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Puget Sound Lawn Care

Before you hand over a gate code

How to hire a lawn care service

Mowing looks simple until the crew skips the back strip, sprays weed killer you did not ask for, or scalps the lawn in August. Sort those out on the first call.

What to look for

  • A set day of the week and a plan for when it rains on mow day.
  • A written list of what a visit includes: mow, edge, blow off walks, haul clippings or mulch them.
  • If they spray or spread anything for weeds, moss or bugs, a WSDA Commercial Applicator license.
  • For patios, walls, irrigation or regrading, L&I contractor registration.

Questions to ask

  1. Is the price per visit, per month, or per season? What happens in weeks you skip?
  2. Do you apply weed-and-feed, moss killer or any other product? Under whose WSDA license?
  3. What height do you mow at in summer?
  4. Who closes the gate and keeps the dog in?
  5. Do you haul away clippings and leaves, and is that extra?

Red flags

  • They offer moss or weed treatment and cannot name a WSDA license.
  • They quote a season price up front and want it paid in full.
  • They offer to build a retaining wall or patio but are not registered with L&I.

Comparing quotes

We found no local survey of mowing prices we would stand behind, so we don't print one. Ask each crew to price the same list of tasks per visit, then compare. See how to compare lawn care quotes.

Licenses that apply in Washington

  • Mowing and pruning: no L&I contractor registration needed. (L&I)
  • Any pesticide for hire, including moss control on lawns or roofs, spot sprays and weed-and-feed: the company needs a WSDA Commercial Applicator license, and employees who apply need Commercial Operator licenses. (WSDA)
  • Landscape construction: L&I treats landscapers as specialty contractors with a $15,000 bond. (L&I F625-084-000) Check them on L&I Verify.

More on the spray rules: who can treat your lawn for weeds and moss.

Why Google ratings matter

Neighbors open Google before they call. They scan stars and recent notes, then decide if a lawn care crew looks real and reachable. A thin or silent profile loses that job. SteadyRank keeps the follow-up loop after a closed job ($297/mo). No rank promise. No lead cut.

Sources

We read each source on October 17, 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the linked page before you rely on a number.

  1. L&I publication F625-084-000, What You Should Know About Hiring a Contractor (10-2024)
  2. WSDA: Attention Landscape Maintenance Companies (AGR PUB 702-556)
  3. Washington L&I: Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business

Written by the Puget Sound Lawn Care team. We list businesses; we do not employ, bond or insure them. Spot a mistake? Use the claim page to tell us.

Before you hire a lawn crew

State business license
Search the business name on the Washington Department of Revenue — Business Lookup. It shows whether the business holds an active Washington business license. No match is not proof of a problem (the license may be under an owner’s name), but it is a fair question to ask.
Digging means 811 first
Edging, aeration, irrigation, planting or anything that breaks ground deeper than a few inches should start with an 811 locate request. Washington law requires the excavator to call at least two full business days ahead, and the locate is free (Washington UTC — Call 811 before you dig (RCW 19.122)).
Contractor registration
If the job includes construction work such as a retaining wall or hardscape, ask for the contractor registration number and check it on Washington L&I — Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business.

Links checked on 2026-10-08. This is general guidance, not legal advice.