DIY vs Professional Lawn Care - Which is Better?
Sometimes, you might feel comfortable handling lawn care on your own. For times when you want some more help, you can go with a subscription company, or pay one of Council Bluffs' full-service lawn care companies. While handling everything on your own may seem like the most budget-friendly option, this leaves the possibility of expensive mistakes open. You also forgo the expert guidance of your local lawn care professionals.
If you want to have expert guidance while still doing your own lawn care, you might try a company like Sunday Lawn Care. These companies put together subscription packages of lawn tools and chemicals, which are periodically sent to you based on the season and where you live in Iowa. The company takes care of the research and planning, although you will still be the one pulling weeds.
Prefer someone who will manage both the mental and physical tasks? Consider hiring a full-service company like TruGreen. While this will likely be your most expensive option, you will get the most comprehensive services, and the pros will handle the hard work so you don't have to.
Types of Lawn Care Services in Council Bluffs, IA
There are a number of different services that local Council Bluffs lawn care companies can provide, including:
- Weed Control: Weed control involves both chemical application and manual labor to get rid of weeds and other unwanted plants, and various practices to keep them gone. This service is offered by most if not all full-service and subscription lawn care companies.
- Fertilization: In most cases, both full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer fertilization services. They will use specific chemicals to encourage the growth of grass and other plants that you want in your yard.
- Soil Care: Most full-service and subscription lawn care companies provide soil care services. Soil care services involve balancing the pH and chemistry of your soil to facilitate lawn growth by increasing the availability of nutrients.
- Seeding/Overseeding: Seeding and overseeding help improve the appearance and color of your lawn and help fill in bare spots. Seeding involves planting grass in an area 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.
- Aeration: Aeration services, which involve creating small holes all over your lawn, are provided by most full-service lawn care companies. Aeration services help loosen the soil, allowing nutrients, air, and water to flow easier. This improves the growth of roots and strengthens your lawn.
- Tree and Shrub Care: Many full-service lawn care companies can help take care of shrubs and trees that are overgrowing, wilting, or simply need a little extra care. These services can go a long way towards helping your property look its best.
- Pest Control: When you are hiring for pest control, always make sure they are properly licensed to apply pesticides through the Iowa Department of Agriculture. Your technician will apply pesticides or use traps or other methods to eliminate pests. Eliminating pesky insects and animals helps your lawn look its best.
- Leaf/Snow Removal: Are you concerned about snow or leaves sitting on your lawn and killing the grass? Some lawn care companies will come out and clear everything away. You may sometimes need snow removal services and occasionally require leaf removal services in Council Bluffs. If and when you do need these services, be sure to talk to a company to confirm that it is something that they can do.
- Mowing/Edging: Mowing and edging improve the look of your lawn, and also help prevent overgrowth. Some full-service lawn care companies provide these services, and there are also many companies that specialize in edging and mowing.
No matter what your needs are, there is a Council Bluffs lawn care company that can meet them. We strongly suggest contacting one or two of the companies from the list above to find just the right one for you.
Council Bluffs Quick Facts
- Council Bluffs' average high of 60° F is higher than 53.8% of the country.
- In Iowa, the average lot size is about 18,000 square feet.
- The average low of 42° F in Council Bluffs is lower than 59% of the United States.
- Like a good mix of clouds and sun? Council Bluffs receives more sunlight than 50.8% of the country.
- Council Bluffs sits at the 29.7% percentile for average precipitation.
Choosing a Council Bluffs Lawn Care Company
You want to choose a lawn care services company that is reliable. If you are going to have chemicals like pesticides applied to your lawn, your technician will need to be licensed through the Iowa Department of Agriculture. If they're going to be helping with landscaping services (such as mowing), they'll need to meet all of the landscaper licensing requirements for Iowa. A company might also belong to an organization like the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). Landscapers are not required to be NALP members, but the association allows companies to collaborate and share information on best practices. To learn even more about a company, you can read through their website to find out what kind of 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'll need to figure out which companies offer the specific services you need. Many Council Bluffs lawn care service companies can offer you both fixed plans and "a la carte" options, which allow you to pick and choose only those services that you want.
Once you've figured out which companies offer what you need, you can ask them for a free inspection and estimate. Via GPS technology, some companies can estimate how big your lawn is and provide a quote over the phone. The cost will be based mainly on the specific services you need and the size of your lawn.
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Homeowner Responsibilities
When you employ a lawn care company in Council Bluffs, there are things you can expect before, during, and after services. Some of those things are:
- Before Treatments: If you have selected a full-service company, you will need to be sure that, on the day they come out, they have access to your property (for example, by opening gates). You should also make sure that you keep any pets inside. You will not have to water or otherwise do any treatments on your lawn in advance unless told to do so by your technician. If you've opted for 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're using a subscription company, you will perform treatments yourself based on the instructions provided by the company. If you've hired a full-service company like TruGreen, a lawn care professional will come to your home to perform services. Your company might ask that you be home the first time they come to your house. However, you generally do not need to be home for lawn care treatment. The company will inform you (either in writing or electronically) what services they performed and when.
- After and Between Treatments: Your lawn care company may ask you to water your lawn 24 hours after certain treatments. Someone should also tell you when it will be safe for family and pets to be on the lawn again. Remember that the effects of some treatments, such as weed control and fertilization, may not manifest immediately. If there is a problem with your lawn care treatment, most full-service and subscription companies back up their products and services with guarantees. Whichever type of company you decide to use, in most cases services will continue on a regular basis unless you cancel.
Selecting a trustworthy Council Bluffs lawn care company goes a long way towards helping you feel more confident and comfortable with the process. Any of the providers on our list of Council Bluffs' best lawn care companies can explain all steps of the process and make sure that you know what to expect.
