You might be in the market for lawn care services in Gainesville, Haymarket, or Manassas, VA. Who doesn’t want to sink their bare feet into a thick, green lawn as they enjoy their yard through the growing season?
To keep your lawn looking great and growing healthy, you might notice there are quite a few options for professional lawn care in the local area. As you try to scroll through your choices, you realize what you thought was going to be a 5-minute task is going to take quite a bit longer. The options seem endless.
Let us help save you some time. You’re on the lookout for a lawn care professional, and you don’t want to waste time or money on poor results. If you don’t know anything about lawn care, this can be even more of a challenge. How can you see through all their marketing speak and truly find the best company for you?
Sure, there can be a lot of differences as you compare lawn care programs and companies. That’s why we’d like to help by sharing the inside scoop of what you need to look for so you can be well-informed and make the best decision for you.
How to Compare Lawn Services
Lawn care services might look the same from company to company. That’s why you have to make sure you’re comparing apples to apples.
Before making any decisions, you want to dig deep enough to understand exactly what you’re getting. You can start by looking at each company’s website, where you should find a detailed understanding of their program offerings.
As you move from website to website, you’ll want to also look for these specifics to find the company that’s right for you in Gainesville, Haymarket, and Manassas, VA.
1. Having Choices Can Make a Big Difference For Your Lawn
Every lawn in Virginia can use a basic set of lawn care services to keep them healthy.
But lawns can also be different from home to home, having their own unique challenges.
This is why you want to make sure the company you’re hiring can offer multiple service levels to meet your needs and not just one program. A basic program may include lawn fertilization and weed control, but insect and disease treatments, as well as aeration and overseeding or even mosquito control, can be add-ons you need.
You won’t want to go to multiple companies for these services when one you already trust can offer you them all.
2. Knowing Exactly What’s Included in Lawn Care Means You Know Exactly What You’re Paying For
You want to know the specifics of what’s in your lawn care program.
Why? Because a company that is extremely vague can make you think they are taking care of your lawn when they are really just using this tactic to shortchange you of some valuable services your lawn needs.
What should you be looking for when you compare lawn care programs? You want a well-rounded program that meets your various needs throughout the year. Your program should include lawn care fertilization, weed control, a limestone application, and the option for grub control. Then, additionally, you want to be able to have the chance to add aeration and overseeding and mosquito, flea, and tick control if needed.
Surprises are only fun on your birthday. You don’t want surprises when you’re hiring a lawn care company. You should receive all of your information upfront.
3. Getting a Soil Test is An Essential Part of Your Lawn Care Program
When you are gauging the merit of various lawn care services you’re thinking about adopting, you will want to make sure you check to see if it includes a soil test as part of the service.
A soil test is important because it can tell you quite a bit of information. It can tell you the percentage of organic matter in your soil, what nutrients are lacking, the pH balance of your lawn soil, and other essentials about the micronutrients in your soil.
What’s more is that a soil test is easy to conduct. It involves pulling cores of soil from various areas with a soil probe. These samples are then sent to a special laboratory for analysis.
Your soil’s analysis is vital data because the state of your soil health can impact your lawn’s health. It can also change what a lawn care professional does to improve your lawn’s condition. For instance, a low pH versus a high pH will require too different approaches to ensure your soil is in that sweet spot to encourage a healthy lawn.
Also, you might assume that your neighbor’s soil is similar to yours, but that’s not always the case. Guessing on the lawn care program that would work best for your lawn might not deliver the best results … and will delay that end result you’re seeking: a thick, green lawn. Having the data is better than not knowing what’s going on beneath your lawn.
How to Compare Lawn Care Companies
In addition to looking at the lawn care services various companies provide, you want to also look at the businesses themselves.
Doing a little bit of research on any company you’re thinking of hiring is always a wise idea. You want to know who is in your yard and what you can expect of them when they’re there.
Here’s what you should keep an eye out for as you do your research.
1. It All Starts With the People Who Work at Lawn Care Companies
As you’re comparing lawn care programs, you want to make sure you read their “About” pages on their websites so you can learn more about the people who work there. What kind of experience do they have? What sort of training do they receive? What are the company values? How long do their employees stick around?
Employees who stick around care about their company and their work.
2. Look For a Company That Provides Education That Helps You
It’s easy for a company to just take on customers and do the work and fit in as many customers as possible in the span of a day.
It’s a whole other kind of lawn care company that gives you time to ask questions and provides insightful content on their website, such as tips, lawn care tricks, and information in the form of a blog that guides you on lawn care trends and how you can improve your lawn.
This kind of company is also more open and honest, taking the time to better educate you.
3. You Want to Work With Professionals
Because lawn care service employees come to your home on a regular and consistent basis, comparing lawn care programs also involves ensuring the company is professional.
People who embody service expertise and are polite and kind, sharing their knowledge with you, are those who you welcome in your yard. This also can make you feel more secure in your decision.
These employees also typically come with logoed uniforms and clean, logoed trucks. You welcome their presence on your property.
Lawn care companies like this will also be the ones that take responsibility if something goes wrong or they missed weeds or an appointment on your property.
4. You Want to Go Beyond Just Lawn Care Prices
As you compare lawn care service pricing in Northern Virginia, you also want to make sure you’re comparing similar services.
For instance, make sure the lawn care programs are the same – soil test, regular fertilization, preventive and curative weed control, and lawn insect and disease monitoring. If a company charges more for a soil test, you may want to make sure you’re adding that cost to a company that includes that in their services.
What’s not included in prices is the relationship you’re building with a lawn care service provider. You don’t want a lawn care professional who is always a different person and who doesn’t stick around to talk to you and check in on your lawn care needs. You want a professional who is responsive, giving you customer service that is worth the rate you’re paying. You want a company that treats you like more than a number.
Choose One of the Best Lawn Care Companies in Northern Virginia to Take Care of Your Lawn
When you are comparing lawn care programs, you want to do the research that leads you to choosing a company that suits your needs, budget, and comfort level. You’re developing a long-lasting relationship, and you want your lawn and curb appeal to benefit from your choice.
When you see weeds, thin areas, or suspicious spots, you want to feel like reaching out to your lawn care professional is easy and that the problem will be solved. Even better would be looking outside to see that before you can even make the phone call, your lawn care issue is being handled. This is how the best lawn care companies build trust with their customers, do their jobs correctly, and keep your worries to a minimum. Isn’t that why you’re looking to hire a lawn care service provider in the first place?
We know you want the best, and we hope this list helps you make the right decision for your lawn and home. In your search, we also hope you’ll take a look at all that Turf’s Up has to offer. We’d love to be your lawn care professional in Gainesville, Haymarket, and Manassas, VA. We want your lawn to shine, and we’re dedicated to helping you achieve that goal.
Ready to learn why Turf’s Up could be your totally awesome choice for lawn care services in Gainesville, Haymarket, and Manassas, VA? We’re stoked to learn more about you and help you have the best lawn on the block. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we can prepare a customized plan that is perfect for you and your yard.
