Does anyone have recommendations on affordable landscapers for a very small front yard? The last place was charging $40-45 a mow and $15 for edging when we have a yard that takes about three minutes to mow with a commercial mower. I tried to search around on places like Google, Yelp, etc for reputable with reasonable prices, but most did not seem interested — and I can’t blame them as it’s a small job.
In a nutshell, I’m just looking for a company or even an individual who can mow my lawn once every two weeks as well as edge once as month for a reasonable price. Any help is appreciated!
Look for a kid with lawnmower. You aren’t going to find any commercial landscaper at the prices you want to pay.
We have used Envirogrow (mulchsolutions.com) for the past several years and we have been happy with them. They have several plans to choose from. Our plan has them mowing every week in the spring, every other week in the summer (or less) and back to every week in the late fall. We have a pretty average sized yard for Arlington and they charged us $33- per mow last year. This includes edging. We have found them to be reliable, unlike some other landscapers who seemed to disappear for weeks on end as our lawn grew higher and higher. You might want to ask your neighbors who they use. Sometimes you can get a discount if they come out and mow several lawns on the same block.
I know it goes against the Arlington Way™, but you could always just do it yourself.
yes, do it yourself, what a novel idea.
Sounds like a job for a $70 reel mower. It’ll pay for itself by July 1st.
Try Stars of the Lawn. I have decent sized yard in FFX and they come every other week for $35. This includes mowing and edging.
Make sure they blow your leaves into your neighbors’ yards, just like the services in my neighborhood do!
Here’s a non-snarky reply: I use Masters of the Lawn (a MD company). They generally come every two weeks except for peak growing season when they come weekly. They edge and blow every time they come, although I have limited planting beds so there isn’t a lot to edge other than my streetline and the driveway. My yard is very small (5600 sq feet total, including the house base area) and it only takes them about 10-15 minute. They often don’t even bother with the large commerical mower and just pull out the small mower they keep on their truck. They charge me $25/mow.
Their number is (240) 242-4654.
Sunshine, c and JamesEFC: Thank you for your suggestions, I appreciate it!
Also ask around in your neighborhood. We have a woman/crew that take care of our block. We all have small yards but it is worth her time because she has a dozen or more houses per trip. She also takes care of edging, leaves, mulch, etc. plus other stuff if we ask. Price is definitely cheaper than what you quoted and saves me from having to buy and store a lawn mower.
You probably won’t find much lower than James’ info. Consider that regardless of your lawn size, the company needs to spend the time getting to your location (plus the costs of running the vehicle to get there), unloading the equipment, then packing it back up. Those fixed costs don’t go away even if your lawn is 5 square feet (unless, of course, they’re already doing your neighbor’s yard). On very small lawns, the large majority of the costs a landscaper’s fee covers will be towards those fixed costs. When you see the high quotes, you may also be getting the “it’s not worth my time” price. If it’s a very small project that takes very little time, it may not be worth it to take away from a potential customer that has more work and is therefore more profitable.
Just a heads up in case anyone checks on this thread later. I tried working with Master’s of the Lawn per James’ recommendation. After conversing with the receptionist I setup a contract with the company for a $25/week mow + a one time yard clean-up, mulching, etc. There were some issues with communications during the process, but I swept those aside. Well it turned out to be a big deal because the owner contacted me today, after they performed the spring clean-up and mulching, saying they do not want to mow our yard and instead want to cancel the contract because they don’t have enough clients around here. My understanding from my earlier conversation with them is they service the entire DC Metro area and had a lot of clients in Northern, VA.
James, are they still mowing your yard? I have to admit I’m a bit frustrated as my understanding is a lot of companies are going to be less inclined to sign up for just the biweekly mowing if there isn’t that Spring clean up larger ticket service up front. Maybe that reel mower isn’t such a bad idea — just wish my Spring allergies were not horrific…
Alex – I’m sorry to hear that the experience didn’t go so well with you. Yes, as far as I know they are still mowing my yard although they have not started yet. I did receive a letter from them that said, essentially, that they would start back up whenever they felt like the grass was growing long enough to require it.
I was also under the impression that they had many clients in Northern Virginia. I live out near East Falls Church, and they had left a flyer in my door years ago. Perhaps they have a core group of clients in my immediate neighborhood which makes it viable for them. Or perhaps they are going to cancel me too…I don’t even use them for spring cleanup!
As I posted earlier, I use Envirogrow. They will mow biweekly. I have them do this in the Summer. Fall and winter when the grass grows more quickly, they come every week. But you can tell them to come biweekly for the whole season. They do not require a spring clean up but they do offer this service. They will also mulch, aerate and seed as well. I just got an email from them that they will be mowing my yard on Wednesdays beginning in two weeks. The price remained the same as last year. I had a reel mower when I lived in a house with a tiny yard. It was easy to use and did a good job. You do have to keep it sharpened though.
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