DIY vs Professional Lawn Care - Which is Better?
There are three different ways you can do lawn care: doing everything yourself, using a subscription company, or employing one of the full-service lawn care companies that operate in Laurel. If you opt to do everything yourself, you might save money initially. However, you'll give up the expert advice and guidance that can help prevent costly mistakes.
Companies like Sunday Lawn Care exist to provide assistance with DIY lawn care. They provide subscription packages of lawn care chemicals and equipment that they ship to you as needed. The packages are put together based on the time of year and your location in Virginia. This takes the guesswork out of lawn care; however, you need to make time to do the application yourself.
Prefer someone who can handle both the mental and physical tasks? Consider hiring a full-service company like TruGreen. Although this will likely be your most expensive option, you will receive the most comprehensive services, and the pros will do all the hard work so you don't have to.
Types of Lawn Care Services in Laurel, VA
There are a variety of different services that Laurel's lawn care companies can provide, including:
- Weed Control: Weed control services help remove and keep away weeds and other bothersome plants. These services can involve processes like manually pulling up unwanted foliage and spraying chemicals to kill weeds and prevent more of them. Most if not all full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer weed control services.
- Fertilization: Fertilization involves the use of chemicals and other compounds to facilitate the growth of grass and other plants. Like weed control, most if not all full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer fertilization.
- Soil Care: Most full-service and subscription lawn care providers offer soil care services. These services involve balancing the chemistry and pH of your soil to improve lawn growth by increasing nutrient availability.
- Aeration: Aeration services, which involve creating small holes all over your lawn, are provided by most full-service lawn care companies. Aeration helps loosen the soil, allowing nutrients, water, and air to flow easier. This improves root growth and helps to strengthen your lawn.
- Seeding/Overseeding: Seeding services involve putting down grass in bare patches on your lawn. Overseeding involves placing new seed over patches of existing grass. Both seeding and overseeding help fill in patchy or bare spots and improve the look and color of your lawn. Both processes are offered by the majority of full-service lawn companies, and by many subscription companies.
- Leaf/Snow Removal: Your lawn can be damaged by leaves and snow sitting on it. Being aware of your local companies that provide removal services can be very helpful should you ever need them in the future.
- Mowing/Edging: Mowing and edging help improve the appearance of your lawn and help prevent overgrowth. Some full-service lawn care companies provide these services, and there are also many companies that specialize in edging and mowing.
- Pest Control: Have bugs or other pests making a mess of your lawn? Pest control involves the application of pesticides and other techniques to eliminate insects and animals that may damage your lawn. Many full-service lawn care companies provide pest control services. Always ensure that you use a pest control technician who is properly licensed to apply pesticides through the Virginia Department of Agriculture.
- Tree and Shrub Care: Many full-service lawn companies offer tree and shrub care. These companies can help clean up and provide care for shrubs and trees on your property to help keep your lawn looking its best.
For any need, there is a lawn care company in Laurel that can fill it. We suggest getting in touch with one or two of the companies from the above list to ensure that you find the right one for you.
Laurel Quick Facts
- The average lot size in Virginia is around 9,000 square feet.
- The average high temperature in Laurel is about 67° F.
- Like a good mix of clouds and sun? Laurel sees more sunlight than 67.0% of the country.
- The average low temperature of 48° F in Laurel is lower than 26% of the U.S.
- In terms of precipitation, Laurel sees more, on average, than 68.7% of the U.S.
Choosing a Laurel Lawn Care Company
When it comes time to select a lawn care services company, you will want to verify they are reliable. If they are going to apply chemicals like pesticides to your lawn, a lawn care professional must be licensed through the Virginia Department of Agriculture. If you are hiring for landscaping services such as edging and mowing, check to see if a company meets all of Virginia'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. Last but not least, you can look up company reviews 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 determine which Laurel lawn care companies have the specific services you need. A company may have both plans and "a la carte" options that let you pick and choose from a list of services.
After you've narrowed down your list even more, you can begin asking companies about free inspections and getting a quote for services. An inspection can happen quickly — some companies can even get a quick estimate of the size of your yard using GPS technology before visiting your home. The company will then give you an estimate based on the size of your lawn and the specific services you need.
Ready for a Quick & Easy Lawn Service Quote?
Homeowner Responsibilities
If you've never hired a lawn care company in Laurel before (or even if you have) you might 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 make sure that your lawn is fully accessible when they come to treat it. For example, you will need to make sure any gates stay open. They will also ask that pets stay in the house. If they need you to water or do any other care for your lawn in advance, they will tell you. If you want to use a subscription company, don't forget to provide 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 provided by the company. Should you opt for a full-service company like TruGreen, a technician will come to your home to take care of everything. Generally you will not be expected to be home during treatments. However, your company may prefer that you are home the first time they come out. They will communicate with you (in writing or electronically) what services were performed and when.
- After and Between Treatments: It's important to keep in mind that it might take weeks to see the effects of treatments like weed control and overseeding. In the meantime, your lawn care technician may suggest watering your lawn 24 hours following some services. They will also inform you when it will be safe for your family and any pets to be on your lawn. In the unlikely event that something goes wrong with your lawn care, many full-service and subscription companies have a guarantee to back their products and services. Most of the time, lawn care services of any type will continue regularly until you cancel.
By choosing a provider from our list of Laurel's best lawn care companies, you'll be in expert hands. Your Laurel lawn care technician will make sure all expectations are clear and keep you in the loop throughout the process.
