Get Quotes from Top Lawn Care Companies in Austin, TX

How Long Have You Been in the Lawn Care Business in Austin?

Before signing any contracts with lawn care companies in Austin, it is always a good idea to find out how long they have operated locally and the type of reputation that they have built up during this time. Every year, the Texas Attorney General's Office handles over 30,000 cases concerning a wide range of consumer-related matters, including complaints of unsatisfactory home improvement services, scams, and even consumer fraud. An effective way to avoid finding yourself in these types of situations is by hiring a lawn care company that has been in business for a while, preferably no less than a year, and has also established a solid reputation for optimal service delivery.

An added benefit of hiring long-running and reputable lawn care companies is that their landscapers are typically familiar with native plants that are adapted to the city's local climate and soil conditions and can help you select the best options for your lawn. Some popular native plant options favored by homeowners across Austin for their lawns and gardens include:

• Prairie verbena
• Winecup flower
• Blue mistflower
• Wright's purple skullcap
• Flame acanthus
• American beautyberry
• Missouri primrose
• Rockrose
• Purple baptisia
• Black dalea
• Texas sage
• Old blush rose
• White mistflower
• Mock orange
• Grandma's yellow rose
• Mutabulis rose
• Skyflower
• Red columbine
• Chocolate daisy
• Confederate jasmine
• Eastern purple coneflower
• Mexican mint marigold
• Firecracker fern
• Texas mountain laurel
• Trailing lantana
• Fall aster

Bear in mind that you should always conduct your due diligence before selecting any lawn care company in the city, regardless of how long they have been in business. One way to do this is by asking them for client references who can attest to the quality of their services. Make sure you check these references and consider going further by looking up the company's business history and third-party reviews online via websites like Yelp, Google Reviews, and the Better Business Bureau.

Do You Hold Any Professional Qualifications Relevant to Lawn Care?

Checking whether a landscaper has professional qualifications in lawn care fields relevant to the specific scope of services you require is an essential step to take in establishing their suitability for implementing your lawn care program. It should be noted that there are typically no local licensing or certification requirements for landscapers and lawn care professionals operating in Austin. However, based on the services they intend to include in your lawn care program, these landscapers might be legally required to hold certain state-issued credentials before working on your lawn.

For example, landscapers and lawn care professionals who wish to apply pesticides as part of their services must be licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) before doing so or face civil and administrative penalties of up to $25,000 in fines. Landscapers that wish to be licensed by this department will have to certify in one of the following categories:

• Commercial applicator: this certification is required for landscapers who wish to apply state-limited-use and restricted-use pesticides or regulated herbicides
• Noncommercial applicator: this certification is available for landscapers who only wish to apply general-use pesticides

Applications for TDA-issued pesticide applicator licenses can be made online or by submitting either a PA-401 Application for Commercial Pesticide Applicator License or a PA-400N Application for Pesticide Applicator License form, whichever is applicable, to:

Note that applicants are typically expected to comply with certain requirements before being issued the requested licenses. These include:

• Passing a TDA-administered certification examination
• Paying all stipulated fees
• Providing proof of adequate insurance coverage, where applicable
• Providing any additional documentation that the department may request at the time of the application

Similarly, landscapers and lawn care professionals who wish to design, install, inspect, maintain, service, or repair irrigation systems as part of their services must obtain a state-issued irrigation license from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Providing these types of services without proper licensing is considered a Class C misdemeanor and is punishable by fines of up to $500 and other statutory and administrative penalties. Applications for TCEQ-issued irrigation licenses can be submitted via the department's Occupational Licensing Electronic Application (OLEA) platform. Note that applicants are typically required to complete a department-administered training course, pass a licensing examination, and pay all stipulated fees before being issued these licenses.

Inquiries concerning state-mandated credentials for landscapers that operate in Austin can be directed to the TDA and the TCEQ at (877) 542-2474 and (512) 239-6133, respectively.

Finally, landscapers in Austin also often obtain professional certifications from reputable landscaping and lawn care-related organizations like:

• The Texas Nursery and Landscape Association
• The International Society of Arboriculture
• The Irrigation Association
• The National Association of Landscape Professionals
• The Professional Grounds Management Society
• The Tree Care Industry Association

Note that these certifications are voluntarily obtained. Nevertheless, they generally indicate professionalism, expertise, and competence on the part of the landscaper in specified lawn care niches like organic farming, irrigation, horticulture, and arboriculture. 

You should always verify the credentials of any landscaper that you plan to hire before any work on your lawn is done. State-mandated pesticide licenses can be verified by contacting the TDA's Licensing Division at (877) 542-2474, via email, or by accessing its Reports and Publications webpage, while state-mandated irrigation licenses can be verified via the TCEQ's Search Licensing platform. Likewise, voluntarily-obtained certifications can be verified by requesting proof of the certification from the landscaper and contacting the relevant certifying organization to authenticate this proof.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Lawn Care Companies in the City?

The cost of implementing a proper lawn care program in Austin is largely dependent on the following factors:

• Your lawn's size
• The nature and scope of lawn care services included in the program
• Your lawn's current condition
• Lawn features and obstacles, like fences, tree stumps, and rocks
• The labor intensity of the job
• Your preferred lawn care company's local reputation
• Your location within the city

These factors are typically taken into account by professional landscapers in the city when determining their fees, which are usually calculated via one or more of the following methods:

• Per Hour Fees: with this method, the landscaper bills the client for the entire time spent working on their lawn. The landscaper typically sets an hourly fee for their services, which can range from $25 - $80 per hour, depending on the nature and scope of services in question.
• Per Square Foot Fees: with this method, the landscaper bills the client for the total lawn area that is worked on. Fees under this method typically range from $2.50 - $10 per square foot, and the client's total bill is largely dependent on the size of their lawn.
• Per Service Fees: with this method, the landscaper bills the client a flat fee for each service rendered or for a group of services delivered over an agreed-on period. These flat fees may range from $50 - $850 or more, depending on the type of services being rendered.

It is always a good idea to get and compare quotes from at least three different lawn care companies in the city before deciding on which landscaper to hire to implement your lawn care program. Getting and comparing quotes helps you find out the current market rates for your required services and is an effective way to protect yourself from dishonest landscapers and lawn care companies.

Lawn care contractors in Austin earn an average wage of $33,440 every year. The list below compares the average wages earned by these contractors per hour against the average hourly wages of lawn care contractors in other parts of Texas and also in other locations across the United States:

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

What Is Included in Your Lawn Care Program?

To ensure that you receive satisfactory lawn care services, it is essential to ascertain the types and scopes of services that will be included in your lawn care program. Professional landscapers and lawn care professionals in Austin generally offer a variety of lawn-related services, like:

• Artificial turf installation
• Hydroseeding
• Irrigation system installation, repair, and maintenance
• Landscape design
• Lawn aeration
• Lawn fertilization
• Lawn mowing
• Lawn seeding
• Mulching and composting
• Pest control
• Root care
• Shrub and hedge trimming
• Shrub, flower, and tree planting
• Sodding
• Soil treatment and topsoil care
• Tree trimming and pruning
• Turf disease remediation
• Weed control
• Yard cleanup and debris removal

These services are typically offered through two types of lawn care programs, namely:

• Basic Lawn Care Programs: this lawn care program usually includes services like lawn mowing, hedge and shrub trimming, and yard cleanup, which are intended to improve the look and appearance of your lawn without enhancing its general health.
• Full-Service Lawn Care Programs: this lawn care program typically includes services that enhance your lawn's visual appeal and general health. To this end, full-service lawn care programs generally include additional services like tree pruning, turf disease remediation, lawn aeration, and weed and pest control, while standard lawn care services include lawn mowing, hedge trimming, and yard cleanup.

Note that some dishonest lawn care companies might attempt to entice you with cheap lawn care programs that only contain the most basic services to get you to sign up for their services, knowing that your lawn will eventually require more intensive lawn care services. Knowing the precise nature and scope of services, you will be paying for helps you prevent the misunderstandings that these types of situations typically cause, especially if you intend to sign up for recurring lawn care services. It is also a good idea to get a contract from the lawn care company that details the scope and cost of these services, a payment schedule, and any promises or guarantees made regarding your lawn care program.

Below are cost estimates for lawn care services that Austin-based landscapers and lawn care companies commonly incorporate into their lawn care programs:

Do You Provide Organic Lawn Care Services?

Organic lawn care refers to providing lawn care services without using pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, or any other kinds of synthetic chemicals or materials. Landscapers that provide this form of lawn care generally use carbon-based materials derived from plant and animal components or residues like seaweed, worm castings, manure, leaf mulch and compost, bone char, and mycorrhizae to implement their lawn care programs.

This type of lawn care is a great alternative for homeowners with kids or pets who frequently play on their lawns and those who have reservations or concerns about pesticide use and its effects on the environment. This is because organic lawn care considerably reduces the amount of chemicals released into the atmosphere and creates a relatively chemical-free environment that lowers the exposure of children and pets to potentially harmful pesticides and lawn care chemicals.

It should be noted that organic lawn care is typically more labor-intensive than conventional lawn care, and this may drive up the initial cost of transitioning to organic lawn care programs. However, organic lawn care also offers a number of advantages that ultimately save you time and money in the long run. These include:

• Organic lawn care provides a safe environment for children and pets
• Organic lawn care improves root growth, makes your lawn healthier, and revitalizes its ecosystem
• Organic lawn care reduces soil and water pollution
• There is zero danger of over-application with organic lawn care
• Organic lawn care improves soil resistance to pests and diseases

Do You Offer a Warranty for Plants Installed?

When searching for lawn care services in Austin, you should always ask prospective lawn care companies if they provide warranties for their services, especially if sod or flower installations will be included in your lawn care program. These warranties are typically offered as a guarantee that installed plants will flourish as intended, and you should be wary of lawn care companies that do not provide warranties for their services or seem reluctant to do so.

It should be noted that plant warranties generally come with terms and conditions determined by the lawn care company or landscaper that issued the warranty. Nevertheless, plant warranties offered by professional Austin-based landscapers are usually valid for at least one year and will likely include guidelines that must be adhered to during the warranty's validity period, such as:

• Required plant watering schedules
• Fertilization requirements
• Acceptable mowing or trimming heights and techniques

These plant warranties also typically specify scenarios where coverage will not be provided, such as:

• Scenarios where the plant is damaged by animals, children, natural disasters, or acts of vandalism
• Scenarios where the plant is damaged due to the homeowner's failure to comply with the lawn care company's plant care and maintenance guidelines and instructions

To this end, always request a written copy of any warranties that you are offered and review its terms and conditions thoroughly to enable you to avoid scenarios and situations that can result in the warranty being voided.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Lawn Care Companies in the City?

At least 100 deaths and 143,000 serious injuries are attributed to lawn care and maintenance activities every year. Considering these statistics, the importance of engaging properly insured landscapers to implement your lawn care program cannot be overemphasized. Confirming your landscapers' insurance status before they start work on your property protects you from legal action and financial loss in the event of accidents or other adverse circumstances, such as property damage during the implementation of your lawn care program.

Therefore, before signing any contracts with lawn care companies in the city, request proof of insurance from them and authenticate this proof with the relevant insurance provider. Also, make sure that the lawn care company's insurance will adequately cover third-party injuries and property damage.

Note that landscapers in Austin who wish to apply state-limited-use pesticides, restricted-use pesticides, or regulated herbicides must carry liability insurance of at least $100,000 for property damage and $100,000 for bodily injury per occurrence or a general aggregate of at least $200,000 for each occurrence.

You can contact the Texas Department of Agriculture at (512) 463-7476 or (800) 835-5832 for additional information on the mandatory insurance requirements for Austin-based landscapers and lawn care companies offering pesticide-related services.