how this gets pretty pricey.

The overall pricing for pest control without lawn care services will likely range from $500–1,500 per year, which is on par with other companies.

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What Pest Control Services Does TruGreen Offer?

Below, I’ll shed some light on the specific pest control services I found in my TruGreen pest control reviews.

Grub Prevention and Control

Grub prevention and control is unique for a pest control company. TruGreen will help get rid of grubs or beetles that are starting to cause a significant issue in your turf. The grubs will bring other pests to your yard, compounding the issues.

Homeowners can sometimes see grubs when digging in the soil, but other times it takes a professional to identify the issue. The grub treatment should be done preventatively to ensure that it will not be a long-term issue for homeowners.

If you don’t want moles and armadillos to start tearing up your lawn by eating the grubs, start to treat the grubs as soon as possible.

Tick and Flea Control

In wooded areas where fleas and ticks are a problem, the TruShield Tick and Flea Control Treatment is a great solution. This is a service that will treat ticks, fleas, chiggers, earwigs, and spiders. For homes that have children and pets, this is a service that can be well worth the costs associated.

One of the great things about this plan is that you will not only get protection from a current infestation or outbreak, but the first applications will prevent future generations. Knowing that you won’t have to worry about the potential health impacts of a tick provides tremendous peace of mind.

This video from TruGreen provides helpful tips for some of the most difficult pests like ticks and fleas:

Mosquito Control

One of the things that help TruGreen stand out with its mosquito control and defense system is the speed at which it will help control the mosquito population in your yard.

The video below outlines some of the steps TruGreen takes to address mosquitos in your yard:

If you happen to have a TruGreen location that offers the mosquito defense system, you’ll notice a decrease in mosquitos in just a 24-hour period.

With TruGreen being specialists in the yard, its team has an excellent idea as to where the mosquitos like to spend their time and breed and multiply. TruGreen works to establish a barrier around the area where you’re seeing the most mosquitos, and it guarantees this will last for a few months. The company does require that you sign up for a minimum of four visits per year.

Perimeter Pest Control

The pest control issues surrounding your patio and yard are the specialty of TruGreen lawn specialists. However, there are home pest control services that can be purchased from TruGreen.

TruGreen’s home pest control service will not be available in every state. Depending on where you live, you can expect treatment and prevention for the following pests:

• Ants (fire ants have additional charges)
• Cockroaches
• Spiders
• Rodents

Knowing exactly which home pest control plan is the best for your needs will require a meeting with a TruGreen professional. They’ll come to your home, do a thorough inspection, and look for any current or future issues.

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What Types of Pesticide Does TruGreen Use?

TruGreen claims to utilize a range of pesticides in its pest control services, but the specific types of pesticides it uses can vary depending on the target pest and the treatment being performed.

TruGreen is committed to implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles, which prioritize the use of environmentally responsible and low-toxicity solutions. It aims to minimize the use of traditional pesticides and instead focus on preventive measures and eco-friendly products.

That said, while it “claims” to do a lot of these things, the company still refuses to state the exact ingredients used and instead say that:

“The products we approve for company use contain the same ingredients found in lawn care products that tens of millions of homeowners buy annually at lawn and garden outlets. We ensure these products are applied safely according to federal, state and local regulations. The specific products applied to your landscape are detailed on your invoice with each treatment.  Additional health and safety information can be found at the National Pesticide Information Center, a cooperative program of the U.S. EPA and Oregon State University.”

To me, this is basically a way of saying, “since everyone else is doing it, we’re doing it too.”

Long story short, if you’re concerned about pesticides and ingredients, don’t hire a commercial pest control company. They all use harmful pesticides, and it’s unclear how damaging the effects are.

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Where Are TruGreen’s Pest Control Services Available?

TruGreen’s pest control services are available in the 48 continental states plus Washington, D.C.

Remember that TruGreen is also a top recommended lawn care company providing the following services throughout the U.S.:

• Fertilization
• Weed Control
• Aeration Service
• Lawn Treatment
• Lawn Analysis
• Overseeding

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What Is TruGreen’s Guarantee?

The company offers a Healthy Lawn Guarantee to ensure TruGreen customers are happy with their pest control services. If a customer is not completely satisfied with the results of a treatment, TruGreen will work with them to address the issue. The specific details of TruGreen’s guarantee may vary depending on the service and location, but generally, the following elements are included:

Re-treatment: If pests persist after treatment, TruGreen will provide additional treatments at no extra cost. It will work with the customer to determine the most appropriate solution and schedule re-treatment to address the problem effectively.

Refund: In certain cases, if the issue can’t be resolved or the customer is not satisfied with the service, TruGreen may offer a refund for the treatment. The refund policy may vary depending on the specific circumstances and the terms outlined in the service agreement.

The TruGreen guarantee is on par with most competitors, and in most cases, the accuracy of its guarantees will vary based on the individual TruGreen branch you deal with.

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How Can You Save Money When Hiring TruGreen for Pest Control?

If you’re really tired of pests and not as concerned about the environmental impact, the price might be the only thing holding you back. Here are some things you can do to cut the cost of pest control services in your area:

Compare Quotes

While I do recommend TruGreen, it’s still a good idea to get quotes from multiple providers. Doing so will allow you to compare prices and services to make sure you get the most bang for your buck.

Prevent Pests in the First Place

One effective way to save money on pest control is by implementing preventive measures to reduce the risk of infestations. This includes maintaining cleanliness and hygiene, sealing cracks and openings, removing potential food and water sources, and keeping your surroundings tidy.

Use DIY Methods

If the issue isn’t too serious, you can use DIY methods like baits, traps, vinegar mixtures, and over-the-counter sprays.

Choose an Annual Plan

Most pest control companies, including TruGreen, will offer discounts for customers who sign up for a longer plan. If you choose to have the company come out four times a year like it recommends, you’ll get more for your money and likely end up with better results as well.

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Compare Top Pest Control Providers

Shopping for a pest control provider can be overwhelming. With so many companies and plans on the market, you may not know which option to pick. The table below compares some of the most popular pest control companies on the market to help you determine which option may work best for your home.

*Ratings accurate as of June 2023.

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What Is the Process To Work With TruGreen Pest Control?

The process of getting a quote from TruGreen’s website is super simple. All you need to do is fill out a form with some basic information about your goals and any pests you have. Enter your address, verify the size of your yard, and you’ll receive a quote similar to the image below.

Credit: Coty Perry / TruGreen

Once you hit continue, you’ll have the option to prepay for the year and save or pay for each application as it comes. You’ll enter additional contact information with a phone number, and this is where TruGreen will reach out to you for more information about your property, credit card info, and insect control goals.

The entire process takes less than five minutes, and if you’d rather not do it this way, you can pick up the phone and call customer support as well.

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Does Preventative Pest Control With TruGreen Save You Money?

Preventative pest control will always save you money in the long run because it will prohibit more serious issues from occurring. This will reduce future treatment costs and the risk of pest issues before they escalate.

TruGreen doesn’t offer pest control for termites which are known to cause significant damage to a property, but even preventing pests like fire ants and mosquitos can help preserve home value and make it a more desirable place to live.

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So, Is Hiring TruGreen Pest Control Worth Your Money?

At this point, you should feel more confident in what TruGreen has to offer for pest control. Although TruGreen lawn care is an excellent service, your entire home and lawn will be in much better condition when you add in pest control products.

When you get a quote from TruGreen, it’s smart to get several other quotes from companies like Orkin or Terminix to make sure you’re getting the best price for the services being offered.

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Methodology: How We Ranked The Best Pest Control Companies

At Today’s Homeowner, we strive to bring you the most transparent, accurate information for your home improvement and maintenance projects. To that end, we have researched the top pest control companies so you can choose the right one to keep your home pest free.

Our ratings are based on publicly available information about each company, secret shopping online and over the phone, and in-depth customer review analysis.

A company can earn a maximum of 100 points across five categories, converted to a five-star scale. We researched and analyzed dozens of the nation’s best pest control companies and developed the following formula:

• Plan Options (25 points): We looked at the variety and quality of each company’s service plans when determining this factor’s score. The number of pest removal plans and the variety of pests covered by these plans all impacted their score. 
• State Availability (10 points): We ranked companies based on the total number of states they operated in.
• Trustworthiness (25 points): Reputation and trustworthiness are essential when evaluating a pest control company. As such, we thoroughly inspected each company’s background, reviews, and industry ratings. This included checking their Better Business Bureau Ranking (BBB), business history, and customer feedback and ratings from Google, Yelp, and other industry-related websites, when applicable.
• Customer service (25 points): A company's ability to communicate and provide direct, speedy responses is essential for creating a good customer experience. With this in mind, we looked at each company’s availability, responsiveness, and available means of communication (online chat, phone number, email, response form, etc.).
• Additional Benefits (15 points): We looked at supporting services offered by each company when calculating this factor’s score. Additional benefits like a mobile app, available product details, how easy those details are to find, and the ability to request callbacks all contributed to this score.  

We monitor company data on an ongoing basis to keep rankings and information up to date.

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