Unless you have artificial turf, you’re going to need to mow your lawn every once in a while. While a giant garden sounds great, the lawn mowing cost is certainly not so great!
Moreover, cutting a lawn is often just one part of wider garden maintenance, which can be a real pain unless you enjoy that kind of thing.
The lawn mowing cost depends on multiple criteria. Below, we’re going to examine all of these factors so you can have a strong guide as to costs. You can expect to pay between $30-120 per hour or $25-50 per square metre depending on your lawn and what service you’re looking for.
Usually, lawn services are offered in tandem with general garden maintenance including hedges trimming, weeding, yard cleaning, fertilisation, and more. Higher quality lawn services will also offer landscaping as required, though the price for this is vastly different.
Factors impacting the lawn mowing cost
Like most services, the price is certainly not static and depends on multiple criteria. Some are obvious, and others are a tradeoff. For instance, using a ride-on lawnmower will cost far more but will also reduce the time taken to finish the job. The main factors include:
- Total Surface Area – Obviously, the larger your lawn is, the more you will pay per square metre (or the more time it will take to cut on an hourly basis).
- Ride-On or Push Lawn Mower – The grass can be cut much more quickly with a ride-on lawnmower, though the lawn mowing cost will increase if the service brings their own.
- Personal or Lent Equipment – If you are providing the lawnmower, then the lawn mowing cost is going to be a lot less since it’s less hassle for the service to bring and use their equipment.
- Waste Removal – You’ll pay a little extra if you intend to collect the cut grass with a catcher, especially if you want the provider to take it away with them. But this is often an unavoidable lawn mowing cost because if you leave the waste, the grass will grow faster, and the lawn won’t look as good.
- Grass Condition – If the grass is particularly dense or high, it might take a few passes to get it done correctly. This will add to the overall lawn moving cost relative to the time spent.
- Additional Services – In many instances, this service is included as part of a package provided by landscaping or garden maintenance experts. This might reduce the lawn mowing cost compared to getting it as a separate service. Also, you’ll pay extra for aeration, fertilization, and weed control.
While there are other factors, the above are the main ones to take note of. As always, the best way is to simply call up the service provider for a direct quote for your specific situation.
Hourly rates for lawn mowing in Sydney
This is a relatively simple service that is charged on an hourly basis. In Sydney, you can expect to pay $55 per hour on average. However, you can pay as low as $25 per hour in the winter season and up to $75 per hour in the summer, so it is very much dependent on the time of the year.
Another element to keep in mind here is that the lawn mowing cost per hour may go down for a consistent service. So if you typically pay $55 per hour, you might pay $45 per hour if you hire every month. Usually, most residential lawns are cut within 2 hours. The standard rate will be around $120 or so, on average.
These hourly rates do not apply if you want to mow wide swathes of grass. This is known as acreage cutting. The hourly rates will typically be in the region of $120 per hour for this (still charged on an hourly basis). This is because it will feature a ride-on lawnmower and you are really paying for this (extremely expensive) machine.
The flipside is that when using a ride-on lawnmower you can cut the grass, even acres of grass, in a very short space of time. So even commercial or large residential lawn service can be offered for reasonable prices. Grass density and length can also affect the hourly rate, as it will take longer to cut.
Are there additional lawn mowing costs?
Yes, though it’s harder to pin down lawn mowing costs precisely and you’ll have to contact a provider for a detailed quote. Edging work is commonly requested when there are trees, patios, and pools around the lawn (and there invariably will be). If a whipper snipper is needed, this will also come at an increased cost.
Lawn painting and striping is most certainly an additional service that will be priced separately. This can look really good if done right, but keep in mind that the grass will grow so the effects tend to be temporary.
If the clippings need to be collected, you will be charged a little extra. But this is mainly because it will simply take more time to empty the catcher. If green waste needs to be disposed of by going to the local skip, this will also add to the final lawn mowing cost.
Aeration, fertilization, pruning, and other services are often requested but these mainly come under the heading of gardening, not lawn mowing.
Can I save money by mowing my own lawn?
Technically, you will save money if you mow your own grass. The problem is that it’s a continual and annoying service. You’ll have to mow your lawn twice a month in summer and once a month in winter. This gets boring really fast. You could spend that time earning money or doing things you love, so it’s a question of how highly you value your time.
If you hire a service that has a ride-on lawnmower, then they can get the grass cut really quickly. You can schedule this service at regular intervals and completely remove all stress involved. It might be worth it to buy your own ride-on lawnmower, but these can easily cost around $5,000.
If you have a very large lawn and are willing to spend the time cutting it, then you may recoup the costs of hiring a professional service. Still, it’s probably easier just to hire the professionals who already have this equipment without paying through the nose for it!
What are the benefits of using a lawn service?
A primary benefit of using a lawn service is that it takes care of your lawn on a regular basis. You can schedule the service once every 2-4 weeks and can rest easy knowing that your garden is always going to look great. This saves you a lot of time and energy. Professional services will know how to get the best out of your garden, so you won’t have to mess around with annoying lawn mowing every two weeks!
It’s the perfect solution for those who simply don’t have the time or inclination to work in the garden. Unless it’s something you actually enjoy doing, then it’s best left to people who have made a living out of it. Otherwise, you’ll be doing something you don’t enjoy for decades in order to save a few bucks.
How can I choose the right lawn service?
We recommend finding a high-quality lawn service that also offers a number of associated services so you get the best price and hit multiple targets. Otherwise, you risk hiring a service that doesn’t really care or that is not really interested.
Look for a garden maintenance provider that is local with a strong reputation and has been in business for a number of years. You also want to ask a series of basic questions such as :
- Are you registered, licenced, and insured?
- How long have you been in business?
- Do you have social proofs or testimonials?
There are many more questions you could ask, but these are primary. If a company has been in business for a long time with a solid reputation, then they’re pretty safe. They would not like to jeopardize their reputation.
But you will still want to get a basic feel for their customer service and also ask about pricing so you don’t get any surprises. At the end of the day, you want to know that your lawn is cut to a high standard, at a given rate, at a specific time.
Where can I find reliable lawn services in Sydney?
You can simply contact Manna Landscapes for reliable, affordable, and professional lawn services in Sydney. We have over 25 years of experience in landscaping and garden maintenance and take pride in our business.
We take the time to understand the needs and requirements of each and every customer and delight in providing them with beautiful outdoor environments. Whether you need simple lawn mowing or a more intricate form of garden maintenance, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Call now for more information on our premium garden services – 0415 837 699.
