How to Find Landscape Maintenance Professionals During COVID-19
Many property owners and are now wondering how to go about finding a lawn service. They are also wondering if yard maintenance crews can safely perform their duties without coming into physical contact with their customers. And the answer is yes. With the help of Google and Yelp, it is easy to find local yard maintenance, and lawn care companies online. You can call them to schedule a video chat via Zoom or Skype and inquire about their services to what is included and what is not. Video chats are great because the “personal” contact will give you a feel for the person. Discuss your needs and concerns with them and find out about their service options. Established companies will likely accept some form of digital payment instead of knocking on your door for cash or a check.
Tips on What to Ask When Interviewing Landscape Maintenance Professionals
At the very least, a legitimate professional lawn care business will have a business license, the tools for their trade, and insurance such as general liability, business property, commercial auto, and workers comp. There is no legal requirement for formal training, so be sure to ask about their level of expertise, and any certifications they may have. Ask about any education they may have received in the field of lawn care. One other way to find an excellent lawn care contractor is to ask your neighbors, family, friends or consult your local chapter of the Master Gardeners. They may not give you specific company names but will have additional pointers for you.
How to Stay Safe During Service Calls During the Pandemic
Always practice social distancing while the professionals are working in your yard. There is no need for you to be physically present, professionals will know what to do and do it well. Special requests can always be communicated via text. It helps to have a regular schedule so you can plan to stay away accordingly.
What Does Lawn Maintenance Cost?
The average cost of working with a legal lawn mowing company varies based on location, the size of the property, the exact services offered, and the quality of service. That said, most homeowners spend between $125 and $280 on a basic “mow and blow” service which may also include edging. You may find cheaper service providers but chances are, they will not have insurance leaving you exposed in the event of an accident on your property. Fertilizing, planting, weed control, spring and fall clean-ups, shrub trimming, and aerating may be offered at an additional fee. Adding fertilization and weed control to your package would be a good recommendation to keep the lawn in a perfectly healthy condition. When you interview landscape maintenance providers be sure to ask what is included.
Other Lawn Care Tips
Keeping a lawn in great condition year-round can be a challenge. That is why contracting with a professional lawn maintenance service is beneficial. These professionals will be familiar with the type of grass you have and know at which frequency and length it should be mowed. This will depend on the growing season. Ideally, mowing should be done when the grass reaches 1/3 above its recommended length to protect the grassroots and prevent weeds from growing.
Once spring has arrived and the temperatures are warming, it’s time to start thinking about lawn care. Clear your lawn and flower beds of decomposing leaves, trim back shrubs and branches and pull any weeds before they go to seed. You should also check your irrigation system and make necessary repairs or adjustments to get even water distribution. At this time you may choose to aerate your lawn but beware, some regions benefit from aerating in the fall only, so be sure to address this with your service provider. If there are bare spots in your lawn you can overseed the lawn to encourage new growth. Make sure the newly seeded areas are kept moist until the seeds have germinated. Next, you’ll want to embark on a fertilization program to ensure that it grows rich and lush. Again, check with your lawn maintenance service what fertilizer to use if it is not included in your service package. The recommended time to water a lawn is early in the morning hours, making sure to thoroughly soak the lawn so that the water penetrates several inches into the ground.
If crabgrass and other types of weeds are a recurring problem you could also, consider spraying a pre-emergent herbicide on your lawn to prevent them from sprouting from seed. Throughout the year, broadleaf weeds like dandelions can be pulled by hand or sprayed with the appropriate weed killers. Check with your service or do some research to be sure to purchase a weed killer that only addresses the types of weeds you want to eliminate and doesn’t kill the grass. A feed and weed solution might just be the answer for you.
Of course, any of these chores can be done by your lawn maintenance service provider, so be sure to check what is included and what is not in your arrangement. A lawn care professional will help you navigate the nuances of seasonal lawn care, and keep your lawn healthy and thriving. But, there are some seasonal tasks you can tackle between visits from your pro to maintain your best possible lawn.
Other Benefits of Hiring a Lawn Maintenance Professional
Lawn care professionals have their own hi-performance lawn mowers and trimming equipment, so no need to spend money on a mower of your own. Plus, there is no need to carve out space to store bulky lawn equipment in the garage or shed. You also won’t have to worry about keeping gas in the tank or a charge in the battery or finding an extension cord long enough to let you weed-whack your entire yard. Additionally, you need not worry about sharpening mower blades. And, most importantly, your weekends or free time are yours to spend any which way you want rather than doing gardening chores.
No matter what you decide – the DIY route or hire a professional lawn maintenance company, a steady routine will keep your lawn look vigorous and healthy.
At Shamrock Landscape Co, we have been providing lawn maintenance services since 1977 in Benicia, Vallejo, and American Canyon. We are an American owned and operated company and have all the legal requirements. Each crew has an English speaking person to avoid miscommunications. When you call us you will speak to Mike the owner. So, give us a call if you would like to get an estimate and breakdown of our services (707) 647-2000.
