DIY vs Professional Lawn Care - Which is Better?
Don't have the time or experience to tackle lawn care all by yourself? Explore using a subscription lawn care company, or reach out to one of the full-service lawn care companies in Nashville. While doing everything yourself may seem like the least expensive option, it leaves you open to expensive mistakes. You also will be working without expert guidance from a lawn care professional.
A company like Sunday Lawn Care can help take the guesswork out of the process. Companies like this will send you a regular subscription package of lawn care equipment and chemicals. They decide what your lawn needs and when, based on the season and where you live in Tennessee. However, you still need to handle the manual labor.
If you would prefer to have a company take care of everything, hiring a full-service company like TruGreen is the solution you need. While these companies may be more expensive than other options, they take the lead every step of the way, from determining what needs to be done to doing the actual work.
Types of Lawn Care Services in Nashville, TN
There are a number of different services that the lawn care companies around Nashville can provide, including:
- Weed Control: Your lawn care professional can kill 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. In the majority of cases, both full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer weed control services.
- Fertilization: The process of fertilization involves the use of various chemicals and compounds to help facilitate the growth of grass and other plants. Like weed control, most if not all full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer fertilization.
- Seeding/Overseeding: Seeding and overseeding are offered by most full-service lawn care companies and by many subscription companies. Seeding services involve putting down seed in patchy or bare spots, while overseeding involves laying down additional seed in thin spots. Both processes help improve the color and look of your lawn.
- Aeration: Aeration services, which consist of creating small perforations all over your lawn, are provided by the majority of full-service lawn care companies. The process helps loosen the soil, allowing air, water, and nutrients to flow more easily. This increases root growth and strengthens your lawn.
- Soil Care: Most full-service and subscription lawn care providers offer soil care services. Soil care services involve balancing the chemistry and pH of your soil to promote lawn growth by increasing the availability of nutrients.
- Pest Control: Are bugs or other pests wreaking havoc on your lawn? Pest control involves the application of pesticides and other techniques to remove animals and insects that may damage your lawn. Many full-service lawn care companies offer pest control services. Always ensure that you use a pest control technician who is properly licensed for pesticide application through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
- Tree and Shrub Care: Many full-service lawn companies can do tree and shrub care. These providers will help clean up and provide care for trees and shrubs on your lawn to help keep your property beautiful.
- Mowing/Edging: Mowing and edging are ways to quickly improve the look of your lawn. Certain full-service lawn care companies can provide these services, or you could find a company specializing in them.
- Leaf/Snow Removal: Your lawn can become damaged over time due to debris sitting on it. Knowing which companies offer removal services can be a big help if you ever need them in the future.
Regardless of what your needs are, there is a Nashville lawn care company that can meet them. It is in your best interest to get in touch with one or two of the companies from our list above to determine which one is right for you.
Nashville Quick Facts
- In terms of precipitation, Nashville gets more, on average, than 86.4% of the U.S.
- Nashville is in the Mixed-Humid climate zone.
- Prefer warmer days? The average high in Nashville is around 68° F.
- On average, Nashville sees approximately 3.4 inches of snow annually.
- Nashville has more tree coverage than only 24% of the United States.
Choosing a Nashville Lawn Care Company
When you choose a lawn care services company, you will want to ensure that they are reliable. If they are going to apply chemicals like pesticides to your lawn, a lawn care professional needs to be licensed through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. If you require landscaping services such as edging and mowing, check to see if a company meets all of Tennessee's landscaper licensing requirements. You can also learn whether a company is a member of an organization like the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). This is not a requirement, but NALP lets landscaping professionals collaborate and share information on best practices. You can also look up company reviews and learn about their guarantees on their website. "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 will want to determine which companies can perform the specific services you need. Many lawn care service companies in Nashville can offer you both fixed plans and "a la carte" options, where you can pick and choose only the services that you need.
Once you've decided which companies to call, you can reach out and ask for a free inspection and estimate. Using GPS technology, some companies are able to estimate the size of your yard and provide a quote over the phone. The total price will vary based mainly on the size of your lawn and the specific services you need.
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Homeowner Responsibilities
There are certain things a Nashville homeowner should keep in mind before, during, and after lawn care treatments. Some of these are:
- Before Treatments: Any full-service company you hire will ask you to make sure that your lawn is accessible on the day of treatment. For example, you will need to make sure all gates stay open. Your technician will also ask that you keep your pets indoors. If they need you to water or do any other work on your lawn in advance, they will let you know. If you've picked a subscription company, it is important to provide all of your information and put in your order in advance.
- During Treatments: If you have chosen a subscription company, you will perform the lawn treatment with the help of provided instructions. If you choose a full-service company like TruGreen, they will come to your home to treat your lawn. You usually will not need to be home for lawn care treatment. However, some companies may ask that you be home the first time they come out. The company will inform you, either electronically or in writing, which services were done and when.
- After and Between Treatments: Don't forget that it could be a while before you see the effects of treatments like weed control and overseeding. In the meantime, your lawn care professionals might recommend watering your lawn 24 hours after some services. They will also inform you when it will be safe for your family and any pets to be on the lawn. In the rare instance that there is an unexpected problem with your lawn care, many subscription and full-service companies have a guarantee to back their products and services. Most of the time, any lawn care service will continue regularly until you cancel.
Choosing a reliable lawn care company in Nashville can help you feel much more confident and comfortable with the process. Any provider you choose from our list of Nashville's best lawn care companies can explain all steps of the process and make sure that you know what to expect.
