Lawn Care/Basics for Homeowners-Lawn Care/Lawn Care Services

There are many different companies available to maintain your lawn and each company may offer slightly different services and at different prices. The following are answers to some commonly asked questions when considering hiring a professional lawn care company.

For further discussions, see:

(Nebraska) Selecting A Lawn Care Company
http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/horticulture/nf56.htm

(Vermont)Selecting Professional Lawn Services
http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/envirohort/factsheets2/lawn/apr88pr5.html

( Florida) Selecting A Lawn or Landscape Care Service
http://coop.co.pinellas.fl.us/TimeTweb/2002/june02/junepam.htm
or
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_LH030

(North Carolina) Selecting a Lawn Maintenance Service
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/LH030/

(Virginia) Choosing A Lawn Care Company
http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/envirohort/articles/lawns_and_landscaping/lawncomp.html

(Missouri) Selecting A Lawn Service
http://outreach.missouri.edu/extensioninfoline/lawn&garden/lawn_service.html

(Nova Scotia) Homeowners Guide To Hiring A Lawn Care Company
http://www.gov.ns.ca/enla/rmep/p2/hire.htm

(Colorado) Selecting A Landscape Maintenance Contractor
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/TRA/PLANTS/select.html

(Ohio) What To Look for in A Lawn Care Service
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg fact/4000/4025.html

(Ontario) IPM Accreditation
http://www.planthealthcare.ca/
Ontario has developed an entire accreditation standard for IPM and lawn care consultants.

What are the advantages of hiring professional lawn care?

• Service - it is a convenient way to maintain an attractive lawn, especially with today's busy lifestyles.
• Expertise - lawn care professionals understand how plants grow and what it takes to create an attractive lawn.
• Simplifies the confusing task of purchasing the proper fertilizers and/or pesticides for your lawn.
• Eliminates the time-consuming and sometimes confusing task of calibrating spreaders and sprayers to accurately apply products.
• Eliminates the liability for proper storage of fertilizers and pesticides which should be stored in a locked, waterproof, and ventilated area.
• Reduces the possible risks to our environment from inexperienced homeowners applying fertilizers and pesticides to their lawns.

Are there disadvantages to hiring professional lawn care?

• Professional lawn care is too expensive for some homeowners.
• With some companies, busy production schedules may not allow for well-timed application or services.
• Many homeowners enjoy working on their own lawn.

What should you look for in a quality lawn care service?

• Reputation - check with friends or neighbors and ask for references to determine if it is a reputable company.
• License and insurance - the state of Indiana requires all lawn care companies to hold pesticide applicators licenses and liability insurance.
• Membership in professional organizations such as the Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA), Indiana State Lawn Care Association (ISLCA) and/or the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation (MRTF). These organizations promote professionalism in the lawn care industry and provide education on the latest lawn management techniques.
• Familiarity with and commitment to the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Ask any service about this in detail, as IPM can be treated somewhat elastically.
• Willingness to customize application schedules and to fit your needs and wants.
• Knowledgeable applicators that are willing to share information with you.

What can you do to help the lawn care company make your lawn look better?

• Do not apply extra fertilizer or pesticides beyond that which is applied and/or recommended by your company.
• Mow frequently and at a height of 2.5 to 3.0 inches
• If you irrigate your lawn, water early in the morning and water "deep and infrequently". Deep and infrequent watering means to wet the soil profile to a depth of just below the root depth and then don't water again until the grass shows the first signs of drought stress.
• Follow the company's recommendations for irrigating, mowing, and use of a lawn after an application.

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