Professional Lawn Care

According to Gallup, the top benefits of a well-maintained lawn and landscape are:

• A property that helps beautify the neighborhood and provides the cooling effect equal to 70 tons of air conditioning.
  
• Allergy control. Turf controls dust and reduces pollen in the air from plants that can cause serious health problems for some individuals.
  
• Pollutant absorption. Turfgrasses absorb gaseous pollutants such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, converting them to oxygen.
  
• Particulate entrapment. Turfgrasses trap an estimated 12 million tons of dust and dirt released annually into the atmosphere from industry and motorized vehicles.
  
• Fire retardation. Grass around buildings helps retard the spread of fire.
  
• Water quality. Not only does a thick healthy lawn reduce excess water runoff, turfgrass filters the water that helps to recharge groundwater supplies. Because of its filtering capability, turf has been used for years between agricultural fields as a buffer to prevent common agricultural pesticide runoff.
  
• According to EPA's publication Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment, a healthy lawn provides a feeding ground for birds and other suburban wildlife. The healthy lawn provides a rich source of insects, worms, and other food. Thick grass prevents soil erosion, filters contaminants from rainwater, and absorbs many types of airborne pollutants, like dust and soot. Grass is also highly efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that helps clean the air.

Confused about making a decision on who to trust with your lawn care needs?

1. Determine what you want from a lawn service. Lawn care companies provide a range of
services including mowing, maintenance, aeration, seeding, fertilizer and pest
control applications.

2. Find out which companies provide service in your neighborhood. Before looking in
the yellow pages or answering an ad, ask your neighbors for a recommendation. It's a
great way to determine the reputation of a company and the quality service it provides.

3. Ask for a lawn inspection and a free estimate for service. Companies that quote a
price without seeing your lawn are only guessing what your lawn might need.

4. Ask about the price system and what services are included. The lawn care company
may offer a yearly contract or a simple verbal agreement giving the customer the right to
discontinue service at any time. Find out what happens if you have a problem between
applications. Will the service calls be free or is there a charge? However, do not use price
as a major factor–comfort, satisfaction and results are the most important considerations.

5. Have a complete understanding with the company before work starts. Get an
explanation of what the service can and cannot do. Find out what kind and amount of
treatments are included in the proposed program, approximately when they will be applied,
and what results can be expected.

6. Find out what is, and is not, guaranteed. Some services may offer a guarantee of
performance. Others may offer refunds if they fail to meet your expectations. Guarantees
are usually limited to the provider returning to correct problems if the customer is a fullservice
customer.

7. Make sure the lawn care service is licensed. Every state in the U.S. has some licensing
requirements for commercial lawn care companies. This means that the company has at
least minimal working knowledge of what they are doing. Customers should insist on proof
of state-required licensing. Call the state Department of Agriculture or Environmental
Department for details.

8. Insurance and certification. Every state is different, but most require a lawn care provider
to carry a state-mandated level of liability insurance and appropriate workers’ compensation
coverage. Virtually every state requires some level of certification through the regulatory
agency in that state. The provider should confirm this up front when the potential customer
requests a service estimate.

9. Safety factors. Almost all lawn care products used must be registered with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and the state. Some states require posting a sign after
product application recommending you avoid contact with the turf until the product is dry.
Whether posting is required or not, it is a suggested practice to follow.

The lawn care service you select will become your partner in maintaining a thick and
healthy lawn. In addition to providing specific services, they will be able to advise you on proper
mowing and irrigation of your lawn. If you have concerns or questions, call your lawn care service
first.