Tending to my lawn and garden is one of my hobbies. I have been doing this for years, and I take great pride in my healthy lawn. But not every homeowner has the time or the knowledge to care for their lawn. The question “Is it worth paying for lawn care” depends on the average homeowner’s commitment and interest.
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DIY vs. Professional Lawn Care
Whether you are a DIYer and you enjoy working in your yard or a person who has no idea where to start, here are some pros and cons.
Pros of DIY Lawn Care
Completing your own lawn care has many advantages.
- It is a good exercise. Working in your yard is an excellent form of exercise. A couple of hours in the garden will burn hundreds of calories and help keep you fit.
- It is a good family activity. As long as you follow some lawn care safety tips, working in the yard can be great family fun.
- You can save money (in the long term). If you already own all the tools, your lawn care routine will not cost you a lot of money. All you will need is to fuel up your mower and pay for some supplies.
Cons of DIY Lawn Care
There are also some disadvantages to doing your own lawn care.
- It takes time. Some people don’t have the time to spend in the garden or learn the skills needed.
- It can be expensive at the start. If you don’t own any lawn care products, it can be expensive to get started. Purchasing a lawn mower, edger, and other equipment will cost a lot of money.
Pros of Professional Lawn Service
If you use a lawn care professional, there are many benefits for your outdoor space.
- Your lawn will look great with no effort. I sometimes envy people who use a service that comes while they are at work. They return from their day at the office to a freshly mowed lawn.
- You don’t need any equipment. Buying, storing, and maintaining lawn equipment can be expensive. When you use a lawn service, you don’t need any specialized equipment.
- They don’t just mow your lawn. A good service will do more than just mow. They will take care of weed control, spread grass seed on brown spots in your lawn, and clean up after themselves.
Cons of Professional Lawn Service
There are some downsides to consider when using professional lawn care services.
- You are not in control of your garden. Leaving your lawn care to someone else means that they will do things their way. If you have a vision for your garden, maybe it is better to go down the DIY route.
- It costs money every visit. Lawn care can get expensive, especially in the summer growing season. If your service is coming every week, the bills will soon add up.
Hiring a Lawn Care Service
Like any business, there are good lawn professionals and bad ones. Here are a few tips to help you pick a reputable professional service that will guarantee you a beautiful lawn.
- Ensure the service has a proper business license. Any company that you hire should have the proper business licenses. If a company can not produce its license, then you should not hire them.
- Make sure the service has the correct insurance. Insurance is a must for any service you hire. Lawn care can be dangerous, and a correctly licensed and insured company will mean you are not liable if any accidents occur.
- Ask around your neighborhood. Ask your neighbors who use lawn care services for their experience. Getting information from customers will mean the information is much more reliable than from the company.
- Check online reviews. If you can’t find any information from your friends and neighbors, check online. Online reviews are a great resource when researching a new company.
- Ask for a trial before signing any long-term agreement. Some services will ask you for a contract with a commitment to several visits. Ask them for a trial period first. This way, you can assess their work before any commitment is made.
I have heard many stories of people having bad experiences with commercial companies. These experiences usually happened because they did not do their homework. Spending a bit of time on research could save you a lot of problems later.
What Do Lawn Care Services Do
There is much more to your garden than just a manicured lawn. A good garden service will offer you other options.
Mowing
Keeping your lawn trimmed is a common service. The service will provide its own push mower or riding mower and edging tools. Mowing needs to be done regularly to keep your green lawn looking its best.
Weed Control
Controlling weeds is another important job for your lawn care company. Make sure that the weed killer they use is not dangerous to you or your pets. Ask to see the product labels to make sure they are safe.
Lawn Fertilizing
Lawn fertilizer is important for a lush green lawn and soil health. Your service should use a safe organic fertilizer. The right fertilizer applied at the right time will help your growing grass.
Insect Control
Insects and pests will cause a lot of damage to your garden. Ask your service about what products they use for insect control.
How Much Will a Lawn Care Service Cost
The total cost of lawn care will depend on the size and scope of the work. Most services will provide a cost per square foot of lawn.
The average cost for lawn care should be around $200 to $300 per month. This includes mowing regularly, weed control, and lawn fertilizer. If you have a large yard or unusual features, it will cost more.
So Is It Worth Paying For Lawn Care?
This decision comes down to your lifestyle and interests. Personally, I love working in my yard. So for me, I prefer the DIY option. Do I get better results than a professional gardener? Probably not, but I enjoy the yard work and take pride in my lawn.
However, I have many friends who do not share this hobby. For them, professional lawn service is a good investment. This allows them to focus their energy on other aspects of their lives while still having an amazing-looking garden.
Paying for lawn care is a decision you need to make, depending on your interest and circumstance. Suppose you have a green thumb and love the hard work in the yard then DIY. If you would rather be doing other things, then look for professional lawn care.
