Wondering if you should tip the folks who make your lawn look nice? You're not alone. This article will tell you if tipping is a good idea and how much to give.
Tipping for lawn care service is not mandatory, but if you choose to tip, a common practice is to give $20 to $50 per crew member at the end of the season or $10 to $20 for a one-time service, depending on the quality and extent of the service provided.
Tipping Customs
Tipping not customary
$ 15
$ 10
- $ 20
Summary
Tipping lawn service is not compulsory but a reflection of appreciation for quality service.
Consider the frequency and quality of service when deciding on gratuity.
Holiday tipping is common for regular lawn service professionals.
When it comes to tipping your lawn service, it’s a gesture of appreciation for work done well, particularly when service providers go above and beyond your expectations. While not obligatory, tipping can be a reflection of your satisfaction and gratitude.
What Do Other People Typically Tip
Customary Amount: Many homeowners tend to tip between $20 to $50 per service provider during the holiday season as a thank you for a year of good service.
Weekly or Bi-weekly Service: It's less common to tip after each mowing, but if you choose to do so, a cash tip of $5 to $10 per crew member can be a nice gesture.
Above and Beyond Service: If the team performs additional tasks outside the scope of their contract without extra charges, a 15-20% tip is a generous way to show appreciation.
Other Things You Could Do or Give
Gifts and Small Tokens: Consider providing cold drinks on a hot day or giving small gifts or holiday gifts as a token of kindness.
Alternatives to Cash: If you're on a budget or a cash tip isn't feasible, other forms of appreciation can include gift cards or home-baked goods.
Positive Feedback: Taking the time to provide positive feedback on social media or writing a good review can also be valuable for general contractors, often more than a cash tip.
By understanding these customary practices and alternatives, you can ensure that your appreciation for lawn service professionals is expressed appropriately and thoughtfully.
When To Tip
One-Time Service:
For a job done only once, your decision to tip is based on the quality of work. If you're impressed, consider giving a tip.
Excellent service: Tip is a nice gesture
Satisfactory work: Tipping is optional
Routine Visits:
During regular lawn care, tipping isn't common for each service. However, a small token of appreciation during special occasions can be considered.
Consistent quality: Think about end-of-season tipping
Extra effort shown: Consider a tip to show your gratitude
Holiday Season:
The end of the year is a traditional time for giving. It's customary to tip your lawn service crew during this period, especially if they have provided reliable service throughout the year.
Regular crew: A tip of $20 to $50 per person can express your thanks
Exceptional year-round service: A more generous tip might be warranted
Special Events:
If the crew goes above and beyond for a specific event at your home, a tip can acknowledge their extra effort.
Event preparation: Consider a tip to thank the crew
Post-event cleanup: A tip can show your appreciation for their hard work
Remember: Tipping is your way of saying 'thank you' for going the extra mile. Always consider the quality of service and your own budget before deciding to give a tip.
When Not To Tip
Tipping is often appreciated but not always necessary. In the context of lawn service, you might choose not to tip in certain situations:
Work Quality: If the services provided fall short of professional standards or if the job is incomplete, it's reasonable not to tip.
Contractual Agreement: Some contractors have a no-tipping policy due to a fixed pricing structure.
Regular Service: For employees that provide regular maintenance, tipping each time may not be sustainable.
Situation
Tipping Not Expected
Unsatisfactory work
✖️ No tip required
Pre-set no-tip policy
✖️ No tip required
Regular visits without exceptional service
✖️ Tip at your discretion
Frequency of Service: If you have a contractual relationship where the cost is inclusive of all services, tipping is not standard. It is your discretion to reward exceptional service periodically.
Remember, you are under no obligation to tip, especially if the service hasn't met your expectations. Your financial comfort and judgment are paramount when deciding on extra payments beyond the agreed charges.
What They Expect Themselves
When considering tipping your lawn service professionals, it's important to understand their perspective on compensation and reliance on tips. Let's delve into what lawn service workers earn and whether their income depends significantly on the gratuities they receive.
What Do They Make
Lawn care employees typically earn an hourly wage or salary, determined by the employer. This pay is expected to cover their work, including tasks like mowing, trimming, and general lawn maintenance. It's important for you as a client to recognize that the cost of the service quoted to you likely includes the employee's wages, which are set by the employer.
Hourly/Salary: Earnings vary based on region and company policy.
Quoted Service Cost: This typically includes employee wages.
Are They Dependant on Tips
Lawn care professionals often view tips as a gesture of appreciation rather than a necessity. Unlike some service industry workers who rely on tips as a significant part of their income, lawn care employees usually receive a wage that is not heavily dependent on gratuities. However, they may appreciate a tip for exceptional service or as recognition for their hard work throughout the season.
Tips as Appreciation: Understood as a bonus for exceptional work.
Wage-Based Compensation: Tips are not a primary income source.
Now, when you decide whether to tip your lawn service crew, consider these insights into their wage structure and attitude towards tipping.
Unique Tipping Circumstances
When considering whether to tip lawn care crews, it's important to take into account specific scenarios that may warrant extra gratitude. Special events, holidays, and peak service times are such occasions where you might want to go above and beyond.
Tipping During Holidays, Peak Times, or Special Events
Holidays:
Christmas/New Year's: It is a common practice to provide a cash tip to your regular lawn service crew as a thank-you for a year of diligent work.
Thanksgiving: Showing gratitude with a tip can be a way of giving thanks for their hard work throughout the growing season.
Peak Service Times:
Start/End of Season: Extra tipping at the beginning or end of a lawn care season is appreciative of their efforts to prepare or recover your lawn.
Special Events:
After a Storm: If your service crew has helped clean up your yard following significant weather events, a generous tip can indicate your appreciation for their additional effort.
Consider Your Lawn Service Professionals:
Understand that the business owners and their crews operate much like plumbers, electricians, and other home service professionals, where tipping isn't necessarily expected but is often appreciated for exceptional service.
Lawn Care Tipping
When considering tipping for lawn care services, you are acknowledging the effort and quality provided by your lawn care professional. This section will guide you on whether to tip for one-time services or seasonal lawn care tasks like spring cleanup.
Do You Tip a One-Time Lawn Service
For a one-time lawn service, such as mowing or mulching, tipping isn't mandatory but it is appreciated for exceptional work.
If the job exceeds your expectations: Consider a tip of $10 to $20, or up to 15-20% of the cost of the service.
For satisfactory or standard service: Tipping is not expected but you can offer a nominal amount as a gesture of gratitude.
Do You Tip Landscapers for Spring Cleanup
Tipping landscapers for spring cleanup is a thoughtful way to show appreciation for their hard work, especially when they go the extra mile in preparing your lawn for the growing season.
For remarkable service, such as thoroughraking, fertilizing, and pruning: You might tip between 15-20% of the total charge.
In case of regular service: You may opt for a smaller tip or a one-time larger tip at the end of the season to express your satisfaction with their consistent service.
