Landscaper -- is this a good price? Need some help!

OK, when it comes to landscaping I have a black thumb. I HATE it!!! And because of being too busy this summer can't even keep up with the weeds. DH is no help either because he is allergic to everything green pretty much.

Anyway, we're having an outdoor party in two weeks and I am completely desparat to get the yard cleaned up and will not have any time to do it by myself.

I found a guy on craigslist who just came to the house to give us an estimate. For all weeding, edging, mulching, pruning, laying down black plastic edging, etc. his price was $600 OR $850 if he supplies the mulch . I had some sticker shock at the $600 ... he said it was a day's work. And that he would need like 100 bags of mulch to which I offered just to get it delivered (not sure how much I would save). But what doesn't make sense is that if he needed 100 bags of mulch at $4-$5 per bag and he supplied it that would be at least $400 in supplies. So why does my price only go down $250? I'm so confused. I think I should probably just get another estimate to compare. But does it sound off? My yard isn't too big. Just three or four gardens with major weeding and a bunch of bushes to be pruned. Cleaning up our patio and under the deck (which still has leaves we can't get out).

Then he also offered to mow and edge for $80 every two weeks. I don't know anything about how much this should cost. Anyone know? Thanks!!!

Re: Landscaper -- is this a good price? Need some help!

Our landscaper guy came recently and weeded the beds,edging, trimmed the bushes and some branches and he charged $75 an hour. My yard is decent sized and he had 2 helpers with him. It took him 2 hours.

Not sure about the mulch since we already had that in place, just a lot of weeds growing in it.

We pay $32 or $33 (I forget) a week for the grass to be cut.

Message edited 7/20/2008 4:22:18 PM.