DIY vs Professional Lawn Care - Which is Better?
When there is lawn care to be done, if you don't want to do everything yourself you can use either a subscription company or one of the full-service lawn care companies operating in Raleigh. While tackling the project by yourself may seem like the least expensive option, this leaves the possibility of expensive mistakes open. You also forgo the expert guidance of your local lawn care professionals.
If you want to take some of the guesswork out of lawn care, you might try a company like Sunday Lawn Care. They offer subscription packages of lawn tools and chemicals, which are regularly shipped to your door based on the season and where you live in North Carolina. The company takes care of the research and planning, although you will still be the one doing the hard work.
If your goal is to be completely hands-off, a full-service company like TruGreen is going to be your best bet. This option might be the most expensive, but this is balanced by the benefits: they offer custom solutions to all your lawn care headaches, and they take care of the manual labor.
Types of Lawn Care Services in Raleigh, NC
There are a number of services for which you might hire a lawn care company in Raleigh, such as:
- Weed Control: Weed control helps get rid of and keep away weeds and other troublesome plants. These types of services involve both manually pulling unwanted foliage and applying chemicals that kill and keep away weeds. Most if not all full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer weed control services.
- Fertilization: The majority of full-service and subscription lawn care companies provide fertilization services. They will use specific chemicals to facilitate the growth of grass and other plants that you want in your yard.
- Aeration: Aeration services, which involve making small holes all over your lawn, are provided by most full-service lawn care companies. These services help loosen the soil, allowing nutrients, water, and air to flow easier. This facilitates the growth of roots and helps to strengthen your lawn.
- Soil Care: Soil care improves the growth of your lawn by balancing the chemistry and pH of the soil to improve the availability of nutrients. The majority of full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer this service.
- Seeding/Overseeding: Seeding and overseeding improve the look and color of your lawn and help fill in bare spots. Seeding is the process of planting grass in areas where there is none, while overseeding involves planting more seed over existing grass, without removing any. These services are offered by most full-service lawn companies and many subscription companies.
- Leaf/Snow Removal: Your lawn can become damaged over time due to leaves piling up on it. Being aware of your local companies that offer removal services can be a big help should you ever need them in the future.
- Pest Control: Many full-service lawn care companies will also eliminate insects or other pests that could damage your lawn. Your lawn professional may trap animals or apply pesticides — always confirm that the technician you hire is properly licensed to apply pesticides through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture.
- Mowing/Edging: There are some full-service lawn care companies that offer mowing and edging, and there are some companies that specialize in these types of services. Mowing and edging help prevent overgrowth, and they quickly improve your lawn's overall appearance.
- Tree and Shrub Care: Many full-service lawn companies provide tree and shrub care. These providers can help clean up and provide care for shrubs and trees on your property to help keep your lawn beautiful.
Regardless of your needs, there is a Raleigh lawn care company that can meet them. We strongly suggest contacting one or more of the companies from the list above to find the perfect one for you.
Raleigh Quick Facts
- Dislike cold weather? Raleigh's average low temperature is around 51° F.
- Raleigh is part of the Mixed-Humid climate zone.
- In a typical year, Raleigh receives around 4.4 inches of snow.
- Raleigh has more tree coverage than around 26% of the country.
- Raleigh's average high of 69° F is higher than 80.2% of the U.S.
Choosing a Raleigh Lawn Care Company
When it comes to choosing a company, you ought to first ensure that the one you're choosing is reliable. If a technician will be applying chemicals like pesticides at any point, they will need to be licensed through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. If your technician will be performing landscaping services, such as mowing or edging, you can confirm that they meet all of the landscaper licensing requirements for North Carolina. After you've verified a company's licensure, you can look and see if they belong to an organization such as the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). NALP is an optional association that encourages members to collaborate and provides education regarding best practices in the industry. You can also search for online reviews and explore the company's website to see what kind of guarantees they offer. "We are committed to helping our members achieve success through education and training and increasing professionalism through certification and accreditation."
Next, you'll want to figure out which Raleigh lawn care companies can provide the specific services you need. A company may have both plans and "a la carte" options where you can pick and choose specific services.
After you've chosen which companies offer what you need, you can obtain a free inspection and estimate. Using GPS technology, some companies are able to estimate how big your lawn is and provide a quote over the phone. The price you pay will be based mainly on the specific services you need and the size of your lawn.
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Homeowner Responsibilities
If you've never hired a Raleigh lawn care company before — or even if you have — you may have some questions about what to expect. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Before Treatments: Any full-service company will ask you to be sure your lawn is fully accessible on the day of treatment. For example, you'll want to make sure all gates stay open. Your technician will also ask that all pets be kept inside. If they need you to water or do anything else to your lawn in advance, they will ask you to do so. If you've picked a subscription company, make sure you provide all of your information and order in advance.
- During Treatments: When you sign up with a subscription company, you will carry out lawn care treatments based on the instructions that the company provides. Should you opt for a full-service company like TruGreen, a technician will come to your home to take care of everything. In most cases you won't have to be home on service days. However, your technician may prefer that you are home the first time they visit. Your company will communicate with you (in writing or electronically) what treatments they completed and when.
- After and Between Treatments: Don't forget that it might take weeks to see the effects of treatments like overseeding and fertilization. In the meantime, your lawn care professionals might recommend watering your lawn 24 hours after some services. They will also tell you when pets and family can safely be on the lawn. In the rare instance that there is a problem with your lawn care, many subscription and full-service companies have products and services that are backed by guarantees. In most cases, any type of lawn care service will continue regularly until you cancel.
Selecting a trustworthy lawn care company in Raleigh will make you feel much more confident and comfortable with the process. Any of the providers on our list of the best lawn care companies in Raleigh can walk you through the process and make sure that you know exactly what to expect.
