DIY vs Professional Lawn Care - Which is Better?
When you need to do lawn care, if you don't want to do everything yourself you can use either a subscription company or one of the full-service lawn care companies operating in El Dorado Hills. When you decide to go it alone, you don't pay extra labor costs, but you forgo any professional guidance. The outcome could be expensive mistakes that you can't foresee.
A company like Sunday Lawn Care can help take the guesswork out of the process. These kinds of companies will mail you a regular subscription package of lawn care equipment and chemicals. They determine what your lawn needs and when, depending on the season and where you live in California. However, you will still be the one doing the manual labor.
Rather have someone else handling everything? A full-service company like TruGreen might be the best fit for you. A full-service lawn care company might be the highest-cost option, but they will handle not just the decision-making but also the manual labor.
Types of Lawn Care Services in El Dorado Hills, CA
Lawn care companies around El Dorado Hills can be hired for many different kinds of services, such as:
- Weed Control: Weed control involves the use of both chemical and manual methods to remove weeds and other unwanted foliage, and various practices to keep them from returning. This service is offered by most if not all full-service and subscription lawn care companies.
- Fertilization: Fertilization helps promote growth of plants and grasses through the application of certain chemicals and compounds periodically throughout the year. Like weed control, most if not all full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer fertilization services.
- Seeding/Overseeding: Seeding services involve putting down grass in bare patches on your lawn. Overseeding involves laying down new seed over existing grass. Both seeding and overseeding help fill in bare or patchy spots and improve the appearance and color of your lawn. Both processes are offered by the majority of full-service lawn companies and many subscription companies.
- Aeration: Aeration services, which involve making small holes all over your lawn, are provided by many full-service lawn care companies. These services help loosen the soil, allowing nutrients, air, and water to flow more easily. This improves the growth of roots and strengthens your lawn.
- Soil Care: Soil care is the process of balancing the pH and chemistry of your lawn to increase the availability of nutrients and improve lawn growth. Most full-service and subscription lawn companies provide soil care services.
- Mowing/Edging: Some full-service lawn care companies offer mowing and edging, and some even specialize in these sorts of services. These services help prevent overgrowth, and they will quickly improve the overall appearance of your lawn.
- Leaf/Snow Removal: Are you concerned about snow or leaves sitting on your lawn and killing your grass? Certain lawn care companies will come and clear everything away. You may rarely need snow removal services and occasionally require leaf removal services in El Dorado Hills. If and when you do require these services, be sure to talk to a company to confirm that it is something they are able to do.
- Pest Control: Many full-service lawn care companies will help you get rid of insects or other pests that are damaging your lawn. Your lawn professional might apply pesticides or trap animals — always confirm that your lawn control technician is properly licensed to apply pesticides through the California Department of Agriculture.
- Tree and Shrub Care: Many full-service lawn companies provide tree and shrub care. These companies will help clean up and care for trees and shrubs on your property to help keep your lawn beautiful.
No matter what kind of services you need, there is a El Dorado Hills lawn care company that fits the bill. We recommend looking into a couple of the companies listed above to learn which one is right for you.
El Dorado Hills Quick Facts
- El Dorado Hills is in the 59.6% percentile when it comes to average precipitation.
- In California, the average lot size is approximately 31,000 square feet.
- El Dorado Hills is one of the sunnier places in the country. It sits around the 92.6% percentile for average daily sunlight.
- El Dorado Hills' average high temperature of 61° F is higher than 55.7% of the country.
- In a typical year, El Dorado Hills gets about 0.7 inches of snow.
Choosing a El Dorado Hills Lawn Care Company
When it comes to choosing a company, you first should ensure that you're choosing a reputable one. If a technician is going to apply chemicals like pesticides at any point, they'll have to be licensed through the California Department of Agriculture. If you're hiring a technician for landscaping services, such as mowing or tree care, you can verify that they meet all of the landscaper licensing requirements for California. Once you've verified that a company is licensed, you can check to see if they belong to an organization such as the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). This is an optional association that allows members to collaborate and provides information regarding best practices in the industry. You can also read online reviews and explore the company's website to learn about the guarantees that they offer. "[Our mission is to] advocate for lawn and landscape industry growth and the benefits we provide to our communities."
Next, you'll want to discover which El Dorado Hills lawn care companies can provide the specific services you need. Many companies offer both plans and "a la carte" options which enable you to pick and choose specific services.
After this, you will want to get an inspection and quote. Even before they see your property, some companies can give you an estimate with the help of GPS technology. This estimate will be determined by the specific services you need and the size of your lawn.
Ready for a Quick & Easy Lawn Service Quote?
Homeowner Responsibilities
There are a number of things a homeowner in El Dorado Hills should keep in mind before, during, and after lawn care treatments. Some of those things are:
- Before Treatments: If you have chosen a full-service company, you will need to be sure that, on the day they come out, they can access your property (for example, by opening gates). You should also make sure that you keep any pets inside. You do not need to water or otherwise otherwise prepare your lawn beforehand unless asked to do so by the company. If you have decided to go with a subscription company, you will want to provide all your information and place your order in advance.
- During Treatments: If you are using a subscription company, you will be expected to treat your lawn yourself, following the instructions that the company provides. If you've decided to pay a full-service company like TruGreen, their technicians will come to your home to perform treatments. Usually, you won't have to be present for lawn care treatment. However, your technician might request that you are home the first time they come out. The company will communicate with you (electronically or in writing) to let you know what services they've completed and when.
- After and Between Treatments: No matter which type of company you go with, lawn care services generally continue on a regular basis until you cancel. After each treatment (whether done by you or a professional), your company should inform you when it is safe for family and pets to be on the lawn again. Your company may also suggest that you water your lawn 24 hours after some treatments. It is important to keep in mind that the results of some treatments, like fertilization and weed control, will take some time to manifest. In the unlikely event that there is a problem with your lawn care treatment, the majority of companies have guarantees behind their products and services.
Picking a trustworthy El Dorado Hills lawn care company can help you feel much more confident and knowledgeable about the process. All of the providers from our list of the best lawn care companies in El Dorado Hills can walk you through the process and make sure that you know exactly what to expect.
