Lexington, KY lawn mowing: Plan Your Service

Get a quote for the work you need

Send each provider the same photos and description: front and back mowing areas, gates, steps, slopes, trees, beds and any areas you want left untouched. Give the narrowest gate opening and explain where the crew can park. Ask the provider to inspect any access issue before you accept a recurring agreement.

Request separate answers for mowing, trimming around obstacles, edging and clearing clippings from paths and the driveway. Specify whether the crew should mulch clippings, collect them for your cart or take them away. Ask whether the quote covers the first visit at the lawn's present height and whether later visits use a different price.

Request property-specific quotes for the same scope of work. Compare the total for matching mowing areas, trimming and disposal, and ask how the provider charges for skipped visits, extra cleanup and cancellation. Keep those terms with the quote so you can check the invoice against the work you accepted.

Agree on cutting height and visit frequency

University of Kentucky's 2019 mowing guidance recommends heights of 2 to 3.5 inches for tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass. It gives other ranges for bermudagrass, perennial ryegrass and zoysiagrass. Ask the provider to identify your grass before choosing a mower setting, especially if you do not know what grows in the yard. [2]

The university recommends removing no more than one-third of the leaf at a time and explains that grass type and cutting height affect mowing frequency. Use that rule to discuss weekly or less frequent visits. Agree on who checks growth and contacts whom when the lawn needs a change in schedule. [2]

For an overgrown lawn, ask the provider how they will reach the agreed height while respecting the removal limit. University guidance also emphasizes sharp blades and identifies brown leaf tips after mowing as a sign of dull blades. Ask about blade maintenance if you see torn grass after a visit. [2]

Choose mulching, collection or hauling

University of Kentucky guidance says most lawns do not need clipping removal when mowing height and frequency suit the grass. It recommends considering removal when excess clippings form clumps or disease is present. Ask the crew to check for clumping before leaving, and agree on what they should do if mulching does not produce an acceptable finish. [2]

Lexington provides weekly yard waste pickup for customers with city waste collection, on the same day as their blue and green carts. The city accepts grass clippings in the gray cart, loose rather than bagged, and accepts overflow in paper yard waste bags beside the cart. Confirm your collection service before asking a crew to leave collected clippings at the curb. [1]

If you choose hauling, ask where the provider will take the clippings and include that work in the written quote. Confirm whether a contractor's load qualifies for any resident disposal allowance before relying on it. If you plan to handle disposal yourself, confirm the facility's requirements before loading your vehicle.

Set visit terms before the first cut

Agree on a visit window and a contact method for weather delays. Ask whether the crew will notify you before arrival, how it handles a locked gate and whether it charges for a visit it cannot complete. Write down how you can pause or end recurring service and whether the provider requires notice.

Before arrival, move toys, hoses and portable furniture; pick up pet waste; and mark sprinkler heads or other obstacles you want the crew to avoid. Show the crew the boundaries of beds and planted areas. Ask for evidence of liability insurance and the procedure for reporting damage.

After the first visit, check the agreed areas with the provider. Discuss missed strips, clumps, trimming and cleanup before confirming ongoing service. Keep the written scope and invoice so you can compare later visits with what you accepted.

University of Kentucky recommended lawn mowing heights

Choose the mowing arrangement for your yard

Your hiring checklist

1. Send matching photos and a description of the mowing area to each provider.
2. Identify the grass and agree on a cutting height.
3. Specify trimming, edging and cleanup in the written scope.
4. Choose mulching, cart disposal or hauling and name who handles it.
5. Request the first-visit price and recurring tax-inclusive total.
6. Agree on weather delays, skipped visits and cancellation terms.
7. Confirm gate access, mark obstacles and request evidence of insurance.
8. Review the first visit before confirming recurring service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I book weekly or biweekly mowing?

Choose the interval around growth and the agreed cutting height. University of Kentucky guidance recommends removing no more than one-third of the leaf in one mowing. Ask the provider how it will adjust visits when the lawn grows enough to exceed that limit. [2]

Does the crew need to bag my clippings?

University of Kentucky guidance says most lawns do not need clipping removal, though clumping or lawn disease can justify it. If you request collection, agree whether the crew will use your city gray cart, leave paper yard waste bags or haul the material away. [1] [2]

Is sales tax part of a mowing quote?

Kentucky Department of Revenue says providers must charge sales tax on mowing and other listed lawn care services. The rate is 6%. Ask whether the quoted amount includes tax so you can compare the amount you will pay. [3]

What should I ask about the first visit?

Ask the provider to confirm the price for the lawn's current condition, the planned cutting height, trimming and cleanup. Agree on access and clipping disposal. Review the completed work together before accepting a recurring schedule.