TruGreen stands out as our top lawn care choice thanks to its wide range of service plans and strong customer service. Lawn Doctor offers a solid alternative, especially if you want a provider that backs its work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We compared TruGreen and Lawn Doctor, both of which made our list of the best lawn care companies, to highlight each provider’s strengths and differences. Our guide also includes expert tips from lawn care experts to help you decide if professional services best fit your needs.
Key Takeaways
- Our team gave TruGreen a higher rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars for its comprehensive lawn care services, compared to Lawn Doctor, which earned 4.3 out of 5 stars in our review.
- TruGreen offers more extensive availability, serving 48 U.S. states compared to the 38 states serviced by Lawn Doctor, and TruGreen provides better customer service options, including a mobile app and online chat.
- TruGreen’s annual plans range from $400–$1,000 per year, while Lawn Doctor’s services cost $300–$900 annually, depending on the plan and yard size.
Comparing TruGreen vs. Lawn Doctor
TruGreen and Lawn Doctor have both been around for decades, building reputations for solving lawn problems across the country.
TruGreen has five annual plans, which is a greater variety than many competitors. The lawn care company also offers an array of a la carte services so that you can customize your plan. Its TruSignature℠ Lawn Care Plan even covers care for trees and shrubs. TruGreen also stands out because it’s available in nearly every U.S. state, ensures its specialists undergo rigorous, mandatory training programs, and offers extensive customer service with an online chat and mobile app.
Lawn Doctor operates through locally owned franchises, combining regional expertise and national resources. The company offers an extensive range of services, including fertilization, lawn aeration, and pest control. The lawn care company offers a more extensive guarantee than many of its competitors. Its 100% satisfaction guarantee offers a free re-application at no additional charge—or a full refund for your most recent service.
Pros and Cons of TruGreen vs. Lawn Doctor
To help you better compare TruGreen and Lawn Doctor, we compiled pros and cons for each company.
TruGreen Pros and Cons
Here’s the advantages and drawbacks of choosing TruGreen:
Pros
- Offers a TruNatural plan for natural fertilizer and weed control upon request
- Features a mobile app and online chat for convenient customer service
- Provides a wide range of a la carte services and general plans
Cons
- Offers limited phone line hours on weekends
- Has a difficult cancellation policy, according to customers
- Doesn’t offer certified organic products
Lawn Doctor Pros and Cons
Learn more about the positives and negatives and Lawn Doctor below:
Pros
- Offers a service guarantee that promises to reapply treatments or give a full refund
- Offers one-time treatment options without needing to sign up for a long-term plan
- Provides tree and shrub trimming services
Cons
- Only available in 40 U.S. states
- Doesn’t offer weekend customer service lines
- Doesn’t have mowing services
TruGreen vs. Lawn Doctor: Plans and Services
TruGreen and Lawn Doctor each offer annual plan options and a selection of a la carte services for your lawn’s needs.
TruGreen Plans
TruGreen offers a wide selection of services designed to enhance the health and appearance of your lawn. These services include lawn fertilization, lime and soil amendment, weed control, aeration, seeding, tree and shrub management, and various lawn-pest control options. In addition, TruGreen provides a service guarantee in case its treatments don’t yield a lush, green lawn.
The table below highlights the service offerings in each of TruGreen’s three core plans.
Plans | TruBasic Lawn Care Plan | TruHealth Lawn Care Plan | TruComplete Lawn Care Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fertilization | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lime soil amendment | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pre-emergent and targeted weed control | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Aeration | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Overseeding | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tree and shrub services | – | – | ✓ |
Note: Overseeding is subject to availability and grass type.
TruGreen offers homeowners five annual plans, beginning with its three core, popular programs: the TruBasic Lawn Care Plan, TruHealth Lawn Care Plan, and TruComplete Lawn Care Plan. Along with your first application, your lawn specialist will start with a Healthy Lawn Analysis to find out precisely what nutrients your soil needs for the healthiest grass.
The remaining two plans are the TruMaintenance Lawn Care Plan, which includes fertilization and pre-emergent and targeted weed control, and TruNatural Lawn Care Plan, which strictly includes natural fertilizer. All of TruGreen’s plans come with a Trugreen Healthy Lawn Guarantee, which promises to reservice your lawn between scheduled treatments if you are unhappy with their professional lawn care services.
TruGreen lawn care also provides the following add-on and a la carte services:
- Grub control and prevention
- Mosquito control and defense treatment
- Soil amendment and analysis
- Outdoor nuisance pest control
- Lawn disease service
Lawn Doctor Plans
Lawn Doctor provides lawn management, pest control, and soil amendment services divided into several plan options. Lawn Doctor offers annual lawn treatment plans, including the Fertilization and Weed Plan, Mosquito Control Plans, and Tick Control Plans.
The Fertilization & Weed Plan includes lawn fertilization, pre-emergent weed control, broadleaf weed killer, and crabgrass control. For its Mosquito Control Plans, which can be done either as a one-time treatment for special events or a series of applications, Lawn Doctor gives you the option to choose organic or conventional products. The Tick Control Plans involve regular applications of tick-eliminating sprays.
Lawn Doctor’s services include these options:
- Fertilization
- Power seeding
- Mosquito and tick control
- Core aeration
- Weed control
- Grub control
- PH balancing and lime
- Tree and shrub care
- Lawn insect control
- Perimeter pest control
- Fire ant control
Lawn Doctor’s lawn insect control protects against grubs, fire ants, armyworms, sod webworms, and chinch bugs. Perimeter pest control is more comprehensive, protecting against ants, fleas, centipedes, clover mites, boxelder bugs, crickets, earwigs, millipedes, silverfish, sowbugs, spiders, and ticks.
Pro Tip
- Before committing to any lawn care service, it’s worth understanding what your lawn actually needs, says Alison Arnold, a horticulture expert featured in This Old House’s television series. A simple soil test can reveal your soil’s nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium ratio—nitrogen for green growth, phosphorus for root strength, and potassium for overall plant health. Knowing these numbers helps you evaluate whether a provider’s plan is truly tailored to your needs or just a generic package.
What Is the Cost of TruGreen vs. Lawn Doctor?
We researched costs for TruGreen and Lawn Doctor by requesting quotes and reading customer reviews. TruGreen plans range from roughly $400 a year to nearly $1,000 per year. While we were unable to confirm pricing data for Lawn Doctor, our research shows its services range from $300–$900 per year. Below, we’ll take a closer look at the costs for TruGreen and LawnDoctor.
TruGreen Cost
TruGreen can cost from $400–$1000 annually, depending on the size of your lawn and the plan you choose. We used a 2,000-square-foot home with a roughly 5,000-square-foot lawn in North Carolina when obtaining this cost data. The following table breaks down the cost of TruGreen’s services based on sample quotes we obtained from the company.
| Plan | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| TruBasic | $399 |
| TruMaintenance | $463 |
| TruHealth | $534 |
| TruComplete | $731 |
| TruNatural | $957 |
| Mosquito defense | $617 |
| Mosquito and outdoor nuisance pest control | $932 |
| Tree and shrub care | $463 |
| Preventative grub control | $71 |
| Fire ant control | $168 |
| Outdoor nuisance pest control | $555 |
| Lime soil amendment | $71 |
Lawn Doctor Cost
Lawn Doctor can cost $300–$900 annually, depending on the plan you choose and the size of your yard. Learn more about services and costs below.
| Service | Cost Per Treatment | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Lawn fertilization | $45–$90 | $315–$630 |
| Seeding and aeration | $300–$900 | $300–$900 |
| Tree and shrub care | Varies | Varies |
| Mosquito, grub, and tick control | $60–$85 | $420–$595 |
| Perimeter pest control | $100–$150 | $400–$600 |
Note: The cost estimates listed above are based on estimates from HomeGuide and information obtained from online customer reviews. We were unable to get sample quotes directly from Lawn Doctor.
Where Is TruGreen vs. Lawn Doctor Available?
TruGreen is available in 48 U.S. states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.
Lawn Doctor is available in 38 states, excluding: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming
How To Choose the Best Lawn Care Company
While do-it-yourself (DIY) lawn care can save you money, hiring a professional makes sense if you’re too busy or physically can’t perform lawn care yourself. Finding a lawn care service that you trust is perhaps the most important part of the process.
The following steps can help you find the right lawn care provider for your needs:
- Check for service guarantees: Opt for companies that offer satisfaction guarantees or warranties. These guarantees indicate that the provider knows what they’re doing. A service guarantee can also give you peace of mind in case their treatments don’t meet your expectations.
- Compare service plans and pricing: Review the available plans and pricing structures of different providers. Ensure the services included match your lawn care needs and fit within your budget.
- Consider local companies: A lawn care provider’s national reputation may not reflect its local services. By contacting local companies, you can ask questions about services, costs, scheduling, and more.
- Reach out to trained experts: Consider contacting an expert, such as a landscaper or horticulturist. They can give personalized advice on what works in your area.
- Read customer reviews: Learning about others’ experiences through news articles or customer reviews will help you understand how a company handles problems.
The graphic below can help you get a better idea of what type of grass may work best in your area, which can help you find a suitable lawn care service.
Pro Tip
- Whichever lawn care company you choose, make sure the contract runs for a specific time period and spells out tasks, advises Jay Feldman, the executive director of the National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides. A quality lawn care provider should test your lawn’s soil and have a system in place to maintain proper soil pH, fertility, and aeration.
Is Professional Lawn Care Worth It?
Professional lawn care can be a worthwhile investment, depending on your needs and priorities. If you only need simple lawn care, hiring a lawn care company may be unnecessary. However, if you need help with a lawn maintenance plan, hiring a professional makes sense. Here are some factors to consider:
- Access to specialized equipment: Professionals use commercial-grade tools and products, which may be more effective than what’s available to homeowners.
- Consistent maintenance: Regular, scheduled services help maintain your lawn’s health year-round, preventing issues before they become costly problems.
- Cost considerations: While professional services may cost more than DIY lawn care, a pro knows how to prevent expensive repairs and replacements in the long run, which can save you money.
- Expert knowledge and experience: Professionals have the expertise to diagnose lawn issues accurately and apply effective treatments, leading to healthier lawns.
- Time and effort savings: Lawn care can be time-consuming and physically demanding. Hiring a professional can save you time and ensure your lawn looks great with minimal effort on your part.
Is Lawn Doctor or TruGreen Better?
After comparing each company side-by-side, TruGreen stands out with its comprehensive lawn care packages. It offers several annual plans in 48 U.S. states and adds several lawn treatments into each plan, saving you the trouble of selecting individual services. In contrast, Lawn Doctor offers individual services with less clarity on pricing and options, leaving customers potentially uncertain.
If budget is a concern, TruGreen’s status as the leading lawn care service should put your mind at ease about its value. Before signing up for a lawn care provider, we suggest getting quotes from three companies to compare services, guarantees, and costs.
FAQs About TruGreen vs. Lawn Doctor
How long does TruGreen take to work?
TruGreen’s work will become more apparent over time, but it takes an average of 10–14 days for TruGreen weed control to show results. Lawns that TruGreen fertilizes may begin to look more lush and green within a few days to a few weeks. However, how long TruGreen takes to work will depend on your lawn’s overall health, type of weeds, and variety of grass.
What can TruGreen lawn service do?
TruGreen services include a wide range of treatments, from smaller items like lawn fertilization to major treatments like treating a patchy lawn. While available services may vary by region, some of the most common TruGreen lawn services are these:
- Lawn aeration
- Lawn fertilization
- Lime soil amendment
- Lawn seeding
- Pest control, including grubs, mosquitoes, and ticks
- Tree and shrub services
- Weed control
Do TruGreen and Lawn Doctor offer service guarantees?
Yes, both TruGreen and Lawn Doctor offer service guarantees. Lawn Doctor’s guarantee promises that if you’re not 100% satisfied with your service, it will make it right or refund you. TruGreen’s Healthy Lawn Guarantee only applies to homeowners who have a recurring plan. It promises that TruGreen will return as many times as needed to fix the problem.
Is Lawn Doctor the same as TruGreen?
No, Lawn Doctor and TruGreen are not the same. While they both offer lawn care services, they are different companies. Lawn Doctor offers more a la carte services, while TruGreen offers more comprehensive annual plans.
Our Rating Methodology
The This Old House Team backs up our lawn recommendations with a detailed rating methodology that we use to objectively score each provider. We review lawn care plans and packages, navigate the provider website and speak with customer service representatives, request quotes, and analyze customer reviews for each provider. We then score the provider against our review standards for plan options, additional benefits and customizability, availability, trustworthiness, and customer service to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale.
