TruGreen vs. Sunday Lawn Care - Professional Service vs. DIY Delivered

When it comes to achieving a lush, healthy lawn, homeowners today have more options than ever. The choice often boils down to two main philosophies: hands-on DIY with expert guidance, or completely hands-off professional service. In this landscape, TruGreen and Sunday Lawn Care represent two leading but fundamentally different approaches.

TruGreen stands as the nation’s largest full-service lawn care provider, offering comprehensive, professionally applied treatments. Sunday Lawn Care, conversely, has carved out a niche as a modern, direct-to-consumer brand that delivers tailored, often natural, lawn care products directly to your door for you to apply yourself. This article will delve into the nuances of each service, comparing their offerings, customer experiences, and ultimately help you decide which approach aligns best with your lawn care goals and lifestyle.

Compare TruGreen vs. Sunday Lawn Care

The core difference between TruGreen and Sunday Lawn Care is their service model. TruGreen provides professional, on-site lawn care, with trained technicians applying treatments throughout the year. It’s a completely hands-off service for the homeowner. Sunday Lawn Care, on the other hand, offers a DIY subscription model, sending customized boxes of fertilizers, soil amendments, and weed/pest control products (often with a focus on natural ingredients) for the homeowner to apply.

Overview

TruGreen: TruGreen is a dominant force in the professional lawn care industry, serving millions of customers across the United States. Their business model revolves around regular, scheduled visits by certified specialists who assess, treat, and monitor your lawn’s health. They offer various annual plans that cover everything from basic fertilization and weed control to comprehensive solutions including pest management, disease control, aeration, and overseeding. TruGreen emphasizes a science-driven approach, using advanced products and techniques tailored to local soil conditions and grass types. Their “Healthy Lawn Guarantee” means they will re-service between scheduled visits if needed.

Sunday Lawn Care: Sunday (often stylized as “Sunday Lawn Care”) represents the new wave of lawn care, appealing to homeowners who prefer a more natural, DIY approach without the guesswork. Through a subscription service, Sunday leverages soil analysis, satellite imagery, and climate data to create a personalized lawn care plan. They then ship pre-portioned pouches of liquid fertilizers, soil amendments, and other treatments directly to your home, along with a hose-end sprayer for easy application. Sunday prides itself on using “mystery-free” ingredients, often plant-derived or naturally occurring, and aims to empower homeowners to achieve a beautiful lawn with reduced environmental impact.

Plans & Services

The offerings from TruGreen and Sunday reflect their distinct service models.

TruGreen’s Plans & Services: TruGreen provides several annual plans, each building upon the last in terms of comprehensiveness. These plans typically involve 5-7 scheduled visits per year.

• TruBasic: Fundamental care including fertilization and weed control.
• TruCore: Builds on TruBasic, adding insect control and a soil-enhancing treatment.
• TruPro: TruGreen’s most comprehensive plan, including all TruCore services plus annual aeration and overseeding.
• TruNatural: An organic-based lawn care plan utilizing natural fertilizers and offering weed control upon request.
• A La Carte Services: Customers can add specialized treatments for specific issues like grubs, mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, perimeter pests, and specific lawn diseases.
• Initial Assessment: Every TruGreen plan starts with a professional lawn assessment by a local specialist to customize the treatment plan.

Sunday Lawn Care’s Plans & Services: Sunday’s primary offering is their customized “Smart Lawn Plan” subscription, delivered in seasonal boxes.

• Custom Lawn Plan: After an initial online quiz about your yard (size, sun exposure, grass type, issues) and often a mail-in soil test, Sunday designs a unique plan.
• Nutrient Pouches: Boxes typically contain liquid nutrient pouches (e.g., nitrogen, potassium, iron blends) designed for easy hose-end sprayer application.
• Weed & Pest Control: Depending on the plan and needs, kits may include specific weed control products (e.g., Dandelion Doom, Weed Warrior) and pest control (e.g., Mosquito + Tick Pest Pack, Nix Ticks), often with plant-based or naturally derived active ingredients.
• Grass Seed & Soil Amendments: Plans can include specialty grass seeds for bare spots or specific grass types, as well as soil amendments to improve soil health.
• Tools & Accessories: Initial kits often include a reusable hose-end sprayer. They also sell various gardening tools, live plants, and other lawn/garden accessories separately.
• Expert Support: Access to online resources and “lawn advisors” for guidance.

Sunday’s appeal lies in its simplicity, pre-measured products, and focus on ingredients that many homeowners perceive as safer or more environmentally friendly.

Customer Reviews

Customer experiences for both companies vary, often reflecting the inherent differences in their service models and the expectations of their respective customer bases.

TruGreen Customer Reviews:

• Positives: Many customers report significant improvements in lawn health, color, and weed reduction over time. The convenience of not having to do the work themselves is a major advantage. The “Healthy Lawn Guarantee” is often cited as a benefit, allowing for re-service if initial results are not satisfactory.
• Areas for Improvement: Common complaints sometimes include inconsistent service quality between different local branches or technicians, challenges with communication or scheduling, and concerns about aggressive sales tactics. Some customers also mention that results can take time and require patience.

Sunday Lawn Care Customer Reviews:

• Positives: Customers frequently praise Sunday for its ease of use, simple application process, and the convenience of direct-to-door delivery. The focus on natural and pet-friendly ingredients is a significant draw. Many report positive results in terms of lawn green-up and overall health, especially for those new to DIY lawn care. The included soil test is also a popular feature.
• Areas for Improvement: Some users report that the hose-end sprayer can be inconsistent or prone to issues. Others, particularly those accustomed to stronger synthetic treatments, may find the weed or pest control less immediately potent compared to conventional products. As a DIY service, results heavily depend on the homeowner’s diligence and proper application. There have also been occasional complaints about auto-renewals or unexpected shipments if not managed correctly.

Final Thoughts

The decision between TruGreen and Sunday Lawn Care ultimately hinges on your personal preferences, budget, and desired level of involvement in your lawn’s upkeep.

Choose TruGreen if:

• You prefer a completely hands-off approach to lawn care, where professionals handle all applications.
• You want access to a wide range of professional-grade treatments for complex lawn issues (e.g., severe infestations, specific diseases).
• You value the expertise of certified technicians who can diagnose and treat problems on-site.
• You’re looking for a service with a strong satisfaction guarantee and don’t mind potentially higher costs for the convenience and labor.
• You have a large or challenging lawn that might be difficult to treat yourself.

Choose Sunday Lawn Care if:

• You enjoy a DIY approach and are willing to dedicate a small amount of time to apply treatments.
• You prioritize natural or eco-conscious ingredients and want to know exactly what’s going on your lawn.
• You’re looking for a more affordable solution than professional services, as you’re providing the labor.
• You appreciate the convenience of products being shipped directly to your door with clear instructions.
• You have a relatively healthy lawn that primarily needs fertilization and general maintenance, and perhaps lighter weed/pest control.

Both companies offer valid pathways to a healthier lawn. TruGreen provides peace of mind through professional service, while Sunday empowers homeowners with an accessible, often greener, DIY solution. Consider your time availability, environmental preferences, and budget to make the best choice for your outdoor space.

FAQs About TruGreen Vs. Sunday

Q1: Is Sunday Lawn Care truly “organic” or “natural”? A1: Sunday emphasizes using “mystery-free” ingredients, often derived from natural sources like plant oils, food waste, and seaweed extract. While they promote a more natural approach, some of their products may still contain synthetic components, particularly for more potent weed or pest control. They are generally considered a “friendlier” alternative to conventional lawn chemicals.

Q2: Do I need to be home for TruGreen services? A2: Typically, no. TruGreen technicians can perform most services without you being present, as they primarily work on the exterior of your home. They will usually leave a service summary after each visit.

Q3: How often do Sunday kits arrive? A3: Sunday’s Smart Lawn Plans usually involve several shipments throughout the growing season (e.g., 3-5 boxes per year), timed for optimal application based on your local climate and your customized plan.

Q4: Can both companies help with lawn diseases like brown patch or dollar spot? A4: TruGreen offers specific lawn disease control services as part of their comprehensive plans or as add-ons, with their technicians able to diagnose and apply targeted treatments. Sunday’s focus is more on general lawn health; while a healthier lawn is more resistant to disease, they may not offer as robust or immediate solutions for severe disease outbreaks as a professional service.

Q5: What about pest control? A5: TruGreen offers comprehensive pest control services, including targeted treatments for lawn-damaging insects (grubs, armyworms), mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and perimeter pests around your home. Sunday offers DIY pest control products like mosquito and tick sprays or ant baits, often with natural or plant-based ingredients, for you to apply.