What a lawn care work order is for
Lawn crews run routes of many yards a day, and each yard has its quirks: a gate code, a dog, a bed the customer does not want blown, a slope to mow across. A work order per stop, or a route sheet, keeps those details out of people's heads. For treatment visits it records what was applied, which state rules may require.
What to put on a lawn care work order
- Address and gate access.
- Mow height and pattern notes.
- Areas to avoid or treat by hand.
- Treatment for this visit and product.
- Pets and anything to move.
- Crew sign-off.
A worked example
A weekly stop with a fertilizer round due. The crew needs the gate code and the dog note. Prices are hidden.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mow front and back, 3.5 inch height | 1 | visit | Your price |
| Trim along fence and beds | 1 | visit | Your price |
| Blow off walks and patio | 1 | visit | Your price |
| Fertilizer round 3 | 1 | each | Your price |
Record the product and rate in the notes for the treatment. Many states require application records; the work order is an easy place to keep them.
Line items lawn care companies use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Mowing, trimming and blowing | visit | Per visit, priced by lawn size. |
| Fertilizer application | each | Per round; say the product type. |
| Weed control application | each | Pre-emergent or post-emergent. |
| Core aeration | each | Once a year, usually spring or fall. |
| Overseeding | sq ft | Often paired with aeration. |
| Spring or fall cleanup | each | Leaves, sticks and bed cleanout. |
| Leaf removal | visit | Say whether leaves are hauled or mulched. |
| Hedge trimming | hour | By the hour or by the hedge. |
| Edging beds and walks | ft | Hard edging along beds and paving. |
| Mulch, delivered and spread | cu yd | Type and depth. |
| Grub or insect control | each | Where licensed for the application. |
| Extra charge for overgrown first cut | each | When the first mow needs extra passes. |
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer, the site and the date.
- Add who is assigned, the arrival window and access.
- List the tasks and materials in the order the crew will need them.
- Put gate codes, pets and anything to protect in the site notes.
- Print it for the truck or send it to the crew's phone as a PDF.
Free tools for lawn care
- Lawn care cost calculator
- Lawn square footage calculator
- Satellite measuring tool
- Landscaping business name generator
The same work order for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.