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Hiring a lawn care company is a simple process that involves a few key steps. First, research and compare different companies in your area to find the best fit for your needs and budget. Next, request quotes and schedule consultations with the top contenders. During the consultations, ask about their services, experience, and any guarantees they offer. Once you’ve made your decision, sign a contract that outlines the services, schedule, and costs. Finally, stay in communication with the company to ensure that your lawn is being properly maintained. By following these steps, you can hire a reliable lawn care company to keep your yard looking its best.
When you have a busy schedule and multiple responsibilities, taking care of your lawn is probably the last thing on your mind. Hiring a lawn care company can free up your time and allow you to enjoy a well-maintained lawn without any effort. In addition to lawn mowing, these professionals can also assist with tasks like hedge trimming and fertilizing.
If you’re ready to hire a lawn care company but unsure of where to start or what to look for, here’s a simple guide to help you out.
Services Provided by Lawn Care Companies
While you could maintain your yard on your own, it can be repetitive, exhausting, and time-consuming. It can also be dangerous to work with chemicals and sharp tools, not to mention the cost of purchasing equipment like lawn mowers and weed trimmers. A lawn care service takes care of all aspects of lawn maintenance throughout the year, making your life easier. This can include weekly visits for lawn mowing as well as seasonal services such as aeration and fertilizing.
Some of the services offered by lawn care companies include:
- Lawn mowing: The company can mow your lawn regularly according to a set schedule or whenever you need assistance.
- Pest and weed control: They can apply chemical controls when necessary to keep your lawn in great condition.
- Fertilizer application: Regular fertilization during the season promotes healthy lawn growth. The lawn care company can apply the fertilizer at the appropriate times for your specific lawn.
- Aeration: If your lawn becomes compacted, the company can aerate it to improve its health.
- Trimming: Lawn care services handle edging and trimming to give your lawn a neat appearance.
- Seasonal care: Different times of the year require specific care for your lawn, such as winterizing it at the end of the growing season.
Researching and Planning
When looking for the best lawn care company, it’s helpful to be clear about your needs. Lawn mowing is the most common service, typically done once a week, but you might require additional assistance to improve the health of your lawn. Understanding your specific concerns will enable you to ask the right questions and obtain detailed quotes from the lawn care providers you’re considering.
Identifying your lawn care concerns will also help you determine if you need any additional services. For instance, if you notice brown spots or dying patches, you might have a pest or disease problem. If your lawn is overrun with weeds, a professional can assist you in tackling the issue. Furthermore, if you have areas with excessive puddling, compacted soil, or stressed grass, aeration might be necessary.
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Benefits of Hiring a Lawn Care Company
Understanding the responsibilities of a lawn care company and the advantages of hiring one can help you decide whether to do it yourself or seek professional help. It is important to note that a lawn care company is different from a landscaping company, although some companies offer both services. Landscaping services involve tasks like designing landscapes, planting, installing hardscape features, and applying mulch. On the other hand, a lawn care company focuses specifically on the needs of existing or new lawns and provides ongoing maintenance.
Although you can take care of your lawn on your own, hiring a professional offers numerous benefits. For instance, when you hire a lawn care company, you don’t need to purchase or maintain lawn mowers and other equipment, or find storage space for them.
A lawn care company can also perform specialized tasks, and their professionals have extensive knowledge about lawn care, including:
- Evaluating the needs of your lawn to ensure its health
- Understanding the specific requirements of different grass species
- Familiarity with local pests and lawn diseases
- Diagnosing and treating lawn issues
- Properly trimming hedges to maintain their health and attractiveness
- Knowing the appropriate timing and method for applying fertilizer
- Applying suitable weed treatments based on the type of weed and the season
Important Questions to Ask a Lawn Care Company Before Hiring
Asking questions is a crucial part of selecting a lawn care company. It ensures that you have a clear understanding of their services, and allows for a fair comparison among different companies when you have the same information from each of them. Consider your priorities when deciding which questions to ask.
Here are some essential questions to ask a lawn care service provider before making a decision:
- Do you have a license for pesticide application?
- What specific lawn care services do you offer?
- What type of lawn fertilizer do you use?
- Do you provide environmentally friendly lawn care options?
- Are the chemicals you use safe for children and pets?
- How frequently will you mow my lawn?
- Are you a member of any professional lawn care organizations?
- Do I need to sign a contract for the entire mowing season?
- What is your policy for inclement weather on scheduled mowing days?
- Do you specialize in a particular type of lawn care?
- Can you provide an in-person estimate for your lawn care services?
- What precautions do you take to protect property, people, and pets?
- Can I customize the lawn care program, or is everything on a fixed schedule?
- Do you conduct background checks on your employees?
- How do you train and keep your employees up-to-date in the lawn care industry?
Additionally, it is recommended to research online for any red flags. Visit the company’s Facebook page to check the ratings and reviews left by previous clients. By clicking on the reviews tab on the company’s Facebook profile, you can view the overall star rating and read written comments. Online review platforms like Yelp, Google reviews, and Angi can also provide valuable insights.
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Jan Hakan Dahlstrom/Stone/GettyImages
The Expense of Employing a Lawn Care Business
The cost of lawn mowing services can vary greatly depending on different factors. The main factor is the size of the yard, but there are also variations based on the location. The complexity of the yard is also taken into account. A simple, rectangular yard will be cheaper compared to a lawn with irregular shapes, steep hills, and many structures that the mowers have to navigate around while mowing. Essentially, the factors that cause frustration and make mowing more difficult may result in a higher cost for professional services.
Generally, the average cost for basic mowing is around $175 per acre, which translates to approximately $30 to $80 per mow for typical homes. The cost is usually provided per visit, but some companies may charge an hourly rate of $25 to $60. You may be able to secure lower rates if you commit to a contract for the entire mowing season. Hiring a lawn care service that is closer to your location can also save you money, as a company that has to travel several miles may charge more for travel time.
Additional services will come with an extra fee. Some lawn care companies offer different packages with certain services included. Compare the prices of additional services that you may want to estimate your total cost. Here are some examples of individual service pricing:
- Weeding: $35 to $120
- Fertilizer application: $80 to $380
- Aeration: $70 to $190
- Hedge trimming: $48 to $79 per hour
- Seasonal cleanup: $100 to $250
- Winterization: $80 to $380
Lawn Care Licensing
In most states, a license is not required to start a lawn care business. Specific experience or education is also not necessary. For this reason, it is important to thoroughly research the companies you are considering.
However, a commercial applicator license is required through the state to apply commercial pesticide chemicals. Some states may have stricter requirements than the federal requirements, but all lawn care companies that offer pesticide services need to have this license. Make sure to verify that the company possesses this license if you plan on hiring them for such services.
