DIY vs Professional Lawn Care - Which is Better?
Don't want to tackle lawn care by yourself? Consider signing up with a subscription lawn care company, or employ one of Columbia's full-service lawn care companies. While tackling the project by yourself may seem like the cheapest option, this leaves the possibility of expensive mistakes open. You also forgo the expert guidance of your local lawn care professionals.
Companies like Sunday Lawn Care are designed to provide assistance with DIY lawn care. These companies offer subscription packages of lawn care equipment and chemicals that are mailed to you as needed. The packages are put together based on the time of year and your location in South Carolina. These companies take the guesswork out of lawn care; however, you need to make time to do the application yourself.
Prefer hiring someone who can take care of both the mental and physical parts of the job? Consider hiring a full-service company like TruGreen. While this will likely be the priciest option, these companies offer 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 Columbia, SC
There are many different services that the lawn care companies around Columbia can provide, including:
- Weed Control: Weed control involves the use of both chemical and manual methods to remove weeds and other unwanted foliage, and the use of techniques to keep them away. Most if not all full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer this service.
- Fertilization: Fertilization facilitates the growth of plants and grasses through the application of certain compounds and chemicals at the right times throughout the year. Similar to weed control, most if not all full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer fertilization services.
- Soil Care: The majority of full-service and subscription lawn care providers offer soil care services. This service involves balancing your soil's pH and chemistry to promote lawn growth by increasing the availability of nutrients.
- Seeding/Overseeding: Seeding and overseeding improve the look and color of your lawn and fill in bare spots. Seeding involves planting grass in areas where there is none. Overseeding involves planting more seed on top of existing grass, without tearing up any turf. These processes are offered by most full-service lawn companies and many subscription companies.
- Aeration: Aeration services, which involve creating small holes all over your lawn, are provided by the majority of full-service lawn care companies. Aeration services help loosen the soil, allowing nutrients, water, and air to flow more easily. This facilitates the growth of roots and helps to strengthen your lawn.
- Pest Control: Many full-service lawn care companies can also help eliminate insects or other pests that are doing damage to your property. They may apply pesticides or trap animals. Always ensure that your lawn control technician is properly licensed to apply pesticides through the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.
- Leaf/Snow Removal: Your lawn can become damaged over time due to debris piling up on it. Knowing which local companies provide removal services can be a big help if you ever need them in the future.
- Mowing/Edging: Mowing and edging are ways to quickly improve your lawn's overall look. Certain full-service lawn care companies offer these services, or you may prefer to find a company specializing in edging and mowing.
- Tree and Shrub Care: Do you have trees and shrubs that are wilting, overgrowing, or simply need a little TLC? Many full-service lawn care companies offer tree and shrub care services to help keep your property looking its best.
There is a lawn care company for every need and budget in Columbia. We strongly suggest contacting one or two from the list above to determine the one that will be best for you.
Columbia Quick Facts
- In an average year, Columbia receives approximately 0.7 inches of snow.
- Prefer sunnier days? Columbia receives more sunlight than 82.9% of the country.
- In South Carolina, the average lot size is around 29,000 square feet.
- Columbia is in the Mixed-Humid climate zone.
- Columbia's average high of 73° F is higher than 88.0% of the U.S.
Choosing a Columbia Lawn Care Company
When it comes time to select a lawn care services company, you want to make sure they are reliable. If they are going to apply chemicals like pesticides to your lawn, a technician needs to be licensed through the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. If you are looking for landscaping services such as edging and mowing, check to see if a company meets all of South Carolina's landscaper licensing requirements. You can also check whether a company belongs to an organization such as the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). Membership is not mandatory, but NALP lets landscaping professionals collaborate and share information regarding best practices. You can also read online reviews of the company and browse their website to learn more about the 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 Columbia lawn care companies can provide the specific services you need. A company may have both plans and "a la carte" options which allow you to pick and choose specific services.
After you've determined which companies offer what you need, you can see about getting a free inspection and estimate. With GPS technology, some companies are able to estimate your property size and provide a quote over the phone. The estimate will depend mainly on the size of your lawn and the specific services you need.
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Homeowner Responsibilities
When you work with a Columbia lawn care company, there are certain things you can expect before, during, and after treatments. Some of those things are:
- Before Treatments: Any full-service company will ask you to make sure that your lawn is one hundred percent accessible the day they come out. For example, you will need to make sure all gates remain open. Your technician will also ask that you keep your pets indoors. If they want you to water or do any other work on your lawn in advance, they will tell you. If you've picked a subscription company, don't forget to provide your information and put in your order in advance.
- During Treatments: When you choose a subscription company, you will carry out lawn care treatments based on the instructions provided by the company. When you choose a full-service company like TruGreen, they will come to your home to perform the treatment. Generally you will not be expected to be home during treatments. However, your company may request that you are present the first time they visit. Your technicians will communicate with you (electronically or in writing) which services were done and when.
- After and Between Treatments: Your lawn care company will let you know when people and pets can safely be on your lawn following treatment. They may also ask you to water your lawn 24 hours following certain services. Keep in mind that there may be some time before you see the effects of services such as weed control and fertilization. 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 back their treatments and products with a guarantee. Most of the time, both full-service and subscription lawn care services will continue on a regular basis unless you cancel.
Selecting a reputable lawn care company in Columbia will make you feel much more confident and comfortable with the process. Any provider from our list of the best lawn care companies in Columbia can explain all steps of the process and make sure that you know what to expect.
