Written by

Sarah Noel

November 13, 2023

Yard cleanup cost

Yard cleanup costs $125 to $400 on average, depending on the yard size, services needed, and season. A spring cleanup costs $125 to $300. A fall cleanup costs $150 to $400. An overgrown yard cleanup costs $400 to $800. Landscape cleanup costs $50 to $100 per hour.

Average cost of yard cleanup by size

The average cost of a yard cleanup is $20 to $50 per 1,000 square feet. This price typically includes cleaning leaves, small branches, and lightweight debris.

Overgrown yard cleanup cost

Overgrown yard cleanup costs $400 to $800 on average, or $50 to $100 per hour. This service typically involves mowing the yard, trimming hedges, removing dead plants, weeding, and debris removal. This cost to clear an overgrown yard doesn’t include dead tree removal.

Average spring cleanup costs by service

The following table shows the average spring cleanup costs by service:

Garden and flower bed cleanup cost

Flower bed cleanup costs $30 to $60 on average for removing old mulch and debris from a 5’x12’ bed. Costs increase for pulling weeds by hand and other flower-bed maintenance tasks:

• Flower bed installation costs $20 to $65 per square foot for custom raised beds.

• The cost to plant flowers is $10 to $30 per pot, including flowers and labor.

• A gardener costs $75 to $250 per project on average.

• Compost costs $75 to $225 per cubic yard installed.

Lawn and landscape cleanup costs

Landscape cleanup costs depend on the services needed:

• Full-service lawn care costs $100 to $400 per month.

• Lawn mowing costs $30 to $65 for an average lawn and typically includes weed eating around edges with a trimmer. Prices decrease for regular service.

• Lawn dethatching costs $75 to $300 for a 5,000- to 10,000-square-foot lawn.

• Grass edging costs $0.50 to $1.00 per linear foot with a bladed edger tool, depending on the lawn size and method. Lawn edgers cut through roots and sod.

Leaf removal

• Leaf removal costs $100 to $300 on average, depending on the yard size and removal method with blowers, vacuums, or rakes.

• Gutter cleaning costs $100 to $250 extra for annual maintenance to prevent clogging.

Landscape removal cost

Landscape removal costs depend on the debris size and type:

• Tree removal costs $300 to $2,000 per tree.

• Tree stump removal costs $80 to $250 per stump.

• Shrub and bush removal costs $25 to $150 each.

• Sod removal costs $0.50 to $2.00 per square foot.

• Landscape rock removal costs $50 to $200 per cubic yard.

• Dirt removal cost $140 to $230 per cubic yard, including disposal.

Mulch removal cost

Old mulch removal costs $50 to $100 per cubic yard on average or $0.50 to $1.00 per square foot, including disposal. New mulch costs $35 to $70 per cubic yard delivered and installed. Remove mulch infected with fungi or bacteria that harms plants.

Weed removal service cost

Weed control costs $50 to $125 per treatment, according to the yard size, condition, and removal method. Poison ivy removal costs $200 to $500 on average or $50 to $125 per hour. Apply pre-emergent herbicides in spring and post-emergent herbicides in fall.

Tree-debris and brush-pile removal

Costs of tree-debris removal after storms or with a yard cleanup include:

• Tree debris removal costs $75 to $250 per trip.

• Log splitting costs $50 to $100 per hour.

• Wood chipping costs $100 to $150 per hour.

• Brush pile removal costs $150 to $200 per trip.

Tree & shrub trimming and pruning

Trimming trees, shrubs, and hedges promotes plant growth while maintaining the home’s curb appeal. Trimming is best in spring or fall. However, don’t prune spring-flowering plants until after they’ve blossomed.

• Tree trimming costs $200 to $900 per tree.

• Tree branch removal costs $75 to $250 minimum.

• Shrub and bush trimming costs $5 to $20 per bush.

• Hedge trimming costs $185 to $450 for a row of plants 50’ to 100’ long.

Yard waste removal

Yard waste removal costs depend on the location, waste type, and load size.

• Junk removal prices are $150 to $350 on average.

• Dumpster rental prices are $280 to $500 per week, including collection and disposal but not the labor cost of filling the dumpster.

• Dog poop removal costs $12 to $25 weekly per dog with discounts for multiple dogs.

Landscape cleanup cost factors

Landscape cleanup cost factors include:

• Property size – Larger flower beds and bigger yards have higher costs.

• Volume of debris – Crews charge $50 to $80 hourly when traveling outside their normal service area and hauling multiple loads of yard waste.

• Disposal & dump fees – Debris disposal costs $4 to $8 per bag. Some contractors include disposal fees in their labor cost. Others charge separately based on the location, distance, and local dump fees.

• Yard condition – Well-maintained yards cost less to clean than overgrown yards.

• Accessibility – Labor time increases on properties with more obstacles to work around, like fences.

• Location – Local labor rates are highest in metropolitan areas.

• Minimum fees – Companies charge $100 to $125 for small yards that take only 1 hour or less to clean up.

• Service packages – Reduced rates apply for annual lawn-care contracts and combining services with other landscaping jobs.

Labor charge for spring cleanup

The labor charge for spring cleanup depends on the charging method:

Companies that offer annual services include:

• TruGreen costs $450 to $2,000 annually.

• Lawn Doctor prices are $300 to $800 annually.

Spring yard-maintenance costs

Regular yard maintenance prevents weeds and pests, keeps the lawn healthy, and lowers cleanup costs. Maintenance services vary by location and the individual yard needs.

• Lawn aeration costs $75 to $250 on average.

• The cost to fertilize a lawn is $65 to $100 per visit.

• Lawn replacement costs $1 to $3 per square foot.

• Sod installation costs $1 to $2 per square foot.

• The cost to overseed or reseed a lawn is $0.04 to $0.18 per square foot.

• The cost to plant a tree is $200 to $700 total, or $60 to $140 per tree sapling installed.

• Planting shrubs costs $25 to $85 per shrub with labor.

• The cost to power wash a deck is $120 to $250 on average.

• Sprinkler spring startup costs $60 to $125 per visit.

• Sprinkler system repair costs $100 to $400 for minor work.

• Pest control costs $250 to $400 on average.

Yard cleanup FAQs

When to start spring yard cleanup?

Start a spring yard cleanup in March or April. The best time is after the last winter frost when temperatures are at least 50° F to 60° F consistently. Waiting for these warm temperatures promotes healthy soil.

When does fall cleanup start?

Fall cleanup typically starts in October or November. While autumn begins in September, leaves and debris don’t pile up until October or later in some regions.

What does a yard cleanup consist of?

What a yard cleanup consists of will vary according to the season, climate, and individual yard needs.

Do you tip landscapers for spring cleanup?

Tipping landscapers for spring cleanup is optional. You can tip $10 to $25 per person if the work exceeds your expectations. With an annual lawn care service contract, many people tip once a year during the holiday season.

Getting estimates and quotes from yard cleanup landscapers

Before hiring a yard cleanup service near you, be sure to:

• Compare multiple estimates from companies with 5+ years of experience.

• Check that the company has licenses and liability insurance.

• Confirm they have a commercial applicator license to spray any fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides on the property.

• Ask for a list of references.

• Read company reviews on HomeGuide.com and Google.

• Request copies of the written estimate and contract.

• Beware of the cheapest quotes that typically indicate low-quality standards.

• Never give full payments upfront.

Questions to ask

• How long have you been doing yard maintenance?

• Which yard services do you specialize in?

• What type of equipment will you use?

• Do you also offer annual maintenance plans?

• How experienced is your crew, and how many people will be onsite?

• Which related lawn services do you offer that others in this area don’t?

• Does this bid include all debris-disposal fees, labor, and equipment fees?

• How long will this job take?

• Which services cost extra?

• How should I contact the crew manager?

• What’s your procedure for rescheduling in poor weather conditions?

• How much space does your crew need?

• Will I need to be home during the yard cleanup?