How Much Does Yard Cleanup Cost?

Yard Cleanup Cost

You can expect the average cost of yard cleanup to be around $340 with a low cost of $140 and a high of $880. In some cases, you could pay much more. The price varies based on many factors which are detailed below but include the time of year, the yard size, the different landscaping services you want done, and the cost of living in your area. Most lawn service companies have a minimum fee to come to your home for yard cleanup that is between $80 to $130, this is included in the average cost of yard cleanup.

Springtime Cleanup Cost | Included Services

Spring yard cleanup cost is generally between $140 to $560. This includes basic yard service of cleaning any leftover leaves and debris from the fall, cutting the lawn, edging around all surfaces, pulling all weeds from flower beds and natural areas, blowing the driveway, deck, and sidewalks clean of any remaining debris and disposing of it. Any other services like tree trimming, gutter cleaning, etc that are done at the same time will add to the spring yard cleanup cost. Learn more about springtime yard cleanup.

Fall Cleanup Cost | Included Services

Fall yard cleanup cost is between $140 to $880. This includes blowing all leaves and debris off the yard, cutting the lawn to a shorter height and edging all surfaces, pulling any remaining weeds, then aerating, fertilizing, and overseeding the lawn to prepare it for next year. Once this is completed the lawn care service will blow off all surface areas and dispose of the debris. If you need additional services they will add to the fall yard cleanup cost. Learn more about fall lawn and leaf cleanup.

Cleanup Cost by Job or Service

In the table below, we list the most common yard cleanup cost by the type of job or service being completed. These will help you calculate yard cleanup cost based on the required services needed specific to you and your property. Having these services completed at the same time of yard cleanup may reduce the cost, since the lawn service provider will already be at your home working.

Service or Job	Cost Range
Brush Pile Removal And Disposal	$135 – $250 Per Pile
Flower Bed Weed Cleanup	$25 – $60 Per Hour
French Drain Cleaning	$100 – $450
Garden Bed Maintenance	$25 – $60 Per Hour
Gutter Cleaning	$140 – $460
Hedge Trimming And Pruning	$25 – $60 / Hedge
Lawn Aeration And Overseeding	$80 – $460 Annually
Lawn Dethatching	$140 – $240
Lawn Fertilizing	$40 – $140
Lawn Mowing And Weed Eating	$45 – 85 / Week
Lawn Pest Control	$35 – $140 / Treatment
Leaf Removal (Single Service)	$120 – $300
Mulch Installation	$45 – $80 / Cubic Yard
Mulch Removal	$65 – $120 / Cubic Yard
Overseeding Lawn	$0.10 – $0.25 / Sqft
Poison Ivy Removal	$150 – $600
Pressure Washing Driveway / Sidewalks	$160 – $390
Rototilling Garden	$80 – $260
Shrub And Bush Planting	$65 – $120 / Shrub
Sod Replacement Or Repair	$0.75 – $1.50 / Sqft
Sprinkler System Startup	$75 – $150
Sprinkler System Winterization	$75 – $200
Tree Planting	$150 – $800 / Tree
Tree Trimming And Branch Removal	$50 – $650 / Tree
Underground Downspout Drains	$200 – $400 / Downspout
Weed Control	$35 – $90 / Treatment

Landscaping and Lawn Cleanup Cost Factors

As you plan your yard and lawn cleanup, the factors below are going to weigh heavily on the price you pay a lawn service company in your area to complete the seasonal job.

Overall Size of Your Lot and Yard

It goes without saying, if you have a large piece of property on a big lot it’s going to cost more than a smaller yard.

Yard Size / Square Feet	Approx Acres	Average Cost
5000 – 10,000	1/8 – 1/4 Acre	$120 – $260
10,000 – 15,000	1/4 – 1/3 Acre	$160 – $320
15,000 – 25,000	1/3 – 1/2 Acre	$200 – $380
25,000 – 35,000	1/2 – 3/4 Acre	$240 – $440
35,000 – 50,000	3/4 – 1 Acre	$300 – $500
50,000 – 75,000	1 – 1.5 Acres	$340 – $720
75,000 – 100,000	1.5 – 2 Acres	$720 – $940
100,000 – 200,000	2 – 4 Acres	$1,000 or More

Size of Lawn or Grass in Yard

Not to be confused with your yard or lot size, the grass or lawn turf is the area that needs cutting, aerating, fertilizing, etc. The larger your lawn area, the most you’ll pay. In the USA, most mowed lawns are less than 1 acre in size. There are always exceptions like Texas, luxury homes, etc that have a lot more grass to care for and require larger commercial equipment.

Lawn Square Feet	Average Cost Per Service
0 – 3,000	$35 – $40
3,000 – 5,000	$40 – $60
5,000 – 10,000	$60 – $75
10,000 – 25,000	$75 – $100
25,000 – 44,000	$100 – $150
44000 and Up	$150 and Up

Overall Condition of Lawn and Yard

A well maintained lawn and yard generally require less time and work for seasonal cleanup. Overgrown yard cleanup cost much more due to the added work involved.

Landscape Services You want Completed

If you only need the lawn cut, aerating and overseeding done, landscape cleanup cost less than also having a lawn service company clean and re-mulch the flowerbeds, dispose of a brush pile, trim branches and several other available yard cleanup services explained below.

Amount of Waste and Debris to be Cleaned

More debris, leaves, and overall waste, requires more labor and time, which will add to your cost.

How the Debris and Waste is Disposed Of

If you can burn the debris and waste on your property, you’ll pay much less than others who have to load it into trucks and carry to the dump or rent a dumpster for a day or two to handle all the cleanup debris.

Yard Accessibility and Terrain

The harder it is for a service company to move around your home with special equipment, the more time and labor it will take to complete the work. For example, if a fence needs to be temporarily removed in order to drive a Bobcat or other equipment into your yard, it will add to the cost.

Where You Live / Location

The cost of lawn service labor varies based on the cost of living, and the climate in your area.

Who Does the Work and How You are Charged

Hiring a licensed lawn service company is going to cost more than hiring a neighborhood local who is starting their own lawn service business. Additionally, if you pay by the job or by the hour, your cost can vary.

Often Included in Seasonal Yard Cleanup Service

Each yard service below has different jobs or tasks that are completed when you have them done. When you get yard cleanup estimates this spring or autumn, assure to mention any added services you’d like done so they can factor it into the estimate. We’ve also included when lawn services companies recommend getting the service done, whether it’s in the springtime, summer or autumn season. If you live in a warm climate, these can be done at any time of year, including winter.

Brush Pile Removal And Disposal – Year Round

If you’ve accumulated a pile of limbs, leaves, brush or general yard debris that needs to be disposed of, a landscaping service will usually charge between $135  to $250, to remove a pile roughly 4×4 feet in size. Larger brush piles will cost more depending on the size and disposal fees charged by the local dump. This is a yard cleanup task that is often done year round.

Flower Bed Weed Cleanup – Spring or Fall

Cleaning weeds out of the flowerbeds is a dirty task, but usually done fairly quickly. Most yard service companies will charge between $25 to $60 per hour to clean up and dispose of the weeds and debris in your flowerbed. This task is most commonly done in the spring and fall seasons.

French Drain Cleaning – Year Round

If yard flooding is problem and you have a french drain system in your yard to keep your foundation or low areas dry, expect a landscaper to charge between $100 to $450 to flush the drainage pipes and clean the debris from the grates. This can be done year round to assure no yard flooding.

Garden Bed Maintenance – Fall or Autumn Season

Who doesn’t love a garden? But they do need annual maintenance to assure the soil stays rich with nutrients and the soil is well prepared for the next planting season. Expect a landscaper to charge between $25 to $60 per hour to clean up your garden beds, remove old plants and stakes, vegetable cages, etc and store them for you. This is best done in the fall or autumn season.

Hedge Trimming And Pruning – Spring and Fall

Trimming and pruning involves cutting back the hedge to maintain its shape, desired size and visual appeal. It’s also done to maintain the health of the hedges and prevent overgrowth. You can expect to pay between $25 to $60 per hedge. After the hedge trimming and pruning are completed, expect the lawn cleanup service remove and dispose of the cut branches and debris. Hedge trimming is done in both spring and fall seasons, but it largely depends on the type of hedge and climate.

Lawn Aeration And Overseeding – Primarily Fall

Lawn aeration and overseeding is a yard service that focuses on improving the overall health and appearance of the lawn. Expect this to cost between $80 to $460 each fall, depending on the size of your yard. (Use our lawn aeration cost calculator for accurate estimates) The lawn is aerated using a specialized machine that creates small holes or slices in the top layer of soil. This allows for better air, water, and nutrient circulation to reach the grass roots and helps to alleviate soil compaction. After aeration, the lawn is then seeded with new grass seed, spread evenly over the entire lawn using a spreader. It’s your job to assure the lawn stays moist for the first 7-14 days after reseeding has been completed, to ensure the seeds have good contact with the soil and can germinate effectively. Aeration and overseeding are best done in the fall, or autumn season when cooler days and nights won’t burn or dry out the seedlings.

Lawn Dethatching – Spring or Fall

Thatch is a layer of dead grass, roots, and other organic matter that accumulates above the soil surface between the blades of grass. When it gets thick, it can prevent water and air from reaching the soil and choke off healthy growth of your lawn. Dethatching costs between $140 to $240, depending on the size of your lawn, and is typically done using a dethatching machine, which gently rake and lift the thatch from the lawn. Once completed, the dead thatch is raked or blown off the yard and used as compost or disposed of. dethatching is commonly done in the fall or spring.

Lawn Fertilizing – Spring and Fall

Spreading or spraying fertilizer on your lawn provides the essential nutrients that the grass needs to grow and thrive. The process typically involves using a metered spray system or spreading a high-quality fertilizer evenly over the lawn using a spreader. Lawn fertilizing cost is generally between $40 to $140 per treatment. The type of fertilizer and application rate depend on factors such as the grass type, soil type, and the time of year. Fertilizers contain essential nutrients for your yard such as nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, which promote healthy growth and development of the grass and improve its resistance to stress, disease, and pests. This service is done in both spring and fall seasons, with weed control done year round.

Lawn Mowing And Weed Eating – Year Round

Lawn mowing and weed eating are essential yard maintenance services that work together to keep the lawn neat and tidy and cost between $45 to $80 per visit, depending on the size of your lawn. Lawn mowing involves cutting the grass to a specific height using a lawn mower set to the height for the type of grass and also the preferences of the homeowner. Weed eating, also known as string trimming or edging, focuses on removing grass and weeds in hard-to-reach areas such as along fences, walkways, and flower beds.

Lawn Pest Control – Spring and Fall

Lawn pest control focuses on managing and eliminating pests that can damage the health and appearance of the lawn. Keeping a pest-free lawn includes using a sprayer or walk-behind spreader to apply pesticides, insecticides, or natural remedies to target specific pests like grubs, chinch bugs, ants, or other insects that can cause harm. Lawn pest control cost between $35 – $140 per treatment and is done in both the spring and fall seasons.

Leaf Removal (Single Service) – Late Fall

Leaf cleanup and removal focuses on clearing fallen leaves from the lawn and surrounding areas. The process involves using rakes, leaf blowers, or vacuums to gather the leaves into piles where they are bagged or placed in containers for removal. Some landscapers may use large machines or trucks equipped with vacuum systems to efficiently collect and remove the leaves. Single service leaf removal cost is usually between $120 to $300 depending on the size of your yard and number of trees. I suggest waiting until all leaves have fallen in the late fall before calling in a leaf removal service.

Mulch Removal and/or Installation – Spring and Fall

Mulch removal and installation begins with clearing the planters and areas being worked of any debris or weeds. The existing mulch is then raked or shoveled away to create a clean surface. If you have a landscaping weed prevention fabric in place, it will be inspected and repaired as needed. Once the old mulch is removed, new mulch is evenly spread over the desired areas. Expect to pay between $45 to $120 per cubic yard for mulch removal and installation. This is usually done during spring or fall yard cleanup.

Rototilling Garden – Fall or Spring

Rototilling starts by clearing the area of any debris, rocks, or large roots that can obstruct the tilling process. The tiller or cultivator is then used to loosen and break up the soil to a desired depth. The machine’s blades rotate and dig into the soil, pulverizing it and creating a fine, fluffy texture. This process helps aerate the soil, improve drainage, and break up compacted areas, providing a favorable environment for seeds or transplants to establish and grow. Rototilling cost around $80 – $260 depending on the size of your garden and is commonly done in the spring or fall to prepare the garden for planting.

Sod Replacement Or Repair – Spring or Fall

If you have a sod lawn installed, you may want the same when it needs repair. Sod repair focuses on fixing damaged or unhealthy patches of lawn by replacing them with new sections of sod. The damaged section is cleared by removing the dead grass, then the soil is then prepared by loosening and leveling it with a rake. The new sod is laid onto the soil and the edges are properly aligned with the existing lawn before it is rolled or tamped in place. Sod repair cost $0.75 cents to $1.50 per square foot and for best results, done in the fall or spring.

Sprinkler System Startup or Winterization – Spring and Fall

Having a sprinkler system for your lawn or drip irrigation for planters requires maintenance each spring and fall.

Startup – Sprinkler system spring startup begins with turning on the main water supply to your system and checking for any leaks or damage. The control panel is inspected and programmed to ensure proper settings and watering schedules. Each sprinkler head is checked for proper function, to clear any debris or grass that gets in the way of operation, adjust the direction and water spray pattern and assure no leaks. The system is then fully pressurized to ensure uniform water distribution. Sprinkler system startup cost is between $75 – $150 every spring.

Winterization – During winterization, all water is drained from of the system to prevent freezing and damage during the colder months. This is done by shutting off the main water supply and using compressed air to blow out the sprinkler pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads. Winterization helps protect the system from freezing and costly repairs in the spring. Sprinkler system winterization cost is between $75 – $250 each fall.

Related Projects

DIY or Hire a Pro

Deciding whether you want to do the yard cleanup yourself or hire a lawn service company in your area depends on several factors, including your personal preference and capabilities, available time to do the work, and having the required tools and power equipment. It’s not uncommon to set aside a weekend and take on yard cleanup on your own.

That said, if you prefer convenience, lack the energy, expertise and skills or have a complex or large yard to maintain, hiring a lawn service pro can ensure a well-maintained yard with much less effort on your part.