Perhaps one of the most vital expenditures that homeowners have to account for is that of lawn maintenance — particularly in the summer months. Though you may wish to kick back and relax poolside for the sunniest months of the year, coordinating summer lawn care is paramount for your yard and budget. In the summer, temperatures rise, daylight hours increase, and rain may fall more regularly, all of which mean your lawn needs frequent care and a specific approach to treatment.
Achieving a great-looking yard can be a pricey ordeal, costing the average American homeowner $123 per visit for a basic lawn care package. These prices can vary fairly dramatically, however, depending on a variety of factors, including geographical location and various features of your lawn; so while some properties will thrive with a simple mow-and-blow approach, others are finicky and require a more involved line of care to be healthy.
The cost of basic summer lawn care
Summertime brings the heaviest expenses for lawn-related tasks. At a minimum, you will be looking at a regular mowing, watering, and fertilizing regimen. A maintenance company will charge between $49 and $205 for a weekly mow — with the national average at about $120. It is possible to score a better per-visit price if you commit to a multi-month package, but specific pricing will always be determined by lot size, terrain, the company you are working with, and other factors. It may be tempting to save a few bucks by stretching two weeks between mowing, but irregular trims can be detrimental to the health of your lawn. If in doubt about frequency, remember to keep your lawn length to around 3 inches.
Fertilizing your lawn is one of the best ways to look after it; without getting too technical, fertilizing is a natural way to restore depleted nutrient levels and keep your lawn green. Such treatments can be expensive — the national average for one round is $224 — but an otherwise healthy lawn may only need a single annual treatment. For needier lawns, more than four rounds of fertilizer could be required annually. Remember to seek out numerous quotes and professional recommendations to guarantee you are getting a good deal.
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Extra considerations for tricky lawns
Unsurprisingly, there is an uptick in pest activity during the summer months: as temperatures rise and insects can more easily survive, their populations increase. Not all bugs are a curse to lawn health, but sod webworms, chinch bugs, and armyworms are some of the insects that can wreak havoc on your turf. A round of insecticide may be called for in the event of an infestation. Fortunately, these products are affordable — Spectracide costs $16 for a 20-pound bag at Home Depot— and can be applied with care by any homeowner.
Summer lawns are also notorious for weed growth, thanks to increased sunlight and rainfall. In order to eradicate weeds from the yard, chemical weed killer or manual labor is required. An average chemical weed treatment costs $95, but these come with obvious safety concerns for parents of young children and pet owners. Pulling weeds by hand remains the safest and the best method for elimination of this common blight. Though it is costly in terms of time, it requires no other resources. Remember to utilize the correct technique, getting rid of weeds by their roots for the best results.
