DIY vs Professional Lawn Care - Which is Better?
Some people may prefer handling lawn care on their own. For times when you want some more help, you can go with a subscription company, or employ one of Indianola's full-service lawn care companies. While tackling the project by yourself may seem like the least expensive option, it leaves you open to expensive mistakes. You also will be working without expert guidance from a lawn care professional.
Some companies, such as Sunday Lawn Care, can help you with your DIY lawn care. This is in the form of subscription packages that provide you with all the necessary chemicals and equipment for your lawn, depending on the time of year and your location in Iowa. These companies offer a good deal of guidance with lawn care, but you will still be doing all of the manual work.
Prefer to hire a company that will take care of both the mental and physical parts of the job? Consider hiring a full-service company like TruGreen. While this will likely be your most expensive option, companies like this can offer the most comprehensive services, and the pros will handle the hard work so you don't have to.
Types of Lawn Care Services in Indianola, IA
Your local Indianola lawn care companies can provide many different types of services, such as:
- Weed Control: Weed control services help remove and keep away weeds and other unwanted plants. These types of services involve both manually pulling unwanted greenery and spraying chemicals to kill and keep away weeds. Both full-service and subscription lawn care companies essentially always offer weed control services.
- Fertilization: Fertilization helps facilitate the growth of plants and grasses using the application of certain compounds and chemicals at various intervals throughout the year. As with weed control, most if not all full-service and subscription lawn care companies provide fertilization services.
- Soil Care: Soil care helps improve your lawn growth by balancing the chemistry and pH of your soil to increase nutrient availability. Normally, most full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer this service.
- Aeration: Aeration services, which consist of creating small holes all over your lawn, are provided by the majority of full-service lawn care companies. Aeration helps loosen the soil, allowing nutrients, water, and air to flow more easily. This facilitates root growth and strengthens your lawn.
- Seeding/Overseeding: Seeding and overseeding services are both offered by most full-service lawn care companies and by many subscription companies. Seeding services involve putting seed down in bare or patchy spots. On the other hand, overseeding involves laying down additional seed in thin spots. Both services help improve the color and appearance of your lawn.
- Mowing/Edging: Mowing and edging improve the look of your lawn, and also help prevent overgrowth. There are some full-service lawn care companies that offer these services, and there are also companies that specialize in mowing and edging.
- Tree and Shrub Care: Many full-service lawn care companies offer services for shrubs and trees that are wilting, overgrowing, or simply need a little extra care. This service will go a long way towards helping your property look its best.
- Pest Control: Do you have bugs or other pests invading your lawn? Pest control involves applying pesticides and using other techniques to remove insects and animals that could damage your lawn. Many full-service lawn care companies provide pest control services. Always be sure that you are using a pest control professional who is properly licensed for pesticide application through the Iowa Department of Agriculture.
- Leaf/Snow Removal: You may often need snow removal services in Indianola, and you might often be in the market for leaf removal. No matter what, it is a good idea to know which companies near you offer these services. This can help you get the problem taken care of faster and prevent damage to your lawn.
For any need, there is a lawn care company in Indianola that can fill it. We strongly suggest getting in touch with one or two of the companies from our above list to ensure that you find the right one for you.
Indianola Quick Facts
- Indianola is part of the Cold climate zone.
- Prefer more moderate weather? The average high temperature in Indianola is about 60° F.
- Normally, Indianola receives about 31.5 inches of snow a year.
- The average lot size in Iowa is approximately 19,000 square feet.
- Indianola sees more sunlight than around 43.5% of the country.
Choosing a Indianola Lawn Care Company
When you choose a lawn care services company, you will want to ensure that they are reliable. To be permitted to apply chemicals like pesticides to your lawn, a technician must be licensed through the Iowa Department of Agriculture. If you are hiring for landscaping services such as mowing and edging, check to see if a company meets all of Iowa's landscaper licensing requirements. You can also learn whether a company is a member of an organization such as the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). This is not a requirement, but NALP allows landscaping professionals to collaborate and share information regarding best practices. You can also read online reviews of the company and learn about their guarantees on their website. "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 want to learn which Indianola lawn care companies offer the specific services you need. Companies may let you pick between both plans and "a la carte" options which enable you to pick and choose from a list of services.
Once you've decided which companies to call, you can see about getting a free inspection and estimate. With GPS technology, some companies can estimate how big your lawn is and provide a quote over the phone. The total price will depend mainly on the size of your lawn and the specific services you need.
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Homeowner Responsibilities
There are certain things a Indianola homeowner should keep in mind before, during, and after their lawn is treated. Some of those things are:
- Before Treatments: If you are going with a full-service company, ensure that, on the day they visit, they are able to fully access your property (by opening gates, for example). You should also make sure that all pets are inside. You do not need to water or otherwise otherwise prepare your lawn in advance unless the company asks you to do so. If you've selected a subscription company, you will want to ensure that you've provided all your information and put in your order in advance.
- During Treatments: If you have chosen a subscription company, you will perform the lawn treatment, following the instructions provided. If you choose a full-service company like TruGreen, they come to your home to perform services. Normally you won't need to be home for lawn care treatment. However, your company might ask that you be home the first time they come to your property. The company will inform you, either in writing or electronically, which services were done and when.
- After and Between Treatments: It's important to keep in mind that it may take some time to see the effects of treatments such as weed control and fertilization. In the meantime, your lawn care services company may recommend that you water your lawn 24 hours following some services. They will also inform you when it will be safe for your family and any pets to be on your lawn. In the rare instance that there is an unexpected problem with your lawn care, many subscription and full-service companies have a guarantee to back their products and services. Generally, any type of lawn care service will continue regularly unless you cancel.
Selecting the best Indianola lawn care company can help you be confident and in-the-know when it comes to all of the work being done on your lawn. We recommend reaching out to one of the companies on our list of the best lawn care providers in Indianola to discover which one is best for you.
