Fair Pricing for Core Plug Aeration and Overseeding: A Comprehensive

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What Is a Fair Price for Core Plug Aeration and Overseeding Your Lawn?

A Comprehensive Guide Based on Real-world Insights

Introduction

Ever wondered what a fair price to charge for core plug aeration and overseeding your lawn is? Let's dive into this based on insights from the landscaping community. These are professionals who deal with these services daily, and their opinions are based on real-world pricing, square footage, and techniques. So, here's what they have to say:

Pricing By Square Footage

Aeration Only

$25/1,000 SqFt: This seems to be a common rate, especially for straightforward aeration tasks.

$12/1,000 SqFt: Some professionals charge as low as this, but often with a minimum fee.

$24/1,000 SqFt: Yet another option, specifically for single-pass aeration.

Aeration and Overseeding

$60/1,000 SqFt: In some areas, especially in Northern states, this is the average rate for both services.

$50/1,000 SqFt for aeration, slit seeding, and starter fert: For a more comprehensive service, this rate is quite reasonable.

Minimum Fees

$95 minimum: This is a good rule of thumb for a minimum charge.

Pricing by Mowing Rate

In my experience, some pros have a simple formula for this: 3-4 times the regular mowing rate. Simply put, this rate includes the time and effort spent on aeration and perhaps overseeding.

Pricing by Material and Time

2x material cost plus hourly rate: Especially useful for large properties (greater than .75 acre).

Tips from the Pros

Underground Hazards: Be cautious of underground dog fences and irrigation heads.

Equipment: The type of machine you use can impact your pricing. Think about it, time is money.

Seasonal Timing: While aeration can be lucrative, it's better to offer overseeding as well, particularly in the transition zones.

Efficiency: Some pros can aerate up to 8,000 sq ft in just under an hour, thus making about $70 an hour.

Conclusion

Determining a fair price for core plug aeration and overseeding is a multi-faceted process. It depends on your area, your equipment, and other overhead costs. Don't undercut yourself; your work will get you work. Keep in mind that every yard is different and requires its own calculation to arrive at a fair price.

Do you want to learn how to charge fair prices while maximizing your profitability? Want to know a secret? Pricing is part art and part science, and now you've got some guidelines to follow. The key is to stay adaptable and keep your eyes on market trends.