DIY vs Professional Lawn Care - Which is Better?
Some people prefer to take care of certain lawn care projects themselves. For the times when you want some more help, you can use the services of a subscription company, or hire one of the full-service lawn care companies in Hamburg. If you decide to do everything yourself, you may save money initially. However, you miss out on expert guidance and advice that might help prevent expensive mistakes.
If you want to have expert guidance while still doing your own lawn care, you might try a company like Sunday Lawn Care. They will send you subscription packages of lawn chemicals and tools, which are regularly shipped to your door depending on the season and where you live in New York. They will take care of the research and planning for you, although you will still be the one doing the hard work.
If you'd rather have a company manage the whole process, hiring a full-service company like TruGreen is your best bet. While these companies may be pricier than other options, they handle everything, from determining what needs to be done to doing the actual work.
Types of Lawn Care Services in Hamburg, NY
The lawn care companies in Hamburg can perform many different types of services, such as:
- Weed Control: Your lawn care professional can both get rid of and prevent weeds and other unwanted plants. This involves using chemicals to kill and keep away weeds; they also may manually pull up the unwanted plants. In the majority of cases, both full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer weed control services.
- Fertilization: The process of fertilization involves using specific chemicals to encourage the growth of grass and other plants. Like weed control, most if not all full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer fertilization services.
- Aeration: The aeration process involves making small holes in your soil. This allows air, water, and nutrients to move through the soil more easily. This, in turn, allows roots to grow deeper, strengthening your lawn. This service is offered by the majority of full-service lawn care companies.
- Soil Care: Soil care is the process of balancing the pH and chemistry of your lawn to promote lawn growth by increasing the availability of nutrients. Many full-service and subscription lawn companies offer soil care services.
- Seeding/Overseeding: Seeding services involve putting down grass in bare patches on your lawn. Overseeding involves putting down new seed on existing grass. Both processes help fill in bare or patchy spots and improve the look and color of your lawn. Both services are offered by most full-service lawn companies, and by many subscription companies.
- Tree and Shrub Care: Many full-service lawn companies can do tree and shrub care. These providers can help clean up and care for trees and shrubs on your property 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 kinds of services. Mowing and edging help prevent overgrowth and can quickly improve the overall appearance of your lawn.
- Leaf/Snow Removal: You may need snow removal services frequently in Hamburg, and you might infrequently be in the market for leaf removal. No matter your needs, it is a smart idea to know which local companies offer these services. This can help you get everything taken care of faster, preventing damage to your lawn.
- Pest Control: Bugs or other pests wreaking havoc on your lawn? Pest control involves the use of pesticides and other techniques to get rid of animals and insects that may damage your lawn. Many full-service lawn care companies offer pest control services. Always be sure that you are using a pest control professional who is properly licensed to apply pesticides through the New York Department of Agriculture.
No matter what type of services you want, there is a Hamburg lawn care company for the job. We recommend looking into one or more of the companies on our list above to determine which one is best for you.
Hamburg Quick Facts
- Prefer cloudier days? Hamburg sees more sunlight than only 6.5% of the country.
- The average high temperature in Hamburg is approximately 54° F.
- Generally, Hamburg receives approximately 113.0 inches of snow a year.
- Hamburg is in the Cold climate zone.
- In New York, the average lot size is about 17,000 square feet.
Choosing a Hamburg Lawn Care Company
You want to choose a lawn care services company that is reliable. A technician who is going to apply chemicals like pesticides to your lawn must be licensed through the New York Department of Agriculture. If they're going to be helping with landscaping services (such as edging), they will have to meet all of New York's landscaper licensing requirements. Some companies are also members of organizations like the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). Lawn care companies are not required to be members of NALP, but the association allows companies to collaborate and share information on best practices. To learn even more about a company, you can explore their website to find out what kind of guarantees they offer, and read online reviews. "We are committed to helping our members achieve success through education and training and increasing professionalism through certification and accreditation."
Next you will want to determine which companies provide the specific services that you need. Many lawn care service companies in Hamburg can offer you both fixed plans and "a la carte" options, which let you pick and choose only those services that you want.
After whittling down your list even further, you can begin asking companies about free inspections and getting a quote for services. Inspections can happen relatively quickly — some companies can even take a fast estimate of the size of your yard using GPS technology before they visit your home. The company should then be able to provide an estimate based 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 Hamburg, there are certain things you can expect before, during, and after services. Some of these are:
- Before Treatments: When you choose a full-service company, they will ask you to keep all pets inside when they visit. You should also make sure your technician can fully access your lawn (for example, by ensuring that gates are open). Your lawn care professional will tell you if you need to water your lawn or do anything else in advance. If you've decided to go with a subscription company, you'll want to make sure that you provide all your information and place your order ahead of time.
- During Treatments: When you choose a subscription company, you will be the one doing the treatment based on the instructions sent to you by the company. When you choose a full-service company like TruGreen, a technician will come to your property to perform the treatment. Normally you will not need to be home on service days. However, your company may request that you are present the first time they visit. They will communicate with you (in writing or electronically) what services were performed and when.
- After and Between Treatments: Your lawn care company might suggest that you water your lawn 24 hours after certain treatments. Someone should also tell you when it is going to be safe for pets and family to be on the lawn again. Keep in mind that the effects of some treatments, such as fertilization and overseeding, may not manifest immediately. If you have issues with your lawn care treatment, many full-service and subscription companies have guarantees to back their products and services. No matter what type of company you go with, in most cases services will continue on a regular basis unless you cancel.
Selecting a good lawn care company in Hamburg can go a long way towards feeling confident and in-the-know regarding all of the work being done on your lawn. It is in your best interest to speak with one of the companies from our list of the best lawn care providers in Hamburg to discover which one is best for you.
