Common questions. Straight answers.
Most of what homeowners ask before they hire us. Don't see your question? Call us at the number in the header.
How does weekly lawn service work?
How much does weekly lawn service cost in San Diego?
Small yards start at $120/month. Most single-family properties run $140-$260/month on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule. Flat monthly rate, no per-visit billing. Mow, edge, trim, blow, and haul-off are included.
How often will you come out?
Warm-season lawns (Bermuda, St. Augustine, Zoysia) usually get weekly April-October and every 2-3 weeks November-February. Cool-season (fescue) runs every 10-14 days in peak growth. We adjust cadence to actual growth, not just the calendar.
Do you bring your own equipment?
Yes. Commercial walk-behind and stand-on mowers, gas and battery trimmers, steel-blade edgers, and blowers. Blades sharpened weekly — dull blades tear grass and cause brown tips.
Can I pause service when I travel or during winter?
Yes. Winter low-growth pauses are common for warm-season lawns — no charge while service is paused. Most customers step down to every 3-4 weeks December-February rather than full pause.
How much does landscape design and installation cost?
How much does a full landscape install cost?
Design fee runs $600-$1,400 (credited toward install). Front-yard installs typically run $6,000-$12,000, full properties $12,000-$25,000+. Drought-tolerant conversions often qualify for $1,600-$3,200 in turf rebates that offset the total.
What do I get for the design fee?
A scaled drawing with plant list, irrigation zone plan, hardscape layout, and an itemized cost estimate. Fee credits 100% toward install if you move forward. Worth it on any install over $8K — a wrong plant pick in SD dies in year two and you pay twice.
How long does a full yard install take?
3-5 days for a front yard (1,000-1,500 sq ft), 5-10 days for a full property with grading and hardscape. We stage by zone so most of the yard stays usable during the install.
Do you warranty the plants?
90-day plant replacement warranty on anything we install and maintain through the rooting period. Does not cover neglect, pet damage, or extreme weather. Plants replaced at cost after 90 days if you want us back out.
Are there rebates for drought-tolerant conversion?
Yes. MWD SoCalWater$mart pays $2-$4/sq ft of lawn removed. Padre Dam, Helix, Otay, and other local agencies stack additional rebates. We pre-qualify the project, file the paperwork, and handle the pre- and post-install inspections.
How do I fix a sprinkler system or cut water use?
My water bill jumped — what should I check first?
Three checks: (1) Walk the yard during a run cycle, look for wet patches that never dry (lateral line leak). (2) Test each valve solo for pressure consistency. (3) Check the controller against the current agency restrictions — most older dial-timers are set too generous. Most SD bill spikes trace to one leaking valve or lateral.
Are smart controllers worth the cost?
Yes for most SD homes. A Rachio or Hunter Hydrawise costs $230-$300 installed, runs off local ET (evapotranspiration) forecasts, and skips watering when it rains. Payback is usually 8-14 months on SD water rates. Also keeps you automatically compliant with MWD watering-day limits.
Can you retrofit a lawn system to drip for drought planting?
Yes. We convert existing lawn valves to drip laterals with pressure regulators and filters, add inline emitters sized to the new plants, and set new run times. Common during a lawn-to-drought conversion — avoids trenching fresh mainline.
How often should landscape work happen?
When should I fertilize my lawn?
Warm-season grasses (Bermuda, St. Augustine, Zoysia) — 4 to 6 feedings per year, heaviest April-August. Cool-season (tall fescue) — 4 feedings per year, heaviest September-November and March-April. Over-feeding wastes money and causes thatch.
When should pre-emergent go down for weed control?
Two windows. Winter weeds (poa annua, chickweed) — apply mid-October. Summer weeds (crabgrass, spurge, goosegrass) — apply mid-February. Miss the window by 3-4 weeks and most of the benefit is lost. We schedule these by calendar, not by sight.
How often should hedges be trimmed?
Formal hedges (boxwood, privet, cypress) want 2-3 shapings per year. Ornamentals (Indian hawthorn, loropetalum) get 1-2. Ficus needs selective thinning every 6-8 months — sheared ficus goes brown fast in our sun.
How often should I refresh mulch?
Top-up annually, full refresh every 2-3 years. Bark breaks down and thins over time. Once you can see bare soil between bark pieces, it is past due — water savings drop and weeds come back.
What about defensible space and fire-risk lots?
Do you handle CAL FIRE defensible space clearing?
Yes. Zone 0 (ember-resistant 0-5 ft), Zone 1 (lean-clean 5-30 ft), Zone 2 (reduced fuel 30-100 ft). Common in Ramona, Julian, Alpine, Fallbrook, and Poway hillside lots. We cut vegetation back to compliance and haul out the fuel load. Documentation provided for insurance or CAL FIRE inspection.
What plants should I avoid in fire-risk areas?
Avoid: eucalyptus within 30 ft of structures, junipers, pampas grass, pepper trees, and Italian cypress near eaves. Choose: succulents and agaves (fire-resilient), California natives (toyon, manzanita, ceanothus), and hardscape zones close to the structure. We design around defensible space rules when your lot needs it.
How often does defensible space need to be redone?
Annual cutback in spring (March-May) and a mid-summer check (July) is standard on inland lots. One clearing is rarely enough — new growth fills back in fast during the wet season and dries into fuel through summer.
Ready for landscaping that actually answers the phone?
Call for a free quote. Same-week scheduling on most work. Full designs and installs scheduled within the month.