DIY vs Professional Lawn Care - Which is Better?
For the most part, there are three main ways to do lawn care: doing it completely on your own, paying for a subscription company, or employing one of the full-service lawn care companies in Glen Burnie. While tackling the project by yourself may seem like the least expensive option, doing so leaves you open to expensive mistakes. You also forgo the expert guidance of your local lawn care professionals.
Companies like Sunday Lawn Care are designed to help with DIY lawn care. They provide subscription packages of lawn care chemicals and equipment that they send to you as needed. The packages are designed based on the time of year and your location in Maryland. This takes some of the guesswork out of lawn care; however, you'll still need to do the labor yourself.
If you'd rather have a company handle all parts of the process, hiring a full-service company like TruGreen is the solution you need. While these companies may be more costly than other options, they handle the whole process, from determining what your lawn needs to doing the actual work.
Types of Lawn Care Services in Glen Burnie, MD
There are many different services that the lawn care companies around Glen Burnie can provide, including:
- Weed Control: Your lawn care provider can get rid of and prevent weeds and other unwanted plants. This may involve spraying or applying chemicals, or they might manually pull up the unwanted plants. Most if not all full-service and subscription companies offer weed control services.
- Fertilization: The majority of full-service and subscription lawn care companies provide fertilization services. These services use various compounds and chemicals to help promote the growth of grass and other plants that you want in your yard.
- Soil Care: Soil care improves your lawn growth by balancing the chemistry and pH of the soil to increase nutrient availability. Most full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer this service.
- Aeration: Aeration involves making small punctures in your soil. This allows nutrients, air, and water to move through the soil more easily. This, in turn, allows roots to grow deeper, strengthening your lawn. These services are offered by the majority of full-service lawn care companies.
- Seeding/Overseeding: Seeding involves putting down grass in bare patches on your lawn. Overseeding involves putting down new seed on existing grass. Both seeding and overseeding help fill in patchy or bare spots and improve the appearance and color of your lawn. Both processes are offered by most full-service lawn companies, and by many subscription companies.
- Leaf/Snow Removal: Are you concerned about snow or leaves sitting on your lawn and killing your grass? Certain lawn care companies will come and clear everything away. You might sometimes need snow removal services and occasionally require leaf removal services in Glen Burnie. If and when you do need these services, be sure to speak with a company to verify that it is something they are able to do.
- Pest Control: Have bugs or other pests wreaking havoc on your lawn? Pest control involves the application of pesticides and other techniques to get rid of animals and insects that could damage your lawn. Many full-service lawn care companies can offer pest control services. Always ensure that you use a pest control technician who is properly licensed to apply pesticides through the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
- Tree and Shrub Care: Do you have trees and shrubs that are wilting, overgrowing, or simply need some extra care? Many full-service lawn care companies provide tree and shrub care services to help keep your lawn looking its best.
- Mowing/Edging: There are some full-service lawn care companies that offer mowing and edging, and some companies even specialize in these sorts of services. These services help prevent overgrowth and quickly improve your lawn's overall appearance.
No matter your need, there is a lawn care services company in the Glen Burnie area that can fill it. It is a smart idea to get in touch with one or two of the companies from the list above to ensure that you find the right one for you.
Glen Burnie Quick Facts
- Glen Burnie gets a good mix of clouds and sun. It is in the 66.9% percentile in terms of average daily sunlight.
- On average, lot sizes in Maryland are about 7,500 square feet.
- Generally, Glen Burnie receives approximately 19.9 inches of snow a year.
- Glen Burnie's average high temperature of 61° F is higher than 57.2% of the U.S.
- Glen Burnie sits in the Mixed-Humid climate zone.
Choosing a Glen Burnie Lawn Care Company
When it comes time to select a lawn care services company, you will want to verify they are reliable. Before they apply chemicals like pesticides to your lawn, a technician must be licensed through the Maryland Department of Agriculture. If you are hiring for landscaping services such as edging and mowing, you can look and see if a company meets all of Maryland's landscaper licensing requirements. You can also check whether a company belongs to an organization such as the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). Lawn care professionals are not required to be members, but NALP helps landscaping professionals to collaborate and share information about best practices. Last but not least, you can search for company reviews and browse their website to learn more about the guarantees they offer. "As a professional, you're never done learning and growing your skills. Our educational partnerships can help you continue to refine your abilities."
After you've found the best companies near you, you'll need to figure out which ones can perform the specific combination of services that you want. Many Glen Burnie lawn care companies offer both fixed plans and "a la carte" options that give you the opportunity to make your own service package.
After whittling down your list even further, you can ask companies about getting a free inspection and service quote. Inspections can happen relatively quickly — some companies are even able to quickly estimate the size of your yard via GPS before they visit your home. They can then give you an estimate based on the size of your lawn and the specific services you need.
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Homeowner Responsibilities
When you're hiring a lawn care company in Glen Burnie, you may be wondering what to expect. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Before Treatments: When you use a full-service company, you'll be asked to keep all pets inside when they visit. You should also ensure that your technician has access to your lawn (for example, by making sure all gates are open). The technician will tell you if you need to water your lawn or do anything else in advance. When using a subscription company, make sure that you provide any necessary information and place your order far enough ahead of time.
- During Treatments: If you are using a subscription company, you will perform the lawn treatment, following the instructions provided. If you decide to hire a full-service company like TruGreen, they will come to your home to treat your lawn. You usually will not need to be home for lawn care treatment. However, some companies may ask that you be home the first time they come to work. The company will let you know, either in writing or electronically, what services they completed and when.
- After and Between Treatments: Your lawn care company will inform you when people and pets can safely be on your lawn following treatment. They may also ask you to water your lawn 24 hours following some services. Keep in mind that there may be some time before you see the effects of treatments like fertilization and overseeding. In the unlikely event that there is a problem or your results are lackluster, many full-service and subscription companies back their treatments and products with a guarantee. In most cases, both full-service and subscription lawn care services will continue on a regular basis unless you cancel.
If you hire a reputable Glen Burnie lawn care services company, they will help you understand expectations and ensure that everything goes smoothly. By choosing a company from our list of Glen Burnie's best lawn care providers, you ensure that everything gets taken care of the right way.
