What’s a fair hourly rate for a landscaper in Florida?

Most Florida crews bill the equivalent of $45–$90 per worker hour, or $90–$160 per two-person crew hour. Rates rise in Miami-Dade, the Keys, and during peak season. Flat bids are common; ask for estimated hours to compare apples to apples.

How much does sod installation cost in Florida?

Installed sod typically runs $1.50–$2.75 per square foot for St. Augustine, Bahia, or Zoysia. That includes removal, soil prep, and rolling. Irrigation tuning may add $100–$300. Curved beds, access issues, or premium varieties push costs higher.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Florida?

Many cities require permits to remove protected trees. Some allow removal without a permit if an ISA-certified arborist states the tree poses a danger. Always check your city and HOA rules first—fines can exceed the job cost.

What’s a normal monthly lawn care price in Florida?

For a typical 1/4–1/2 acre suburban lot, expect $120–$300 per month for mowing, edging, blowing, and basic trimming. Add-ons like bed weeding, fertilizer, or hedge shaping increase the price. Coastal metros typically cost more than inland areas.

When is the cheapest time to hire a landscaper in Florida?

Late fall to early winter is calmer for many crews, especially outside South Florida. You may snag 5–15% savings on non-urgent work. Avoid peak spring cleanups and pre-hurricane pruning if you want the lowest rates and quickest scheduling.

Landscaper Cost Florida: Real 2026 Prices & Hiring Tips

What landscaper cost looks like in Florida (2026)

Florida pricing is its own animal: heat, growth rates, hurricanes, and sandy soils all change the math. Here’s what we’re paying and seeing statewide right now. We mention Florida-specific rules, real prices in USD, and who to call to get straight answers.

Average landscaper cost in Florida

Basic mow-edge-blow monthly packages: $120–$300 for up to ~1/4 acre; $180–$400 for ~1/2 acre.
One-time yard cleanup (beds, trimming, haul-off): $300–$900.
Design fees: $800–$2,500 for a scaled plan on a typical suburban lot.
Full landscape refresh (plants, mulch/rock, edging): $3,500–$12,000.
Full-yard makeover with pavers/lighting/irrigation: $8,000–$35,000+.

We’ve personally paid $150/month in Pinellas for biweekly mow/trim and $95/hour for a two-person cleanup crew in Broward—both fair for 2026.

Florida hourly rates vs. flat prices

Most Florida landscapers bill either per-visit or per-project, but hourly still shows up for cleanups and odd jobs.

Hourly: $45–$90 per worker hour; $90–$160 per two-person crew hour. See ranges and when hourly makes sense in our guide: How Much Do Landscapers Charge per Hour: Price Guide.
Per-visit mowing: $35–$70 for small lots; $60–$120 for larger lawns or gated access.
Flat project bids: materials + labor + overhead + disposal, with change orders if scope creeps.

Stats check: Florida landscaping/groundskeeping workers average roughly $16–$18/hour in wages; by the time a company adds payroll taxes, insurance, fuel, travel, and profit, billed rates land in that $50–$90+ range (BLS OEWS, Florida, 37-3011, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_fl.htm).

Common Florida projects and prices (with real items)

Sod install (St. Augustine, Bahia, Zoysia): $1.50–$2.75/sq ft installed. Material alone often $0.55–$1.15/sq ft for St. Augustine. Pro tip: ask about soil/grade and irrigation tuning.
Irrigation install (6–8 zones): $3,000–$5,500. Rain Bird 5000 rotors run ~$9–$13/head; an Orbit B-hyve smart controller is ~$60–$110.
Paver patio/drive: $12–$22/sq ft (concrete pavers), more for travertine. Includes base compaction (huge in our sandy soils).
Palm trimming: $75–$150 per palm; hurricane prep trims run higher in late summer.
Tree removal: $400–$1,200 for typical residential trees; cranes, tight access, or live oaks can push $2,000+.
Mulch: $45–$75 per cubic yard + $50–$80/yd for install; rock: $90–$150/yd delivered.
Landscape lighting: $2,000–$4,500 for a 10–15 fixture LED package.
Fertilizer examples for DIY savings: Scotts Southern Turf Builder 14k sq ft bag ~$28–$34; Milorganite 32 lb ~$18–$22; a Toro Recycler 22" mower runs ~$350–$430 if you’re mowing yourself between pro visits.

Regional price differences across Florida

Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach: +10–20% vs. inland due to demand, labor costs, and traffic.
The Florida Keys: +20–35% plus potential trip/bridge fees and limited plant availability.
Tampa Bay–Orlando–Sarasota: middle of the pack; strong competition keeps routine services competitive.
Jacksonville–Tallahassee–Pensacola: slightly lower on maintenance; storm cleanup spikes after severe weather.

We’ve seen the same cleanup quoted at $650 in Tampa and $825 in Boca Raton with identical scope.

Florida rules: trees, watering, hurricanes, and HOA fine print

Watering: most Water Management Districts limit irrigation to 2 days/week; clocks must be set correctly or you risk fines.
Fertilizer bans: many coastal counties restrict nitrogen/phosphorus during rainy season—your pro should plan around blackout dates.
Trees: many cities require permits to remove or heavily prune protected species; exemptions may apply with an ISA-certified arborist hazard letter—ask before anyone starts a saw.
Irrigation/backflow: backflow preventers often need permits and annual tests.
HOAs: expect appearance standards and approved plant lists; Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles are widely accepted when documented.

Hiring smart in Florida (and who to call)

Vetting: confirm general liability and workers’ comp, local license where required, and recent Florida references. Start with 3 bids and the right questions: 14 Key Questions to Ask a Landscaper Before Hiring and What to Look For in Landscaping Near Me: The Real Deal.
Local firms to price-check: Yellowstone Landscape (Bunnell HQ, statewide teams), Juniper Landscaping (Fort Myers, SWFL), Landcrafters Florida (Largo/Tampa Bay). Not endorsements—just reliable baselines.
Clarify scope in writing: exact plant sizes/quantities, mulch depth, irrigation checks, haul-off, and warranty.
Know who you need: designer vs maintenance crew—see Landscaper vs Lawn Care Service: What’s the Difference?.

When DIY makes sense in Florida (and when it doesn’t)

DIY wins: mulch refreshes, bed weeding, simple plant swaps, basic fertilizing between pro visits.
Hire out: heavy tree work, big paver installs, irrigation trenching, or large sod jobs—Florida heat and root competition make “simple” jobs bigger than they look.
Hybrid strategy we use: pro cleanup + irrigation tune in spring; we handle mulch and annual color. Revisit pro crews before hurricane season for structural pruning.

If you want monthly maintenance math, see our Florida-friendly breakdowns in Monthly Lawn Care Cost: Real Prices, Services, and ROI.