DIY vs Professional Lawn Care - Which is Better?
When there is lawn care to be done, if you don't want to go it alone you can choose either a subscription company or one of the full-service lawn care companies operating in Williamsburg. Caring for your lawn on your own could save you money at first. However, without expert advice from a lawn care professional, you increase the chances of making mistakes that wind up being costly in the future.
If you want to have at least some guidance when it comes to lawn care, you might try a company like Sunday Lawn Care. They provide subscription packages of lawn tools and chemicals, which are regularly shipped to your door based on the season and where you live in Virginia. They will take care of the research and planning for you, although you will still be the one pulling weeds.
If you would like to be completely hands-off, a full-service company like TruGreen will be the best decision. This option might be the most pricy, but not without reason: they not only offer custom solutions to all your lawn care headaches, but they take care of all the work.
Types of Lawn Care Services in Williamsburg, VA
There are many services for which you might use a lawn care company in Williamsburg, such as:
- Weed Control: Weed control involves the use of both chemical and manual methods to remove weeds and other unwanted foliage, and a variety of processes to keep them from coming back. Most if not all full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer this service.
- Fertilization: Most (if not all) full-service and subscription lawn care companies offer fertilization services. These services use chemicals and other compounds to help encourage the growth of grass and other plants in your yard.
- Seeding/Overseeding: Seeding and overseeding are offered by the majority of full-service lawn care companies and by many subscription companies. The seeding process involves putting seed down in bare or patchy spots. Overseeding involves adding additional seed to thin spots. Both processes help improve the color and look of your lawn.
- Aeration: Aeration involves making small perforations in your lawn's soil. This allows air, nutrients, and water to more easily move through the soil. This, in turn, allows roots to grow deeper, strengthening your lawn. These services are offered by the majority of full-service lawn care companies.
- Soil Care: Soil care helps improve your lawn growth by balancing the chemistry and pH of the soil to increase nutrient availability. Most full-service and subscription lawn care companies provide this service.
- Tree and Shrub Care: Many full-service lawn care companies are able to take care of trees and shrubs that are wilting, overgrowing, or simply need some TLC. This service will go a long way towards helping your property look its best.
- Leaf/Snow Removal: You may not need snow removal services very often in Williamsburg, and you might infrequently be in the market for leaf removal. No matter your situation, it is a wise idea to know which local companies offer these services. This will help you get everything taken care of faster, preventing damage to your lawn.
- Mowing/Edging: Some full-service lawn care companies offer mowing and edging, and some even specialize in these types of services. These services help to prevent overgrowth, and they can quickly improve your lawn's overall appearance.
- Pest Control: Many full-service lawn care companies will help you get rid of insects or other pests that are damaging your lawn. They may trap animals or apply pesticides — always ensure that the technician you hire is properly licensed to apply pesticides through the Virginia Department of Agriculture.
No matter the need, there is a Williamsburg lawn care company that can fill it. It is a smart idea to get in touch with a couple of the companies from the list above to make sure you get the right one for you.
Williamsburg Quick Facts
- The average high temperature in Williamsburg is about 65° F.
- In Virginia, the average lot size is about 19,000 square feet.
- Normally, Williamsburg receives around 6.3 inches of snow a year.
- Williamsburg is in the Mixed-Humid climate zone.
- Williamsburg gets a good mix of clouds and sun. It comes in around the 73.7% percentile when it comes to average daily sunlight.
Choosing a Williamsburg Lawn Care Company
During Treatments: If you've opted for a subscription company, you will perform treatments yourself based on the provided instructions. If you're using a full-service company like TruGreen, they will come to your home to perform services. Your company may ask that you be home the first time they visit. However, you usually will not need to be home for lawn care treatment. The company will inform you (either electronically or in writing) what treatments were done and when. "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 figure out if the company offers all of the services you need. When hiring lawn care services in Williamsburg, you may choose to go with one of the company's fixed plans or one of their "a la carte'' options that allows you to pick and choose services.
After this, you will want to get an inspection and quote. Even before they see your property, some companies can give you an estimate by using GPS technology. This estimate will be based largely on the size of your lawn and the specific services you need.
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Homeowner Responsibilities
When you're planning to hire a lawn care company in Williamsburg, you might wonder what to expect. The following are some things to keep in mind:
- Before Treatments: When you use a full-service company, they'll request that you keep all pets inside when they visit. You should also ensure that your technician can access your lawn (for example, by making sure all gates are open). Your lawn care professional will tell you if you need to do anything like watering your lawn in advance. When using a subscription company, you'll want to make sure that you provide all your information and place your order far enough ahead of time.
- During Treatments: When you choose a subscription company, you will perform the treatments yourself based on the instructions sent to you by the company. When you choose a full-service company like TruGreen, a lawn care professional will come to your property to treat your lawn. Normally you will not need to be home for treatments. However, your company may ask you to be home the first time they visit. They will communicate with you (electronically or in writing) what treatments they completed and when.
- After and Between Treatments: It is important to remember that it might take weeks to see the effects of treatments such as weed control and overseeding. In the meantime, your lawn care technician may suggest watering your lawn 24 hours following certain services. They will also tell you when it is safe for pets and family to be on the lawn. In the rare instance that there is a problem with your lawn care, many subscription and full-service companies have guarantees backing their products and services. Generally, most lawn care services will continue regularly until you cancel.
If you go with a reputable Williamsburg lawn care services company, they will help you understand expectations and ensure that everything goes smoothly. By choosing a company from our list of the best lawn care providers in Williamsburg, you ensure that you get everything taken care of the right way.
