To provide readers with the most objective, accurate, and detailed recommendations, the We continually researches lawn care service companies on the market. We take the following steps to obtain up-to-date information about the industry and each company we review:
- Analyze more than 100 customer reviews from third-party review sites, such as Yelp, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and Google Reviews, for each company
- Secret-shop for lawn care plans and packages to get a sense of cost, offered services, and the overall shopping experience for prospective customers
- Speak with representatives on the phone to simulate the customer service experience from each provider
- Update information on a regular basis to ensure the most accurate information when plans or services change with each company
Factors Evaluated To Compare Lawn Care Companies
We use the data from our research to build an in-depth rating system that allows us to score lawn care providers on a 100-point scale. Here are the factors in our evaluation and their designated scores:
Plan Options (30)
As one of the most important factors for homeowners shopping for a lawn care service, this one is weighted heavily based on each company’s lawn coverage. Companies that offer more options, such as irrigation, weed control, seeding, and aeration services in addition to a general plan, score higher than others.
Trustworthiness (30)
Each company’s reputation is another significant factor for homeowners to consider before signing up for a plan. We scored providers based on their BBB score, accreditation, and offered guarantees available with each purchase.
Pro Tip
- San Jose contractor Jeff Winn advises homeowners not to rely solely on company-provided references when vetting any service provider: “Contractors are only going to give you their most satisfied customers. They could be the only ones, or they could be clients who don’t know any better.” That’s why our methodology goes beyond company claims—we independently verify BBB scores, accreditation status, and guarantee terms to give you an unbiased picture of each lawn care provider’s trustworthiness.
Additional Benefits (20)
We gave extra points to companies that provide a few additional services and benefits with their offered plans, such as organic treatments, pest control services, and a mobile app for digital communication and plan management.
Pro Tip
- When evaluating organic treatment options, we look for companies that go beyond surface-level marketing claims. As Jay Feldman, executive director of the National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides, advises: “Determine the specifics. Do they monitor for pests? Do they monitor for beneficials? They should.”
Customer Service (10)
In this rating category, we awarded points to customer-focused lawn care service providers who offer weekend availability and easy communication through phones, online chats, and online resources.
Availability (10)
We also scored companies based on their overall availability, rewarding those that are nationally available over local companies only operating in select cities or ZIP codes.
Pro Tip
- One critical factor in our evaluation is whether a lawn care company conducts a soil test before recommending treatments. As This Old House Magazine has reported, a proper service provider should test soil from several spots across the lawn, create a program aimed at maintaining proper soil pH, fertility, and aeration, and promise to monitor for weeds, brown spots, slow or unusual growth, and a variety of insects—including looking annually for grubs under a patch of sod. Companies that skip these steps and simply apply treatments on a set schedule score lower in our methodology.
About Us
We are an independent editorial team of subject matter experts who champion the categories and home services we recommend. From the beginning stages of research to the published review articles, our team works diligently to center the reader’s interests by identifying common pain points, connecting with people with first-hand knowledge and experience, and crafting content that meets the needs of our audience. We aim to help first-time homebuyers, potential sellers, budget-conscious homeowners, and others from all walks of life streamline their decision-making process for selecting their home services.
