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 go with either a subscription company or one of Reston's full-service lawn care companies. While handling everything on your own may seem like the least expensive option, it leaves the possibility of expensive mistakes open. You also will not have the expert guidance of a lawn care professional to help you.
Some companies, such as Sunday Lawn Care, offer assistance with DIY lawn care. This is in the form of subscription packages which contain all the chemicals and equipment you need for your lawn, based on your location in Virginia and the time of year. These companies provide a lot of guidance with lawn care, but you will still be the one outside pulling weeds.
If you would prefer to have a company handle all parts of the process, hiring a full-service company like TruGreen is the way to go. Although these companies tend to be pricier than other options, they handle the whole process, from determining what needs to be done to doing the actual work.
Types of Lawn Care Services in Reston, VA
The lawn care companies in Reston can provide many different kinds of services, such as:
- Weed Control: Weed control involves both chemical application and manual labor to get rid of weeds and other unwanted plants, and a variety of processes to keep them from returning. Most if not all full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer this service.
- Fertilization: Fertilization helps promote growth of plants and grasses via the application of certain chemicals and compounds at the correct times throughout the year. Like weed control, the vast majority of — if not all — full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer fertilization services.
- Aeration: Aeration involves making small punctures in your soil. This allows nutrients, air, and water to penetrate the soil more easily. This, in turn, helps roots grow deeper, strengthening your lawn. Aeration services are offered by most full-service lawn care companies.
- Soil Care: Soil care improves your lawn growth 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 can provide this service.
- Seeding/Overseeding: The seeding process involves putting down grass seed in places where your lawn is bare. Overseeding, on the other hand, involves laying down new seed over existing grass. Both processes help fill in bare or patchy spots and improve the look and color of your lawn. Both services are offered by most full-service lawn companies, and by many subscription companies.
- Mowing/Edging: Mowing and edging improve the look of your lawn and help prevent overgrowth. Some full-service lawn care companies offer these services, and there are also many companies that specialize in mowing and edging.
- Leaf/Snow Removal: You may not need snow removal services very often in Reston, and you might sometimes be in the market for leaf removal. No matter your situation, it is a wise idea to know which companies near you offer these services. This will help you get the problem taken care of faster, preventing damage to your lawn.
- Tree and Shrub Care: Many full-service lawn care companies offer services for trees and shrubs that are overgrowing, wilting, or simply need some extra love. These services can greatly improve the appearance of your property.
- Pest Control: Do you have bugs or other pests damaging your lawn? Pest control involves the use of pesticides and other techniques to remove animals and insects that may damage your lawn. Many full-service lawn care companies can offer pest control services. Always be sure that you are using a pest control professional who is properly licensed for pesticide application through the Virginia Department of Agriculture.
There is a lawn care company for every need and budget in Reston. It is recommended that you contact one or two of the ones on our list above to discover the one that will be best for you.
Reston Quick Facts
- The average low temperature of 47° F in Reston is lower than 30% of the United States.
- Prefer more moderate weather? The average high in Reston is about 64° F.
- In a typical year, Reston receives about 14.8 inches of snow.
- Reston sits in the Mixed-Humid climate zone.
- Reston comes in around the 50% percentile when it comes to tree coverage.
Choosing a Reston Lawn Care Company
When choosing a lawn care services company, you will want to verify they are reliable. To be permitted to apply chemicals like pesticides to your lawn, a lawn care professional must be licensed through the Virginia Department of Agriculture. If you need 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 such as the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). This is not a requirement, but NALP helps landscaping professionals collaborate and share information on best practices. You can also search for company reviews and browse their website to learn more about the guarantees they offer. "As a professional, you're never done learning and growing your skills. Our educational partnerships can help you continue to refine your abilities."
Once you've decided on the best companies in your area, you'll need to determine which ones can perform the specific combination of services that you think you're going to want. Many Reston lawn care companies offer both fixed plans and "a la carte" options that give you the opportunity to make your own service package.
After this, you will want to get an inspection and quote. Even before coming out to your property, some companies can give you an estimate by using GPS technology. This estimate will be determined by the specific services you need and the size of your lawn.
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Homeowner Responsibilities
When you're looking to hire a lawn care company in Reston, you might be wondering what you should expect. The following are some things to keep in mind:
- Before Treatments: If you are going with a full-service company, you should make sure that, on the day they come out, they have access to your property (by opening gates, for example). You should also make sure that all pets are inside. You do not need to water or otherwise treat your lawn in advance unless asked to do so by the company. If you have decided to go with a subscription company, you will want to ensure that you've provided all your information and put in your order in advance.
- During Treatments: When you choose a subscription company, you will be the one doing the treatment based on the instructions that the company provides. If you go with a full-service company like TruGreen instead, a technician will come to your house to perform the treatment. Normally you will not need to be home for treatments. However, your technician may request that you are present the first time they come out. Your company will communicate with you (in writing or electronically) which services were done and when.
- After and Between Treatments: Your lawn care company will inform you when people and pets can safely be on your lawn following treatment. They may also recommend that you water your lawn 24 hours following certain services. Keep in mind that it may take some time to see the effects of treatments such as weed control and overseeding. In the unlikely event that some part of the service goes wrong or your results are lackluster, 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 continue on a regular basis until you cancel.
Picking the right lawn care company in Reston can help you be confident and in-the-know regarding all of the work to be done. It is a good idea to contact one of the companies on our list of the best lawn care providers in Reston to find the right professional for your needs.
