Lawn Services: What You Need to Know
by
Laura Horwitz
All About Lawns Columnist
Want a wonderful green lawn but don't have the time to devote to lawn maintenance? Consider hiring a lawn service. How do you know which one to choose? It's easy if you follow these simple tips.
Types of Lawn ServicesDifferent firms offer different types of lawn service, or sometimes one company offers a few to choose from. What's the difference?
- Partial Lawn Care, in general, means the lawn service only applies insecticides and fertilizers to the lawn, and the homeowner is responsible for everything else.
- Total Lawn Service, in this instance, includes mowing, fertilizing, trimming, and applying pesticides.
- Total Landscape Maintenance companies care for the entire landscape, including trees, shrubs, annual flowers, and any other plantings in addition to providing total lawn services.
CostThe next step, once you've determined what type of lawn maintenance you need, is to compare costs. It's important to find out what's included in the standard program offered and what options costs extra. For instance, while some companies provide full insect control, most offer only partial-control within their standard rate. Others charge extra for any insecticides applied.
You'll also want to find out how much fertilizer is applied throughout the year. Soil testing determines how much phosphorous and potassium certain grasses need, but all reputable lawn services should apply plenty of nitrogen -- the key nutrient for fertilizers.
Overall
- Ensure that you are happy with how you are treated and that the personnel take time to answer your questions.
- Make sure the company offers you a contract detailing which services will be provided.
- Beware of extremely inexpensive companies that seem too good to be true -- most of them are!
Sources
About the Author
Laura Horwitz has worked as a freelance writer and researcher for five years in both London and the US. She had a monthly landscaping and tips column for the Sussex County magazine RH Review, and her articles have appeared in Film Focus, 6 Degrees Film, and BizBash magazine.
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