How Much Does Lawn Renovation Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $400 - $3,000
To revive a damaged lawn, homeowners will pay about $4,000 on average, but the typical range can cost between $400 and $3,000.
When renovating your lawn, you can expect to spend anywhere from $70 to $7,900, depending on the services needed and size of the area. The average cost of renovating a lawn is $4,000.
If your lawn has seen better days and is full of patches of weeds, brown spots, and bare or thin grass, it’s time for a lawn renovation. Your total lawn renovation cost will depend on several factors, including the condition of your lawn and the types of treatments. Our guide will help you understand the costs for your lawn renovation project, plus when it’s time to hire a lawn care professional.
- Average
- $4,000
- Low end
- $70
- high end
- $7,900
Lawn Renovation Cost Factors
Several factors will dictate the price when calculating your total lawn renovation cost. These factors include the type of treatment, lawn size, labor, prep, type of grass, and the condition of your lawn. Here’s what you can expect to pay for lawn renovation.
Lawn Condition
Before beginning your lawn renovation, you’ll want a lawn care professional to assess your yard. Depending on the condition of your lawn, you may only need a single treatment to bring it back to life. However, if your lawn has faced years of neglect, wear and tear, or suffered through severe storms, you’ll likely need several treatments. You can expect your total lawn renovation cost to increase with each added treatment, especially if your lawn requires custom equipment and materials.
Types
| Lawn Treatment Type | Average Price |
|---|---|
| Seeding | $440–$1,750 |
| Hydroseeding | $500–$1,910 |
| Power Seeding | $400–$7,900 |
| Aeration | $75–$200 |
| Fertilization | $70–$380 |
| Re-sodding | $1,070–$3,000 |
| Dethatching | $160–$225 |
| Soil Testing | $680–$2,155 |
Seeding
Seeding, reseeding, or overseeding your lawn can cost between $440 and $1,750. Seeding is a great way to revive thinning grass or bald patches. Lawn care pros may choose to overseed lawns with severe damage. Overseeding involves spreading fresh grass seed over all existing grass to encourage new growth.
Hydroseeding
Hydroseeding costs $500 to $1,910. If your lawn needs immediate attention, hydroseeding might be the right option, and your lawn will look fresh and new in under a month. Hydroseeding requires spraying a pressurized mix of water, fertilizer, grass seed, and mulch all over your lawn to increase growth and vitality quickly.
Power Seeding
Power seeding costs $400 to $7,900. Power seeding is a heavy-duty lawn restoration option when seeding and aeration don’t do the trick. Power seeding is a more intense method that uses heavy machinery to cut rows or slits into the grass to plant seeds and ensure that vital nutrients will reach the roots. Once you choose power seeding for your lawn, you can follow up annually with seeding or aeration.
Aeration
For lawn aeration, you’ll pay between $75 and $200. Lawn care pros use a core or spike to create small holes in the grass, allowing water, air, and vital nutrients to reach the roots of the grass. Depending on the condition of your lawn, you may need lawn aeration once per season.
Fertilization
You can expect to pay $70 to $380 for lawn fertilization. Fertilizer provides essential nutrients to your grass and soil, allowing it to grow and thrive. Your total cost will depend on the size of your yard, the type of fertilizer you choose, and how often you’ll require fertilization treatment.
Re-Sodding
Re-sodding your lawn will cost $1,070 to $3,000. Re-sodding is the process of removing old, damaged grass and replacing it with fresh sod instead of using seed to re-grow grass. Re-sodding your lawn is an excellent option because you can replace the most damaged grass without upheaving your entire lawn.
Dethatching
Lawn dethatching will cost you between $160 and $225. Thatch is the thick buildup of debris, dead grass, and roots that accumulate on top of your lawn. It hinders sunlight, water, and nutrients from reaching the grass roots. Dethatching is the process of removing this upper layer via a dethatching machine or power raking.
Soil Testing
Soil testing costs between $680 and $2,155. Soil testing is crucial for lawn renovation. It can identify harmful contaminants and help lawn care pros decide the best options for fertilization. Soil testing also identifies which nutrients your lawn needs to thrive and its current pH level, which measures soil acidity.
Size
Lawn renovation typically costs $0.75 to $4.00 per square foot to renovate patches of damaged lawn. Here’s what you can expect to pay for lawn renovation per square foot:
| Lawn Renovation Per Square Foot | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 100 | $80–$400 |
| 250 | $200–$1,000 |
| 500 | $375–$2,000 |
| 1,000 | $750–$4,000 |
Labor
You can expect to pay $50 to $100 per hour in lawn care labor. Your labor costs will increase if your lawn requires customized treatments, special equipment, and costly materials. When interviewing lawn care professionals, be sure to specify your lawn size and desired treatments to receive accurate price quotes.
Prep
Sometimes, pros must perform some prep work before beginning your lawn renovation project. A yard cleanup can cost between $190 and $1,000, and stump removal costs $175 to $550.
Another issue that might be plaguing your lawn is uneven terrain. The cost to level your yard will run from $1,020 to $3,300.
Grass Species
Another factor in determining your overall lawn renovation cost is the type of grass in your yard. Here’s what you can expect with different types of grass:
| Grass Species | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Zoysia | Perfect for transitional climates | Susceptible to thatch issues |
| Bermuda | Can plant new grass from seeds | Requires regular aeration and fertilization |
| Ryegrass | Durable, tolerates cold weather | Hot summers can cause damage and discoloration |
| Fescue | Drought and heat-resistant | Requires a lot of maintenance |
Zoysia vs. Bermuda Grass
With Zoysia vs. Bermuda grass, Zoysia is lower maintenance and thrives well in shade and drought-prone environments. However, Zoysia must be planted as sod instead of seed, making it much more expensive when it comes time to grow more grass. Bermuda grass is more affordable and has a quick recovery time. However, it is more susceptible to thatch, diseases, and pests.
Ryegrass vs. Fescue Grass
In the debate over ryegrass vs. fescue grass, both types fare well in cool climates. Ryegrass fares better in colder climates, yet it may also require yearly replanting to ensure it stays thick and healthy. Fescue grass is very durable and able to withstand heavy foot traffic. On the other hand, you’ll likely have to re-sod every so often to ensure fescue maintains its dark green color.
Lawn Renovation Ongoing Expenses
Maintenance
Once your lawn is completely renovated, you’ll want to provide the proper maintenance to keep it in excellent condition. Here are some maintenance ideas to keep up with your lawn care:
| Lawn Maintenance Service | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Sprinkler System Installation | $1,665–$3,550 |
| Pest Control | $110–$260 |
| Weed Control | $35–$400 |
| Lawn Care Services | $100–$500 per month |
Mowing
Once your lawn renovations are finished, you’ll want to keep up with lawn mowing to ensure your grass stays healthy and beautiful. You’ll want to mow new grass 8 weeks after seeding or 2 to 3 weeks after laying sod. The average cost to mow a lawn is $50 to $205.
DIY Lawn Renovation vs. Hiring a Pro
If you’re handy and have the proper tools, you can tackle certain lawn renovation treatments yourself. You’ll save an average of $50 to $250 per service, but you’ll need to cover the cost of equipment, tools, and supplies.
If you want your lawn to thrive, we recommend hiring a lawn care service near you. A lawn care pro can properly diagnose your lawn issues and use their expert skills, knowledge, and experience to ensure your lawn renovation is successful. In addition, pros come equipped with the heavy equipment and machinery for your lawn renovation project.
Tips to Reduce Cost While Renovating Your Lawn
While you can’t change the cost of individual lawn treatments, there are still ways to save, including:
Book treatments early: prices tend to increase during peak lawn season.
Bundle services: ask for a discount if you are having lawn renovation treatments done simultaneously.
Get quotes from at least three local lawn renovation companies.
Choose plants that are native to your area and that require less water to thrive.
Tackle the prep work yourself—clear the yard of leaves, debris, sticks, and other woodland materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes—lawn renovation can turn your lawn from damaged to healthy in one month or less. You should also consider lawn renovation an investment in your home’s future. Not only will a lawn renovation ensure that you have a beautiful, healthy, and thriving lawn, but when it comes time to sell your home, the curb appeal will increase your home’s value.
The first step in re-doing a bad lawn is correctly diagnosing the problem. That’s why we recommend calling a licensed and trustworthy lawn care company that can help turn your damaged lawn around. Once the problem is diagnosed and fixed, you’ll want to keep up with lawn maintenance by watering, mowing, and feeding your lawn the proper nutrients.
There are a few ways to fix your lawn on a budget, including:
Identify the lawn care problem and learn how to seed, fertilize, and aerate your lawn.
Reseed old, damaged lawn with new grass that fares better in your environment.
Remove grass from your yard so you no longer need to worry about lawn care costs.
Depending on the lawn treatments, the best times of the year to redo your lawn are between mid-August and mid-September for overseeding and renovation treatments. For areas such as the southern United States, lawn aeration works best during the fall, when the temperatures begin to drop. Otherwise, early spring is your next best bet because the grass is fresh and ready to absorb nutrients, and the temperature isn’t hot enough to fry the grass and the renovation materials.
You can add grass seed to an existing lawn, but you might not get the results you expect. Sometimes, throwing grass seed on top of bald patches or thinning grass will do the trick, and your grass can re-grow. However, homeowners won’t see any actual results most of the time. Lawn renovation pros recommend a combination of aerating and high-quality grass seed to achieve a healthy, thick lawn.