How to Find Landscape Maintenance Professionals During COVID-19

In these troubled COVID-19 times many are wondering if lawn mowing professionals can still perform their duties without coming into physical contact with their customers. And the answer is yes. First, to find a service provider near you, you can easily find local landscaping, tree trimming, and lawn care companies online and message them to schedule a video call or video chat via services such as Zoom or Skype and inquire about their services - what is included and what is not - and find the one you like. Discuss your needs and strategies with them the type of service you are considering. Many companies will likely accept some form of digital payment instead of cash or check. More and more businesses are adopting the use of digital platforms like PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, and Google Pay to minimize the handling of cash or checks.

What to Look for When Interviewing Landscape Maintenance Professionals

A well-established professional lawn care business should at the very least have a business license, appropriate insurance, landscaping tools, and a mower. The most common small business insurance policies lawn care businesses carry are general liability, business property, commercial auto, and workers' compensation if they have employees.  Since there is no legal requirement for formal training, property owners should ask about certifications, level of experience, affiliations with state and local organizations, and any education they may have received in the field of lawn care. One way to find an excellent lawn care contractor is to consult your local chapter of the Master Gardeners. They may not provide specific company names but will have tips for you about what to ask and what to look out for.

How to Handle Service Calls During the Pandemic

Practice social distancing at all times while the professionals are doing their work outside to stay safe during the pandemic. There is no need for the homeowner to be physically present, professionals will know what to do and do it well.  It helps to have a regular schedule so you can plan to stay away accordingly.

Lawn Maintenance Cost

The average cost of working with a 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 $100 and $280 on a basic "mow and blow" service which more often than not also includes edging. Services such as fertilizing, planting, weed control, spring and fall clean-ups, shrub trimming, and edging may be a service add-on 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.

Other Tips

Keeping your lawn in good shape year-round can be challenging. That is why a regular lawn care routine by a professional can be of great benefit. Professionals will be familiar with the type of grass you have and know at which frequency it should be mowed. Typically, this will depend on how fast your grass grows. As a good rule of thumb, the lawn should be mowed when it reaches 1/3 above its recommended length. For example, if the grass is healthy at 2 inches, it needs mowing when it reaches 3 inches. This helps prevent damage to the lawn as well as keeping weeds from taking root.

Spring is the perfect time to start thinking about lawn care and test the irrigation system. Start with raking your lawn and flower beds to remove any decomposing leaves. Pull all the weeds before they go to seed and trim back shrubs and branches. Now it is time to check your irrigation system. Perform necessary repairs or make adjustments to get even water distribution. At this time you may opt 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. You can also consider spraying a pre-emergent herbicide on your lawn to prevent crabgrass and other types of weeds from sprouting from seed. During other seasons, broadleaf weeds like dandelions can be pulled by hand or sprayed with the appropriate weed killers. Do some research and be sure to purchase a weed killer that only addresses the types of weeds you want to eliminate and doesn't kill the grass.

Once the temperatures are a little warmer you can overseed the lawn to encourage new growth in any bare spots you might have. Next, you'll want to fertilize the lawn to ensure the lawn grows rich and lush. Make sure the newly seeded areas are kept moist until the seeds have germinated. The best time to water your lawn is early in the morning, allowing the sun to help dry the grass. Make sure to thoroughly soak the lawn so that the water penetrates several inches into the ground.

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 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 you would have used 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.

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.