Spring is finally here which means it’s time for homeowners in the North Shore to start shopping around for a professional lawn care service. We know you want the best lawn care company with the best products and service at the best rate.
When you’re searching for lawn services, you have to make sure that you’re not going to pay too much. You also need to keep in mind that not all products and services are created equal. Many people think they can compare different quotes “apples to apples” but there are different products, spread rates, levels of customer service, and plenty of other variables that can impact cost. So, here are some rules of thumb you can use when reviewing your lawn care service pricing.
Pricing Should Be Based On Square Footage
The very first thing any lawn care company should do is offer a free estimate based on the size of your lawn. They should measure your lawn online to get the most accurate size. They should remove the home, driveway, walkways, mulch beds, wooded areas, and any other structures or areas of lawn that don’t need to be treated.
There are plenty of free measuring tools online which allow you to measure your own property. This is a good way to not only ensure you know they have an accurate measurement but if the company you are considering is trustworthy. Here is a pretty good online measuring tool you can try.
Some lawn care companies will under-measure a property on purpose to bring the price down to get the sale. The problem is, the technician serving your property will only put down enough fertilizer to cover the lawn size listed on the account. If your lawn is 15,000 square feet but is listed as 10,000 square feet, they will simply adjust their spread rates and apply inadequate levels of product on your lawn. So although you got a good price, you’re actually paying for an inferior service.
Pay For Services Not Visits
When hiring a lawn care company you will want to make sure they are charging you for actually servicing your lawn. Some lawn services will quote the number of times they will visit your property over the course of a season. What they may not tell you is that one of two of these visits is nothing more than a service check-up.
The technician will glance at the lawn, maybe spray a weed or two, then leave the bill on the door. This is becoming a common practice in the lawn care industry as it’s a way for the company to limit product costs and labor but still provide their customer a perceived number of services for the season.
Eliminating Lawn Care Services You Don’t Need
As previously noted, lawn care costs should be based on the square footage of your treatable lawn space. But there are a few more things to consider.
Good lawn care programs will include a treatment for preventative season-long grub and insect control. The goal of getting your lawn treated is to have a beautiful, hassle-free lawn that you can enjoy. Preventative grub control is essential to making sure these insects do not disrupt the progress your lawn will make after it’s fertilized. Most lawns will have some grubs each season so it’s usually a good idea to have grub prevention.
Soil composition in the North Shore area means the average lawn is going to be a little acidic so good lawn care programs will also include a limestone treatment. Your lawn roots what to absorb water, which is neutral on the acidity scale but if your soil is too acidic it limits the amount of water and nutrients the roots will absorb. Applying a limestone treatment once a season is important to reduce this acidity allowing your lawn’s roots to absorb not only water but all the nutrients from the fertilizer treatments you are paying for.
Another way to make sure you’re not paying for treatments you don’t need is to do a soil test. This lawn analysis can provide important information on what your lawn’s soil composition needs to improve turf root development. Most lawn care companies can perform a soil test so make sure to ask if they offer them and at what cost.
Unfortunately, some lawn care companies focus more on just selling a service rather than providing you the education to make a thorough buying decision. Your home is one of the biggest investments you’ll make, so it is important to choose a lawn care company that provides you all the information you need to make a wise decision.
Get More Info From The Pros!
Looking for more information on lawn care or just ready to let the professionals take over your lawn care needs? The Grassmaster Plus team is ready and willing to answer any questions you have and can provide you a free quote on your lawn care services for the season. Contact our local office today!