DIY vs Professional Lawn Care - Which is Better?
Generally, there are three ways to do lawn care: doing everything yourself, using the services of a subscription company, or hiring one of the full-service lawn care companies in Bowling Green. Tackling lawn care on your own may be less expensive at first. However, without the expert guidance of a lawn care professional, you increase the chances of making mistakes that prove costly in the future.
Some companies, such as Sunday Lawn Care, offer assistance with DIY lawn care. This is usually in the form of subscription packages which contain all the necessary chemicals and equipment for your lawn, based on your location in Kentucky and the time of year. These companies can provide you with a lot of guidance with lawn care, but you will still be doing all of the manual work.
If you would prefer to have a company handle all parts of the process, hiring a full-service company like TruGreen is the solution you need. Although companies like this may be more costly than other options, they handle everything, from determining what is needed to doing the actual work.
Types of Lawn Care Services in Bowling Green, KY
There are many different services that local Bowling Green lawn care companies can provide, including:
- Weed Control: Weed control helps get rid of and keep away weeds and other troublesome plants. These types of services involve both manually pulling up unwanted plants and applying chemicals to kill and prevent weeds. The majority of full-service and subscription lawn care companies — if not all of them — offer weed control services.
- Fertilization: Fertilization promotes growth of plants and grasses using the application of certain compounds and chemicals at the correct times throughout the year. Similar to weed control, most if not all full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer fertilization services.
- Seeding/Overseeding: Seeding and overseeding services are offered by most full-service lawn care companies and many subscription companies. Seeding involves putting seed down in bare or patchy spots. On the other hand, overseeding involves laying down additional seed in thin spots. Both seeding and overseeding help improve the look and color of your lawn.
- Aeration: Aeration involves making small punctures in your soil. This allows nutrients, water, and air to penetrate the soil more easily. This, in turn, allows roots to grow deeper, strengthening your lawn. This service is offered by most full-service lawn care companies.
- Soil Care: The majority of full-service and subscription lawn care companies provide soil care services. Soil care involves balancing your soil's pH and chemistry to facilitate lawn growth by increasing nutrient availability.
- Mowing/Edging: Mowing and edging are two ways to quickly improve your lawn's appearance. Some full-service lawn care companies perform these services, or you might find a company specializing in mowing and edging.
- Leaf/Snow Removal: Concerned about leaves or snow sitting on your lawn and killing your grass? You can find a lawn care company that will come and clear everything away. You may less frequently need snow removal services and occasionally require leaf removal services in Bowling Green. If and when you do require these services, be sure to get in touch with a company to verify that it is something that they can do.
- Pest Control: When you pay a company for pest control services, always verify they are properly licensed to apply pesticides through the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Your technician will apply pesticides or use methods like traps to get rid of pests. Getting rid of pesky animals and insects helps your lawn look its best.
- Tree and Shrub Care: Do you have trees and shrubs 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 your lawn look its best.
There is a lawn care company for every need and budget in Bowling Green. It is a good idea to contact one or two from the list above to discover the one that is best for you.
Bowling Green Quick Facts
- The average high in Bowling Green is around 66° F.
- In Kentucky, the average lot size is around 17,000 square feet.
- Regarding precipitation, Bowling Green sees more, on average, than 93.2% of the U.S.
- Bowling Green is around the 43% percentile in the U.S. in terms of tree coverage.
- Bowling Green is in the Mixed-Humid climate zone.
Choosing a Bowling Green 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 provided instructions. If you've gone with a full-service company like TruGreen, they will come to your home to do any requested lawn care. Your company may ask that you be home the first time they visit. However, you usually will not need to be home for lawn care treatment. You'll be informed by the company (either in writing or electronically) what services they performed and when. "We are committed to helping our members achieve success through education and training and increasing professionalism through certification and accreditation."
Next, you'll need to figure out which companies can perform the specific services that you need. Many lawn care service companies in Bowling Green offer both fixed plans and "a la carte" options, which let you pick and choose exactly which services you need.
After this, you will want to get an inspection and quote. Even before they see your property, some companies might be able to make an estimate with the help of GPS technology. This estimate will be based largely 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 Bowling Green, there are certain things you can expect before, during, and after treatment. Some of these are:
- Before Treatments: A full-service company will ask you to keep any pets indoors when they come to work on your lawn. They will also ask you to make sure that they will be able to access your lawn, for example by making sure gates remain open. You should not need to prepare your lawn — for example, by watering it — in advance unless the company asks you to. If you're using a subscription company, make sure you provide your information and that you order in advance.
- During Treatments: If you are going with a subscription company, you will be expected to treat your lawn yourself, following the instructions provided by the company. If you've elected to hire a full-service company like TruGreen, their technicians will come to your house to take care of everything. Normally, you won't be asked to be home for lawn care treatment. However, your company may prefer your presence at home for their first visit. Your technicians will communicate with you (electronically or in writing) regarding what services were done and when.
- After and Between Treatments: Your lawn care company will tell you when people and pets can safely be on the lawn after treatment. They may also recommend that you water your lawn 24 hours after certain services. Remember that there may be some time before you see the effects of services such as overseeding and fertilization. In the rare case that something goes wrong or your results are not as promised, many full-service and subscription companies back their treatments and products with a guarantee. Generally, both full-service and subscription lawn care services will continue on a regular basis until you cancel.
If you go with a trustworthy Bowling Green lawn care services company, they will help you understand expectations and ensure that everything goes smoothly. By choosing a company from our list of Bowling Green's best lawn care providers, you ensure that you get everything taken care of the right way.
