DIY vs Professional Lawn Care - Which is Better?
Some people may prefer handling lawn care on their own. For the times when you want any assistance, you can pay for a subscription company, or hire one of the full-service lawn care companies in Sacramento. When you go the DIY route, you will save on labor costs, but you miss out on a lot of professional guidance. This opens the door to potentially expensive mistakes that you can't foresee.
If you want to have at least some guidance when it comes to lawn care, you can use a company like Sunday Lawn Care. They put together subscription packages of lawn tools and chemicals, which are periodically sent to you depending on the time of year and where you live in California. They will take care of the research and planning for you, although you will still be the one doing the hard work.
Would you prefer to have someone else handling everything? A full-service company like TruGreen may be best for you. A full-service lawn care company might be the highest-cost option, but they will take care of not just the decision-making but also the manual labor.
Types of Lawn Care Services in Sacramento, CA
Your local Sacramento lawn care companies offer a variety of services, including:
- Weed Control: Your lawn care technician can both eliminate and prevent unwanted plants like weeds. This involves using chemicals to kill and keep away weeds; they also may manually pull up the unwanted plants. The vast majority of full-service and subscription companies — if not all of them — offer weed control services.
- Fertilization: Fertilization helps encourage the growth of grasses and plants using the application of certain chemicals and compounds at the correct times throughout the year. Similar to weed control, most if not all full-service and subscription lawn care companies provide fertilization services.
- Aeration: The aeration process involves making small perforations in the soil. This allows water, air, and nutrients to penetrate the soil more easily. This, in turn, helps roots grow deeper, strengthening your lawn. This service is offered by most full-service lawn care companies.
- Soil Care: Soil care improves your lawn growth by balancing the pH and chemistry of the soil to increase nutrient availability. The majority of full-service and subscription lawn care companies provide this service.
- Seeding/Overseeding: Seeding and overseeding help improve the look and color of your lawn and fill in bare spots. Seeding is the process of planting grass in places where there is none. Overseeding involves putting down more seed over existing grass, without digging up any of your lawn. These processes are offered by the majority of full-service lawn companies and many subscription companies.
- Pest Control: Many full-service lawn care companies will help you get rid of insects or other pests that could damage your lawn. The lawn expert might apply pesticides or trap animals. Always ensure that your technician is properly licensed to apply pesticides through the California Department of Agriculture.
- Mowing/Edging: Mowing and edging are ways to quickly improve your lawn's overall look. Some full-service lawn care companies offer these services, or you might find a company specializing in them.
- Tree and Shrub Care: Does your property have shrubs and trees that are wilting, overgrowing, or simply need a little more love? Many full-service lawn care companies offer tree and shrub care services to help keep your lawn looking its best.
- Leaf/Snow Removal: Your lawn can become damaged over time due to debris piling up on it. Being aware of your local companies that provide removal services can be very helpful if you ever require them in the future.
For any need, there is a lawn care services company in the Sacramento area that can fill it. It is a smart idea to get in touch with at least one of the companies from the above list to feel confident that you have the right one for you.
Sacramento Quick Facts
- Sacramento sees more sunlight than about 92.7% of the United States.
- The average lot size in California is around 6,500 square feet.
- Sacramento is in the 12.2% percentile in terms of average precipitation — in case you're looking to avoid the rain.
- Like sitting in the sun? Sacramento has higher tree coverage than only 21% of other places.
- Normally, Sacramento gets around 0.0 inches of snow a year.
Choosing a Sacramento Lawn Care Company
You should choose a lawn care services company that you can trust. If you are going to have chemicals like pesticides applied to your lawn, your technician must be licensed through the California Department of Agriculture. If they are going to be performing landscaping services (such as edging), they'll need to meet all of the landscaper licensing requirements for California. Companies might also have membership in organizations like the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). Landscapers are not required to be NALP members, but the association helps companies collaborate and share information on best practices. To learn even more about a company, you can look at their website to learn about the guarantees they offer, and read online reviews. "For more than two decades, the NALP Foundation...has supported education, research, and scholarships to strengthen the future of the landscape and lawn care industry."
Next you will want to figure out which companies can perform the specific services that you need. Many Sacramento lawn care service companies offer both fixed plans and "a la carte" options, where you can pick and choose only the services that you need.
Next, you'll want to get an inspection and quote. Even before they visit your property, some companies can give you an estimate with the help of GPS technology. This estimate will be influenced by the size of your lawn and the specific services you need.
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Homeowner Responsibilities
If you haven't worked with a Sacramento lawn care company before — or even if you have — you might have some questions about what you should expect. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Before Treatments: Full-service companies will ask you to keep any pets indoors on the day of treatment. They will also want you to make sure that your lawn is easily accessible, for example by making sure gates remain open. You won't need to water or otherwise prepare your lawn in advance unless the company asks you to. If you've opted to go with a subscription company, you will want to make sure you provide all of your information and submit your order in advance.
- During Treatments: If you go with a subscription company, you will be the one doing the lawn treatment, following the instructions provided. If you are using a full-service company like TruGreen, they will come to your home to treat your lawn. Normally you won't need to be home for lawn care treatment. However, some companies may ask that you be home the first time they come to your property. The company will inform you, either electronically or in writing, what services were performed and when.
- After and Between Treatments: Your lawn care company might instruct you to water your lawn 24 hours after some treatments. They will also tell you when it is going to be safe for pets and family to be on the lawn again. It is important to remember that the effects of certain treatments, such as weed control and fertilization, may not be evident right away. If something goes wrong with your lawn care treatment, the majority of full-service and subscription companies have guarantees to back their products and services. Whichever type of company you choose, services will likely continue on a regular basis unless you cancel.
Picking a reputable lawn care company in Sacramento goes a long way towards helping you feel more confident and knowledgeable about the process. Any of the providers on our list of the best lawn care companies in Sacramento can explain all steps of the process and help you know what to expect.
