What do Florida landscapers charge per hour?

Expect $45–$85 per hour for a crew lead and helper in most Florida metros. Solo operators can be $35–$60. Rates track local wages, insurance, and travel time. Ask for a not‑to‑exceed estimate if hourly, or request a flat rate for defined tasks.

How much is monthly lawn service in Florida?

For a typical 1/4‑acre lot, $120–$300 per month covers mowing, edging, blowing, and periodic shrub trimming. Weekly in warm months, biweekly or occasional in winter. Add‑ons like fertilizer, weed control, and irrigation checks increase the bill.

Do I need a permit for irrigation in Florida?

Often yes. Many Florida cities/counties require permits for new irrigation zones, mainline tie‑ins, or well connections. Budget $75–$200 for fees. Confirm your water management district’s watering schedule so your controller is programmed legally.

How much does sod installation cost in Florida?

Installed St. Augustine or Bahia typically runs $1.25–$2.50 per sq ft, including removal, grading, and rolls/pallets. Access, sprinkler repairs, and topsoil can add more. DIY pickup sod is cheaper ($0.45–$0.90 per sq ft) but heavy labor.

When is the best time to landscape in Florida?

Fall through early spring is ideal—cooler temps, less transplant shock, and fewer fertilizer blackout restrictions. Summer installs work, but plan for heavy watering within legal limits and expect some schedule juggle around thunderstorms and heat.

Landscaper cost Florida: Real 2026 prices, rules & tips

Florida landscaper cost: the quick snapshot

If you’re in Florida, landscaper cost depends on year‑round growth, sandy soils, irrigation rules, and hurricane‑proofing. Expect:

Hourly labor: $45–$85 per hour (crew lead + helper)
Monthly lawn service (typical 1/4 acre): $120–$300
One‑time cleanup: $250–$800
New landscape install: $4,000–$20,000+ (design, plants, mulch, lighting)
Sod (St. Augustine or Bahia) installed: $1.25–$2.50 per sq ft
4‑zone irrigation install: $2,500–$4,500 (permits extra)

We’ve paid $185/month in Tampa for mow/edge/trim/blow with 6‑week hedge shaping, and $3,200 in Orlando for a partial front‑yard refresh (shell path, 20 shrubs, drip add‑on).

Florida hourly, monthly, and project prices

Florida crews charge hourly for odd jobs, but most residential work is flat‑rate:

Hourly: Small crews bill $45–$85/hr; solo pros $35–$60/hr. See how labor converts to scope in How Much Do Landscapers Charge per Hour: Price Guide.
Monthly lawn care: $120–$300 for 1/4 acre, weekly or biweekly mowing April–October, biweekly/occasional in winter. Compare with Monthly Lawn Care Cost.
Projects: $4k–$20k typical. Backyard reworks vary—see How Much Does It Cost to Landscape a Backyard? Real Prices.

Florida rules, climate, and why they move price

Watering restrictions: SFWMD, SJRWMD, and SWFWMD limit days/times. Controllers get programmed accordingly; violations can mean fines.
Fertilizer blackouts: Many coastal counties ban nitrogen/phosphorus in summer (June–Sept). That shifts scheduling and sometimes plant choices.
Irrigation permits: Many cities/counties require permits for new zones, tie‑ins, or wells. Budget $75–$200 for fees plus time.
Hurricanes/heat: Wind‑rated fences, staking for palms, and heat‑tolerant, Florida‑Friendly plants keep replacements (and your budget) down.

Florida sample quotes we’ve seen (Miami, Orlando, Tampa)

Miami: Full‑service weekly lawn care for 7,000 sq ft lot: $220–$280/month; queen palm (10–12 ft) installed: $450–$900 each.
Orlando: 5‑zone irrigation refresh (new Rain Bird ESP‑TM2 controller, 10 rotors, 12 sprays): $1,350–$1,900 plus permit.
Tampa Bay: Front yard install (1 pallet St. Augustine sod, 25 shrubs, mulch, edging): $3,800–$6,200 depending on access and plant sizes.

Companies with strong Florida footprints to price‑check: Yellowstone Landscape (Bunnell HQ), BrightView, Massey Services (Orlando), Duval Landscape (Jacksonville/Tampa). We don’t play favorites—get 3 bids with the same scope.

Florida‑friendly products and DIY vs. hire

DIY can trim 15–30% if you’ve got weekends and a wheelbarrow. Named products we like for Florida yards:

Rain Bird ESP‑TM2 6‑zone controller: ~$129
Hunter PGP Ultra rotors: $10–$13 each; Rain Bird 1800 sprays: ~$4–$6
Toro T5 RapidSet rotor: ~$12
Scotts Southern Turf Builder (FL lawns): ~$24–$56 depending on size
St. Augustine sod: $0.45–$0.90 per sq ft pickup; $1.25–$2.50 installed
Pine bark mulch: $3–$4 per 2‑cu‑ft bag; decorative shell/rock: $90–$180 per cu yd delivered

Hire a pro for: irrigation layout/permits, tree work over 8 ft, drainage correction, and large sod regrades. Clarify whether you need a landscaper vs. a lawn service—start here: Landscaper vs Lawn Care Service: What’s the Difference?.

How to hire right in Florida (and not get burned)

Ask about permits, controller programming to district rules, and hurricane staking/wind‑resistant plant lists.
Require line‑item bids (demo, irrigation, plants by size/gallon, mulch yards, disposal).
Get warranties in writing: 30–90 days on plants, 1 year on irrigation parts.
Use our checklist: 14 Key Questions to Ask a Landscaper Before Hiring and What to Look For in Landscaping Near Me: The Real Deal.

By the numbers: Florida landscaping data

The mean wage for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers in Florida is roughly $16–$17/hr (BLS May 2023), which translates to client rates of ~$45–$85/hr once you add payroll burden, insurance, trucks, and markup (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_fl.htm#37-3011).
Typical U.S. landscape installs run $1,300–$5,700+; complete projects can exceed $20k (Angi averages; Florida skews higher with irrigation and year‑round growth) (https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-landscaping-cost.htm).
Florida‑Friendly Landscaping guidance from UF/IFAS can cut water use 20–50% with right plant placement and micro‑irrigation (https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/).
Many counties enforce summer fertilizer blackouts; see FL DEP Urban Turf Fertilizer Rule (https://floridadep.gov/water/nonpoint-source-management/content/urban-turf-fertilizer).