Why the Cheapest Lawn Quote Can Cost You More

The cheapest lawn quote often leaves things out. It may skip trimming or cleanup, add extras later, or come from a crew that misses weeks. A missed week means tall grass, a harder cut and maybe a City notice. A low bid can also mean no insurance, which puts the risk on you. Compare what each price includes over the whole season, not just the number for one cut.

Why are some lawn quotes so much lower than others?

Every crew has the same basic costs. They pay for fuel, a truck, mowers, trimmers and blades. They pay for time driving between yards. A real business also pays for insurance and workers' comp.

So when one price is far below the rest, something is missing. It's usually one of these:

• The job is smaller than you think. Mowing only, with no trimming or edging.
• The price is a teaser. Extras get added once you're booked.
• The crew is cutting corners on time. Fast passes, dull blades, rushed visits.
• The crew has no insurance or workers' comp.
• The crew takes on too many yards and drops some when it gets busy.

None of that shows up on the quote. It shows up in July.

What does a cheap mowing quote leave out?

Read the job list on each quote side by side. A low quote often means "mow the open grass and leave." Ask each crew these questions before you compare prices:

• Do you trim along fences, beds, posts and the house?
• Do you edge the driveway and walks?
• Do you blow clippings off the drive, walk and patio?
• Is the back yard included, or just the front?
• What happens if the grass gets tall after a rainy week?

Trimming is where a lot of the time goes. If one quote includes it and one doesn't, they aren't the same job. Our trimming and edging page shows what that work looks like. The lawn care services page lists everything a full visit can cover.

Can the price go up after you say yes?

Yes, and this is the most common way a low quote turns into a high bill. The first price is for "a standard lawn." Then the crew arrives and adds charges for the back yard, the slope, the gate, the bagging or the extra trimming.

In Ontario, the rules help a bit. The province's Consumer Protection Act guide says a business can't bill you more than 10% above its estimate unless you agree to the extra charges in writing. If the job changes in a big way, the guide says the business should give you a new written estimate.

That only helps if you have the estimate in writing. So get it in writing, with the job list on it. A price said out loud on your front step is hard to hold anyone to.

What does a missed cut really cost?

This is the big one. A cheap crew that misses a week or two in June can cost you more than any price gap.

Tall grass is harder to fix

Ohio State University's lawn mowing guide says never take off more than a third of the blade at once. If you keep your lawn at 7.5 cm (3 inches), it shouldn't pass 11.5 cm (4.5 inches) before it gets cut. The guide says breaking that rule risks scalping, which can badly damage or kill grass, mostly in summer heat.

So after a missed visit, a good crew can't just cut it all down at once. It takes a high cut, then another cut a few days later. That's more visits, and more money, to get back to where you were.

The City can step in

Many Canadian cities have a long grass rule. If a crew stops showing up and you're away, the grass can pass the limit fast in spring.

• Calgary: the Community Standards Bylaw says grass can't go over 15 cm (6 inches).
• Hamilton: Yard Maintenance By-law 10-118 caps turfgrass at 21 cm (8 inches). The City can issue a Notice to Comply, lay court charges, and add inspection fees to your property taxes. It can also cut the grass itself and add that cost to your taxes too.
• Kelowna: grass over 8 inches (about 20 cm) can bring an order. If you don't clear it within 10 days, the City may do the work and charge it to your property taxes.

Our guide to long grass bylaws in Canada lists the limits in more cities. A City bill on your taxes wipes out a lot of savings from a cheap quote.

Can a rushed cut hurt your lawn?

It can. A crew racing to fit in too many yards cuts corners you can't see on day one.

Purdue University's turf team says dull mower blades rip grass instead of cutting it. That leaves ragged tips that give the lawn a whitish look from a distance. Ripped grass is also more open to disease. Calgary's lawn care page gives the same advice: keep the blades sharp, and don't take off more than a third of the grass at each cut.

Other signs of a rushed visit:

• Clippings left in rows on the lawn or blown into the street.
• Grass cut very short so the crew can skip a week.
• Wheel ruts from mowing soaked grass to stay on schedule.
• Missed strips along fences and behind sheds.

Our post on sharp mower blades shows how to spot a torn cut on your own lawn.

What if the cheap crew has no insurance?

A cash price with no paperwork can look like a deal. Government consumer guides say to be careful.

• New Brunswick: the Financial and Consumer Services Commission warns that a contractor offering a cash discount may be uninsured. It says an "under the table" deal may leave you with no legal recourse if something goes wrong.
• Alberta: the province says if uninsured workers get hurt on your property, you and the contractor would have to agree on who is liable.
• British Columbia: WorkSafeBC says if the business you hire isn't registered and paying premiums, you could be held responsible for its premiums.

A mower throws rocks. Trimmers crack windows. Someone can slip on a wet slope. Insurance is part of what a fair price pays for. See how to check a lawn care company is insured for the steps.

How do you compare lawn mowing prices fairly?

Put every quote on the same footing before you look at the number. Here's a simple way to do it:

1. Get each quote in writing, with the job list on it.
2. Check that each one covers the same yard: front, back and side strips.
3. Check that each one includes the same work: trimming, edging and blowing off hard surfaces.
4. Ask how often they mow and what happens in a wet, fast-growing week.
5. Ask what happens if they miss a visit. Is there any make-good?
6. Ask for proof of insurance and workers' comp.
7. Multiply the per-cut price by the number of visits in your season. Add any extras they named.

Now you're comparing the season, not one Saturday. That's where the real gap shows up.

What should a fair price be based on?

A fair price follows the work. Lawn size matters most. After that comes how often you want it cut, what's in the yard, and the jobs you picked. Slopes, gates, trees and garden beds all add time.

That's why we don't post a price list. We measure your lawn from satellite images, so nobody has to visit and you don't need to be home. Then we text your price within 60 minutes, from 7am to 8pm. Our FAQ on how the 60-minute satellite price works walks through what we look at.

Golden Oak Lawn Care matches you with a vetted, insured local partner crew. They do the work. We stand behind it with the Golden Oak Guarantee.

What do you get with a Golden Oak season?

The Worry-Free Lawn Season is built around the problems above:

• The same vetted, insured local crew every visit.
• A photo texted to you after every cut, so you know it happened.
• On-Time Guarantee: if your crew misses your scheduled window, that cut is free.
• Love-It Guarantee: not happy? Text us a photo within 24 hours. Your crew re-cuts it free within 48 hours.
• The season is paid up front. Pause for vacations by text. Cancel anytime and we refund half of your unused visits.
• Your first cut is free when you book the season.

You can see all three steps on the how it works page.

Want it handled? Get your price in 60 minutes, or call 1-866-904-LAWN.

Cheapest Lawn Quote Questions

Rules change, so check with your City or province before you plan. Sources: Ontario consumer protection guide, City of Hamilton yard maintenance, City of Calgary lawn care, City of Kelowna grass bylaw, Ohio State University lawn mowing, Purdue University turf, FCNB hiring a contractor, Alberta hiring a contractor, WorkSafeBC homeowners.