Frequently asked questions about trädgård & utemiljö

Crew rates run $50–$100/hr. Routine mowing on a typical suburban lot is $45–85 a visit, and a full spring or fall cleanup with debris hauling usually lands at $250–600. Most crews have a minimum charge, so bundling jobs into one visit is cheaper than calling them out twice.

A seasonal contract locks in a crew and a price, usually costing 10–20% less per visit than one-off calls, and it guarantees a slot during the busy spring and fall weeks. Per-visit works better for large one-time projects such as a cleanup, mulch installation or a new bed.

Prune most fruit trees in late winter while they're dormant, before buds swell. Summer pruning after fruit set controls size and improves light. Avoid heavy cuts in early spring sap rise, and prune stone fruit in dry summer weather to limit disease.

Often yes. Many cities require a permit to remove a tree above a trunk-diameter threshold, heritage and street trees are protected outright, and HOAs frequently have their own rules. Removing a protected tree without a permit can bring a fine based on the tree's appraised value. Federal law also protects most native birds, so avoid removals during nesting season where you can.

Sod installed with soil preparation costs roughly $1.50–3.50 per square foot. Seeding is far cheaper at about $0.15–0.50 per square foot but takes a full season to establish and needs consistent watering. In the North, seed in early fall; in the South, lay warm-season sod in late spring.

In snow-belt metros, a seasonal driveway contract runs $350–900 and per-visit plowing $50–120, with shoveling walkways and salting priced on top. Seasonal contracts win in a heavy winter and lose in a mild one. Book in early fall — plow routes fill before the first storm.

A designer plans layout, hardscape and planting and produces drawings you can hand to installers for comparable bids. A residential plan costs $1,500–6,000. A licensed landscape architect charges more and is the right call for grading, drainage, retaining walls or anything that needs a permit.

Feed three times a season: early spring to start growth, early summer to sustain it, and late summer or fall with a potassium-rich mix to harden the grass for winter. Use slow-release fertilizer and water it in if the weather is dry.

Water deeply and less often, early in the morning, and switch spray heads to drip in beds. Mulch two to three inches to hold moisture, and replace thirsty turf with native or drought-tolerant planting. Many water utilities pay rebates for smart controllers, rain sensors and lawn removal — check yours before you buy anything.

Plant a succession of blooms from early spring to fall, favor native species, and leave a sunny patch of bare soil or an uncut area for ground-nesting bees. Skip broad-spectrum pesticides and let some seed heads stand over winter for birds.