Driving around the neighborhood, you may have noticed little TruGreen flags popping up in people’s yards. In the past, these signs were most common on big, fancy houses, but that is no longer the case. So, does this mean it’s become an affordable service everybody can afford? Well, here I’m going to break down how much TruGreen costs and explain what their packages include.
How Much Does TruGreen Cost? (The Short Answer)
A typical 5000 square foot lawn will cost $402 per year for TruGreen’s starter package, the TruMaintenance Plan. This plan includes fertilizer and weed control. At the other end of the spectrum is the TruSignature plan at $1208 per year. This is TruGreen’s top plan and includes fertilizer, seeding, aeration, weed control, grub control, tree care, and shrub care.
The Different TruGreen Services Explained
TruGreen certainly offers a variety of different packages that range from basic needs all the way to a very comprehensive plan. For those who are interested, there’s even an all-natural option. So, let’s have a closer look at what’s included within their different plan options and see what the best option is for your yard.
| Plan | Tru Maintenance | Tru Health | Tru Complete | Tru Signature | Tru Natural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soil Testing | x | x | x | x | x |
| Lawn Fertilizer | x | x | x | x | x |
| Lawn Seeding | x | x | |||
| Lawn Aeration | x | x | |||
| Pre-Emergent Weed Control | x | x | x | x | |
| Target Herbicide Treatment | x | x | x | x | |
| Pest Control “Grub” | x | x | x | ||
| Tree Care | x | ||||
| Shrub Care | x | ||||
| All Natural | x |
Now that you can see what each plan includes, let’s take a closer look at what each of the items actually means and what they can do for you.
Soil Testing & Lawn Fertilizer
The whole point of fertilizing is to add into the subsoil the nutrients required by the grass to grow and look its best. Many of the nutrients already exist in the subsoil, so testing is key. TruGreen will test your soil first, so they know exactly which fertilizer and strength to use on your lawn.
Lawn Seeding & Lawn Aeration
Many lawns need extra help to achieve a thick and healthy appearance. TruGreen offers overseeding and aeration to help eliminate any bare spots and toughen up the lawn.
Pre-Emergent Weed Control
If you have ever wondered why some people never get weeds, their secret is that they use pre-emergent weed control. This type of weed control prevents the weeds’ seeds from ever being able to germinate and grow.
Target Herbicide Treatments
If you have lawn weeds that aren’t especially hard to keep under control, then you’ll need target herbicides. These special herbicides are used to directly target and attack specific weeds, such as those pesky dollar weeds. If you have ever tried to use a generic herbicide, then you know they struggle with the hardy weeds.
Pest Control
If you have ever been a victim of lawn grubs, then you know how they love to eat grass roots and kill the grass. If you leave them to continue eating the roots, you’ll soon end up with no lawn. Thankfully, TruGreen includes this service within their comprehensive plans.
Tree Care
Trees need some special attention to keep them healthy and pest free. TruGreen offers services to fertilize, control pests, and also prevent and treat diseases. Additionally, they provide special visits just for the trees.
Shrub Care
Just like trees, shrubs get their special attention, including fertilizer, pest control, and disease control, plus they also get their own visits as required.
All Natural
You’ll notice that the All-Natural plan has some items missing. This is because pesticides and herbicides contain non-natural chemicals. So, if you don’t want these kinds of products used in your yard, then TruGreen has a solution.
Factors That May Influence The Cost of Your TruGreen Lawn Treatment Package
Not every package plan will cost the same for each home, even if they are the same size. This is because TruGreen, like most other companies, has overhead costs that affect the base price. Let’s take a closer look at the factors that may affect the cost of your TruGreen lawn treatment package.
Packages & Extras
The first item that will affect the TruGreen plans and pricing is which services you pick for your yard. As you can see, a wide range of packages are available that best suit certain yards, your needs, and your budget. TruGreen offers additional services you can bolt onto your plan, such as termite treatments and soil pH balancing. So, depending on what you pick, you could either be increasing or decreasing the amount of your TruGreen costs.
Location
Location, location, location. The old saying is true; location matters. You’ll be paying a little more if you live in an expensive area, city, or remote area. TruGreen has a base charge that they calculate to cover their costs getting to and from your property. So, if they incur toll charges, extra mileage, and extra time, then they pass this down the line and add it to your fee. But TruGreen has branches in nearly every state, so these costs shouldn’t really make much of a difference.
Size & Design of Your Garden
TruGreen calculates its onsite cost based on the square footage of your yard. Additionally, they look to see what you have and what you will need. So, if you have a bunch of shrubs and trees, you’ll be paying more than someone with just one or two.
Current Health of Your Yard
It’s understandable that the current health of your yard will make a difference in how much your TruGreen service costs a month or how much TruGreen costs per year. If you have a yard in bad condition with problems such as grubs and disease, TruGreen will have to use additional products on their first few applications to get things under control.
What is the Actual Cost of TruGreen? A 5000 Square Foot Average.
TruGreen provides estimated costs for a typical 5000 square foot yard, including the typical amount of trees and shrubs. I have detailed these costs for each of their different packages in the easy-to-read table below. Let’s take a closer look at the numbers.
| TruGreen Treatment Plans | Typical 5,000 Square Foot Yard |
|---|---|
| Tru-Maintenance | $402 Total Cost $37 First Treatment $73 Treatments 2-6 Total Treatments = 6 |
| Tru-Health | $475 Total Cost $37 First Treatment $73 Treatments 2-7 Total Treatments = 7 |
| Tru-Complete | $745 Total Cost $37 First Treatment $73 Treatments 2-7 $270 Overseeding & Aeration Total Treatments = 8 |
| Tru-Signature | $1208 Total Cost $37 First Treatment $73 Treatments 2-7 $270 Overseeding & Aeration $50 Trees & Shrubs First Treatment $69 Trees & Shrubs Treatments 2-7 Total Treatments = 15 |
| Tru-Natural | $402 Total Cost $77 First Treatment $155 Treatments 2-5 Total Treatments = 5 |
What About a Larger Lawn? A 20,000 Square Foot Average.
For you guys with bigger yards, I have put together a table for a 20,000-square-foot yard or half-acre. Let’s have a look at the cost for bigger yards. Again, these costs are just an estimate, so prices will vary based on the factors we looked at before.
| TruGreen Treatment Plans | Typical 20,000 Square Foot Yard |
|---|---|
| Tru-Maintenance | $884 Total Cost $68 First Treatment $136 Treatments 2-6 Total Treatments = 6 |
| Tru-Health | $1020 Total Cost $68 First Treatment $136 Treatments 2-7 Total Treatments = 7 |
| Tru-Complete | $1636 Total Cost $68 First Treatment $136 Treatments 2-7 $752 Overseeding & Aeration Total Treatments = 8 |
| Tru-Signature | $2184 Total Cost $68 First Treatment $136 Treatments 2-7 $752 Overseeding & Aeration $50 Trees & Shrubs First Treatment $83 Trees & Shrubs Treatments 2-7 Total Treatments = 15 |
| Tru-Natural | $1283 Total Cost $142 First Treatment $285 Treatments 2-5 Total Treatments = 5 |
How the Cost of TruGreen Compares to Alternatives
Now, TruGreen isn’t the only option for professional lawn care providers. You’ll find contractors of all different services ranging from small one-person outfits all the way up to national competitors to TruGreen. However, TruGreen is one of the leading providers, and this is for a good reason.
I’d say that the main consideration should be what a DIY solution can achieve compared to a professional plan. In my experience, the main difference is the products, knowledge, and equipment available. I’m pretty sure most homeowners don’t have the same access to the quality of items a professional service offers. So, if you want the best possible results for your yard, then a professional solution wins over DIY. Just be aware that it’ll cost considerably more than in you attempted to do the same work yourself.
Leave a Reply