Hiring a LawnStarter pro to trim your bushes typically runs between $24 and $205 per job, or $88 on average. Costs depend on the number of bushes and their height, among other factors.
Some landscapers also quote per hour, between $45 and $85. In this case, your final bill rides on how long the job takes and how many crew members are on site.
This pricing guide draws on LawnStarter job data from the past year across cities throughout the U.S. so you can get a clearer idea of what bush trimming may cost in your yard.
What Does Bush Trimming Cost? Platform Comparison
Bush trimming isn’t priced as uniformly as lawn mowing. The final quote often depends on the number, height, condition, and accessibility of your shrubs. Because of the variability in pricing, it’s wise to get at least 3 quotes before you hire a service.
Here’s what you can expect to pay for bush trimming from 5 popular lawn care providers:
| Service | Typical Per-Visit Cost | What to Expect | Best If… |
|---|---|---|---|
| LawnStarter | $24–$205 | Online booking with background-checked local professionals and customer protection | You want a straightforward process and support if the job falls short |
| Lawn Love | $24–$213 | App-based, access to multiple yard and gardening services | You have other gardening or cleanup tasks to complete |
| GreenPal | $40–$75 per hour | Several local professionals may price the same project | Comparing offers is your main priority |
| Lawn Guru | $177–$659 | Quick app booking with independent providers | You need flexible or short-notice trimming |
| Thumbtack / Angi | $196–$587 | Search profiles, review qualifications, and contact professionals yourself | You want to research several contractors before hiring |
Based on platform pricing data and independent research, September 2026.
What Factors Affect the Price of Bush Trimming?
There are several environmental and situational factors that can raise or lower the cost of professional bush trimming.
1. Cost by Bush Size
Generally speaking, whether your contractor charges an hourly rate or by the bush, you’ll have to pay more to have a large bush trimmed than a small bush. As you might expect, the per-bush flat rate increases along with bush size.
Size affects per-hour pricing, too, since large bushes will take longer to trim, resulting in a higher bill.
| Bush Size (Height) | Average Cost Per Bush |
| Under 5 feet | $11 – $25 |
| 5 to 10 feet | $15 – $41 |
| 10 feet or more | $34 – $66 |
2. Cost by Quantity
Having a large number of bushes (think 25 or more) trimmed at once can result in a lower price per bush. Some contractors give discounts for especially large jobs, similar to buying in bulk.
How much money you could save depends on your specific contractor. Ask about any bulk discounts when getting your quote.
Here are the average costs of bush trimming based on the number of bushes:
| Number of Bushes | Average Cost |
| 1 | $20 – $42 |
| 2-3 | $32 – $84 |
| 4-6 | $59 – $118 |
| 7-10 | $89 – $175 |
| 11-20 | $129 – $275 |
| 20+ | $197 – $497 |
3. Cost Per Hour
Some landscapers scrap the per-bush model and bill strictly by the clock, typically $45 to $85 per hour, per pro. How long the job takes depends on the size, number of bushes, and their condition.
Compact and well-kept bushes might need only a quick touch-up, but if you have large shrubs that have gone several seasons without upkeep, they’ll likely require the use of a ladder, heavy shaping, and cleanup, so pros might charge past the standard range.
4. Location
If your bushes are too close to a building, fence, power lines, or other structures, they could be more difficult to trim than bushes out in the open. The same goes for bushes in the middle of a landscape bed or otherwise cornered into a tight spot.
Contractors who charge by the bush may ask for a higher rate for bushes in difficult locations such as these. If your contractor charges by the hour, your bill will similarly increase since maneuvering around the bushes without causing damage will most likely take more time.
Tip: Include the location of the bushes in your job description to get a more accurate quote from your contractor.
5. Debris Hauling
When a landscaper is done trimming your bushes, all those extra branches, twigs, and leaves must go somewhere. Many contractors will charge an additional fee to clean up and haul the debris for you.
Hauling fees can add to the total cost of shrub trimming, typically $30 to $100, depending on how much debris there is and whether or not the contractor will have to pay a dump fee.
6. Frequency of Service
Signing up for regular bush trimming service, usually once or twice a year, could result in a lower rate than paying piecemeal every time you want your bushes trimmed.
If your lawn care pro offers regular service plans, they will most likely suggest one to help you save on the cost of trimming your bushes.
LawnStarter Bush Trimming Prices in 47 Cities
Your costs for hiring a professional to trim the bushes in your yard will vary depending on where you live. Typically, bigger cities and metro areas will have a higher cost due to the living costs, while smaller cities and towns will have lower costs.
Moreover, southern states go through a longer growing season, so you’ll need more frequent trimmings, and will end up paying more if you live there.
The table below offers a snapshot of bush trimming costs across the country, based on LawnStarter data from August 2025 to August 2026:
How Much Does Bush Trimming Cost Per Year?
Your annual cost depends on how quickly your shrubs grow, how formal you want them to look, and how many trimming visits they require. Using LawnStarter’s per-visit average of $88, yearly costs may look like this:
| Bush Type | Trim Frequency | Annual Cost |
| Formal hedges | 2 times minimum, can go monthly for small touch-ups | $176+ |
| Flowering bushes | Once a year, after or before bloom | $88 |
| Privacy screens | 1-3 times a year | $88 – $264 |
| Slow-growing shrubs | Once a year or as needed | $88+ |
Which Bush Trimming Service Is Right for You?
The best place to book bush trimming depends on whether you want strong customer protections, competitive quotes, fast scheduling, or an ongoing relationship with a landscaper.
Choose LawnStarter if…
You want an easy booking process backed by clear customer protections. LawnStarter connects customers with background-checked, insured, and customer-rated professionals. If your bush trimming service doesn’t meet expectations, the company may arrange a re-service or provide a refund.
Choose Lawn Love if…
Bush trimming is only one item on your yard care list. Through the app, you can connect with independent local professionals for trimming, mowing, weeding, cleanup, and other outdoor services.
See Related: LawnStarter vs. Lawn Love: Which Is Right for You?
Choose GreenPal if…
You want providers to compete for your project. You can submit details about your bushes and compare bids from local professionals before deciding whom to hire.
See Related: LawnStarter vs. GreenPal: An Honest Comparison
Choose Lawn Guru if…
You value flexible, app-based scheduling. It may suit homeowners looking for a one-time bush trimming visit or relatively short-notice service, depending on local availability.
Choose Thumbtack or Angi if…
You want to research several local landscapers or have a larger, more complex bush trimming project. You can compare profiles, reviews, and estimates, although qualifications, pricing, availability, and customer protections vary by provider.
The LawnStarter Difference
More than 100,000 homeowners have used LawnStarter to connect with local professionals for bush trimming, lawn maintenance, seasonal cleanup, and nearly 30 outdoor services.
- Upfront online pricing: Get a bush trimming quote in minutes and review the price before scheduling.
- Screened local professionals: LawnStarter connects customers with background-checked providers and monitors customer feedback to help maintain service quality.
- Easy online booking: Schedule bush trimming as a one-time project or arrange additional yard services through the platform.
- Satisfaction guarantee: Report a problem within 5 days, and LawnStarter will work toward a resolution, which may include a re-service or refund.
- $2 Million Property Protection Pledge: Customers receive added protection against qualifying accidental property damage during a service visit.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro: The Honest Math
Even if your thumb isn’t particularly green, trimming your own bushes is possible. It can get more difficult, of course, depending on the size and location of your bushes. If you have an especially tall bush, for example, you may need to work from a ladder, which could be dangerous.
If you decide to take a crack at trimming your own bushes, you’ll need to spend around $165 on tools and equipment, including a cordless bush trimmer and pruning shears.
| Hiring a Pro | DIY | |
| Best for | Large, overgrown, or hard-to-reach shrubs | Small, easily reachable bushes |
| Safety Risk | Low, handled by trained pros | Higher, ladders needed for tall bushes |
| Time Required | Usually under an hour | 1–3+ hours, more for tall or overgrown bushes |
| Upfront Cost | $88 average per visit | ~$165 (cordless trimmer, pruning shears, etc.) |
Here is an article to help you do it: How to Trim Bushes: Simple Guide for Homeowners.
If you’re not handy with tools or you have large, overgrown bushes, it’s always best to hire a professional landscaper.
FAQ
Generally speaking, the best time to trim your bushes is late winter or early spring, before the growing season. The worst time to trim is after August, as new growth could be damaged by winter.
The rules are a little different for flowering bushes. Bushes that bloom from old growth (the branches you would probably trim back) do better when you trim them right after flowering, whenever that may be for your specific plant.
On the other hand, you should trim bushes that bloom from new growth before they flower, usually late winter or early spring.
Trimming and pruning are very similar, so the words are often used interchangeably.
The main difference is that trimming is for cosmetic purposes and refers to cutting back overgrown bushes to keep them looking neat and tidy. Pruning bushes is done for the plant’s health and means removing dead or diseased branches to improve the plant’s structure.
You can find more information in our article: What’s the Difference Between Pruning and Trimming?
Hire a Pro to Trim Your Bushes
Bush trimming is a necessary part of landscape maintenance, whether you do it yourself or hire a professional bush trimming pro from LawnStarter to do it for you. If you don’t have confidence in your own landscaping skills or if you’d rather sit back and relax, a pro can make sure your bushes look pristine.
Read More:
– How to Trim a Tree
– Tree Trimming Cost Guide
– Hedge Trimming Cost Guide
Main Image: Gardener trimming a thick green hedge outdoors. Image Credit: Todayphoto / Adobe Stock
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