List of Gardening Services (A to Z)

by Matt Gibson and Erin Marissa Russell

Gardening and landscaping companies provide services for residential lawns as well as company grounds and offer a wide array of services, such as designing and installing landscape features, holiday decorations and more. Services also include basic gardening tasks, such as planting perennials, annuals, shrubs, and trees, lawn and garden maintenance services like mowing, pruning, and fertilizing, as well as disposal services, like removing brush and other debris.

As gardeners, we usually don’t like to outsource these kinds of jobs and typically choose to do them ourselves, but life doesn’t always allow for such a hands on approach. Some seasons, we find ourselves with too many responsibilities to put the kind of time and dedication into our lawns and gardens as we normally do. Does that mean that we should just let the jobs go undone and allow our once beautiful landscapes to become overgrown and unnourished? Of course not. It’s in times like these which we must turn over the reigns to gardening and landscaping companies to keep our outdoor areas in tip-top shape.

There are other situations in which you might find yourself in need of a helping hand from a landscaping company as well. There is always one or two tasks that a particular gardener doesn’t agree with, or even downright despises. Some gardeners love to design their landscapes and plant their new plants and seedlings but hate the tedious task of replenishing their garden beds, or raking and removing leaves and plant debris. Some people love the meditative work of raking and removing leaves but need a hand when it comes to designing their space and planting their seeds and seedlings. Whatever the case may be, there is no shame in asking for a little help and paying for assistance with unwanted tasks.

Younger gardeners typically want to get involved in every gardening and landscaping task that you can imagine on a single property. As we get older, some tasks seem to be more difficult than they used to be. It’s okay to outsource a few jobs that you can no longer perform due to health concerns or time constraints.

Luckily, there is a common sense solution to these issues. Just hire someone to complete the tasks that you don’t want to do or don’t have time to do and keep your garden looking great until you have the extra time on your hands to put your green thumb back into action. The following list is a look at all of the different landscaping, gardening and lawn care services that you might need and a brief description of what each job entails.

Disposal Services

Disposal services come in handy when you just need something removed from your property. There are many guidelines and limitations on what your local trash and recycling will haul off for you. Sometimes local sanitation services are very limited. Some cities will only dispose of what you can fit in their provided containers before charging you additional fees for the service.

Some cities will take away any amount of debris, as long as it is placed in black garbage bags, or fits inside the containers provided by the city. Smaller towns might be more limited on what they are able to do. When your yard waste is more than you can fit into a bin or more than you can haul off yourself, it is time to look at professional yard waste removal services. Yard waste can not only be an eyesore, but it can keep you from having the space to pull off outdoor parties and events on your property. Luckily, you don’t have to get rid of it all by yourself.

Yard Waste Removal

There is a great deal more to yard waste removal than just removing lawn trimmings. Here are all the things that yard waste removal services can help you haul off to clean up your property:

Branches
Clippings
Stumps
Soil
Sod
Landscaping Debris
Fencing
Firewood
Lumber
Old Timber
Plasterboard
Frames
Windows
Shingles
Corrugated Iron

Junk Removal

Yard waste is not the only thing you might need to have hauled off of your property. Here is a list of other things that you might need removed by a professional service:

Appliances
Furniture
Hot Tubs
Trash
Mattresses
Television Disposal & Recycling
Refrigerator Disposal & Recycling
Construction Waste
E-Waste
Foreclosure Cleanouts
Garbage
Dumpster Rental Alternative
And just about anything else you might have on your property

Fall Yard Clean-Up

Fall is a busy time for gardeners and your property can start to look a little shabby around this time of year. Let a professional landscaping company get your lawn in better shape at the end of the season. Some of the services that a fall clean-up could include are:

Raking up leaves and composting them.
Updating Seasonal flowers.
Weed Control.
Mulching with leaves / grass clippings.
Fertilizer Applications.
Pruning.
Cleaning up branches & lawn debris.
Cutting the grass.

Fertilizing and Pest Control

Fertilizing and pest control are both very involved processes that require a lot of knowledge and multiple products as well as a good amount of time invested. Most landscaping, gardening, and lawn care companies have extensive knowledge of fertilizers and pest control options. Most companies also have both organic and non-organic options.

Non-Organic
Organic

Garden Maintenance

Garden maintenance is a fun but time consuming task. Most gardening companies offer a wide range of services to help keep your garden at tip-top shape. If you don’t have time to get your hands in the dirt this season, consider hiring a garden maintenance service to lend a helping hand. Garden services include:

Removal of weeds and weed prevention
Trimming of hedges
Weeding planted areas
Implementing pest control and disease control measures
Pruning plants to promote healthy growth
Planting and seeding new trees and plants

Holiday Decoration

Every year, several different holidays come around that make us want to decorate our outdoor areas to spread the joy of the season to neighbors and passers by. Many landscaping companies can take over these tasks for you when you don’t have the time. Setting up some spooky decor during October to prepare for Halloween and stringing Christmas lights are a tradition that many folks want to continue, even when they don’t have the time to do it themselves. There’s no shame in hiring a professional to take on the task for you when you don’t have the time or energy. The following holidays can be outsourced to commercial decorators:

Christmas
Halloween
Thanksgiving (Fall Decor)
Easter
St. Patrick’s Day
Valentine’s Day
4th of July

Installation Services

Want to add a feature to your garden getaway? Landscaping, Lawn and Garden Care companies can help install just about anything. Here are a few things you can get installation help with:

Compost
Dry Laid Retaining Walls
Dry Wells
Loam
Mulch
Pea Gravel
Riverrock
Triple-Mix
Walkways

Landscaping Services

Design
Installation
Removal
Restoration

Lawn Maintenance

Core Aeration
Dethatching
Edging
Grading
Leaf Removal
Mowing
Seeding
Sodding
Top Dressing

Planting

Annuals
Perennials
Shrubs
Trees

Pruning (Hedges and Shrubs)

Pruning doesn’t require a lot of time and effort, but it does require some skill and expertise. There’s nothing like having your hedges and shrubs pruned by a professional. It will set your yard apart from many of your DIY neighbors.

Spring Yard Clean-Up

Spring time is the busiest season for gardeners. After the season wraps up, there is much to be done to prepare for the next season and to clean up the clutter. Why not let a team of professionals whip your lawn and garden into shape for you? Most companies offer the following services in their spring clean-up packages:

Clearing away leaves, branches, and clutter
Hauling away and composting debris
Mowing the grass
Re-edging and cleaning garden and flower beds
Redefining the borders of the lawn
Re-seed damaged areas of the lawn
Pruning and trimming trees and shrubs
Aeration

Tree-Trimming & Removal

Trees need to be trimmed every now and then to keep them out of the way of power lines and to keep them from growing into structures like your home or shed. Sometimes, trees need to be removed entirely. Whether from lightning damage, or simply clearing a space for a new installation, sometimes a tree needs to go. No matter how strong you and your children may be, this is usually a task for professionals.

Watering (While You Are Away)

When you are on vacation or have to be out of town for work, you can schedule watering services to keep your plants alive while you are away.

Common Questions and Answers About Garden Services

Do you need a license to be a gardener?

Many gardeners have no licensing or certification, as their expertise often comes from practical experience—the years they’ve spent with their hands digging in the dirt, gaining knowledge along the way. Some states may require gardeners or landscapers to hold a contractor’s license in order to do business, but there are many states that do not require any licensing.

Does a gardener need a contractors license?

If a gardener does a certain dollar amount of business per year, they may need to register as a small business with their state and get a tax ID number. Some states may require a contractor’s license as well. Laws vary from state to state.

Does backyard landscaping add value to a home?

While backyard landscaping is unlikely to dramatically increase your property value, it will have some impact on the value of your home. Specifically, a landscaped home has a value that’s 11.3 percent higher than a home without landscaping in the eyes of consumers, according to a study from the University of Michigan. Backyard landscaping also is a way to get buyers interested in looking more carefully at your home and may help it to sell more quickly. Landscaped homes sell up to six weeks faster, the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association found.

Trees are a good investment, as are grass-free groundcover lawns that don’t require mowing and backyard sanctuary spots. Landscaped patios or entertaining areas also provide plenty of bang for your buck. Buyers tend to see swimming pools as high-maintenance and costly, so don’t install a pool just for its resale value. Don’t save landscaping until the last minute, though—mature, well-tended landscaping tends to look more impressive and also signals to buyers that the inside of the house is likely to be well maintained, too.

How do I find a gardener?

It can be hard to find a good gardener, so rely on the tips listed below.

Ask neighbors with particularly well-kept yards for recommendations.
Look up your region’s Master Gardener program—they should be able to make some recommendations for you.
If your area has a nearby horticulture school or a college or university with botany, agriculture, or similar programs, consider asking their office for a referral.
Check with professional organizations that gardeners might belong to, such as The Gardeners Guild.
Employees at small, locally owned garden centers, nurseries, and home improvement stores may be able to point you in the right direction.
Professional gardens open to the public near you may have employees who are looking for more work or know of gardeners they can refer you to.
Check yelp.com or other review sites to see what experiences others in your area have had.
Your area’s business directory may have gardeners and landscapers listed for you to consider.
Is there a community garden in your area? Contact the person who manages the garden, or drop by and speak with the people you meet there, to ask if they know anyone who works as a gardener.
Once you’re considering a gardener, ask them for a reference you can contact who’s been a customer of theirs for a while.

How often do I need a gardener?

How often you need a gardener depends on the type of work you need help with, size of your yard, and other considerations. If your gardener will be tending your lawn, pulling weeds, watering plants, and other everyday chores, you may need to see them at least once per week. Other people may only use a gardener a few times a year to help with big projects, such as working with compost piles, digging new beds, amending soil, or pruning.

How much do gardeners charge per month?

Many gardeners charge by the hour, so the monthly fee will depend on their hourly rate as well as how many hours they’ll spend working in your garden. Nationwide, the average monthly bill for a gardener is between $100 and $200. The hourly rate fluctuates depending on a gardener’s skill level. Day laborers may charge as little as $10-$25 an hour. More professional gardeners have rates from $25-$60 an hour, and professional landscape designers may charge anywhere from $50-$150 per hour.

How much do gardening services cost?

The cost of gardening services varies depending on the type of service you’re seeking, size of the project, experience level of the professional, and more. To get a general idea, refer to the prices below.

A gardener will charge anywhere from $10-$25 per hour for a day laborer to $25-$60 per hour for a professional gardener.
Professional landscape designers normally charge between $50-$150 per hour for consultation.
Having sod installed normally costs 14-60 cents per square foot, with a 2,000-square-foot lawn adding up to between $280 and $1,000.
Installing an underground sprinkler system ranges from $1,500-$2,500 for a lawn that’s 2,500 square feet. An average drip irrigation system installation usually costs between $1,000 and $3,000.
Aerating a small lawn is normally between $35-$65, with larger lawns costing between $75-$125.
Work to control fire ants is likely to have an annual fee of $100-$300.
Tree trimming and pruning will vary widely depending on the size of the project and its particulars. A small tree (30 feet or less) when there are no buildings nearby may cost from $75-$437, while trees between 30 and 60 feet with no buildings nearby can cost from $150-$874. Trees more than 60 feet tall with no buildings nearby will run between $200 and $1,000. Expect pricing to increase if there are buildings or power lines near the trees you’d like to have trimmed.
Tree removal is priced depending on the size of the tree as well. Trees up to 30 feet tall will cost $125-$437. Trees 30 to 60 feet tall will likely cost between $175 and $900 to remove, while trees from 80 to 100 feet tall may cost between $962 and $1,400.
Stump removal is priced according to the size of the stump, from $2 to $3 per inch of the stump’s diameter, making the average stump cost between $75 and $150. Accessibility issues can raise the price, or having multiple stumps removed at a time can lower it.
Landscape design is priced depending on size and location, and to have a plan drawn up will cost between $300 and $2,500. To create a plan and do the work to make it a reality, the cost may range from $27,500 to $57,500.
Mowing your lawn generally costs between $45 and $80, depending on the size of your yard.

How much do landscapers charge for spring clean up?

Spring clean up is likely to cost between $200-$700 per acre of your yard. Spring clean up includes removal of tree debris, landscaping, gardening, and leaf clean up.

How much do lawn mowers make per hour?

People who mow lawns generally make between $10 and $16 per hour.

How much does a gardener charge an hour?

The hourly rate a gardener charges can depend on the type of work you’re asking them to do as well as their level of experience. Day laborers working in gardening make between $10 and $25 an hour, while professional gardeners charge $25 to $60 per hour. A landscape designer may charge $50 to $150 per hour.

How much does a mulch job cost?

Depending on the size of your yard, size of the project, and type of mulch you use, a mulch job can range widely in price. The cost is $15 to $65 per cubic yard for bulk truckload delivery alone. If you’re asking for mulch delivery and installation both to be included, the job may cost between $35 and $300.

How much does basic landscaping cost?

Landscaping costs vary from project to project depending on how labor intensive the work will be and the size of your yard. However, generally you can expect to pay $4 to $12 per square foot, or between $50 and $100 per hour, for basic landscaping. For homeowners starting from scratch, initial landscaping costs average between $3,000 and $16,000.

How much does it cost to get leaves removed?

Depending on the size of your yard, leaf removal generally costs between $175 and $500. The average amount people pay for leaf removal is about $340.

How much does it cost to have someone put mulch down?

Mulching costs range widely depending on the type of mulch you will use, size of the project, and size of your yard. Just delivery of mulch in bulk will cost you $15 to $65 per cubic yard. Including both delivery and installation, expect to pay between $35 and $300 to have someone to put mulch down.

How much does it cost to hire someone to mow your lawn?

It generally costs $10 to $16 per hour to hire someone to mow your lawn, with the whole job averaging $35 to $50. The cost may vary depending on the size of your yard.

How much does it cost to pull out weeds?

On average, pulling weeds costs about $30 per hour. Depending on the size of the area you need weeds pulled from, the entire project often takes four to five hours, so you may pay $120 to $150 per session.

How much does pre emergent cost?

Treatment to prevent weeds before they appear, in the pre emergent period, costs around $65 for a property of 1,000 to 5,000 square feet, or $90 for a property that’s 10,000 square feet.

How much does spring clean up cost?

Expect to pay between $200 and $700 per acre of your property for spring clean up. During spring clean up, a professional will remove tree debris from your yard, clean up leaves, and perform other landscaping and gardening tasks.

How much is garden maintenance?

Garden maintenance usually costs between $40 and $60 per hour, with a single session ranging between $50 and $110.

How much should a spring cleanup cost?

The cost for spring cleanup ranges between $200 and $700 per acre of your yard. Spring clean up consists of removal of tree debris and leaves as well as other landscaping and gardening work.

How much should a yard cleanup cost?

Yard cleanup is priced the same as a fall or spring cleanup. Expect to pay around $350 on average, or $200 to $550 for a half-acre yard. The pricing ranges from $200 to $700 per acre of the property to be cleaned.

How much should I pay a gardener per hour?

The hourly rate you should pay your gardener is determined by the projects they’ll be working on and their level of experience. If you’re working with a day laborer, their rates are in the range of $10 to $25 per hour, while professional gardeners tend to charge between $25 and $60 per hour.

How much should I pay for garden maintenance?

For garden maintenance, expect to pay between $40 and $60 per hour. A garden maintenance session can range from $50 to $100 or so, depending on the size of your property and the work that needs to be done.

How much should I pay for landscape design?

The hourly rates for consultation with landscape designers vary widely, from around $50 to $150 an hour. Drawing up a plan can cost anywhere from $300 to $2,500, on average. More well-known designers or architects can charge substantially more to create a plan—up to $16,000 or so. Putting the plan into action can be costly if it’s a large project, with average costs ranging from $27,500 to $57,500. The broad range of prices is due to the varying levels of project difficulty and designer experience that can apply.

How much should I pay for raking leaves?

The cost of raking or leaf removal depends on how many leaves have accumulated in your yard, how many trees you have, and the size of your property. If you wait until the end of fall when leaves have finished falling, expect to pay more than if you have leaves raked earlier in the season. However, removing leaves before they’ve all fallen means you’re likely to need to schedule more than one appointment and pay more than one fee. At the end of fall, most people pay an average of $340 for leaf raking, with prices ranging from $175 to $500. The details on average rates for various types of leaf removal are below. When you call a company to get a quote, have on hand the square footage or acreage of your property and the number of trees on the property to help the professionals provide an accurate estimate.

If you have a large yard, expect to pay somewhere around $400 to $1,000 per acre for leaf raking or removal.
Leaf raking and removal rates for smaller properties is priced at two to 10 cents per square foot of your property. Anything more than leaf removal, such as aerating, fertilizing, thatching, or removing junk, can increase the cost to 40 cents per square foot.
Raking jobs usually entail the leaves being gathered into a pile with a rake or leaf blower. The average leaf cleanup job costs from $300 to $350. If you want the leaves hauled off your property, expect to pay $5 to $10 per bag of leaves. This ups the average cost to $600 or $700.
If the company you choose charges an hourly rate for leaf removal, these rates tend to range from $15 to $30 per hour with a $75 minimum.
Professionals tend to work more quickly and more meticulously, leaving your yard cleaner than day laborers or less experienced workers. If you choose to go with someone with less experience, though, you’ll see a decrease in cost. Day laborers or workers without a ton of experience tend to charge around $10 or $15 per hour.
Don’t forget about your home’s gutters when you’re having leaves removed, as leaves are the main thing that causes clogging. Expect to pay between 50 cents to $2 per linear foot, or $100 to $250 for a single-story home. Houses with more than one story are likely to have more expensive costs for removing leaves from gutters, averaging around $350.

How much should I pay for weeding my garden?

Expect to pay your gardener a rate of around $30 per hour for weeding projects. The total you’ll pay depends on the size of your garden and how long your gardener works, but for most weeding projects, four or five hours will cover it, with average costs ranging from $120 to $150.

How often should you have a gardener?

Some people like to handle most things in the garden on their own, relying on professionals only once or twice a year to help with major projects or spring and fall cleanup. Others of us count on a gardener to come by weekly to pull weeds, care for garden beds, mow the lawn, and handle other everyday tasks. There’s no hard and fast rule for how often you should have a gardener that will be right for everyone. The best thing to do is to talk with the gardeners you’re considering about exactly what you need help with and explain what your garden is like. They’ll be able to advise you on how often they should come by in order to meet your needs.