DIY vs Professional Lawn Care - Which is Better?
Some people prefer to take care of certain lawn care projects themselves. For those times when you want a little more assistance, you can use the services of a subscription company, or pay one of Milwaukee's full-service lawn care companies. While doing everything yourself may seem like the least expensive option, doing so leaves you open to expensive mistakes. You also will be working without expert guidance from a lawn care professional.
Some companies, such as Sunday Lawn Care, can help you with your DIY lawn care. Generally this is in the form of subscription packages which will deliver all the necessary chemicals and equipment for your lawn, depending on the time of year and your location in Wisconsin. These companies provide a lot of guidance with lawn care, but you will still be doing all of the manual work.
If you would prefer to have a company manage the whole process, hiring a full-service company like TruGreen is the solution you need. Although companies like this may be more expensive than other options, they handle the whole process, from determining what you need to doing the actual work.
Types of Lawn Care Services in Milwaukee, WI
There are a number of different services that the lawn care companies around Milwaukee can provide, including:
- Weed Control: Your lawn care technician can help you eliminate and prevent weeds and other unwanted plants. They may spray chemicals around your lawn as well as manually pull up the unwanted plants. Most if not all full-service and subscription companies offer weed control services.
- Fertilization: The process of fertilization involves using chemicals and other compounds to encourage the growth of grass and other plants. As with weed control, fertilization is offered by most if not all full-service and subscription lawn care companies.
- Soil Care: Soil care improves your lawn growth by balancing the pH and chemistry of your soil to improve the availability of nutrients. Most full-service and subscription lawn care companies provide this service.
- Seeding/Overseeding: The seeding process involves putting down grass in bare patches on your lawn. 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 color and look of your lawn. Both processes are offered by most full-service lawn companies and many subscription companies.
- Aeration: Aeration services, which consist of making small holes all over your lawn, are provided by many full-service lawn care companies. These services help loosen the soil, allowing nutrients, water, and air to flow more easily. This increases the growth of roots and strengthens your lawn.
- Pest Control: When you hire a technician for pest control, always confirm they are properly licensed to apply pesticides through the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. The technician will apply pesticides or use traps or other methods to get rid of pests. Getting rid of pesky animals and insects can go a long way towards helping your lawn look its best.
- Leaf/Snow Removal: Are you worried about leaves or snow sitting on and killing your grass? You can find a lawn care company that will come out and clear everything away. You might often need snow removal services and infrequently require leaf removal services in Milwaukee. If and when you do require these services, be sure to contact a company to make sure it is something that they can do.
- Tree and Shrub Care: Does your property have shrubs and trees that are wilting, overgrowing, or simply need a little more love? Many full-service lawn care companies provide tree and shrub care services to help your lawn look its best.
- Mowing/Edging: Some full-service lawn care companies offer mowing and edging, and some even specialize in these kinds of services. Edging and mowing help prevent overgrowth, and they can quickly improve the overall look of your lawn.
No matter what services you are looking to hire for, there is a Milwaukee lawn care company for the job. We strongly suggest looking into a couple of the companies on our list above to determine which one is best for you.
Milwaukee Quick Facts
- Regarding precipitation, Milwaukee sees more, on average, than 35.7% of the country.
- Milwaukee has greater tree coverage than only 23% of the U.S.
- In a typical year, Milwaukee sees about 48.7 inches of snow.
- Milwaukee is part of the Cold climate zone.
- Milwaukee's average high of 53° F is higher than 19.1% of the United States.
Choosing a Milwaukee Lawn Care Company
When it comes to choosing a company, you first should verify that the one you're choosing is reliable. If a technician will be applying chemicals like pesticides at any point, they will need to be licensed through the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. If you're hiring a technician for landscaping services, such as mowing or edging, you can look to see if they meet all of the landscaper licensing requirements for Wisconsin. Once you've verified that a company is licensed, you can look and see if they are a member of an organization such as the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). NALP is an optional association that helps members collaborate and provides information about industry best practices. You can also look up online reviews and browse the company's website to learn about the guarantees that they offer. "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'll want to discover which Milwaukee lawn care companies have the specific services you need. Companies may let you pick between both plans and "a la carte" options which allow you to pick and choose specific services.
After whittling down your list even more, you can ask companies about getting a free inspection and service quote. You often won't need to wait long for an inspection — some companies can even get a quick estimate of the size of your yard via GPS before visiting your home. From there, they should be able to give you an estimate based on the size of your lawn and the specific services you need.
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Homeowner Responsibilities
If you haven't worked with a lawn care company in Milwaukee before — or even if you have — you might have some questions about what to expect. The following are some things to keep in mind:
- Before Treatments: When you choose a full-service company, you'll be asked to keep pets in the house when they visit. You should also ensure that your technician has access to your lawn (for example, by keeping gates open). Your company will tell you if you need to do any lawn maintenance (like watering) in advance. If you've opted for a subscription company, be sure that you provide all the needed information and place your order far enough ahead of time.
- During Treatments: If you go with a subscription company, you will perform the lawn treatment, following the instructions provided. If you choose a full-service company like TruGreen, they come to your home to do treatments. Normally you won't need to be home for lawn care treatment. However, some companies may ask you to be home the first time they come out. The company will tell you, either in writing or electronically, which services were done and when.
- After and Between Treatments: Whichever type of company you may use, lawn care services will generally continue on a regular basis unless you cancel. After each visit or subscription delivery, your company should tell you when family and pets can safely be on the lawn again. They may also ask you to water your lawn 24 hours after certain treatments. Remember that the results of some treatments, like overseeding and weed control, will not be noticeable right away. In the unlikely event that something goes wrong with your lawn care treatment, most companies have their products and services backed by a guarantee.
Picking a trustworthy Milwaukee lawn care company goes a long way towards helping you feel more confident and in-the-know about the process. Any provider you choose from our list of Milwaukee's best lawn care companies can explain all steps of the process and make sure that you know what to expect.
