DIY vs Professional Lawn Care - Which is Better?
Sometimes, you might want to handle lawn care yourself. For times when you want any assistance, you can go with a subscription company, or employ one of Athens' full-service lawn care companies. If you elect to handle everything on your own, you may initially save some money. However, you miss out on expert advice and guidance that can help you prevent costly mistakes.
A company like Sunday Lawn Care can help simplify the process. Companies like this will send you a subscription package of lawn care chemicals and equipment. They decide what your lawn needs and when, based on your location in Georgia and the time of year. However, you will still need to make time to do the manual labor.
Prefer to have someone else take care of everything? A full-service company like TruGreen may be right for you. A full-service lawn care company might be the highest-cost option, but full-service companies handle not only the decision-making but also the manual labor.
Types of Lawn Care Services in Athens, GA
There are many services that you might hire a Athens lawn care company for, such as:
- Weed Control: Weed control helps get rid of and keep away weeds and other unwanted plants. These types of services involve both manually pulling up unwanted plants and using chemicals that kill weeds and keep them gone. Both full-service and subscription lawn care companies essentially always offer weed control services.
- Fertilization: Essentially all full-service and subscription lawn care companies provide fertilization services. They will use specific chemicals to help facilitate the growth of grass and other plants that you want in your yard.
- Aeration: Aeration is the process of loosening over-compacted soil, allowing roots to grow deeper and strengthening your lawn. Aeration involves the creation of small perforations in the soil to let air, water, and nutrients in more easily. Aeration is provided by most full-service lawn care companies.
- Seeding/Overseeding: Seeding and overseeding help improve the color and appearance of your lawn and help fill in bare spots. Seeding is the process of planting grass in areas where there is none, while overseeding involves putting down more seed on top of existing grass, without digging up any of your lawn. Seeding and overseeding are offered by the majority of full-service lawn companies and many subscription companies.
- Soil Care: Soil care improves the growth of your lawn by balancing the chemistry and pH of your soil to improve nutrient availability. The majority of full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer this service.
- Tree and Shrub Care: Many full-service lawn companies offer tree and shrub care. These companies will help clean up and care for shrubs and trees on your lawn to help keep your property beautiful.
- Leaf/Snow Removal: Are you worried about leaves or snow sitting on and killing your lawn? Some lawn care companies will come out and clear everything away. You might rarely need snow removal services and occasionally require leaf removal services in Athens. If and when you do need these services, be sure to get in touch with a company to confirm that it is something that they can do.
- Pest Control: When you employ someone for pest control services, always confirm they are properly licensed to apply pesticides through the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The technician will apply pesticides or use traps or other methods to eliminate pests. Getting rid of pesky insects and animals ensures that your lawn looks its best.
- Mowing/Edging: Mowing and edging help improve the appearance of your lawn and help prevent overgrowth. There are some full-service lawn care companies that provide these services, and there are many companies that specialize in edging and mowing.
There is a Athens lawn care company for every need and budget. It is recommended that you contact one or two of the ones on our above list to find the one that is best for you.
Athens Quick Facts
- Athens is part of the Mixed-Humid climate zone.
- Athens is around the 67% percentile when it comes to tree coverage.
- The average lot size in Georgia is around 25,000 square feet.
- The average high temperature in Athens is approximately 71° F.
- Regarding precipitation, Athens gets more, on average, than 79.9% of the country.
Choosing a Athens Lawn Care Company
During Treatments: If you've opted for a subscription company, you will be the one to treat your lawn based on the instructions provided by the company. If you've gone with a full-service company like TruGreen, they will come to your home to perform services. Your company might ask that you be home the first time they come out. However, you generally do not need to be at home for lawn care treatment to take place. The company will inform you (either electronically or in writing) which services they completed and when. "[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 companies around the Athens area offer the specific services you need. A company may have both plans and "a la carte" options that let you pick and choose from a list of services.
Once your list is down to three or so companies, you'll want to go about getting an inspection and quote. Utilizing GPS technology, some companies are even able to offer an estimate based on how big your yard is before ever stepping foot on your property. Your estimate will rely mainly on the size of your lawn and the specific services you need.
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Homeowner Responsibilities
If you haven't worked with a lawn care company in Athens before — or even if you have — you may wonder what to expect. The following are some things to keep in mind:
- Before Treatments: If you have chosen a full-service company, ensure that, on the day they visit, they are able to fully access your property (for example, by opening gates). You should also make sure that pets remain inside. You will not have to water or otherwise do any treatments to your lawn beforehand unless asked to do so by the company. If you're going with a subscription company, you will want to make sure you have provided all necessary information and placed 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 opted for a full-service company like TruGreen, their technicians will come to your home to perform treatments. Normally, you don't need to be home for lawn care treatment. However, your lawn care professional may require 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 were done and when.
- After and Between Treatments: It's important to keep in mind that it might take weeks to see the effects of treatments like fertilization and weed control. In the meantime, your lawn care professionals might recommend watering your lawn 24 hours following certain services. They will also inform you when pets and family can safely be on your lawn. In the unlikely event that there is a problem with your lawn care, many subscription and full-service companies have products and services that are backed by guarantees. In most cases, lawn care services of any type will continue regularly unless you cancel.
Selecting the best Athens lawn care company will help you feel confident and in-the-know when it comes to all of the work to be done. We suggest getting in touch with one of the companies on our list of Athens' best lawn care providers to find the right professional for your needs.
