DIY vs Professional Lawn Care - Which is Better?
When there is lawn care to be done, if you don't want to handle everything on your own you can choose either a subscription company or one of the full-service lawn care companies operating in Cary. When you do everything yourself, you will save on labor costs, but forgo any professional guidance. There is a chance of this resulting in expensive mistakes that you can't foresee.
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 regularly shipped to your door depending on the time of year and where you live in North Carolina. They will take care of the research and planning for you, although you still have to do the manual labor.
Rather have someone else taking care of everything? A full-service company like TruGreen may be best for you. A full-service lawn care company may be the priciest option, but they handle not only the decision-making but also the manual labor.
Types of Lawn Care Services in Cary, NC
Lawn care companies around Cary offer a number of services, including:
- Weed Control: Your lawn care technician can provide services to eliminate and prevent unwanted plants like weeds. They may spray chemicals around your lawn as well as manually pull up the unwanted plants. The vast majority of full-service and subscription companies — if not all of them — offer weed control services.
- Fertilization: Essentially all full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer fertilization services. These services use chemicals and other compounds to promote the growth of grass and other plants that you want in your yard.
- Soil Care: Soil care helps improve your lawn growth by balancing the pH and chemistry of your soil to increase nutrient availability. Most full-service and subscription lawn care companies can provide this service.
- Aeration: Aeration services, which involve creating small perforations all over your lawn, are provided by many full-service lawn care companies. These services help loosen the soil, allowing air, nutrients, and water to flow more easily. This improves root growth and helps to strengthen your lawn.
- Seeding/Overseeding: Seeding and overseeding services are offered by the majority of full-service lawn care companies and by many subscription companies. Seeding involves putting seed down in bare spots. Overseeding involves adding additional seed to thin spots. Both seeding and overseeding help improve the look and color of your lawn.
- Tree and Shrub Care: Does your property have shrubs and trees that are wilting, overgrowing, or simply need a little TLC? Many full-service lawn care companies provide tree and shrub care services to help keep your property looking its best.
- Leaf/Snow Removal: Are you worried about snow or leaves sitting on and killing your grass? There are some lawn care companies who will come and clear everything away. You might rarely need snow removal services and occasionally require leaf removal services in Cary. If and when you do need these services, be sure to speak with a company to confirm that it is something they are able to do.
- Mowing/Edging: Mowing and edging do a lot to improve the appearance of your lawn and help prevent overgrowth. Many full-service lawn care companies provide these services, and there are also many companies that specialize in mowing and edging.
- Pest Control: When you pay a company for pest control services, always ensure they are properly licensed to apply pesticides through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. Your technician will apply pesticides or use traps or other methods to eliminate pests. Eliminating pesky animals and insects helps your lawn look its best.
No matter what type of services you want, there is a Cary lawn care company for the job. We strongly suggest looking into one or two of the companies on our list above to discover which one is best for you.
Cary Quick Facts
- Cary is part of the Mixed-Humid climate zone.
- Regarding precipitation, Cary sees more, on average, than 71.2% of the U.S.
- Prefer warmer days? The average high temperature in Cary is about 70° F.
- In a typical year, Cary sees about 4.3 inches of snow.
- In North Carolina, the average lot size is about 10,000 square feet.
Choosing a Cary Lawn Care Company
When it comes time to select a lawn care services company, you want to make sure they are reliable. In order to apply chemicals like pesticides to your lawn, a technician needs to be licensed through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. If you are hiring for landscaping services like edging and mowing, you can look and see if a company meets all of North Carolina's landscaper licensing requirements. You can also find out if a company is a member of an organization like the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). Membership is not mandatory, but NALP helps landscaping professionals collaborate and share information on best practices. Last but not least, you can read online reviews of the company and check their website to learn about guarantees that 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."
Next, you'll want to determine which companies in Cary can provide the specific services you need. Many companies offer both plans and "a la carte" options which allow you to pick and choose specific services.
Once your list is down to three or so companies, you'll want to go about getting an inspection and quote. Utilizing GPS technology, some companies can even offer an estimate based on how big your yard is before they even visit your property. Your estimate will rely mainly on the size of your lawn and the specific services you need.
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Homeowner Responsibilities
There are certain things a Cary homeowner should keep in mind before, during, and after their lawn is treated. Some of these are:
- Before Treatments: If you are going with a full-service company, you will need to be sure that, on the day they visit, they are able to fully access your property (for example, by opening gates). You will want to also make sure that all pets are inside. You do not need to water or otherwise treat 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 are using a subscription company, then you will perform treatments yourself, following the instructions that the company provides. If you've opted for a full-service company like TruGreen, their technicians will come to your house to treat your lawn. Normally, you won't have to be present for lawn care treatment. However, your company may prefer you to be home for their first visit. The company will communicate with you (electronically or in writing) regarding what services they've completed and when.
- After and Between Treatments: Your lawn care company will let you know when people and pets can safely be on the lawn following treatment. They may also tell you to water your lawn 24 hours following some services. Keep in mind that it could take time to see the effects of treatments such as fertilization and weed control. In the unlikely event that some part of the service goes wrong or your results are lackluster, many full-service and subscription companies have guarantees to back up their treatments and products. Generally, both full-service and subscription lawn care services will continue on a regular basis unless you cancel.
Choosing the right lawn care company in Cary will help you feel confident and in-the-know when it comes to all of the work to be done. It is a good idea to contact one of the companies on our list of Cary's best lawn care providers to find the right professional for your needs.
