DIY vs Professional Lawn Care - Which is Better?
Some people prefer to take care of certain lawn care projects themselves. For times when you want a little more assistance, you can pay for a subscription company, or pay one of Akron's full-service lawn care companies. When you go the DIY route, you eliminate labor costs, but you forgo any professional guidance. There is a chance of this resulting in expensive mistakes that you can't foresee.
Some companies, such as Sunday Lawn Care, offer assistance with DIY lawn care. This is usually in the form of subscription packages that provide you with all the necessary chemicals and equipment for your lawn, depending on your location in Ohio and the time of year. These companies can provide you with a lot of guidance with lawn care, but you will still be the one outside pulling weeds.
Prefer someone who will handle both the mental and physical parts of the job? Consider hiring a full-service company like TruGreen. Although this will likely be your most expensive option, you will receive the most comprehensive range of services, and the pros will do all the hard work so you don't have to.
Types of Lawn Care Services in Akron, OH
There are a variety of different services that the lawn care companies around Akron can provide, including:
- Weed Control: Your lawn care professional can help you get rid of and prevent weeds and other unwanted plants. They may use chemicals to kill and keep away weeds or might manually pull up the unwanted plants. Most if not all full-service and subscription companies offer weed control services.
- Fertilization: Most (if not all) full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer fertilization services. Fertilization uses specific chemicals to help promote the growth of grass and other plants that you want in your yard.
- Aeration: Aeration services, which consist of making small holes all over your lawn, are provided by the majority of full-service lawn care companies. Aeration services help loosen the soil, allowing air, nutrients, and water to flow easier. This facilitates root growth and strengthens your lawn.
- Seeding/Overseeding: Seeding and overseeding services are offered by most full-service lawn care companies and by many subscription companies. The seeding process involves putting seed down in bare spots, while overseeding involves laying down additional seed in thin spots. Both seeding and overseeding help improve the color and look of your lawn.
- Soil Care: Most full-service and subscription lawn care providers provide soil care services. Soil care services involve balancing your soil's pH and chemistry to improve lawn growth by increasing nutrient availability.
- Mowing/Edging: There are some full-service lawn care companies that offer mowing and edging, and there are some companies that specialize in these sorts of services. These services help to prevent overgrowth and will quickly improve your lawn's overall appearance.
- Tree and Shrub Care: Many full-service lawn companies offer tree and shrub care. They can help clean up and provide care for trees and shrubs on your property to help keep your lawn beautiful.
- Leaf/Snow Removal: Your lawn can sustain damage as a result of leaves and snow sitting on it. Knowing which companies provide removal services can be very helpful if you ever need them in the future.
- Pest Control: Many full-service lawn care companies will help you get rid of insects or other pests that are damaging your lawn. Your lawn professional might trap animals or apply pesticides. Always ensure that your technician is properly licensed to apply pesticides through the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
No matter your need, there is a Akron lawn care company that can fill it. We suggest getting in touch with a couple of the companies from the above list to ensure that you find the right one for you.
Akron Quick Facts
- Akron is part of the Cold climate zone.
- The average lot size in Ohio is approximately 8,300 square feet.
- Akron receives more rain than about 51.0% of places in the United States.
- Prefer more moderate weather? The average high in Akron is approximately 58° F.
- Like a mix of sun and shade? Akron has more tree coverage than 44% of the country.
Choosing a Akron Lawn Care Company
When you need to choose a company, you ought to first ensure that the one you are choosing is reputable. If a technician is going to apply chemicals like pesticides at any point, they'll have to be licensed through the Ohio Department of Agriculture. If your technician will be performing landscaping services, such as edging or tree care, you can check if they meet all of the landscaper licensing requirements for Ohio. After you have confirmed that a company is licensed, you can check to see if they are a member of an organization like the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), an optional association that allows members to collaborate and provides information regarding best practices in the industry. You can also read reviews online and check the company's website to learn about the guarantees that they offer. "For more than two decades, the NALP Foundation...has supported education, research, and scholarships to strengthen the future of the landscape and lawn care industry."
Next, you need to determine if a company offers all of the services you need. When hiring lawn care services in Akron, you may choose to go with one of the company's fixed plans or one of their "a la carte'' options where you can pick and choose your services.
After whittling down your list even more, you can begin asking companies about free inspections and getting a quote for services. You often won't need to wait long for an inspection — some companies can even take a fast estimate of the size of your yard via GPS before they visit your home. From there, they should be able to provide 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 Akron, you may wonder what to expect. The following are some things to keep in mind:
- Before Treatments: When you hire a full-service company, they will ask you to keep pets in the house when they visit. You should also make sure your technician can access all of your lawn (for example, by ensuring that gates are open). They will tell you if you need to do anything like watering your lawn in advance. If you've decided to go with a subscription company, be sure that you provide any necessary information and place your order ahead of time.
- During Treatments: If you are using a subscription company, you will do all of the lawn treatment using the instructions provided. If you are using a full-service company like TruGreen, they will come to your home to perform services. Normally you won't need to be home when the technicians are there. However, some companies may ask that you be home the first time they come to work. The company will inform you, either in writing or electronically, what services were performed and when.
- After and Between Treatments: Your lawn care company will tell you when it will be safe for pets and people to be on the lawn following treatment. Your company may also recommend that you water your lawn 24 hours following certain services. Remember that there may be some time before you see the effects of treatments such as weed control and overseeding. In the rare case that some part of the service goes wrong or you do not see the expected results, many full-service and subscription companies have products and services that are backed by guarantees. In most cases, both full-service and subscription lawn care services will continue on a regular basis until you cancel.
If you hire a reputable lawn care services company from Akron, they can help you understand expectations and ensure that the process goes smoothly. When you choose a company from our list of the best lawn care providers in Akron, you ensure that everything gets taken care of the right way.
