How commercial landscape maintenance is priced
Most commercial and HOA landscape maintenance is priced as a fixed monthly fee for a defined scope of work: what gets done, where and how often. Work outside that scope, like tree pruning, irrigation repairs, plant replacements and storm cleanup, is usually priced separately as it comes up or as planned projects.
That's why we don't publish a single price. A property with large turf areas, hundreds of trees and an aging irrigation system needs a very different plan than a desert-landscaped office park of the same size. The fair way to price it is to walk the property.
What drives the price
- Size and layout. Total landscaped area, plus how it's broken up: medians, slopes, courtyards and narrow strips take more time than open areas.
- How much grass. Turf needs mowing, edging, fertilizing and often winter overseeding. Desert landscaping needs less frequent, different work.
- Visit frequency. Weekly service costs more than every other week. Many properties need weekly service in the growing season and less in winter.
- Irrigation. The size and age of the system, how many controllers and zones there are, and whether regular checks are part of the scope.
- Trees. How many trees, how tall, and how often they need structural pruning or thinning before monsoon season.
- Seasonal color and overseeding. Flower rotations and winter rye grass add material and labor.
- Litter and debris. High-traffic retail and apartment properties often need more frequent cleanup.
- Access and timing. Schools, resorts and busy retail centers may require early, after-hours or carefully scheduled work.
- Compliance requirements. Some portfolios require specific insurance limits, vendor platforms or reporting.
What's usually included and what's extra
Typically included in a maintenance contract
- Mowing, edging and blowing turf areas
- Shrub and groundcover trimming
- Weed control in beds and hardscape
- Litter and debris pickup in landscaped areas
- Routine irrigation checks and minor adjustments (confirm this in every proposal)
Typically priced separately
- Tree pruning, thinning and removals
- Irrigation repairs beyond minor adjustments, controller upgrades and system retrofits
- Plant replacements and seasonal color
- Winter overseeding
- Monsoon and storm cleanup
- Renovations, turf conversions and other capital projects
The biggest surprises usually come from what a proposal doesn't say. Ask every company how irrigation repairs and extra work are priced. Our guide on comparing landscape proposals covers what to look for.
How to budget for the whole year
The monthly contract is only part of the picture. A realistic annual landscape budget also sets aside money for the work that happens on a seasonal schedule:
- Late winter: structural tree pruning, ideally before spring growth.
- Spring: irrigation tune-ups before the heat, plus plant replacements.
- Early summer: tree thinning and drainage cleanup before monsoon season.
- Late summer: storm cleanup after monsoon events.
- Fall: overseeding (if you do it), planting and improvement projects.
Our month-by-month landscape calendar walks through each season in more detail.
Ways to lower landscape costs without letting the property slide
- Convert grass nobody uses. Streetscapes, slopes and decorative turf cost money to mow and water. Our water savings calculator estimates what a conversion could save.
- Fix the irrigation. Leaks, broken heads and outdated controllers waste water every day. Many cities offer rebates for smart controllers and grass removal.
- Skip overseeding in low-visibility areas. Keep winter grass where people see and use it.
- Prune trees on a plan. Regular structural pruning costs less than emergency removals and storm damage.
- Plan improvements ahead. Projects scheduled in the cooler months are easier to budget and install than rushed fixes in July.
How to get an accurate quote
The most accurate quotes come from a site walk. Before it, gather a site map if you have one, your current scope of work, any problem areas you've noticed and your bid deadline. Give every company the same information so the proposals can be compared fairly.
Pro Turf provides free, detailed proposals for HOAs, apartment communities and commercial properties across Maricopa and Pinal counties. Request a quote and we'll schedule a walk-through.
